Pain neuroscience education improves post-traumatic stress disorder, disability, and pain self-efficacy in veterans and service members with chronic low back pain: Preliminary results from a randomized controlled trial with 12-month follow-up.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and chronic low back pain (CLBP) are frequently co-morbid. Some research suggests that PTSD and CLBP may share common neurobiological mechanisms related to stress. Traditional biomedical education may be ineffective for PTSD and CLBP, especially when co-morbid.

Reliability of isokinetic decay slope is superior to using fatigue indices for shoulder horizontal abduction.

Introduction: Reliable and valid measurements for shoulder muscular endurance should be available for clinical use. The posterior shoulder endurance test offers a potential clinical assessment, but its construct validity isn't available. Since a criterion measure of muscular endurance is not available, this study's purpose was to determine a reliable method for testing shoulder muscular endurance using an isokinetic dynamometer.

Examination of Dry Needling Dose and Effect Duration for Individuals With Chronic Ankle Instability.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of a single treatment vs serial dry needling (DN) treatments of the fibularis longus on individuals with chronic ankle instability and to determine the longevity of any effect found.

Methods: Thirty-five adults with chronic ankle instability (24.17 ± 7.

Effect of Dry Needling on Spinal Reflex Excitability and Postural Control in Individuals With Chronic Ankle Instability.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare postural control and neurophysiologic components of balance after dry needling of the fibularis longus between individuals with chronic ankle instability (CAI) and a healthy control group.

Methods: This quasi-experimental university-laboratory study included 50 adult volunteers-25 with CAI (16 female, 9 male; age: 26 ± 9.42 years; height: 173.

Reproducibility and discriminant validity of the Posterior Shoulder Endurance Test in healthy and painful populations.

Objective: This investigation measured the reproducibility and discriminant validity of the Posterior Shoulder Endurance Test (PSET) on painful and non-painful populations.

Design: Reliability and validity study.

Setting: Laboratory setting.

Novel application of dry needling for neuropathic myofascial ankle pain and dysfunction following insidious integumentary infection: A case report.

Background: Dry needling (DN) was effectively applied to a patient whose primary complaint was hyperalgesia and decreased ankle function meeting criteria for neuropathic myofascial pain following an integumentary infection, skin grafting and immobilization.

Case Description: A 33-year-old male serving on active duty in the United States Air Force was referred to physical therapy for decreased ankle range of motion and pain, eight weeks after an integumentary infection on his ankle. The infection was complicated by tissue loss requiring skin grafting for closure.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms Contribute to Worse Pain and Health Outcomes in Veterans With PTSD Compared to Those Without: A Systematic Review With Meta-Analysis.

Introduction: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and chronic pain are frequently co-morbid conditions in the U.S. veteran population.

Dry needling equilibration theory: A mechanistic explanation for enhancing sensorimotor function in individuals with chronic ankle instability.

Patients with chronic ankle instability (CAI) experience a dynamic interplay between impaired mechanical structures and sensorimotor deficiencies that contribute to recurrent sprains and sensations of instability. Concomitantly, muscular trigger points (MTrPs) are known to occur following trauma, maximal or submaximal concentric contractions, and unaccustomed eccentric loads. Additionally, MTrPs are theorized to be exacerbated in low-load and repetitive strain activities.

Development of a pain neuroscience education program for post-traumatic stress disorder and pain.

: Individuals with co-morbid post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and pain have higher disability, pain, and pain catastrophizing beliefs than patients without PTSD. Pain neuroscience education (PNE) may be an effective tool to help those with PTSD and pain reduce maladaptive beliefs about pain. The purpose of this paper is to report the development and evaluation of a PNE curriculum for participants with PTSD and pain.

Effect of Chronic Low Back Pain and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder on the Risk for Separation from the US Army.

Introduction: Co-morbid post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and low back pain (LBP) are common reasons for increased disability in the Veteran communities. Medical discharge from the military represents a considerable financial cost to society. Little is currently known about the impact of LBP and PTSD as longitudinal risk factors for medical discharge from Active Duty military service.

Musculoskeletal Ultrasonography to Detect a Displaced Fracture of the Fifth Metatarsal.

A 27-year-old man presented to an outpatient physical therapy clinic with left lateral foot pain after playing lacrosse 1 day prior. Ultrasound imaging was performed immediately by the physical therapist, focusing on the fifth metatarsal distal shaft. Images obtained with a 13- to 6-MHz linear transducer demonstrated cortical bone disruption.

Muscle activity during maximal isometric forearm rotation using a power grip.

This study aimed to provide quantitative activation data for muscles of the forearm during pronation and supination while using a power grip. Electromyographic data was collected from 15 forearm muscles in 11 subjects while they performed maximal isometric pronating and supinating efforts in nine positions of forearm rotation. Biceps brachii was the only muscle with substantial activation in only one effort direction.

Factors influencing final outcomes in patients with shoulder pain: A retrospective review.

Study Design: Retrospective cohort.

Introduction: Rehabilitation interventions are commonly prescribed for patients with shoulder pain, but it is unclear what factors may help clinicians' prognosis for final outcomes.

Purpose Of The Study: The purpose of this study is to determine what factors are the best predictors of improved patient-reported outcomes at discharge in patients with shoulder pain.

Effects of Lumbosacral Manipulation on Isokinetic Strength of the Knee Extensors and Flexors in Healthy Subjects: A Randomized, Controlled, Single-Blind Crossover Trial.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of manual manipulations targeting the lumbar spine and/or sacroiliac joint on concentric knee extension and flexion forces. Torque production was measured during isometric and isokinetic contractions.

Methods: This was a randomized, controlled, single-blind crossover design with 21 asymptomatic, college-aged subjects who had never received spinal manipulation.

Scapular muscle performance in individuals with lateral epicondylalgia.

Study Design: Descriptive, laboratory-based, cross-sectional study.

Objectives: To describe scapular musculature strength, endurance, and change in thickness in individuals with unilateral lateral epicondylalgia (LE) compared to the uninvolved limb and the corresponding limb of a matched comparison group.

Background: Reported poor long-term outcomes for the nonsurgical management of individuals with LE suggest a less-than-optimal rehabilitation process.

Practice patterns when treating patients with low back pain: a survey of physical therapists.

Low back pain (LBP), is a common musculoskeletal problem, affecting 75-85% of adults in their lifetime. Direct costs of LBP in the USA were estimated over 85 billion dollars in 2005 resulting in a significant economic burden for the healthcare system. LBP classification systems and outcome measures are available to guide physical therapy assessments and intervention.

A simulated passive intervertebral motion task: observations of performance in a cross-sectional study.

Introduction: Passive motion palpation is an integral component in examination, diagnosis or classification, and treatment of persons with mechanical disorders of the cervical spine. If the magnitude of force application during passive movement assessment is associated with greater palpatory accuracy has not been established.

Methods: This investigation used a novel mechanical model as a basis for assessing the palpatory force of students and clinicians.

Vascular thoracic outlet in a competitive swimmer: a case report.

Thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS) is a well-described condition resulting from compression of the brachial plexus, subclavian artery and/or vein. Though symptoms of pain, numbness, tingling and signs of muscular weakness associated with this condition usually begin insidiously, on rare occasions the presentation is of acute onset and may represent an acute vascular compression. An unusual form of "effort" thrombosis of the subclavian vein may require emergency care in order to ensure controlled clot lysis and thrombus dissolution.

Electromyographical comparison of four common shoulder exercises in unstable and stable shoulders.

This study examines if electromyographic (EMG) amplitude differences exist between patients with shoulder instability and healthy controls performing scaption, prone horizontal abduction, prone external rotation, and push-up plus shoulder rehabilitation exercises. Thirty nine subjects were categorized by a single orthopedic surgeon as having multidirectional instability (n = 10), anterior instability (n = 9), generalized laxity (n = 10), or a healthy shoulder (n = 10). Indwelling and surface electrodes were utilized to measure EMG activity (reported as a % of maximum voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC)) in various shoulder muscles during 4 common shoulder exercises.

The effect of muscle energy techniques on disability and pain scores in individuals with low back pain.

Low back pain is the most common type of pain reported by adults in the United States. A variety of manual therapy techniques are used in the management of low back pain to reduce pain, improve function, and reduce disability. In recent years, muscle energy techniques have been increasingly used in clinics to treat low back pain.

Effect of foot orthotics on single- and double-limb dynamic balance tasks in patients with chronic ankle instability.

Deficits have been observed in patients with chronic ankle instability while performing dynamic balance tasks. Foot orthotic intervention has demonstrated improvements in static balance following lateral ankle sprain, but the effect is unknown in patients with chronic ankle instability during dynamic balance tasks. Twenty patients with self-reported unilateral chronic ankle instability volunteered for participation.

Electromyographic analysis of hip abductor exercises performed by a sample of total hip arthroplasty patients.

Weakness of the hip abductors after total hip arthroplasty may result in pain and/or functional limitation. Non-weight-bearing (NWB) exercises are often performed to target the hip abductors; however, muscle activation of NWB exercises has not been compared to weight-bearing (WB) exercises. Our purpose was to evaluate gluteus medius activation during 2 WB and 2 NWB hip abductor strengthening exercises.

A comparison of select trunk muscle thickness change between subjects with low back pain classified in the treatment-based classification system and asymptomatic controls.

Study Design: Cross-sectional descriptive.

Objectives: To investigate if muscle thickness change, as measured with rehabilitative ultrasound imaging (RUSI), is different across subgroups of patients with low back pain (LBP), classified in the Treatment-Based Classification (TBC) system, when compared to controls.

Background: Researchers have demonstrated that subgroups of patients with LBP exist and respond differently to treatment, challenging the assertion that LBP is "nonspecific.

Rehabilitative ultrasound measurement of select trunk muscle activation during induced pain.

Rehabilitative ultrasound imaging (RUSI) is considered a valid method to measure muscle activation in key spinal muscles in asymptomatic subjects. Research measuring muscle activation with RUSI in painful subjects is limited. The aim of this study was to determine if changes in muscle activation from experimentally induced pain can be measured by RUSI.

Measurement of lumbar multifidus muscle contraction with rehabilitative ultrasound imaging.

Rehabilitative Ultrasound Imaging (RUSI) has been validated as a noninvasive method to measure activation of selected muscles. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between muscle thickness change, as measured by ultrasonography, and electromyography (EMG) activity of the lumbar multifidus (LM) muscle in normal subjects. Bipolar fine wire electrodes were inserted into the LM at the L4 level of five subjects.