Journal of Back and Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation - Volume 29, issue 3

Authors: Dandinoğlu, Taner | Karadeniz, Murat | Yılmaz, Volkan | Tekin, Levent | Dinçer, Ümit

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the neuropathic symptoms after local steroid injection in CTS. Since 2001, neuropathic pain scales have been used in the assessment and follow-up of neuropathic pain. DN4 and LANSS pain questionnaires have been applied to groups, mostly consisted of radiculopathy and polyneuropathy cases, before and after various treatments and the results have been compared with the electrophysiologic findings. However to our knowledge there is yet no such study focusing on neuropathic complaints and the relationship between neuropathic pain and electrophysiological findings before and after local corticosteroid injection. METHODS: …Forty-one patients aged 22-65 years and diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome by nerve conduction studies who were also found to have neuropathic symptoms were included in the study. All patients received local steroid injection into the carpal tunnel while the questionnaires and nerve conduction studies were performed before and 2 months after the injection. RESULTS: Local steroid injection was found effective on clinical and electrophysiologic parameters as well as on DN4 and LANSS scores in CTS patients (p< 0.05). Electrophysiologic severity exhibited no statistically significant relationship with DN4 and LANSS scores, before and after treatment (p> 0.05). CONCLUSION: These findings suggests that the treatment of neuropathic complaints should be planned independently from the electrophysiologic findings and minimally invasive local steroid injection appears to be effective with regard to clinical and electrophysiologic aspects in CTS patients with neuropathic complaints. Show more

Keywords: Carpal tunnel syndrome, neuropathic pain, DN4, LANSS

DOI: 10.3233/BMR-160660

Citation: Journal of Back and Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation, vol. 29, no. 3, pp. 575-580, 2016

Authors: Xu, W.B. | Chen, S. | Fan, S.W. | Zhao, F.D. | Yu, X.J. | Hu, Z.J.

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Many studies have explored the relationship between facet tropism and facet joint osteoarthritis, disc degeneration and degenerative spondylolisthesis. However, the associations between facet orientation and tropism, and paraspinal muscles have not been studied. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the associations between facet orientation and tropism, and parameters of paraspinal muscles in patients with chronic low back pain. METHODS: Ninety-five patients with chronic low back pain were consecutively enrolled. Their facet joint angles were measured on computed tomography (CT) while gross cross-sectional area (GCSA), functional cross-sectional area (FCSA) and T2 signal intensity of lumbar …paraspinal and psoas muscle were evaluated on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). RESULTS: The GCSA and FCSA were significantly smaller for multifidus muscle (P< 0.001), but significantly larger for erector spinae and psoas muscles (P< 0.001), in coronally-orientated group than those in sagittally-orientated group. The differences of bilateral GCSA and FCSA of multifidus muscle were significantly larger in facet tropism group than those in no facet tropism group (P= 0.009 and P= 0.019). CONCLUSIONS: Muscular asymmetries may develop in the lumbar region of the spine, which are associated with facet asymmetry in patients with chronic low back pain. Longitudinal studies are needed to understand the causal relationship between facet orientation and tropism and muscular asymmetry in future. Show more

Keywords: Facet orientation, facet tropism, paraspinal muscle, multifidus, erector spinae, psoas major, cross-sectional area, T2 signal intensity, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging

DOI: 10.3233/BMR-160661

Citation: Journal of Back and Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation, vol. 29, no. 3, pp. 581-586, 2016

Authors: Babina, R. | Mohanty, P.P. | Pattnaik, M.

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Altered respiratory function has been found to be associated with back pain. Limited chest excursion in subjects with chronic low back pain (CLBP) may be due to co-contraction or bracing of erector spinae and abdominal muscles; their flexed spinal posture; and/or their compromised spinal stability resulting from dysfunctional transversus abdominis. OBJECTIVE: To check for the effects of thoracic mobilization on respiratory parameters in subjects with chronic non-specific low back pain. METHODS: Sixty-two subjects (excluding 11 dropouts) with CLBP of age group 30-60 were randomly allocated to two groups. Both groups received individualized …treatment for low back pain (LBP) and HEP (home exercise program) regime of breathing exercises. In addition, group 1 received Maitland's Central postero-anterior vertebral pressure for thoracic spine (T1 -T8 ). Total treatment duration was 10 sessions in 2 weeks (5 sessions/week). RESULTS: Results showed significant improvement in respiratory parameters viz. Forced Vital Capacity (FVC), Sustained Maximal Inspiratory Pressure (SMIP) and Chest Wall Expansion (CWE) and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) in both groups (p< 0.05) at end of 2 weeks of intervention. However, improvement was significantly more in group 1 (p < 0.05) receiving additional thoracic mobilization. CONCLUSION: Subjects with non-specific chronic low back pain with or without radiation to lower limbs when treated with thoracic central PA mobilization, in addition to LBP specific treatment and breathing exercises, show an improvement in respiratory parameters and reduction in disability. Show more

Keywords: Chronic low back pain, thoracic mobilization, respiration

DOI: 10.3233/BMR-160679

Citation: Journal of Back and Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation, vol. 29, no. 3, pp. 587-595, 2016

Authors: Baskan, Emre | Yağci, Nesrin | Telli Atalay, Orçin | Aslan Telci, Emine

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: The musculoskeletal pain is one of the leading health problems among employed women. The aim of our study was to examine musculoskeletal pain, depression and quality of life (QOL) among employed women and find out the differences with unemployed women. METHODS: A hundred and fifty employed women and 151 housewives were included in our study. We used visual analog scale (VAS) for the assessment of pain, Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) for the depressive symptoms and Nottingham Health Profile (NHP) for the assessment of QOL. RESULTS: The …ratio of musculoskeletal pain among employed women and unemployed women were found as 42.5% and 57.5% respectively. A mild level of depression was found among employed women whereas moderate and vigorous level of depression were found among unemployed women. There were significant differences in terms of depression and QOL parameters. When the correlations of pain, depression and QOL were analyzed, significant high positive relationships between spinal, lower extremity, upper extremity pain levels and BDI and NHP were found only in housewives. CONCLUSIONS: Lower levels of depression among employed women can give the idea that social ambience at work place, focusing at work and economic independence play a role in decreasing depression. Show more

Keywords: Employed women, musculoskeletal pain, depression

DOI: 10.3233/BMR-160682

Citation: Journal of Back and Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation, vol. 29, no. 3, pp. 597-601, 2016

Authors: Lee, Hee Song | Kim, Dae Jin | Oh, Yoongul | Min, Kyunghoon | Ryu, Ju Seok

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: There is no evidence that one exercise program is better than another for rehabilitation of patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP). OBJECTIVE: To identify the safety and efficacy of a gradable stabilization exercise protocol in patients with CLBP. METHODS: This study is a retrospective cohort study with 65 patients. The exercise group received the gradable stabilization exercise protocol for 3 weeks over 6-8 visits, while the control group did not receive any exercise protocol. All subjects were evaluated with the visual analog scale (VAS), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), Fear-Avoidance Belief Questionnaire …(FABQ), the active sit-up test (AST), side support test (SST), and extensor endurance test (EET). RESULTS: After gradable stabilization exercise, the exercise group showed significant improvement in VAS, FABQ-W, ODI, AST, SST and EET (p< 0.05). And the exercise group showed better improvement than the control group in VAS, FABQ-W, ODI, AST, SST and EET (p< 0.05). The rate of treatment success was 77.1% among patients assigned to the exercise group, as compared with 12.0% among those assigned to the control group. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that the gradable stabilization exercise protocol has the possibility to improve clinical and physical findings. Show more

Keywords: Low back pain, exercise therapy, questionnaires, physical examination

DOI: 10.3233/BMR-160724

Citation: Journal of Back and Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation, vol. 29, no. 3, pp. 603-610, 2016

Authors: Kotan, Dilcan | Kaymak, Kamil | Gündogdu, Aslı Aksoy

Article Type: Brief Report

Abstract: The diaphragm pacing system (DPS) is a life quality improving operation in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients who need mechanical ventilation or have chronic respiratory insufficiency. This procedure is gaining in popularity, and the number of centers implanting diaphragm pacing systems (DPS) is increasing. DPS delays the need for a ventilation machine in the early stages of Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) disease. In this case study, we present a young female ALS patient. A DPS was implanted after respiratory insufficiency began. In the one-year follow-up period following her operation, her need for ventilatory support disappeared.

Keywords: ALS, diaphragm pacing system, respiratory insufficiency

DOI: 10.3233/BMR-150637

Citation: Journal of Back and Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation, vol. 29, no. 3, pp. 611-612, 2016