The Use of Cluster Analysis by Partitioning around Medoids (PAM) to Examine the Heterogeneity of Patients with Low Back Pain within Subgroups of the Treatment Based Classification System.

Background: Current evidence in low back pain (LBP) focuses on population averages and traditional multivariate analyses to find the significant difference between variables. Such a focus actively obscured the heterogeneity and increased errors. Cluster analysis (CA) addresses the mentioned shortcomings by calculating the degree of similarity among the relevant variables of the different objects. Objective: This study aims to evaluate the agreement between the treatment-based classification (TBC) system and the equivalent 3 cluster typology created by partitioning around medoids (PAM) analysis. Material and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, a convenient sample of 90 patients with low back pain (50 males and 40 females) aged 20 to 65 years was included in the study. The patients were selected based on the 21 criteria of 2007 TBC system. An equivalent 3 cluster typology (C3) was applied using PAM method. Cohen's Kappa was run to determine if there was agreement between the TBC system and the equivalent C3 typology. Results: PAM analysis revealed the evidence of clustering for a C3 cluster typology with average Silhouette widths of 0.12. Cohen's Kappa revealed fair agreement between the TBC system and C3 cluster typology (Percent of agreement 61%, Kappa=0.36, P<0.001). Selected criteria by PAM analysis were different with original TBC system. Conclusion: Higher probability of chance agreement was observed between two classification methods. Significant inhomogeneity was observed in subgroups of the 2007 TBC system.

Spinal manipulation in the treatment of patients with MRI-confirmed lumbar disc herniation and sacroiliac joint hypomobility: a quasi-experimental study.

Background: To investigate the effect of lumbar and sacroiliac joint (SIJ) manipulation on pain and functional disability in patients with lumbar disc herniation (LDH) concomitant with SIJ hypomobility. Methods: Twenty patients aged between 20 and 50 years with MRI-confirmed LDH who also had SIJ hypomobility participated in the trial in 2010. Patients who had sequestrated disc herniation were excluded. All patients received five sessions of spinal manipulative therapy (SMT) for the SIJ and lumbar spine during a 2-week period. Back and leg pain intensity and functional disability level were measured with a numerical rating scale (NRS) and the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) at baseline, immediately after the 5th session, and 1 month after baseline. Results: A significantly greater mean improvement in back and leg pain was observed in the 5th sessions and 1 month after SMT. Mean changes in ODI in the 5th session and 1 month after treatment also showed significant improvement. The MCIC for NRS and ODI scores in the present study were considered 20 and 6 points, respectively. Therefore, the mentioned improvements were not clinically significant in the 5th session or at 1-month follow-up. Conclusion: Five sessions of lumbar and SIJ manipulation can potentially improve pain and functional disability in patients with MRI-confirmed LDH and concomitant SIJ hypomobility. Trial registration: Irct.ir (Identifier: IRCT2017011924149N33), registered 19 February 2017 (retrospectively registered).

The effect of Kinesio Taping on postural control in subjects with non-specific chronic low back pain.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to investigate the possible alterations in postural control during upright standing in subjects with non-specific chronic low back pain and the effect of Kinesio taping on the postural control. METHODS: Twenty subjects with non-specific chronic low back pain and twenty healthy subjects participated in this study. The center of pressure excursion was evaluated before the intervention for both groups, and immediately after intervention for the low back pain group. Independent sample t-test, Mann-Whitney test and repeated measure ANOVA were used for the statistical analysis of the data. RESULTS: There were significant differences in the center of pressure excursion between the low back pain group versus the healthy group. The results of the ANOVA demonstrated a statistically significant difference in the mean COP displacement and velocity before Kinesio Taping, immediately after, and 24 h after in the low back pain group. CONCLUSIONS: There are poor postural control mechanisms in subjects with non-specific chronic low back pain. Kinesio taping seems to change postural control immediately and have lasting effects until the day after.

The immediate effect of lumbopelvic manipulation on EMG of vasti and gluteus medius in athletes with patellofemoral pain syndrome: A randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the immediate effect of lubmopelvic manipulation on EMG activity of vastus medialis, vastus lateralis and gluteus medius as well as pain and functional performance of athletes with patellofemoral pain syndrome. DESIGN: Randomized placebo-controlled trial. METHODS: Twenty eight athletes with patellofemoral pain syndrome were randomly assigned to two groups. One group received a lubmopelvic manipulation at the side of the involved knee while the other group received a sham manipulation. EMG activity of the vasti and gluteus medius were recorded before and after manipulation while performing a rocking on heel task. The functional abilities were evaluated using two tests: step-down and single-leg hop. Additionally, the pain intensity during the functional tests was assessed using a visual analog scale. RESULTS: The onset and amplitude of EMG activity from vastus medialis and gluteus medius were, respectively, earlier and higher in the manipulation group compared to the sham group. There were no significant differences, however, between two groups in EMG onset of vastus lateralis. While the scores of one-leg hop test were similar for both groups, significant improvement was observed in step-down test and pain intensity in the manipulation group compared to the sham group. CONCLUSIONS: Lubmopelvic manipulation might improve patellofemoral pain and functional level in athletes with patellofemoral pain syndrome. These effects could be due to the changes observed in EMG activity of gluteus medius and vasti muscles. Therefore, the lubmopelvic manipulation might be considered in the rehabilitation protocol of the athletes with patellofemoral pain syndrome.

Immediate and delayed effects of forearm kinesio taping on grip strength.

BACKGROUND: Due to the fundamental role of gripping in most upper limb activities, grip strength promotion is a chief goal in the treatment of patients with upper limb musculoskeletal disorders. Kinesio taping is a novel and effective therapeutic technique believed to facilitate muscle contraction through stimulating mechanoreceptors and increasing the sensory feedback around the taped region. OBJECTIVES: The present study aimed to identify the best region (flexor, extensor and flexor/extensor regions) and time (immediate, 0.5, 1, 1.5, and 2 hours) of forearm Kinesio taping to obtain the maximum improvement in grip strength. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this longitudinal study, 40 healthy men and women (the mean age of 22.3 ± 2.19 years) were selected among students of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran by simple, nonrandom sampling method. A dynamometer was used to measure grip strength immediately and every 30 minutes during the two hours after I-shaped application of tape (with 50% stretch) to the flexor, extensor, and flexor/extensor forearm muscles. RESULTS: Grip strength was significantly increased in various muscle groups for males (P = 0.002) and females (P = 0.000) of the forearm and at different intervals for males (P = 0.000) and females (P = 0.000). Moreover, in both men and women, tape application to the extensor region provided greater grip strength compared to taping of the flexor and flexor/extensor regions (P = 0.000 for both). Furthermore, the maximum increase in grip strength were 0.5 (10.8% increase, P = 0.001) and 1.5 h (23.9% increase, P = 0.000) after taping in males and females, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Taping the extensor region of forearm is recommended to achieve higher grip strength. Although grip strength increased at a slower pace in females than males, the final values were higher in women.

The effect of two manipulative therapy techniques and their outcome in patients with sacroiliac joint syndrome.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the effect of sacroiliac joint (SIJ) manipulation with SIJ and lumbar manipulation for the treatment of SIJ syndrome. METHODS: Thirty-two women with SIJ syndrome were randomly divided into two groups of 16 subjects. One group received the high-velocity low-amplitude (HVLA) manipulation to the SIJ and the other group received both SIJ and lumbar HVLA manipulation to both the SIJ and lumbar spine in a single session. The outcomes were assessed using visual analogue scale (VAS) at baseline, immediately, 48 h and one month after the treatment for pain and also Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) questionnaire at baseline, 48 h and one month after the treatment. RESULTS: Analysis revealed a statistically significant improvement immediately, at 48 h and one month after treatment for pain and significant improvement at 48 h and one month after treatment for functional disability in the SIJ manipulated group. A significant improvement immediately, at 48 h and one month after treatment for pain and significant improvement at 48 h and one month after treatment for functional disability in the SIJ and lumbar manipulated group was also found. Furthermore, there were significant differences within groups in ODI and VAS when using Friedman test in both groups. By using Wilcoxon rank sum test no differences were observed in change scores between the two groups immediately, 48 h and one month after the treatment for VAS, or after 48 h and one month after the treatment for the ODI. CONCLUSION: A single session of SIJ and lumbar manipulation was more effective for improving functional disability than SIJ manipulation alone in patients with SIJ syndrome. Spinal HVLA manipulation may be a beneficial addition to treatment for patients with SIJ syndrome.