The Role of Resilience in Patients' Perception of Herniated Lumbar Intervertebral Discs.

Aims: Individuals with herniated discs can have a wide variety of clinical presentations, ranging from asymptomatic to severe spinal cord compression and pain. Perceptions the general public hold regarding the consequences of disc herniation are currently unknown. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to assess the general population's current views regarding lumbar disc herniations in order to better understand patient perceptions regarding herniated discs and the factors that may influence them.

High-Fatigue Dynamic Resistance Exercise Induces Significant Hypoalgesia Effect.

Hogge, R, Mascheri, M, Shurik, D, Hanney, WJ, and Anderson, AW. High-fatigue dynamic resistance exercise induces significant hypoalgesia effect. J Strength Cond Res 39(2): 165-172, 2025-Although dynamic resistance exercise is a recommended treatment for patients with musculoskeletal pain, optimal intensity to create hypoalgesia has not been established.

The Effect of Myofascial Stretching on Mechanical Nociception and Contributing Neural Mechanisms.

Myofascial stretching is often prescribed in the management of musculoskeletal pain. However, the neural mechanisms contributing to a decrease in pain are unknown. Stretching produces a sensation that may act as a conditioning stimulus in a conditioned pain modulation response.

The Immediate Effects of a Standardized Kettlebell Swing Protocol on Lumbar Paraspinal Muscle Function: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Hanney, WJ, Perez, A, Collado, G, Palmer, AC, Wilson, AT, Richardson, RM, and Kolber, MJ. J Strength Cond Res 38(11): 1854-1859, 2024-Kettlebell swings (KBSs) are commonly used to target the lumbar erector spinae and lower body musculature. This exercise exhibits distinct loading properties that requires cyclical contraction of the trunk extensors and posterior chain, potentially explaining its novel influence on muscle contractility.

The effect of resistance exercise on multimodal pain thresholds in local and systemic muscle sites.

Dynamic resistance exercise may produce reductions in pain locally at the exercising muscle and systemically at non-exercising sites. However, limited research has examined these changes with multiple noxious stimuli. This study examined changes in heat pain threshold (HPT) and pressure pain threshold (PPT) on different musculature after an upper and lower body exercise to compare local and systemic effects.

Task-specific resistance training adaptations in older adults: comparing traditional and functional exercise interventions.

Muscle strength declines ∼3% per year after the age of 70. Resistance training guidelines for older adults are often based on free-weight and machine exercises, which may be inaccessible and lack carryover to activities of daily living. We tested the hypothesis that resistance training adaptations in older adults are task-specific.

Exercise induced hypoalgesia during different intensities of a dynamic resistance exercise: A randomized controlled trial.

Introduction: Exercise produces an immediate lessening of pain sensitivity (Exercise-Induced Hypoalgesia (EIH)) in healthy individuals at local and distant sites, possibly through a shared mechanism with conditioned pain modulation (CPM). Dynamic resistance exercise is a recommended type of exercise to reduce pain, yet limited research has examined the effects of intensity on EIH during this type of exercise. Therefore, the primary purpose of this study is to compare changes in PPT at a local and distant site during a leg extension exercise at a high intensity, a low intensity, or a quiet rest condition.

The effect of auto-generated corrective exercise programming on movement literacy among firefighters: a pilot study.

Introduction: Approximately 50% of firefighter injuries occur in the musculoskeletal system. Poor movement quality increases injury risk, while movement-based interventions may reduce injuries.

Purpose: Investigate the effectiveness of auto-generated exercise programming on movement literacy scores among firefighters with lower baseline Functional Movement System (FMS™) scores.

Innovations in the Assessment of Skeletal Muscle Health: A Glimpse into the Future.

Skeletal muscle is the largest organ system in the human body and plays critical roles in athletic performance, mobility, and disease pathogenesis. Despite growing recognition of its importance by major health organizations, significant knowledge gaps remain regarding skeletal muscle health and its crosstalk with nearly every physiological system. Relevant public health challenges like pain, injury, obesity, and sarcopenia underscore the need to accurately assess skeletal muscle health and function.

Biopsychosocial contributors to irritability in individuals with shoulder or low back pain.

Objectives: Irritability is a foundational clinical reasoning concept in rehabilitation to evaluate reactivity of the examination and treatment. While originally theorized to reflect tissue damage, a large body of evidence supports pain is a biopsychosocial experience impacted by pain sensitivity and psychological factors. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine biopsychosocial contributors to irritability.

Effect of a Standardized Training Program to Enhance the Therapeutic Alliance in Patients with Low Back Pain: A Mixed-Methods Analytical Approach.

Background: Therapeutic alliance improves pain, disability, and quality of life outcomes. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of a training protocol aimed at enhancing the therapeutic alliance in patients with chronic low back pain.

Methods: 19 physical therapists (DPT) and 16 student physical therapists (SPT) completed a therapeutic alliance training course with a quantitative questionnaire completed before and after the training along with a follow-up qualitative interview.

The Association Between the Patient Self-Report Survey for the Assessment of Fibromyalgia with Pain Sensitivity and Psychological Factors in Individuals with Musculoskeletal Pain.

Purpose: The Patient Self-Report Survey for the Assessment of Fibromyalgia may potentially be a method for subgrouping patients with musculoskeletal pain who have a nociplastic pain presentation. Limited research has explored the convergent validity of this questionnaire against psychophysical measures of pain sensitivity and psychological factors in individuals with musculoskeletal pain. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to examine the strength of the association between total scores on the Patient Self-Report Survey for the Assessment of Fibromyalgia with clinical, pain sensitivity, and psychological factors.

The Influence of Personality Type on Patient Outcome Measures and Therapeutic Alliance in Patients with Low Back Pain.

Background: Low back pain (LBP) has been shown to have various biological, psychological, and social factors that affect prognosis. However, it is unclear how personality may influence self-reported outcome measures and therapeutic alliance (TA).

Methods: Eysenck's personality inventory was used to assess personality, while the numeric pain rating scale (NPRS), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia (TSK), Global Rating of Change (GROC), and the Working Alliance Inventory (WAI) measured patient progress and relationship strength.

Is it Time to Normalize Scapular Dyskinesis? The Incidence of Scapular Dyskinesis in Those With and Without Symptoms: a Systematic Review of the Literature.

Background: Up to 67% of adults experience shoulder pain in their lifetime. Numerous factors are related to the etiology of shoulder pain, one of which is thought to be scapular dyskinesis (SD). Given the prevalence of SD among the asymptomatic population a concern is that the condition is being medicalized (clinical findings suggested to require treatment but is ultimately a normal finding).

Perceived barriers to accessing physical therapy services in Florida among individuals with low back pain.

Background: Low back pain (LBP) affects up to 84% of adults and physical therapy (PT) has been reported to be an effective approach to conservative care. For those individuals with LBP referred to PT, the decision to initiate and follow through with care is influenced by numerous factors. Currently, a paucity of evidence exists to identify barriers for patients with LBP to access PT care.

Personality Type and Chronic Pain: The Relationship between Personality Profile and Chronic Low Back Pain Using Eysenck's Personality Inventory.

Background: Personality type plays a key role in how individuals respond to a variety of stimuli; however, it is unclear if there is a significant influence on pain perception. While pain is associated with many conditions, chronic low back pain (cLBP) is one of the most prevalent and debilitating problems in modern society. Treating this condition can be a challenge and clinicians must understand all factors that can influence pain perception.

Application of a nonlinear periodization program among firefighters returning to full duty from an injury: A case series.

Objective: The purpose of this case series was to observe physical performance changes following an 8-week nonlinear periodization training program on firefighters currently on light duty who were cleared to participate in full physical activities.

Methods: Two firefighters underwent an 8-week nonlinear periodization program. Participant 1 was returning from anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction and participant 2 from a non-surgical low back injury.

The Reliability and Validity of a Clinical Measurement Proposed to Quantify Humeral Torsion.

Background: Range of motion (ROM) impairments of the overhead athletes' shoulder are commonly addressed through mobility-based treatments, however, adaptations from humeral torsion (HT) are not amenable to such interventions. A clinical measurement to quantify HT has been proposed, however, the validity is not conclusive.

Purpose: The primary aim of this study is to determine the intrarater reliability and standard error of measurement (SEM) of the biceps forearm angle (BFA) measurement.

The Efficacy and Treatment Fidelity of Kinesiology Taping in Conjunction With Conservative Treatment Interventions Among Individuals With Shoulder Pain: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis.

Purpose: Kinesiology taping is a common intervention used to treat individuals with shoulder pain. While there have been several studies published to date evaluating the effectiveness of this intervention, a systematic review with meta-analysis synthesizing the collective effectiveness of kinesiology taping is not available. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to perform a systematic review with meta-analysis investigating the efficacy and treatment fidelity of kinesiology taping (KT) in combination with conservative interventions for shoulder pain.

The Association of Mammography Environment and Image Quality.

Objective: This study sought to determine if a mammogram performed in a multi-sensory environmental upgraded room (UR) is associated with improved image quality when compared to a standard room (SR).

Methods: A retrospective analysis (interrupted time series design) of compression force and posterior nipple line (PNL) measurements was performed on 303 women (mean age 60.9 years) who underwent screening mammography for 2 consecutive years (year 1 in SR, year 2 in UR) at a single outpatient facility.

Efficacy of instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization in comparison to gastrocnemius-soleus stretching for dorsiflexion range of motion: A randomized controlled trial.

Objectives: To determine the efficacy of IASTM of the gastrocnemius-soleus complex in comparison to a traditional stretching intervention on dorsiflexion ROM.

Methods: Sixty healthy participants were randomly allocated to one of 3 groups: IASTM (n = 20), stretching (n = 20), or control group (n = 20). The dependent variables for this study was dorsiflexion range of motion (ROM) via three measurement methods which included Modified root position 1- knee extended (MRP1), Modified root position 2- knee flexed (MRP2), and weight bearing lunge test (WBLT).

The efficacy and fidelity of clinical interventions used to reduce posterior shoulder tightness: a systematic review with meta-analysis.

Background: Posterior shoulder tightness (PST) has been implicated in the etiology of numerous shoulder disorders and is a source of stiffness in both postoperative and nonsurgical cohorts. Identifying efficacious interventions to address PST has the potential to impact patient outcomes in both operative and nonoperative cohorts. Our purpose was to analyze the efficacy of nonoperative clinician-assisted interventions used to mitigate PST.

Thoracic spine manipulation for the management of mechanical neck pain: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: To investigate the role of thoracic spine manipulation (TSM) on pain and disability in the management of mechanical neck pain (MNP).

Data Sources: Electronic databases PubMed, CINAHL, Pedro, Embase, AMED, the Cochrane Library, and clinicaltrials.gov were searched in January 2018.

Service Utilization and Costs of Patients at a Cash-Based Physical Therapy Clinic.

Cash-based physical therapy, a model in which the clinicians do not accept insurance payments and accept only direct payment, is quickly becoming an enticing option for clinicians who own their own practice. The purpose of this study was to describe service utilization for a single cash-based physical therapy clinic. Forty-eight charts of patients who had been discharged between 2013 and 2016 were randomly selected.

The reliability, validity, and methodologic quality of measurements used to quantify posterior shoulder tightness: a systematic review of the literature with meta-analysis.

Hypothesis And Background: Posterior shoulder tightness (PST) has been linked to numerous shoulder pathologies in both the general and athletic populations. Several methods for documenting PST have been described in the literature, which may lend to variability in clinical practice and research. The purpose of this study was to perform a systematic review with meta-analysis to investigate the reliability, validity, and methodologic quality of methods used to quantify PST.