Contribution of the multifidus muscle for control of upright posture in subjects with spina bifida occulta.

Context: The multifidus muscle plays a role in controlling lumbosacral position and postural sway. One of its attachment sites is the exact site of spina bifida occulta (SBO).

Objective: To investigate the role of the muscle for postural control in SBO.

Efficacy of near-infrared irradiation on intractable hiccup in custom-set acupoints: evidence-based analysis of treatment outcome and associated factors.

Objective: The condition intractable hiccup (IH) is generally an incapacitating disorder indicating neurologic or non-neurologic disorders. Linearly polarized, near-infrared irradiation (SL) is shown to be effective in the treatment of IH where it is applied on custom-set acupoints. The aim of this study was to investigate the treatment efficacy of IH by SL on the acupoints and to survey the relationship between IH and comorbid-related factors.

First-ever Ischemic Stroke after a Flight in a Patient with Prior Poliomyelitis.

Survivors of poliomyelitis sometimes travel by air with mobility assistance. However, prolonged seating during long-haul flights may also possibly produce stroke events on polio-inflicted patients. A 48-year-old polio-inflicted male suffered a stroke after an extended flight.

Resolution of intractable hiccups after near-infrared irradiation of relevant acupoints.

Background: Intractable hiccups are occasionally encountered in the presence of stroke but are usually difficult to manage.

Methods: We describe two stroke patients with intractable hiccups that were refractory to pharmacological treatment but were well resolved by application to relevant acupoints with the modality linear polarized near-infrared ray equipment on PC 6 (Nei Guan), ST 36 (Zu San Li), and DU 9 (Chih Yang), which are the empirical acupoints aimed at regulating gastrointestinal mobility and function of the thoracic organ.

Results: The first patient who received the treatment for only one time came out with a dramatic termination of intractable hiccups 3 hours later and with no recurrence thereafter.

Isokinetic muscle strength of the trunk and bilateral knees in young subjects with lumbar disc herniation.

Study Design: Cross-sectional study comparing normal subjects and patients with lumbar disc herniation.

Objective: To evaluate trunk and knee muscle strength in patients with L4-L5 and/or L5-S1 disc herniation.

Summary Of Background Data: Numerous studies have shown that patients with low back pain have weaker trunk muscles.