A prospective, randomized clinical investigation of the treatment of first-time ankle sprains.

Background: Acute ankle ligament sprains are treated with the use of controlled mobilization with protection provided by external support (eg, functional treatment); however, there is little information regarding the best type of external support to use.

Hypothesis: There is no difference between elastic wrapping, bracing, bracing combined with elastic wrapping, and casting for treatment of acute, first-time ankle ligament sprains in terms of the time a patient requires to return to normal function.

Study Design: Randomized controlled clinical trial; Level of evidence, 1.

A neural network approach to motor-sensory relations during postural disturbance.

This study explored whether artificial neural networks (ANN) can be used to quantify the motor-sensory relationship during postural disturbance. An ANN model was constructed with seven mechanical stimuli to the visual, vestibular and somatosensory systems (i.e.

Validity and reliability of an internet-based temporal gait assessment tool with healthy adults: a pilot study.

Objectives: To assess in healthy adults the validity and the inter- and intrarater reliability of the Internet-based Shaw Gait Assessment (SGA).

Design: Concurrent test-retest reliability and validity study with participants, 4 raters, and the Elite motion analysis system (used as the criterion standard).

Setting: Motion analysis laboratory in a university physical therapy department.

Comparison of three lumbar orthoses using motion assessment during task performance.

Study Design: Four conditions (three orthoses, one no orthosis), full cross-over, randomized order, 12 subjects tested 3 months after a lumbar surgical arthrodesis.

Objectives: To assess whole torso and lumbar motions and comfort for each orthoses condition during performance of activities of daily living.

Summary Of Background Data: Previous noninvasive studies measured whole torso (not just lumbar) movement.

Workers' Compensation and return-to-work in low back pain.

The relationship of Workers' Compensation and litigation to low back pain (LBP) outcome is not established in the literature. Our study investigated the characteristics of disabled persons applying for Worker's Compensation or employing a lawyer, the factors predicting receipt of compensation, and the effects of compensation and litigation on employment outcome. One hundred sixty-nine unemployed persons with LBP were assessed by medical history, physical exam, biomechanical testing, psychiatric interview, and MMPI.

Determinants of return-to-work among low back pain patients.

This prospective study identifies physical, behavioral, and psychosocial correlates of subsequent employment status in a sample of low back pain patients. The sample of 150 subjects was drawn from 2 populations of persons with chronic low back pain: 87 individuals who were receiving care at a university low back pain clinic, and 63 individuals who had applied for (but not yet received) Social Security compensation on the basis of low back pain. All subjects had worked at least 3 months prior to their latest unemployment period and were currently out of work.