Fatigue task-dependent effect on spatial distribution of lumbar muscles activity.

This study aims to identify how spatial distribution of lumbar muscle activity is modulated by different fatigue tasks. Twenty healthy adults performed two different isometric trunk extension endurance tasks (the modified Sorensen test and the inverted modified Sorensen test) until exhaustion. During these tasks, bilateral superficial lumbar muscle activity was recorded using high-density electromyography. The spatial distribution of activation within these muscles was obtained using the centroid coordinates in the medio-lateral and cranio-caudal directions. The effects of task and endurance time (left and right sides) were investigated using repeated measures ANOVA. Results revealed a significant lateral shift of the centroid throughout the fatigue tasks on both sides and no difference between tasks. Significant task × time interaction effects were found for the cranio-caudal direction on both sides showing a significantly more caudal location of the centroid in the modified Sorensen test compared to the inverted test at the beginning of the tasks. Our findings suggest that spatial distribution of lumbar muscle activity is task-dependent in a pre-fatigue stage while an alternative but similar muscle recruitment strategy is used in both tasks to maintain performance in the later stages of muscle fatigue.

Physical Predictors of Favorable Postoperative Outcomes in Patients Undergoing Laminectomy or Laminotomy for Central Lumbar Spinal Stenosis: Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Controlled Trial.

Study Design: Secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial. Objective: To identify preoperative physical variables associated with favorable postoperative outcome in individuals undergoing laminectomy or laminotomy for degenerative central lumbar spinal stenosis. Summary of Background Data: Clinical or condition specific variables have most commonly been studied as predictors of postoperative outcome in lumbar spinal stenosis. If associated to favorable postoperative outcome, modifiable physical variables would inform prehabilitation interventions for patients with degenerative central lumbar spinal stenosis. Methods: Patients awaiting surgery for central lumbar spinal stenosis were recruited to participate in a randomized controlled trial. Following baseline data collection of demographics, clinical portrait and physical testing, participants were randomized to either 6-week active prehabilitation program or hospital standard care. Complete baseline and postoperative data were obtained from 58 participants which were included in the present analysis. Favorable postoperative outcome was determined based on two outcome measures. Favorable outcome was defined as a decrease of ≥30% on the Numerical Rating Scale for leg pain intensity and a decrease of ≥30% on the Oswestry Disability Index for low back disability. Baseline physical variables were used to conduct binary logistic regression. Results: Sixty percent of participants were determined as having a favorable postoperative outcome. None of the included physical variables were found to be predictors of a favorable postoperative outcome based on leg pain intensity and low back pain-associated disability [trunk flexors muscle strength (OR = 0.73; 95%CI (0.02-27.12)] lumbar extensors muscle endurance [OR= 1.09; 95%CI (0.95-1.24)] total ambulation time [OR = 1.00 95%CI (0.99-1.01)] lumbar active range of motion in extension [OR = 1.08; 95%CI (0.95-1.23)] and knee extensors muscle strength [OR=1.02; 95%CI (0.98-1.06)]. Conclusion: Results show that none of the investigated variables, all related to low back and lower limbs physical capacity, were predictors of postoperative recovery. Further testing in larger cohort is needed to assess the full potential of physical outcome measures as predictors of postoperative recovery.

Effects of a motor control exercise program on lumbopelvic pain recurrences and intensity in pregnant women with a history of lumbopelvic pain: a study protocol for a randomized controlled feasibility trial.

BACKGROUND: About 50% of women experience lumbopelvic pain (LBPP) during their pregnancy. LBPP has negative repercussions on sleep, social and sexual life, physical and work capacity, and psychological health and contributes to physical inactivity. The benefits of LBPP prevention or treatment in pregnant women through specific exercises should therefore be further investigated. This study protocol has been designed to establish the feasibility of implementing motor control exercise program with pregnant women presenting with a history of LBPP. METHODS/DESIGN: Forty pregnant women with a history of LBPP will be recruited and randomly allocated to a control (20 participants) or intervention (20 participants) group. The control group will receive standard prenatal care, including basic information on what to do when suffering from LBPP. The intervention group will participate in three 40-min exercise sessions per week from < 20 weeks until 34-36 weeks of gestation: one supervised group session via the Zoom platform (once a month, this session will take place at the Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières) and two unsupervised sessions at home. A motor control exercise program will be developed to target strengthening of the lumbo-pelvic-hip core muscles and improve spinal and pelvic stabilization. Participants of this group will also receive standard prenatal care. Women of the control group will receive after 6 weeks postpartum an exercise program designed to reduce LBPP they may have developed during pregnancy and that may persist after delivery. Primary outcomes will be participants' recruitment, retention and adherence rates, safety, and acceptability of the intervention. Secondary outcomes will include LBPP incidence, frequency, and intensity, as well as self-reported functional disability, physical activity levels, fear avoidance behavior, anxiety, and depression. DISCUSSION: This study will inform the feasibility of conducting a full-scale randomized controlled study to test the effectiveness of a motor control exercise program on the prevention and treatment of LBPP in women with a history of LBPP. Adequate prevention and treatment of pregnant women with a history of LBPP should help limit the recurrences of LBPP or the aggravation of its intensity during pregnancy. TRIAL REGISTRATION: US National Institutes of Health Clinical Trials registry NCT04253717 April 27, 2021.

Comparison of walking variations during treadmill walking test between neurogenic and vascular claudication: a crossover study.

BACKGROUND: Lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) and peripheral arterial disease (PAD) are two distinct conditions characterized by similar symptoms including leg pain and walking limitations due to claudication. Differentiation between both origins can be difficult and characteristics such as symptom manifestations, time to relief in rest position and pain localization should be considered when determining diagnosis and the treatment plan. The objectives of this study were to compare changes in walking time to symptom change during treadmill tests and self-reported outcomes measures related to claudication, kinesophobia and global health between individuals with LSS, PAD and non-specific low back pain (nLBP). METHOD: Fifty-five patients (23 with LSS, 14 with PAD and 18 with nLBP) were recruited from May 2018 to March 2020 to complete a treadmill walking test involving two 5-min walking tasks (Upright and Forward Leaning Trunk (FLT) Walking tasks). The speed was set at 1.9 km/h (1.2 mph), and each task was followed by a 5-min rest period. Walking time to symptom change and Total walking time were recorded during each walking task. Patients were asked to complete four questionnaires related to the impact of claudication, walking impairment, kinesiophobia and global health. One-way ANOVAs were performed to compare walking time difference from the Upright to the FLT walking tasks and to compare questionnaires results between groups. RESULTS: One-way ANOVAs showed a significant difference between groups regarding difference in Walking time to symptom change between both tasks (F = 4.12, p = 0.022). The LSS group improved its Walking time to symptom change from the Upright to the FLT walking tasks more than the PAD (p = 0.34) and the nLBP group (p = 0.12). The nLBP group was less impacted by claudication and less impaired during walking compared to the LSS and PAD groups (ps < 0.001). The nLBP group also had less kinesiophobia than the LSS one (p < 0.001), but was similar to the PAD group. The global health rating was not statistically different between groups (p = 0.118). CONCLUSION: The test was able to distinguish neurogenic from vascular or nLBP related claudication. However, further studies are needed to validate this new treadmill walking test. TRIAL REGISTRATION: clinicaltrials.gov ( NCT04058171 ), Registered August 15, 2019 -Registered during recruitment.

Effects of chiropractic spinal manipulation on laser-evoked pain and brain activity.

The aim of this study was to examine the mechanisms underlying hypoalgesia induced by spinal manipulation (SM). Eighty-two healthy volunteers were assigned to one of the four intervention groups: no intervention, SM at T4 (homosegmental to pain), SM at T8 (heterosegmental to pain) or light mechanical stimulus at T4 (placebo). Eighty laser stimuli were applied on back skin at T4 to evoke pain and brain activity related to Aδ- and C-fibers activation. The intervention was performed after 40 stimuli. Laser pain was decreased by SM at T4 (p = 0.028) but not T8 (p = 0.13), compared with placebo. However, brain activity related to Aδ-fibers activation was not significantly modulated (all p > 0.05), while C-fiber activity could not be measured reliably. This indicates that SM produces segmental hypoalgesia through inhibition of nociceptive processes that are independent of Aδ fibers. It remains to be clarified whether the effect is mediated by the inhibition of C-fiber activity.

Effectiveness of an exercise-based prehabilitation program for patients awaiting surgery for lumbar spinal stenosis: a randomized clinical trial.

Lumbar spinal stenosis is the most common reason for spine surgery in older adults, but the effects of prehabilitation on perioperative outcomes among these patients have not been investigated. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a preoperative exercise-based intervention program compared with usual care on the improvement of clinical status, physical capacities and postoperative recovery of patients awaiting surgery for lumbar spinal stenosis. Sixty-eight participants were randomised to receive either a 6-week supervised exercise-based prehabilitation program or hospital usual care. The outcomes included both clinical and physical measures. Data collection occurred at post-intervention, and 6 weeks, 3- and 6-months post-surgery. Significant but small improvements were found in favour of the experimental group at the post-intervention assessment for pain intensity, lumbar spinal stenosis-related disability, lumbar strength in flexion, low back extensor muscles endurance, total ambulation time, and sit to stand performance. A significant difference in favor of the intervention group was found starting at the 3-month postoperative follow-up for low back-related disability. No adverse events were reported. Exercise-based prehabilitation did not improve short-term postoperative recovery in patients with lumbar spinal stenosis.

Non-Surgical Interventions for Lumbar Spinal Stenosis Leading To Neurogenic Claudication: A Clinical Practice Guideline.

Lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) causing neurogenic claudication (NC) is increasingly common with an aging population and can be associated with significant symptoms and functional limitations. We developed this guideline to present the evidence and provide clinical recommendations on nonsurgical management of patients with LSS causing NC. Using the GRADE approach, a multidisciplinary guidelines panel based recommendations on evidence from a systematic review of randomized controlled trials and systematic reviews published through June 2019, or expert consensus. The literature monitored up to October 2020. Clinical outcomes evaluated included pain, disability, quality of life, and walking capacity. The target audience for this guideline includes all clinicians, and the target patient population includes adults with LSS (congenital and/or acquired, lateral recess or central canal, with or without low back pain, with or without spondylolisthesis) causing NC. The guidelines panel developed 6 recommendations based on randomized controlled trials and 5 others based on professional consensus, summarized in 3 overarching recommendations: (Grade: statements are all conditional/weak recommendations) Recommendation 1. For patients with LSS causing NC, clinicians and patients may initially select multimodal care nonpharmacological therapies with education, advice and lifestyle changes, behavioral change techniques in conjunction with home exercise, manual therapy, and/or rehabilitation (moderate-quality evidence), traditional acupuncture on a trial basis (very low-quality evidence), and postoperative rehabilitation (supervised program of exercises and/or educational materials encouraging activity) with cognitive-behavioral therapy 12 weeks postsurgery (low-quality evidence). Recommendation 2. In patients LSS causing NC, clinicians and patients may consider a trial of serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors or tricyclic antidepressants. (very low-quality evidence). Recommendation 3. For patients LSS causing NC, we recommend against the use of the following pharmacological therapies: nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, methylcobalamin, calcitonin, paracetamol, opioids, muscle relaxants, pregabalin (consensus-based), gabapentin (very low-quality), and epidural steroidal injections (high-quality evidence). PERSPECTIVE: This guideline, on the basis of a systematic review of the evidence on the nonsurgical management of lumbar spine stenosis, provides recommendations developed by a multidisciplinary expert panel. Safe and effective non-surgical management of lumbar spine stenosis should be on the basis of a plan of care tailored to the individual and the type of treatment involved, and multimodal care is recommended in most situations.

Current Evidence on Diagnostic Criteria, Relevant Outcome Measures, and Efficacy of Nonpharmacologic Therapy in the Management of Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS): A Scoping Review.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this scoping review is to outline the current evidence regarding the management of restless legs syndrome (RLS) with nonpharmacologic approaches. To categorize the efficacy of conservative approaches in reducing symptoms of RLS, we have identified and summarized the current data regarding diagnostic criteria and relevant outcome measures, to inform future research and to guide clinical practice. METHODS: A scoping review was conducted using the National Center for Biotechnology Information; EBSCO; the Manual, Alternative and Natural Therapy Index System; the Cumulative Index to Nursing & Allied Health Literature; and Scopus. All literature related to RLS was extracted, screened, and reviewed based on titles and abstract contents. The authors then extracted data from the 24 admissible studies, that is, the ones about manual therapy, exercises, and alternative treatments for RLS. The Physiotherapy Evidence Database scale was used to rate the methodological quality of the included randomized controlled trials by 2 independent readers. RESULTS: In the 24 articles fulfilling the selection criteria, there was a consistent trend in the findings showing positive results in lowering RLS symptom severity. Most clinical studies based their diagnosis on the International Restless Legs Syndrome Study Group diagnostic criteria; the International Restless Legs Syndrome Study Group rating scale was the most often used outcome measure. The efficacy of exercise, yoga, massage, acupuncture, traction straight leg raise, cryotherapy, pneumatic compression devices, whole-body vibration, transcranial and transcutaneous stimulation, and near-infrared lights showed different effects on RLS symptom severity, and the level of evidence was evaluated. CONCLUSION: Our results showed clinically significant effects for exercises, acupuncture, pneumatic compression devices, and near-infrared light. Short-lasting effects were identified with whole-body cryotherapy, repetitive transcranial stimulation, and transcutaneous stimulation. More studies are necessary to investigate efficacy of yoga, massage, traction straight leg raise, and whole-body vibration. No adverse effects were identified for moderate-intensity exercise, yoga, massage, and pneumatic compression devices.

Association Between Physical Activity, Weight Loss, Anxiety, and Lumbopelvic Pain in Postpartum Women.

OBJECTIVE: Lumbopelvic pain (LBPP) affects 45% to 81% of pregnant women, and 25% to 43% of these women report persistent LBPP beyond 3 months after giving birth. The objective of this study was to investigate the association of physical activity, weight status, anxiety, and evolution of LBPP symptoms in postpartum women. METHODS: This was a prospective observational cohort study with 3 time-point assessments: baseline (T0), 3 months (T3), and 6 months (T6). Women with persistent LBPP 3 to 12 months after delivery were recruited. At each time point, pain disability was assessed with the Pelvic Girdle Questionnaire and the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), physical activity with Fitbit Flex monitors, and anxiety with the French-Canadian version of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Weight was recorded using a standardized method. Pain intensity (numerical rating scale, 0-100) and frequency were assessed using a standardized text message on a weekly basis throughout the study. RESULTS: Thirty-two women were included (time postpartum: 6.6 ± 2.0 months; maternal age: 28.3 ± 3.8 years; body weight: 72.9 ± 19.1 kg), and 27 completed the T6 follow-up. Disability, pain intensity, and pain frequency improved at T6 (P < .001). Participants lost a mean of 1.9 ± 4.5 kg at T6, and this weight loss was correlated with reduction in LBPP intensity (r = 0.479, P = .011) and LBPP frequency (r = 0.386, P = .047), Pelvic Girdle Questionnaire score (r = 0.554, P = .003), and ODI score (r = 0.494, P = .009). Improvement in ODI score at T6 was correlated with the number of inactive minutes at T3 (r = -0.453, P = .026) and T6 (r = -0.457, P = .019), and with daily steps at T6 (r = 0.512, P = .006). CONCLUSION: Weight loss is associated with positive LBPP symptom evolution beyond 3 months postpartum, and physical activity is associated with reduction in pain disability.

Feasibility of conducting an active exercise prehabilitation program in patients awaiting spinal stenosis surgery: a randomized pilot study.

Prehabilitation is defined as the process of augmenting functional capacity before surgery in preparation for the postoperative phase. This study intends to assess the feasibility of conducting a preoperative intervention program in patients with lumbar spinal stenosis and to report on the piloting of the proposed intervention. Patients were allocated to a 6-week supervised preoperative rehabilitation program or a control group. The intervention included supervised exercise sessions aimed to improve strength, muscular endurance, and spinal stabilization. Outcomes were measured at baseline, 6 weeks later and again 6 weeks, 3 months and 6 months after surgery. Sixty-five percent of admissible participants agreed to take part in the study, of which 5% dropped out before the end of the intervention period. Eighty-eight percent of potential training sessions were delivered without adverse event. Improvements were seen in favour of the experimental group at the preoperative assessment for active ranges of motion, leg pain intensity, lumbar extensor muscle endurance and walking capacities. Results show that slight modifications to the choice of outcome measures would increase feasibility of the main study. The absence of adverse events coupled with positive changes seen in dependant outcome measures warrant the conduct of a full-scale trial assessing the effectiveness of the intervention.

French-Canadian Adaptation and Validation of the Swiss Spinal Stenosis Questionnaire for Patients With Lumbar Spinal Stenosis.

STUDY DESIGN: An observational prospective study. OBJECTIVE: The study objective was to assess the reliability and validity of the French-Canadian version (FCSSSQ) of the Swiss Spinal Stenosis questionnaire (SSSQ). SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: The SSSQ is a validated disease-specific tool developed to assess pain, function, and satisfaction with care in patients with lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS). METHODS: The French-Canadian translation and adaptation of the SSSQ was completed following a four-stage approach: (1) forward translation; (2) synthesis; (3) expert committee review; and (4) testing of the questionnaire prefinal version. Psychometric properties were subsequently determined in patients who had undergone decompressive surgery for degenerative LSS. Patients completed the SSSQ adapted version, the Numerical Rating Scale, and the Oswestry Disability Index. Test-retest reliability was assessed with weighted Kappa score and intraclass correlation coefficient. Construct validity was evaluated using the Spearman correlation coefficient and responsiveness with the mean standardized response as well as the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC). Floor and ceiling effects and internal consistency were also evaluated. RESULTS: Twenty-five and 50 patients were included for the adaptation and validation processes, respectively. The test-retest reliability of the FCSSSQ total score was excellent [intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) = 0.996; 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 0.938-0.982]. High Spearman correlation coefficients were also found between the total FCSSSQ score and the leg pain Numerical Rating Scale (NRS, 0.801), back pain NRS (0.705), and the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI, 0.825) scores. External responsiveness analysis was satisfactory with an AUROC of 0.875 (95% CI 0.744-1.0). The lowest FCSSSQ possible score was observed in five patients (10%), whereas no patients reported the highest possible score. The Cronbach α coefficient ranged from 0.810 to 0.945 indicating good to excellent internal consistency. CONCLUSION: The French-Canadian version of the SSSQ is a reliable and valid questionnaire consistent with the original English version. This new version will help French-speaking clinicians and scientists document changes in condition and treatment satisfaction in patients with LSS. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 2.

Validation of the French-Canadian Pelvic Girdle Questionnaire.

OBJECTIVE: Pain in the pelvic girdle area is commonly reported during pregnancy and the postpartum period, and its impact on quality of life is considerable. The Pelvic Girdle Questionnaire (PGQ), developed in 2011 in Norway, is the only condition-specific tool assessing pelvic girdle pain-related symptoms and disability. The questionnaire was recently translated and adapted for the French-Canadian population. The objective of this study was to assess the measurement properties of the previously translated French-Canadian PGQ. METHODS: Eighty-two women with pelvic girdle pain were included in this validation study. The French-Canadian PGQ, pain intensity Numeric Rating Scale, and Oswestry Disability Index were completed by participants at baseline, 48 hours later, and 3 to 6 months later to assess test-retest reliability, construct validity, responsiveness, floor and ceiling effects, and internal consistency. RESULTS: Reliability analyses indicated an intraclass correlation coefficient of 0.841 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.750-0.901) for the global score. Construct validity analyses indicated a Spearman rank correlation coefficient of 0.696 with the Oswestry Disability Index. Responsiveness analyses identified an effect size of 0.908 (95% CI 0.434-1.644) and an area under the receiver operating characteristics curve of 0.823 (95% CI 0.692-0.953). There was no floor or ceiling effect, and internal consistency analyses indicated a Cronbach α of .933 for the activity subscale and .673 for the symptom subscale. CONCLUSION: Overall, the French-Canadian version of the PGQ is reliable, valid, and responsive, suggesting that it can be implemented in both research and clinical settings to assess functional limitations in pregnant and postpartum women.

The mechanism of back pain relief by spinal manipulation relies on decreased temporal summation of pain.

The aim of the present study was to determine whether thoracic spinal manipulation (SM) decreases temporal summation of back pain. The study comprised two controlled experiments including 16 and 15 healthy participants, respectively. Each study included six sessions during which painful or non-painful electrical stimulations were delivered in three conditions: (1) control (2) light mechanical stimulus (MS) or (3) SM. Electrical stimulation was applied on the thoracic spine (T4), in the area where SM and MS were performed. In Experiment 1, electrical stimulation consisted in a single 1-ms pulse while a single or repeated train of ten 1-ms pulses was used in Experiment 2. SM involved articular cavitation while MS was a calibrated force of 25N applied manually for 2s. For the single pulse, changes in pain or tactile sensation in the SM or MS sessions compared with the CTL session were not significantly different (all p's>0.05). In contrast, temporal summation of pain was decreased in the SM session compared with the CTL session for both the single and repeated train (p's<0.05). Changes were not significant for the MS sessions (all p's>0.05) and no effect was observed for the tactile sensation (all p's>0.1). These results indicate that SM produces specific inhibitory effects on temporal summation of back pain, consistent with the involvement of a spinal anti-nociceptive mechanism in clinical pain relief by SM. This provides the first mechanistic evidence of back pain relief by spinal manipulation.

Current Practices in Lumbar Surgery Perioperative Rehabilitation: A Scoping Review.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this review was to identify current practices and relevant patient-reported and objective outcome measures with regard to rehabilitation protocols directed at the lumbar spine in perioperative procedure settings in order to inform clinical practice and future research. METHODS: A literature search was performed in MEDLINE, CINAHL (Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature), the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, PEDro (Physiotherapy Evidence Database), and PubMed using terms relevant to surgical interventions, rehabilitation, and the lumbar spine. RESULTS: Twenty-nine studies met the inclusion criteria, and 28 investigated postoperative forms of rehabilitation. Patient-reported outcomes typically used were pain and disability, although a wide range of objective measures based on physical capacities were often reported. Rehabilitation programs, for the most part, included some form of strengthening exercises alone or in combination with stabilization exercises, aerobic conditioning, stretching, or education. Despite most studies reporting statistically significant results between intervention groups, considering clinically significant improvement within intervention groups yielded a different portrait. CONCLUSIONS: A wide range of objective and subjective outcomes is used to document changes after active rehabilitation. Program components include both active and assisted interventions combined with various means of education and discussion. Multimodal rehabilitation protocols after lumbar surgery may be used to improve patient-reported and objective outcome measures such as pain, disability, and physical function. Further research should be conducted on the effects of preoperative rehabilitation programs.

Effects of a prehabilitation program on patients' recovery following spinal stenosis surgery: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis is a prevalent condition in adults over the age of 65 and often leads to deconditioning. Although the benefits of surgery outweigh those of conservative approaches, physical rehabilitation may be used to improve function and to minimize the risk of persistent dysfunction. This study protocol was designed to establish the feasibility of a full-scale randomized controlled trial and to assess the efficacy of an active preoperative intervention program on the improvement of clinical parameters and functional physical capacity in patients undergoing surgery for lumbar spinal stenosis. METHODS/DESIGN: Forty patients will be recruited and randomly allocated to one of the 2 treatment arms: 6 weeks supervised preoperative rehabilitation program (experimental group) or hospital standard preoperative management (control group). The intervention group will be trained three times per week, with each session aiming to improve strength, muscular endurance, spinal stabilization and cardiovascular fitness. Intensity and complexity of exercises will be gradually increased throughout the sessions, depending on each participant's individual progress. Primary outcomes are level of low back disability and level of pain. Secondary outcomes include the use of pain medication, quality of life, patient's global impression of change, lumbar extensor muscles endurance, maximum voluntary contraction of lumbar flexor and extensor muscles, maximum voluntary contraction of knee extensors, active lumbar ranges of motion, walking abilities, and cardiovascular capacity. Both the primary and secondary outcomes will be measured at baseline, at the end of the training program (6 weeks after baseline evaluation for control participants), and at 6 weeks, 3 and 6 months postoperatively. DISCUSSION: This study will inform the design of a future large-scale trial. Improvements of physical performances before undergoing lumbar surgery may limit functional limitations occurring after a surgical intervention. Results of this study will provide opportunity to efficiently improve spinal care and advance our knowledge of favorable preoperative strategies to optimize postoperative recovery. TRIAL REGISTRATION: US National Institutes of Health Clinical Trials registry NCT02258672 , 10 February 2014.

Neuromechanical responses after biofeedback training in participants with chronic low back pain: an experimental cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to evaluate changes in neuromechanical responses and clinical outcomes in chronic low back pain participants after 4 sessions of biofeedback training. METHODS: Twenty-one participants took part in an electromyography biofeedback 4-session training program aimed at reducing lumbar paraspinal muscle activity during full trunk flexion. The sessions consisted of ~46 trunk flexion-extension divided into 5 blocks. The effects of training blocks and sessions on lumbar flexion-relaxation ratio and lumbopelvic ranges of motion were assessed. Changes in disability (Oswestry Disability Index), pain intensity (numerical rating scale), and fear of movement (Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia) were also evaluated. RESULTS: Analyses of variance revealed a significant block effect for which an increase in the flexion-relaxation ratio and the lumbar range of motion between block 1 and the other blocks for sessions 1 and 2 (P < .0001) was observed. However, no significant session or interaction effect was observed. Among clinical outcomes, only fear of movement significantly decreased between the baseline (mean [SD], 33.05 [7.18]) and the fourth session (29.80 [9.88]) (P = .02). There was no significant correlation between clinical outcomes and neuromechanical variables. CONCLUSION: Biofeedback training led to decreases in lumbar paraspinal muscle activity in full trunk flexion and increases in lumbopelvic range of motion in participants with chronic nonspecific low back pain. Although the neuromechanical changes were mostly observed at the early stage of the program, the presence of a decrease in the fear of movement suggests that the participants' initially limited ROMs may have been modulated by fear avoidance behaviors.

Chronic low back pain clinical outcomes present higher associations with the STarT Back Screening Tool than with physiologic measures: a 12-month cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Stratification strategies based on identifying patient's prognosis in order to guide patient care constitute one of the most prominent and recent approach in low back pain research. The STarT Back Screening Tool (SBST) although promising, has not been studied in patients with chronic low back pain (cLBP). Considering how challenging it is to translate research into practice, the value of integrating a new tool should be thoroughly assessed. The purpose was therefore to assess associations between the short- and long-terms clinical status and two types of variables, physiologic measures and the SBST, in participants with cLBP. The ability of both types of variables to discriminate between participants with and without higher levels of disability, pain, fear of movement and patient's global impression of change was also investigated. METHODS: Fifty-three volunteers with cLBP participated in an initial evaluation and follow-ups at 2-, 4-, 6- and 12-month. Physiologic measures (maximal voluntary contraction, maximal endurance and muscle activity evaluated during prone and lateral isometric tasks) and the SBST were assessed at baseline. Disability (Oswestry Disability Index, ODI), pain intensity (101-point Numerical Rating Scale, NRS), fear of movement (Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia, TSK) and patient's global impression of change (7-point scale, PGIC) were evaluated at baseline and at each follow-up. Aside the use of correlation analyses to assess potential associations; ROC curves were performed to evaluate the discriminative ability of physiologic measures and the SBST. RESULTS: The SBST allowed for the identification of participants presenting higher levels of disability (ODI ≥24 %), pain (NRS ≥37 %) or fear of movement (TSK ≥41/68) over a 12-month period (AUC = 0.71 to 0.84, ps < 0.05). The SBST score was also correlated with disability at each follow-up (τ = 0.22 to 0.33, ps < 0.05) and with pain intensity and fear of movement at follow-ups. Among physiologic measures, only maximal voluntary contraction was correlated to disability, pain intensity or fear of movement during the follow-up (|τ| = 0.26 to 0.32, ps < 0.05) and none was able to identify participants presenting higher levels of outcomes (AUC ps > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Physiologic measures obtained during prone and lateral tests have limited associations with the clinical status over a 12-month period in patients with nonspecific chronic low back pain. On the other hand, the STarT Back Screening Tool is useful for the identification of patients who will present higher levels of disability, pain intensity and fear of movement over a year. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinicaltrials.gov NCT02226692.

Multiple Venous Thromboses Presenting as Mechanical Low Back Pain in an 18-Year-Old Woman.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this case report is to describe a patient who presented with acute musculoskeletal symptoms but was later diagnosed with multiple deep vein thrombosis (DVT). CLINICAL FEATURES: An 18-year-old female presented to a chiropractic clinic with left lumbosacral pain with referral into the posterior left thigh. A provisional diagnosis was made of acute myofascial syndrome of the left piriformis and gluteus medius muscles. The patient received 3 chiropractic treatments over 1 week resulting in 80% improvement in pain intensity. Two days later, a sudden onset of severe abdominal pain caused the patient to seek urgent medical attention. A diagnostic ultrasound of the abdomen and pelvis were performed and interpreted as normal. Following this, the patient reported increased pain in her left leg. Evaluation revealed edema of the left calf and decreased left lower limb sensation. A venous Doppler ultrasound was ordered. INTERVENTION AND OUTCOMES: Doppler ultrasound revealed reduction of the venous flow in the femoral vein area. An additional ultrasonography evaluation revealed an extensive DVTs affecting the left femoral vein and iliac axis extending towards the vena cava. Upon follow-up with a hematologist, the potential diagnosis of May-Thurner syndrome was considered based on the absence of blood dyscrasias and sustained anatomical changes found in the left common iliac vein at its junction with the right common iliac artery. A week following discharge, she presented with chest pain and was diagnosed with venous thromboembolism. The patient was successfully treated with anticoagulation therapy and insertion of a vena cava filter. CONCLUSION: Although DVTs are common in the general population, presence in low-risk individuals may be overlooked. In the presence of subtle initial clinical signs such as those described in this case report, clinicians should keep a high index of suspicion for a DVT. Rapid identification of such clinical signs in association with a lack of objective examination findings warrants further evaluation due to potentially negative outcomes.

Humeral lateral epicondylitis complicated by hydroxyapatite dihydrite deposition disease: a case report.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this case report is to differentiate the recovery timeline expected for patients with simple lateral epicondylitis from an abnormal recovery period, in which case an underlying condition should be suspected. CLINICAL FEATURES: A 49-year-old woman presented to a chiropractic clinic with posterolateral right elbow pain. The history included chronic recurrent lateral elbow pain, followed by a traumatic event leading to sustained pain and disability. INTERVENTION AND OUTCOMES: Following a trial of conservative therapy including activity restrictions, soft tissue therapy, joint mobilizations, and therapeutic ultrasonography that led to no significant improvement, the patient was referred for diagnostic imaging that revealed hydroxyapatite dihydrite deposition disease. CONCLUSION: This report describes a case for which lateral epicondylitis symptoms failed to resolve because of an underlying condition (hydroxyapatite dihydrite deposition disease). This case emphasizes that primary care practitioners treating lateral epicondylitis should consider referral for further investigations when positive results are not achieved.

A delayed diagnosis of bilateral facet dislocation of the cervical spine: a case report.

OBJECTIVE: To review the case of a patient suffering from bilateral facet dislocation of the cervical spine. CLINICAL FEATURES: A 53-year-old male was involved in a car accident and was transported to the hospital. Cervical radiographs were taken at the emergency department and interpreted as normal. Four days later, he consulted a chiropractor where radiographs of the cervical spine were repeated. The examination revealed bilateral cervical facet joint dislocation at C5-C6 as well as a fracture involving the spinous process and laminae of C6. INTERVENTION AND OUTCOME: The patient was referred to the hospital and underwent surgery. CONCLUSION: Patients involved in motor vehicle accidents often consult chiropractors for neck pain treatment. A high index of suspicion due to significant history and physical examination findings should guide the clinician in determining the need for reviewing the initial radiographs (if taken and available) or request repeat studies, regardless of the initial imaging status.

OBJECTIF: Examiner le cas d'un patient souffrant d'une dislocation facettaire bilatérale de la colonne cervicale. CARACTÉRISTIQUES CLINIQUES: Un homme de 53 ans a été transporté à l'hôpital à la suite d'un accident de voiture. Les radiographies cervicales prises à l'urgence ont été jugés normales. Quatre jours plus tard, les radiographies de la colonne cervicale ont été répétées chez un chiropraticien. L'examen a révélé une dislocation facettaire bilatérale à C5­C6, ainsi qu'une fracture impliquant l'apophyse épineuse et les lames de C6. INTERVENTION ET RÉSULTAT: Le patient a été envoyé à l'hôpital où il a subi une intervention chirurgicale. CONCLUSION: Les patients impliqués dans des accidents de véhicules automobiles consultent souvent les chiropraticiens pour le traitement des douleurs cervicales. Un indice élevé de suspicion dû à l'histoire importante et aux résultats de l'examen physique doit pousser le clinicien à déterminer la nécessité de réviser les radiographies initiales (si disponibles) ou à demander la répétition des examens, peu importe l'interprétation initiale de l'imagerie.