Articles: low-back-pain.
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A prospective evaluation of the incidence of low back pain in college athletes was undertaken. ⋯ Athletes with lower extremity acquired ligamentous laxity or overuse may be at risk for the development of noncontact low back pain during athletic competition. Female athletes with lower extremity involvement appeared to have a higher incidence of low back pain treatment compared with their male counterparts. Inflexibility of the lower extremities or leg length discrepancy were not associated with future low back pain treatment.
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A survey of a random sample of 1002 members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police to determine their experience with low back pain. ⋯ The prevalence of low back pain in this police force is comparable with that in the general population, and driving a patrol car or wearing the duty belt does not appear to influence the prevalence rate in this population.
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J Clin Laser Med Surg · Apr 1998
Comparative StudyPercutaneous laser disc decompression in spinal stenosis.
The authors determined whether percutaneous laser disc decompression (PLDD) is an effective treatment for spinal stenosis where bulging or protruding discs are a contributing factor. ⋯ It was our conclusion that PLDD compares favorably with open surgery in the treatment of lumbar spinal stenosis that is partially or completely due to bulging or protruding discs.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Functional restoration for chronic low back pain. Two-year follow-up of two randomized clinical trials.
Two randomized, prospective clinical trials involving 238 chronic low back disability patients were carried out. Results at 2-year follow-up are presented. ⋯ The functional restoration program seems effective in various parameters compared with the less intensive programs, but the differences in outcome in the two parallel studies indicate the necessity of testing a treatment program in different settings, in that the statistical variation may be a major factor in results of different studies.
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Caudal epidural injection is a simple procedure that carries a low risk of complications. The whoosh test (injection of air into the caudal epidural space with simultaneous auscultation over the thoracolumbar spine) has been recommended as an aid to correct needle placement. A 1-year prospective study, using fluoroscopic imaging to identify needle position, was conducted to compare the sensitivity and specificity of the whoosh test with that of clinical impression alone in assessing correct needle placement in the caudal space. ⋯ Clinical impression alone had a sensitivity of 94% and a specificity of 20%. The whoosh test had a sensitivity of 80% and a specificity of 60%. The whoosh test is superior to clinical judgment in detecting incorrect caudal needle placement.