A system for reliable composite shade matching: Custom shade tabs and an intra-oral mockup.

Objective: This article introduced a systematic approach to matching composite and tooth shades to create esthetic restorations that visually integrate seamlessly with the patient's tooth and surrounding dentition. A basic explanation of color science was presented to aid the clinician in adopting this systematic approach to color matching. To demonstrate the need for custom shade guides, an objective analysis of composites from different companies was performed by recording the color coordinate values of multiple composites and then calculating CIEDE2000 color differences.

Utilizing Digital Technology to Facilitate Dentofacial Integration.

As digital technology evolves, an increasing number of tools are becoming available to improve team communication during the treatment planning and provision of restorative dentistry. The esthetic relationships among the face, teeth, and tissue can be analyzed using high-quality photographs, presentation software, and video capture, all critical elements for cases requiring digital dentofacial integration. Video capture communicates maximum lip movement and tooth reveal during speech with precision and ease.

Achieving esthetic and functional objectives with additive equilibration.

In a case involving a patient with high esthetic demands who wanted to keep treatment conservative, minimal direct bonding was used to enhance anterior esthetics while creating acceptable function. Primary treatment goals in the case, in which the patient was diagnosed with a constricted chewing pattern, were to improve esthetics by lengthening the maxillary anterior teeth and to stop continued loss of anterior tooth structure. Through the use of a Kois deprogrammer, an additive equilibration with direct composite was done to provide proper occlusal function to support the esthetic outcome, and no tooth reduction was needed.

Resistance exercise, disability, and pain catastrophizing in obese adults with back pain.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of two different resistance exercise protocols on self-reported disability, fear avoidance beliefs, pain catastrophizing, and back pain symptoms in obese, older adults with low back pain (LBP).

Methods: Obese adults (n = 49, 60-85 yr) with chronic LBP were randomized into a total body resistance exercise intervention (TOTRX), lumbar extensor exercise intervention (LEXT), or a control group (CON). Main outcomes included perceived disability (Oswestry Disability Index, Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire).

Metabolic, cardiopulmonary, and gait profiles of recently injured and noninjured runners.

Objective: To examine whether runners recovering from a lower body musculoskeletal injury have different metabolic, cardiopulmonary, and gait responses compared with healthy runners.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Setting: Research laboratory at an academic institution.

Back strength predicts walking improvement in obese, older adults with chronic low back pain.

Objective: To compare the effects of 4 months of isolated lumbar resistance exercise and total body resistance exercise on walking performance in obese, older adults with chronic low back pain. A secondary analysis examined whether responsiveness to training modulated walking improvement.

Design: Randomized, controlled trial.

Hyaluronic Acid (HA) Viscosupplementation on Synovial Fluid Inflammation in Knee Osteoarthritis: A Pilot Study.

Objective: This study examined the changes in synovial fluid levels of cytokines, oxidative stress and viscosity six months after intraarticular hyaluronic acid (HA) treatment in adults and elderly adults with knee osteoarthritis (OA).

Design: This was a prospective, repeated-measures study design in which patients with knee OA were administered 1% sodium hyaluronate. Patients (N=28) were stratified by age (adults, 50-64 years and elderly adults, ≥65 years).

Associations of self-report measures with gait, range of motion and proprioception in patients with lumbar spinal stenosis.

Introduction: Spinal stenosis is defined as neurogenic claudication due to narrowing of the spinal canal lumen diameter. As the disease progresses, ambulation and gait may be impaired. Self-report measures are routinely used in the clinical setting to capture data related to lumbar pain symptoms, function and perceived disability.

Functional pain severity and mobility in overweight older men and women with chronic low-back pain--part I.

Objective: This study determined whether mobility and functional pain were different among older men and women with chronic low-back pain and varying body mass index levels.

Design: This was a comparative, descriptive study of older adults with obesity with low-back pain (N = 55; 60-85 yrs). The participants were stratified on the basis of body mass index: overweight (25-29.

Kinesiophobia and fear-avoidance beliefs in overweight older adults with chronic low-back pain: relationship to walking endurance--part II.

Objective: This study determined whether kinesiophobia levels were different among older adults with chronic low back pain (LBP) and varying body mass index and whether kinesiophobia predicted perceived disability or walking endurance.

Design: This study was a secondary analysis from a larger interventional study. Older adults with obesity with LBP (N = 55; 60-85 yrs) were participants in this study.

"Functional pain," functional outcomes, and quality of life after hyaluronic acid intra-articular injection for knee osteoarthritis.

Objective: To compare the effect of hyaluronic acid (HA) intra-articular knee injections on pain and functional outcomes in persons with knee osteoarthritis (OA) over 6 months, and to determine whether or not changes in functional pain are related to improvements in quality of life.

Design: A prospective cohort study.

Setting: A research laboratory in an academic medical center.

Transitional bonding with the Kois deprogrammer: a conservative treatment approach.

Restoration of a worn dentition has many challenges and considerations for the restorative dentist. Decisions on how to reconstruct the tooth structure that was lost as well as eliminating the risk factors that caused the problem must be addressed. Adding to the complexity is the ever-present demand for minimal dentistry that will satisfy the goals of the treatment while not increasing the long-term risks.

Effects of obesity on rehabilitation outcomes after orthopedic trauma.

Objective: This study examined whether differences existed in inpatient rehabilitation outcomes and therapy participation in nonobese and obese patients with orthopedic trauma.

Design: This was a retrospective study of 294 consecutive patients admitted to an inpatient rehabilitation hospital. Main outcomes included participation in therapy sessions, Functional Independence Measure (FIM) ratings, walking distance and stair climb, length of stay, FIM efficiency (FIM score gain/length of stay), and discharge to home.

Obesity and long term functional outcomes following elective total hip replacement.

Introduction: Obesity rates continue to rise and more total hip arthroplasty procedures are being performed in progressively younger, obese patients. Hence, maintenance of long term physical function will become very important for quality of life, functional independence and hip prosthesis survival. Presently, there are no reviews of the long term efficacy of total hip arthroplasty on physical function.

Rapid changes in gait, musculoskeletal pain, and quality of life after bariatric surgery.

Background: Joint pain is a common musculoskeletal complaint of morbidly obese patients that can result in gait abnormalities, perceived mobility limitations, and declining quality of life (QOL). It is not yet known whether weight loss 3 months after bariatric surgery can induce favorable changes in joint pain, gait, perceived mobility, and QOL. Our objectives were to examine whether participants who had undergone bariatric surgery (n = 25; laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass or laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding) demonstrate improvements in joint pain, gait (speed, stride/step length, width of base of support, toe angles, single/double support, swing and stance time, functional ambulatory profile), mobility, and QOL by 3 months compared with nonsurgical controls (n = 20).

Functional impairment in obesity: a focus on knee and back pain.

SUMMARY Cross-sectional and longitudinal evidence strongly indicate that obesity is related to physical impairment and joint pain, particularly in the lumbar spine, sacroiliac and knee joints. What is most disturbing is that obese children under 15 years are now reporting joint pain and cannot perform functional tasks as well as their nonobese counterparts. As the prevalence of obesity rises, so do the rates of musculoskeletal disease and physical dysfunction.