Do Physical Activities Trigger Flare-ups During an Acute Low Back Pain Episode?: A Longitudinal Case-Crossover Feasibility Study.

Study Design: Prospective, longitudinal case-crossover study.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine whether physical activities trigger flare-ups of pain during the course of acute low back pain (LBP).

Summary Of Background Data: .

Acute low back pain is marked by variability: An internet-based pilot study.

Background: Pain variability in acute LBP has received limited study. The objectives of this pilot study were to characterize fluctuations in pain during acute LBP, to determine whether self-reported 'flares' of pain represent discrete periods of increased pain intensity, and to examine whether the frequency of flares was associated with back-related disability outcomes.

Methods: We conducted a cohort study of acute LBP patients utilizing frequent serial assessments and Internet-based data collection.

Nonsurgical treatment of lumbar disk herniation: are outcomes different in older adults?

Objectives: To determine whether older adults (aged ≥ 60) experience less improvement in disability and pain with nonsurgical treatment of lumbar disk herniation (LDH) than younger adults (< 60).

Design: Prospective longitudinal comparative cohort study.

Setting: Outpatient specialty spine clinic.

APRN regulation: the licensure-certification interface.

This article describes the development of a new regulatory model for advanced practice nursing. The history of nursing licensure is detailed to provide a perspective of the differences in the way that advanced practice roles evolved as a result of external forces and patient needs without the direct control of regulators and the resulting variations in the interpretation and implementation of the roles nationwide. Key provisions of the new consensus model for regulation are detailed, along with implications for each of the main stakeholder groups: licensure, accreditation, certification, and education.

The accuracy of the physical examination for the diagnosis of midlumbar and low lumbar nerve root impingement.

Study Design: Cross-sectional study with prospective recruitment. OBJECTIVE.: To determine the accuracy of the physical examination for the diagnosis of midlumbar nerve root impingement (L2, L3, or L4), low lumbar nerve root impingement (L5 or S1) and level-specific lumbar nerve root impingement on magnetic resonance imaging, using individual tests and combinations of tests.

Inciting events associated with lumbar disc herniation.

Background Context: No prior study has investigated the frequency of patient-identified inciting events in lumbar disc herniation (LDH) or their clinical significance.

Purpose: To examine the clinical frequency of patient-identified inciting events in LDH, and to identify associations between the presence of inciting events and the severity of the clinical presentation.

Study Design/setting: Cross-sectional analysis of data from a cohort study with prospective recruitment, with retrospective data collection on inciting events.

Activities performed by acute and critical care advanced practice nurses: American Association of Critical-Care Nurses Study of Practice.

Background: Accreditation standards for certification programs require use of a testing mechanism that is job-related and based on the knowledge and skills needed to function in the discipline.

Objectives: To describe critical care advanced practice by revising descriptors to encompass the work of both acute care nurse practitioners and clinical nurse specialists and to explore differences in the practice of clinical nurse specialists and acute care nurse practitioners.

Methods: A national task force of subject matter experts was appointed to create a comprehensive delineation of the work of critical care nurses.

The influence of intense exercise-based physical therapy program on back pain anticipated before and induced by physical activities.

Background Context: Pain anticipated before and induced by physical activities has been shown to influence the physical performance of patients with chronic back pain. Limited data exist as to the influence of treatment on this component of pain.

Purpose: This study attempted to determine if pain anticipated before and induced by physical activities was altered during an exercise-oriented physical therapy program for chronic back pain.

Exercise as a treatment for chronic low back pain.

Background Context: Exercise is a widely prescribed treatment for chronic low back pain, with demonstrated effectiveness for improving function and work.

Purpose: The goal of this article is to review several key aspects about the safety and efficacy of exercise that may help clinicians understand its utility in treating chronic back pain.

Study Design/setting: A computerized literature search of MEDLINE was conducted using "exercise," "fitness," "back pain," "backache" and "rehabilitation" as search words.

Comparison of short- and long-term outcomes for aggressive spine rehabilitation delivered two versus three times per week.

Background Context: Rehabilitation services using intensive exercise for the treatment of chronic spinal pain have traditionally been scheduled at a frequency of three times per week.

Purpose: In an attempt to reduce the cost of rehabilitation services, this study was designed to determine whether treatment offered two times per week could produce similar outcomes when compared with an established three times per week spine therapy program.

Study Design: Prospective cohort study.