Musculoskeletal Injuries and Regenerative Medicine in the Elderly Patient.

Regenerative medicine has gained increasing popularity in its clinical applications, particularly in the field of musculoskeletal medicine. Regenerative medicine, a broad term, can be thought of as a particular medical strategy that strives to rebuild and restore diseased tissue to normal physiologic tissue baseline. Simply put, regenerative strategies augment the body's innate physiology to heal pathologic processes. This article focuses on specific regenerative strategies and the uses of them for common pathologies in the aging adult, including platelet-rich plasma, mesenchymal stem cells, viscosupplementation, and prolotherapy.

Industrial medicine and acute musculoskeletal rehabilitation. 1. Diagnosing and managing the injured worker with low back pain.

UNLABELLED: This self-directed learning module highlights the evaluation and management of the injured worker with low back pain (LBP). This chapter reviews the importance of recognizing the physiologic implications of a lifting injury and evaluating its structural etiology in a worker with LBP. A review of the steps required to make an accurate diagnosis is included. Justifying restrictions and prescribing therapeutic intervention is summarized. OVERALL ARTICLE OBJECTIVE: To be able to provide a step-by-step plan for evaluating, treating, and safely returning to work the injured worker with LBP.

Industrial medicine and acute musculoskeletal rehabilitation. 3. Cumulative trauma disorders of the upper limb in computer users.

UNLABELLED: This self-directed learning module highlights various cumulative trauma disorders of the upper limb that may be seen in computer users. The biomechanics and ergonomics of computer users are addressed in relationship to specific neurologic and musculoskeletal conditions within the neck and upper limbs. In addition to a general overview of these conditions, a case presentation is used to show the evaluation and treatment of a computer user who has carpal tunnel syndrome and concomitant de Quervain tenosynovitis. OVERALL ARTICLE OBJECTIVES: (a) To review the important anatomic and ergonomic basis for upper limb cumulative trauma disorders in computer users and (b) to provide an example of evaluation and treatment.

The incidence, risk factors, and clinical manifestations of hyponatremia in marathon runners.

OBJECTIVE: To report on the incidence, identify the risk factors, and clarify the clinical manifestations of acute hyponatremia in marathon runners. DESIGN: An observational and retrospective case-controlled series. SETTING: The medical care area of the 2000 Houston Marathon. PATIENTS: Marathon finishers treated in medical area receiving intravenous fluids (N=55), including a more detailed analysis of 39 runners completing a retrospective questionnaire. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Vital signs, serum electrolytes, and finish time were analyzed via ANOVA studies between all non-hyponatremic (NH: N=34)) and hyponatremic (H: N=21)) runners. Fluid intake, training variables, NSAID use, and Symptomatology were further analyzed to delineate all significant differences between groups. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in vital signs, training variables, or NSAID use between H and NH groups, although there was a trend towards the less experienced runners presenting with lower post-race sodium levels. H runners had lower potassium [K] (p=.04), chloride [Cl] (p<.001), and blood urea nitrogen [BUN] (p=.004) levels than NH runners. There was a significant inverse linear relationship between both finish time versus [Na] (r2 =.51) and total amount of fluid ingested versus [Na] (r2 =.39). The total cups of water (p=.004), electrolyte/carbohydrate solution (p=.005) and total amount of fluid ingested (p<.001) were significantly higher in H compared to NH runners and the degree of hyponatremia was related in a dose dependent manner. Vomiting was observed more frequently in H than NH runners (p=.03). CONCLUSION: 21 runners presented to the medical area of the Houston Marathon with hyponatremia (.31% of entrants). Excessive fluid consumption and longer finishing times were the primary risk factors for developing this condition. Vomiting was the only clinical sign differentiating hyponatremia from other conditions that induce exercise-associated collapse.

Industrial medicine and acute musculoskeletal rehabilitation. 2. Acute cervical spine and shoulder injuries in the industrial setting.

UNLABELLED: This self-directed learning module highlights the underlying anatomy and biomechanics of the cervical spine and shoulder as a basis for developing a differential diagnosis of contributing pathology in an industrial injury. This includes components of the history, examination, and appropriate diagnostic testing that are necessary to develop an optimal rehabilitation plan. Treatment options are reviewed and include medications, therapy, selective injections, and return-to-work programs in the industrial setting. OVERALL ARTICLE OBJECTIVES: (a) To be able to identify neck and shoulder pathology, (b) to effectively evaluate cervical spine and shoulder injuries, and (c) to rehabilitate acute cervical spine and shoulder injuries in the industrial setting.

Industrial medicine and acute musculoskeletal rehabilitation. 4. Evaluation and management of the injured worker with a lower-extremity injury.

UNLABELLED: This self-directed learning module highlights the importance of recognizing the relationships between multiple, concurrent joint injuries in the lower extremity of an injured worker. This chapter focuses on evaluating the lower extremity and devising a rehabilitation program that incorporates the entire kinetic chain. Further recommendations for return to work are discussed. OVERALL ARTICLE OBJECTIVES: (a) To accurately recognize and diagnose coexisting injuries in the lower extremity and (b) to devise an evaluation and treatment program enabling the worker to return to work.

Industrial medicine and acute musculoskeletal rehabilitation. 5. Effective medical management of industrial injuries: from causality to case closure.

UNLABELLED: This self-directed learning module highlights the physician's role in treating industrial injuries, from the initial causality determination to the eventual case closure. It is part of the chapter on industrial medicine and acute musculoskeletal rehabilitation in the Self-Directed Physiatric Education Program for practitioners and trainees in physical medicine and rehabilitation. The article reviews important factors in determining whether an injury is work-related, particularly in the presence of preexisting, underlying conditions. The article addresses the roles of functional capacity examinations and work-hardening programs in facilitating successful return to work. Interactions are outlined between work return and nonwork activities of daily living, as well as financial and psychologic barriers that may impede work return. Legal issues regarding independent medical examinations and depositions are reviewed. Guidance is offered for identifying those relatively few injured workers who may require referral for surgical or other consultations. OVERALL ARTICLE OBJECTIVES: (a) To review the important medical, administrative, and legal challenges involved in treating injured workers and to describe strategies that physiatrists use to overcome effectively these challenges.

Industrial medicine and acute musculoskeletal rehabilitation. 6. Occupational health for special populations.

UNLABELLED: This self-directed learning module highlights work-related injuries in specific patient populations that the physiatrist may encounter. This chapter focuses on evaluating work-related injuries in the aging and disabled population. Specific problems encountered in pregnant working women and the dental profession are also summarized. Specific biologic and/or environmental factors as they relate to workers in the specific populations are reviewed. Strategies for evaluation, rehabilitation, and health care management of these workers are discussed. OVERALL ARTICLE OBJECTIVES: (a) To be aware of specific needs and environmental factors for disabled, aging, pregnant, and dental workers and (b) to identify what may precipitate injury for disabled, aging, pregnant, and dental workers.

Baseline injury risk factors for runners starting a marathon training program.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the baseline characteristics of participants starting a 25-week marathon training program, and their relationship to injury risk factors. DESIGN: Prospective survey. SETTING: Community-based marathon training program. PARTICIPANTS: 1,548 of 2,314 registrants for the Houston Fit Marathon Training Program (mean age 35.8 +/- 9.3 years, mean body mass index 24.3 +/- 3.9, 63% female). INTERVENTION: 4-page survey administered at registration. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Running experience, training practices, demographics, chronic medical problems and previous injuries. RESULTS: Females were more likely to be classified as underweight and males as overweight or obese (p < 0.0001). The mean number of years of running experience was 6.2 +/- 6.2. Most (87.5%) planned to train at a 9-minute mile or slower pace. 52.3% of the participants had not previously trained for a marathon. In the 3 months prior to starting the program 16.1% had been sedentary. Those runners who had not previously completed a marathon and not previously trained with Houston Fit had a higher prevalence of baseline training techniques that could be risk factors for injury. During the previous 3 years, 38.1% reported having an injury, and 35% of all injuries were still symptomatic at the start of the program. CONCLUSIONS: Training programs for the marathon attract more female athletes and those with less running and marathon experience. The prevalence of being overweight or obese is 35.6%. 16.1% are sedentary during the 3 months before starting this program. Training programs must take measures to establish baseline fitness, to educate on injury prevention training techniques, and to set appropriate fitness goals. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The research study shows that many patients wanting to start a marathon training program are relatively untrained and inexperienced with reference to endurance running. These patients will need special care and education so as to minimize injury and maximize the effect on their physical activity habits.