Preferences and Avoidance of Sleeping Positions Among Patients With Chronic Low Back Pain: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background Chronic low back pain (CLBP) is a common issue among the working-age population. Sleeping position may affect CLBP, with the prone position commonly suggested to be avoided. This study aims to examine the relationship between preferred and avoided sleeping positions and to explore the frequency of increased pain in various sleeping positions among patients with nonspecific CLBP and pain and disability levels.

Trunk muscle activation of core stabilization exercises in subjects with and without chronic low back pain.

Background: Weakness and atrophy in trunk muscles have been associated with chronic low back pain (CLBP).

Objective: This study aimed to identify isometric exercises resulting the highest trunk muscle activity for individuals with and without CLBP.

Methods: Fourteen males with CLBP and 15 healthy age-matched healthy subjects were recruited for this study.

The McKenzie Method versus guideline-based advice in the treatment of sciatica: 24-month outcomes of a randomised clinical trial.

Objective: To compare the effectiveness of a McKenzie Method intervention in patients with sciatica with guideline-based patient education.

Design: Multi-centre, assessor-blinded, parallel-group, randomised trial.

Setting: Two tertiary hospitals providing operative spinal care.

Cross-cultural adaptation and validation of the Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic shoulder and elbow score in Finnish-speaking overhead athletes.

Background: The Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic Shoulder and Elbow score (KJOC) is developed to evaluate the shoulder and elbow function in overhead athletes. To date, the score has not been adapted into Finnish language. The aim of this study was to perform a cross-cultural adaptation of the Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic Shoulder and Elbow score (KJOC) into Finnish language and evaluate its validity, reliability, and responsiveness in overhead athletes.

Interactive multiobjective optimization for finding the most preferred exercise therapy modality in knee osteoarthritis.

Background: There are no explicit guidelines or tools available to support clinicians in selecting exercise therapy modalities according to the characteristics of individual patients despite the apparent need.

Objective: This study develops a methodology based on a novel multiobjective optimization model and examines its feasibility as a decision support tool to support healthcare professionals in comparing different modalities and identifying the most preferred one based on a patient's needs.

Methods: Thirty-one exercise therapy modalities were considered from 21 randomized controlled trials.

Associations of neck muscle strength and cervical spine mobility with future neck pain and disability: a prospective 16-year study.

Background: Neck pain has been associated with weaker neck muscle strength and decreased cervical spine range of motion. However, whether neck muscle strength or cervical spine mobility predict later neck disability has not been demonstrated. In this 16-year prospective study, we investigated whether neck muscle strength and cervical spine mobility are associated with future neck pain and related disability in women pain-free at baseline.

Use of conservative therapy before and after surgery for carpal tunnel syndrome.

Background: Conservative therapies are typically offered to individuals who experience mild or intermittent symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) or postoperatively to subjects who have undergone carpal tunnel release. Although long-term studies report mostly positive results for carpal tunnel release, knowledge on the need for conservative treatments following surgery is scarce. The aim of this retrospective cohort study was to examine the use of conservative therapies before and after carpal tunnel releasing surgery.

Effect of biomechanical footwear on upper and lower leg muscle activity in comparison with knee brace and normal walking.

Aim: To evaluate the activity of knee stabilizing muscles while using custom-made biomechanical footwear (BF) and to compare it when walking barefoot and with a knee brace (Unloader®).

Methods: Seventeen healthy working-aged (mean age: 29 years; standard deviation: 8 years) individuals participated. The knee brace was worn on the right knee and BF in both legs.

Impact or No Impact for Women With Mild Knee Osteoarthritis: A Bayesian Meta-Analysis of Two Randomized Controlled Trials With Contrasting Interventions.

Objective: To predict the probability of a benefit from 2 contrasting exercise programs for women with a new diagnosis of mild knee osteoarthritis, and to estimate the short- and long-term effects of aquatic resistance training (ART) and high-impact aerobic land training (HLT) compared with a control.

Methods: Original data sets from 2 previously conducted randomized controlled trials were combined and used in a Bayesian meta-analysis. Group differences in multiple response variables were estimated.

Structural validity of the Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire and its short version, the 6-Item CTS symptoms scale: a Rasch analysis one year after surgery.

Background: The Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire (BCTQ) and its shorter version, the Six-Item Carpal Tunnel Symptoms Scale (CTS-6), are widely used for assessing function and/or symptoms in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome. This study examined the structural validity of the BCTQ and CTS-6 among patients who had undergone surgery for treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome.

Methods: The data for this cross-sectional analysis were obtained from 217 adult patients who had undergone carpal tunnel release surgery 1 year earlier.

Enhanced rehabilitation guidance after arthroscopic capsulolabral repair of the shoulder: a randomized controlled trial.

Objective: To compare the effects of a 12-month home-based exercise program to usual care in patients after arthroscopic capsulolabral repair of the shoulder.

Design: Randomized controlled trial.

Setting: Outpatient physical and rehabilitation medicine clinic.

Construct validity and reliability of the Finnish version of the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score.

Background: The Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) is a commonly used knee assessment and outcome tool in both clinical work and research. However, it has not been formally translated and validated in Finnish. The purpose of this study was to translate and culturally adapt the KOOS questionnaire into Finnish and to determine its validity and reliability among Finnish middle-aged patients with knee injuries.

Pulsed electromagnetic field therapy in the treatment of pain and other symptoms in fibromyalgia: A randomized controlled study.

Low-energy pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) therapy has been suggested as a promising therapy to increase microcirculation, which is of great concern in patients with fibromyalgia. This study evaluated the effectiveness of PEMF therapy on the treatment of fibromyalgia. A group of 108 women with fibromyalgia were allocated to a 12-week treatment period with an active Bio-Electro-Magnetic-Energy-Regulation (BEMER) device and a similar treatment period with an inactive device.

Effects of Exercise on Patellar Cartilage in Women with Mild Knee Osteoarthritis.

Purpose: This study aims to investigate the effects of exercise on patellar cartilage using T2 relaxation time mapping of magnetic resonance imaging in postmenopausal women with mild patellofemoral joint osteoarthritis (OA).

Methods: Eighty postmenopausal women (mean age, 58 (SD, 4.2) yr) with mild knee OA were randomized to either a supervised progressive impact exercise program three times a week for 12 months (n = 40) or a nonintervention control group (n = 40).

Effects of high-impact training on bone and articular cartilage: 12-month randomized controlled quantitative MRI study.

Osteoarthritis and osteoporosis often coexist in postmenopausal women. The simultaneous effect of bone-favorable high-impact training on these diseases is not well understood and is a topic of controversy. We evaluated the effects of high-impact exercise on bone mineral content (BMC) and the estimated biochemical composition of knee cartilage in postmenopausal women with mild knee osteoarthritis.

Effects of a progressive aquatic resistance exercise program on the biochemical composition and morphology of cartilage in women with mild knee osteoarthritis: protocol for a randomised controlled trial.

Background: Symptoms associated with osteoarthritis of the knee result in decreased function, loss of working capacity and extensive social and medical costs. There is a need to investigate and develop effective interventions to minimise the impact of and even prevent the progression of osteoarthritis. Aquatic exercise has been shown to be effective at reducing the impact of osteoarthritis.

Neuromuscular performance and body mass as indices of bone loading in premenopausal and postmenopausal women.

The strong association between body mass and skeletal robusticity has been attributed to increasing skeletal loading with increasing mass. However, it is unclear whether body mass is merely a coarse substitute for bone loading rather than a true independent predictor of bone strength. As indices of neuromuscular performance, impulse and peak power were determined from vertical ground reaction force during a maximal counter movement jump test in 221 premenopausal and 82 postmenopausal women.