Ultrasound measures of the lumbar multifidus: effect of task and transducer position on reliability.

Objective: To (1) assess the intra- and inter-rater reliability of different ultrasound (US) measures of the lumbar multifidus muscle in subjects with and without chronic low back pain and (2) test 3 different ways to enhance reliability, that is, by testing different tasks, using a template, and averaging trials within or between days.

Design: Cross-sectional repeated-measures design.

Setting: Laboratory setting.

Reliability of ultrasound measures of the transversus abdominis: effect of task and transducer position.

Objective: To assess the reliability of ultrasound (US) measures of the transversus abdominis (TrA) muscle in a sample of subjects with and without specific chronic low back pain and to test whether reliability is enhanced by using different abdominal muscle activation tasks, with use of a foam cube for US transducer stabilization or by averaging 3 measures on the same image.

Design: Cross-sectional repeated-measures design.

Setting: Laboratory setting.

Age-related differences in center of pressure measures during one-leg stance are time dependent.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the changes in center of pressure (COP) movement in four time intervals (5, 10, 15 and 30 s) during a one-leg stance test performed by young and elderly adults. Twelve young adults (mean 20 years) and 12 elderly subjects (mean 68 years) participated in this study. The subjects performed three 30 s trials of an eyes open one-leg stance test on a force platform, in which the COP parameter was computed at four points in time from same original COP signal.

Evaluation of reconstructive surgery using artificial ligaments in 71 acute knee dislocations.

This retrospective study assessed the results of 71 patients with knee dislocations who underwent acute combined repair and reconstruction using Ligament Advancement Reinforcement System (LARS) artificial ligaments between June 1996 and May 2008 with a follow-up between two and eight years. The outcome measures used were the Lysholm score, the International Knee Documentation Committee form (IKDC 2000), the Tegner activity level score, the Meyers ratings, Telos stress radiography, range of motion and clinical knee stability testing. When comparing high- versus low-energy dislocations and knee dislocation (KD) II/III versus KD IV injuries, a better Lysholm score for the knee dislocation (KD) II/III group was found compared with the KD IV group.

Back muscle strength and fatigue in healthy and chronic low back pain subjects: a comparative study of 3 assessment protocols.

Objective: To compare the sensitivity of 3 different back test protocols in measuring differences in strength and fatigue between subjects with and without chronic low back pain (CLBP).

Design: Descriptive study using a repeated-measures design.

Setting: A research laboratory within a rehabilitation center.