OBJECTIVE To identify the effect of a novel augmented core stabilization exercise technique on physical function, pain and core stability in patients with chronic low back pain. DESIGN A block randomized controlled trial with two groups. SETTING A sports rehabilitation clinic. PARTICIPANTS Forty patients with low back pain (20 experimental, mean (SD) age 50.35 (9.26) years and 20 control,...

[Purpose] This study examined the effects of flexion-distraction manipulation therapy on pain and disability in patients with lumbar spinal stenosis. [Subjects] Thirty patients with lumbar spinal stenosis were divided into two groups: a conservative treatment group (n=15) and a flexion-distraction manipulation group (n=15). [Methods] The conservative treatment group received conservative physic...

OBJECTIVE To assess the association of cardiovascular autonomic balance with perceived functional impairment and pain among patients with chronic low back pain. DESIGN A cross-sectional analysis of working patients with chronic low back pain. PATIENTS Forty-six consecutive patients aged 24-45 years with chronic low back pain fulfilling the inclusion criteria. A total of 39 subjects had tech...

One hundred fourteen patients (66 men and 48 women; mean age, 49 years) underwent spine stabilization using a dynamic neutralization system between January 1999 and August 2010 for degenerative disk disease, spinal instability, or spinal stenosis. Mean follow-up was 6.8 years (range, 1-11 years). Seven patients were lost to follow-up. Radiological examination and clinical evaluation, including ...

BACKGROUND There is limited information on clinical outcomes after anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF) based on the indications for surgery. OBJECTIVE To compare the clinical and radiological outcomes of ALIF for each surgical indication. METHODS This prospective clinical study included 125 patients who underwent ALIF over a 2-year period. The patients were evaluated preoperatively and ...

BACKGROUND We sought to analyze whether the amount of paraspinal fatty degeneration correlates with a patient's physical fitness, and to determine if these findings on lumbar magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans can help predict functional outcomes. METHODS A retrospective review was performed on 172 patients. Inclusion criteria involved being seen by a spine surgeon for low back pain, havi...

STUDY DESIGN  Systematic review.Objective or clinical question: What clinical and radiological findings in patients with lumbar-herniated nucleus pulposus can serve as predictors of surgical intervention? METHODS  Articles published between January 1975 and August 2011 were systematically reviewed using Pubmed, Cochrane, National Guideline Clearinghouse Databases, and bibliographies of key ar...

Background: Non-specific pain of low back and neck has direct impact on quality of life, active days at work, and health care costs. The purpose of this study was to determine the pain intensity and disability index for low back and neck among dentists. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among 80 dentists (44.6% female and 55.4% male). Dentists pain intensity and...

Background: The revised National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) lifting equation (RNLE) is commonly used for risk assessment of manual handling, and can estimate low back pain (LBP) biomechanical stressors of lifting and/or lowering of loads. The aim of this study was to evaluate manual material handling by using the RNLE, LBP, and LBP disability index (LBPDI) among worker...

OBJECTIVE To determine whether a change in apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) value could predict early response to CT-guided Oxygen-Ozone (O2-O3) injection therapy in patients with unilateral mono-radiculopathy due to lumbar disc herniation. MATERIALS AND METHODS A total of 52 patients with unilateral mono-radiculopathy received a single intradiscal (3 mL) and periganglionic (5 mL) injecti...