Muscle functional magnetic resonance imaging and acute low back pain: a pilot study to characterize lumbar muscle activity asymmetries and examine the effects of osteopathic manipulative treatment.

Background: Muscle functional magnetic resonance imaging (mfMRI) measures transverse relaxation time (T2), and allows for determination of the spatial pattern of muscle activation. The purposes of this pilot study were to examine whether MRI-derived T2 or side-to-side differences in T2 (asymmetries) differ in low back muscles between subjects with acute low back pain (LBP) compared to asymptomatic controls, and to determine if a single osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) session alters these T2 properties immediately and 48-hours after treatment.

Methods: Subjects with non-specific acute LBP (mean score on 110 visual analog score = 3.

Palpatory diagnosis training on the virtual haptic back: performance improvement and user evaluations.

Context: Learning palpatory diagnosis is a challenge for many osteopathic medical students. The Virtual Haptic Back (VHB) is an aid in teaching and learning these skills. The device simulates the contours and surface compliances of the human back and allows these to be felt through haptic interfaces.

Effect of counterstrain on stretch reflexes, hoffmann reflexes, and clinical outcomes in subjects with plantar fasciitis.

Context: Previous research indicates that osteopathic manipulative treatment based on counterstrain produces a decrease in the stretch reflex of the calf muscles in subjects with Achilles tendinitis.

Objectives: To study the effects of counterstrain on stretch reflex activity and clinical outcomes in subjects with plantar fasciitis.

Methods: In a single-blind, randomized controlled trial of crossover design, the effects of counterstrain were compared with those of placebo in adult subjects (N=20) with plantar fasciitis.

Stretch reflex and Hoffmann reflex responses to osteopathic manipulative treatment in subjects with Achilles tendinitis.

Context: Irvin M. Korr, PhD, hypothesized that sensitivity of the monosynaptic stretch reflex (ie, deep tendon reflex) plays a major role in the restriction-of-motion characteristic of somatic dysfunction, and that restoration of range of motion through osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) could be achieved by resetting of the stretch receptor gain.

Objective: To test Korr's hypothesis in the context of Achilles tendinitis, examining whether OMT applied to patients with Achilles tendinitis reduces the strength of the stretch reflex.

Self-efficacy in mastery learning to apply a therapeutic psychomotor skill.

This study assessed changes in Self-efficacy scores produced by each of the four steps of instruction used to teach students a therapeutic psychomotor skill used by osteopathic physicians. Volunteering subjects were an entire class of 83 first-year osteopathic medical students (40 men, 43 women, M age = 25.1 yr.

The "iliacus test": new information for the evaluation of hip extension dysfunction.

This study confirms the clinical value of investigating the "iliacus complex" during evaluations of the low back. A new "iliacus test" isolates this iliacus complex component of limited hip extension. Designed for a single joint, the test isolates motion across the hip joint.