Influence of feedback schedule in motor performance and learning of a lumbar multifidus muscle task using rehabilitative ultrasound imaging: a randomized clinical trial.

Background And Purpose: Low back pain (LBP) may be associated with inadequate multifidus muscle function. Varying the frequency and timing of feedback may enhance acquisition and retention of multifidus muscle recruitment during exercise.

Subjects: Subjects without LBP (n=30) were randomly assigned to a constant (CON) or variable (VAR) feedback group.

Between-day repeatability and symmetry of multifidus cross-sectional area measured using ultrasound imaging.

Study Design: Prospective test-retest, intrarater reliability study.

Objectives: To estimate the intrarater reliability, asymmetry, and associated error with measurement of the cross-sectional area (CSA) of the bilateral S1 multifidi when measured by a physical therapist following a short course of self-directed training in ultrasound imaging.

Background: There is increasing interest in the assessment of the lumbar multifidus during the recovery from low back injury.

Dynamics, stability, and control of stepping.

The dynamics, stability, and control of stepping are considered. The role of internal models is elaborated. The main objective of the paper is to provide a better understanding of the machinery and processing in the central nervous system (CNS) that relates to stepping.

The interrater reliability among physical therapists newly trained in a classification system for acute low back pain.

Study Design: A prospective methodological interrater reliability study.

Objectives: To calculate the interrater reliability among clinicians newly trained in a classification system for acute low back pain and to determine the level of agreement at key junctures within the classification algorithm.

Background: The utility of a classification system for patients with low back pain depends on its reliability and generalizability.

Physical therapy on trial: the rationale, organization, and impact of a mock trial on physical therapy students' attitudes toward and confidence in research.

A learning activity, debate with a mock trial format, provides opportunities for physical therapy students to develop skill and confidence in learning to evaluate research critically, to formulate opinions regarding the credibility of the available evidence for a therapeutic approach to patient care, and to substantiate their choice of treatments with persuasive arguments and analytic rebuttals. The purposes of this study were to (1) describe the mock trial learning activity within a professional physical therapy curriculum and (2) determine whether the mock trial positively influenced students' attitudes toward research and confidence in their ability to interpret and apply research findings to clinical practice. A structured questionnaire was distributed to the 48 students at key points during the academic program to measure the overall effects of the physical therapy curriculum and the specific effects of the mock trial learning activity.

Actions of the scalene muscles for rotation of the cervical spine in macaque and human.

Study Design: Multiple single-subject design in 2 parts: 1 in anesthetized monkeys and a follow-up in human cadavers.

Objectives: To determine whether anterior, middle, and posterior scalene muscles rotate the cervical spine to the same (ipsilateral to the muscle) or opposite (contralateral to the muscle) side.

Background: Some physical therapy and anatomy textbooks indicate that all 3 scalenes rotate the cervical spine to the same side, some indicate that all rotate to the opposite side, and the rest ascribe different functions to the different scalenes.

Effect of center of pressure and trunk center of mass optimization methods on the analysis of whole body lifting mechanics.

Objective: This study evaluates methods to optimize the trunk center of mass position, the center of pressure position, or both to minimize the difference between horizontal location of the whole body center of mass estimated by the model and center of pressure measured during static postures.

Design: Within subjects repeated measures.

Background: Methods to optimize the trunk center of mass position have been proposed in the past, but have not been fully evaluated nor have accounted for errors in the location of the center of pressure.

Balance loss when lifting a heavier-than-expected load: effects of lifting technique.

Objectives: To compare the lifting techniques of subjects who did and did not maintain their balance with an unexpectedly heavy load, and to examine whether the balance loss increased low back loading.

Design: Repeated-measures design.

Setting: A research laboratory.