Journal of Back and Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation - Volume 33, issue 3

Authors: Madić, Dejan | Obradović, Borislav | Golik-Perić, Dragana | Marinković, Dragan | Trajković, Nebojša | Gojković, Zoran

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Soccer as a sport has a very high injury rate and low back pain (LBP) is considered to be the most common overuse injury typically occurring in the back and spine in elite soccer players. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate differences in knee muscle strength and muscle imbalances in soccer players according to lower back pain. METHODS: One hundred and thirty-six male professional soccer players (20.49 ± 3.73 years, 76.57 ± 8.24 kg, 182.63 ± 6.73 cm) volunteered for the study. The isokinetic dynamometer PrimaDOC (EASYTECH, …Italy) was used to assess the hamstring and quadriceps strength at the selected speeds of 60 ∘ /s, whereas the Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire (RDQ) was used as a health status measure to assess physical disability caused by low back pain. RESULTS: A univariate analysis of variance has shown that there is a statistically significant difference among the groups divided into Absolute peak torque right knee flexors, Absolute peak torque left knee flexors, Ratio between hamstrings and quadriceps strength right leg, and Ratio between hamstrings and quadriceps strength left leg based on the RDQ scores. On the other hand, no other significant differences among the groups were found in other parameters CONCLUSION: The current study indicates that knee muscle strength variables, resulting from an isokinetic testing, have the potential to discriminate between soccer players with and without a history of low back pain. However, low back pain is a multidimensional phenomenon and knee muscle strength or imbalance alone cannot be expected to explain low back pain. Show more

Keywords: Soccer, assessment, differences, muscle imbalances, low back pain

DOI: 10.3233/BMR-171109

Citation: Journal of Back and Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation, vol. 33, no. 3, pp. 501-506, 2020

Authors: Park, Ji-Su | An, Duk-Hyun | Kam, Kyung-Yoon | Yoon, Taehyung | Kim, Taehoon | Chang, Moon-Young

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: The resistive jaw opening exercise (RJOE) was suggested as a potential remedial treatment for patients with dysphagia. However, clinical evidence is insufficient. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of RJOE on hyoid bone movement, aspiration, and oral intake level in stroke patients with dysphagia. METHODS: Forty stroke patients with dysphagia were randomly allocated into either the experimental group (n = 20) or placebo group (n = 20). The experimental group performed RJOE using a portable device, while the placebo group performed RJOE using …a sham device with fewer loads. Intervention was conducted 5 times a week for 4 weeks. Hyoid bone movement was analyzed by two-dimensional analysis of anterior and superior motion based on a videofluoroscopic swallowing study. Aspiration was assessed using a penetration-aspiration scale (PAS), and oral intake level was assessed using the functional oral intake scale (FOIS). RESULTS: Both groups showed statistically significant differences in hyoid movement, PAS, and FOIS scale (p < 0.05). However, after the intervention, there was no significant difference between the two groups except for the liquid type of PAS. Effect sizes (Cohen’s d) were 0.9 and 0.7, 0.6 and 0.6, and 1.1 for the anterior and superior movement of the hyoid bone, semisolid and liquid type of PAS, and FOIS scale respectively. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that RJOE helps in hyoid movement, aspiration reduction, and oral intake in patients with dysphagia after stroke. Show more

Keywords: Aspiration, dysphagia, hyoid bone, jaw, stroke

DOI: 10.3233/BMR-181477

Citation: Journal of Back and Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation, vol. 33, no. 3, pp. 507-513, 2020

Authors: Matsumura, Masashi | Usa, Hideyuki | Ogawa, Daisuke | Ichikawa, Kazuna | Hata, Masafumi | Takei, Hitoshi

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: The prevalence of radiographic knee osteoarthritis (OA) in Japan is high, with an estimated 25,300,000 affected individuals. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to clarify the characteristics of knee osteoarthritis by comparing differences between patients with knee osteoarthritis and healthy elderly individuals with respect to alignment of the pelvis and lower extremities and range of motion. METHODS: Twenty-six women (13 with medial knee osteoarthritis and 13 healthy elderly) participated in this study. Pelvic tilt, knee extension angle, femoro-tibial angle, quadriceps angle, navicular drop, and leg-heel alignment were measured. In addition, the …range of motion was measured at the hip, knee, and ankle joints. RESULTS: Patients with knee osteoarthritis showed a posterior pelvic tilt, knee flexion, varus, and foot pronation alignment compared to healthy subjects. The range of motion for hip extension, adduction, knee flexion, extension, and ankle dorsiflexion was significantly smaller while the range of motion for eversion was significantly larger in the knee osteoarthritis group. CONCLUSION: People with medial knee OA have different static alignment and ROM compared to those without knee OA. The results clarify the comprehensive characteristics of the pelvis and lower extremities in knee osteoarthritis. Show more

Keywords: Knee osteoarthritis, range of motion, lower extremity, Japanese

DOI: 10.3233/BMR-171038

Citation: Journal of Back and Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation, vol. 33, no. 3, pp. 515-521, 2020

Authors: Chang, Min Cheol | Lee, Dong Gyu

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: We evaluated the effect of caudal epidural pulsed radiofrequency stimulation in patients with chronic lumbosacral radicular pain due to postlumbar surgery syndrome who were unresponsive to at least two epidural steroid injections through the interlaminar, transforaminal, or caudal route. METHODS: We recruited 25 patients with chronic persistent radicular pain in one or both legs (⩾ 4 on the Numeric Rating Scale [NRS]) despite spinal surgery. They were unresponsive to at least two epidural steroid injections. We retrospectively conducted this study. Electrode needles were placed into the epidural space (S2-3 …intervertebral level) through the sacral hiatus, and pulsed radiofrequency stimulation was administered. The outcomes were evaluated using the NRS scores for radicular pain before treatment and 1–3 months after treatment. Successful pain relief was defined as a ⩾ 50% reduction in the scores at 3 months after treatment. RESULTS: The pain scores changed significantly over time (p < 0.001): pretreatment, 4.9 ± 0.9; 1 month, 3.6 ± 1.4; 2 months, 3.8 ± 1.4; and 3 months, 3.9 ± 1.4. At 1, 2, and 3 months after pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) procedure, the NRS scores were significantly reduced compared with the scores before the treatment. Eight patients (32%) reported successful pain relief at 3 months after treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Although only 32% of the patients with postlumbar surgery syndrome showed successful pain relief after treatment, the result is encouraging because we recruited only patients unresponsive to repeated epidural steroid injections. Show more

Keywords: Postlumbar surgery syndrome, lumbosacral radiculopathy, caudal epidural space, pulsed radiofrequency, chronic pain, refractory pain

DOI: 10.3233/BMR-170981

Citation: Journal of Back and Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation, vol. 33, no. 3, pp. 523-528, 2020