Reproducibility of the 6-minute walk test in lung transplant recipients.

Purpose: There is reason to believe that the favorable measurement properties of the 6‑minute walk test (6MWT) reported for retest reliability and its capability to detect a true change in healthy individuals or persons with chronic respiratory disease may not apply to lung transplant recipients (LuTXr). We therefore investigated retest reliability of the 6MWT and, in addition, made an attempt to explore whether the 6MWT was sensitive enough to detect important changes that occur with postacute rehabilitation in LuTXr after first time LuTX.

Methods: Immediately before postacute rehabilitation, 50 LuTXr completed 6MWT testing twice, separated by 1-2 workdays (retest reliability), and were reassessed after completion of rehabilitation 2 months later (sensitivity to changes).

Comorbidities of bladder pain syndrome in the context of the HITOP distress category: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction And Hypothesis: The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis is, looking at different care settings, to examine prevalence rates of psychological distress-level comorbidities in female interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS) patients, their impact on Quality of Life (QoL), and the correlation between such comorbidities and symptom severity.

Methods: A systematic literature search according to PRISMA guidelines was conducted in PubMed, PsycInfo, Web of Science, Science Direct, and Google Scholar.

Results: Twenty-nine studies were found that met inclusion criteria.

In-depth analysis of life values and their corresponding inhibitors and facilitators in chronic low back pain patients: A mixed-method approach.

Background: The struggle with pain often interferes with the ability of chronic low back pain (CLBP) patients to pursue important life values due to psychological inflexibility.

Objective: This research examined life values, related inhibitors and facilitators relevant to personalized therapy planning.

Methods: Two hundred and forty-four CLBP patients completed the Chronic Pain Values Inventory (CPVI).

Mapping patient reported outcome measures for low back pain to the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health using random forests.

Background: There is need for feasible and efficient concepts to document patients functioning impairment according to the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) without imposing additional burden to clinical practice.

Aim: The aim of this study was to develop and validate an automatic linking approach that translates information derived from patient reported outcome measures (PROMs) into the ICF.

Design: Proof-of-concept study.

Psychological Subgrouping to Assess the Risk for the Development or Maintenance of Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain: Is This the Way Forward?

Background: Because musculoskeletal pain problems are so prevalent, new methods of evaluating and treating patients are needed to increase effectiveness. Subgrouping is a method wherein patients are classified into defined groups on the basis of psychosocial factors with the expectation of more specific and tailored treatments can be prescribed for them. For those seeking care for a new episode, the risk of developing chronic pain-related disability is assessed, whereas, for those with existing pain, the risk for the maintenance of the chronic pain problem is evaluated.

Endogenous Modulation of Pain: The Role of Exercise, Stress, and Cognitions in Humans.

Background: Pain is a complex and highly subjective phenomenon that can be modulated by several factors. On the basis of results from experimental and clinical studies, the existence of endogenous pain modulatory mechanisms that can increase or diminish the experience of pain is now accepted.

Methods: In this narrative review, the pain modulatory effects of exercise, stress, and cognitions in humans are assessed.

Age-related test-retest reliability of isometric trunk torque measurements in patiens with chronic low back pain.

Objective: To investigate the short- and long-term reliability of isometric trunk strength measurements in patients with chronic low back pain in different age groups.

Design: Test-retest reliability study.

Patients: A total of 210 patients (age groups 18-39, 40-59 and 60-90 years).

Diagnostic value of trunk flexion-extension testing in old chronic low back pain patients.

Purpose: Dynamic trunk flexion-extension testing has been proven to objectively diagnose low back pain in persons under the age of 60 years but older persons have difficulty complying with standardized movement velocity.

Methods: 190 patients and 71 matched healthy volunteers (18-90 years of age) performed modified testing by holding static positions at standing, half, and full trunk flexion.

Results: Lumbar extensor muscle activity in isometric positions was significantly higher in patients with higher activity in the oldest (60-90 years) and the middle-aged (40-59 years) but not in the youngest (18-39 years) subgroups compared to normal.

Age and gender related neuromuscular pattern during trunk flexion-extension in chronic low back pain patients.

Background: The root mean square surface electromyographic activity of lumbar extensor muscles during dynamic trunk flexion and extension from standing has repeatedly been recommended to objectively assess muscle function in chronic low back pain patients. However, literature addressing older patients is sparse. This cross sectional study sought to examine differences in neuromuscular activation between age groups (>60 versus 40-60 versus <40 years) and sexes during a standardized trunk flexion-extension task.

Age and gender related neuromuscular changes in trunk flexion-extension.

Background: The root mean square surface electromyographic activity of lumbar extensor muscles during dynamic trunk flexion and extension from a standing position and task specific spine ranges of motion objectively assess muscle function in healthy young and middle age individuals. However, literature on neuromuscular activation and associated spine and hip kinematics in older individuals is sparse. This cross sectional study sought to examine the sex and age (<40 versus >60 years) related differences in the neuromuscular activation profiles of the lumbar extensors and the related spine and hip kinematics from healthy individuals during a standardized trunk flexion-extension task.

The potential use of spectral electromyographic fatigue as a screening and outcome monitoring tool of sarcopenic back muscle alterations.

Background: To examine whether or not median frequency surface electromyographic (MF-EMG) back muscle fatigue monitoring would be able to identify alterations in back muscle function in elderly muscles, if a protocol was used that allowed optimum standardization of the processes underlying electromyographic fatigue, and whether these tests were reliable from day to day.

Methods: A total of 42 older (21 females; 67 (±10.5) years old) and 44 younger persons (19 females; 33 (±10) years) performed maximum isometric back extensions which were followed by one 30 s lasting 80% submaximum extension.

Reliability of isometric trunk moment measurements in healthy persons over 50 years of age.

Objective: To determine the short- and long-term test-retest reliability of maximum isometric trunk moment measurements in healthy volunteers over 50 years of age, to compare these results with those from volunteers younger than 50 years, and to test whether volunteers' anticipatory emotional state affects the precision of these measurements.

Methods: Forty-two older persons (21 females; age range 50-90 years) and 44 younger persons (19 females; age range 18-49 years) performed maximum isometric trunk extensions, flexions, and rotations using dynamometers (DAVID, Fi, David Health Solutions Ltd, Helsinki, Finland). They repeated the tests after 1-2 days (short-term) and at 6 weeks (long-term).