Maximizing physical activity in athletes with amputations.

Medical care of athletes with disabilities parallels medical care for nondisabled athletes. Limb deficiencies, whether congenital, traumatic, or secondary to disease, confer certain challenges to sports participation. Although sports medicine research for people with disabilities lags behind sports medicine research for the nondisabled, there are nonetheless important points to be learned from the available body of published literature in this area.

Confirmation of needle placement within the piriformis muscle of a cadaveric specimen using anatomic landmarks and fluoroscopic guidance.

Of patients presenting to pain clinics, complaints are of low back or buttock pain with or without radicular leg symptoms is one of the most common. Piriformis syndrome may be a contributor in up to 8% of these patients. The mainstay of treatment is conservative management with physical therapy, anti-inflammatory medications, muscle relaxants, and correction of biomechanical abnormalities.

Raman spectroscopic analysis of the enigmatic Comper pigments.

An early church decoration project carried out by Sir Ninian Comper in 1896-98, involving the rood screen and canopy in St. Mary's, Egmanton, is currently undergoing restoration. Despite the rather prolific works of this famous ecclesiastical architect, there is little information available about the actual pigments that he used in his projects that gave rise to the special nomenclature "Comper green" and "Comper red".

The pathophysiology of stress fractures.

Stress fractures can occur in any active individual, from the weekend warrior to the elite athlete. As these injuries occur, it is important to understand how bones respond to the stresses placed on them. The understanding of potential intrinsic and extrinsic causes is important in treatment of these injuries.

Stress fractures and knee injuries in runners.

Running often can cause injuries to the knee as a result of kinetic chain dysfunctions. Addressing these dysfunctions in rehabilitation can prevent future injury. Stress fractures often occur in runners who engage in training errors.