Perspectives for Patients
Low back pain is very common, with 80% of people experiencing back pain at least once in their lifetimes. The good news is that a thorough physical examination can often determine the best course of management and whether you require imaging to rule out a serious problem. Often low back pain can be severe enough to make a patient think that an MRI is necessary. While MRI provides excellent pictures of your anatomy, it may not be able to pinpoint the specific source of your pain. A clinical commentary published in the November 2011 issue of JOSPT summarizes research that describes how the increased use of unnecessary imaging may lead to less than favorable results.
J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2011;41(11):847. doi:10.2519/jospt.2011.0507
KEY WORDS: magnetic resonance imaging, physical therapy
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Perspectives for Patients
Neck pain is very common. In the United States, between 30% and 50% of people suffer from an aching neck each year. Although neck pain can be caused by injury, most of this pain results from more gradual stresses, such as particular sitting, standing, or work postures, lifting patterns, or sleeping positions. Typical neck pain can also cause headaches, pain between your shoulders, or a feeling of knots in your neck and upper back muscles. Although manual therapy, sometimes called "manipulation," is a common treatment for many types of spine pain, some people are uncomfortable having their necks manipulated. Recently, though, researchers have tested the benefits of a thrust manipulation of the upper back to treat neck pain. A study published in the September 2011 issue of JOSPT provides new insight and an evidence-based summary of the benefits of manipulating the upper back to ease and eliminate neck pain.
J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2011;41(9):643. doi:10.2519/jospt.2011.0506
KEY WORDS: cervical spine, manipulative therapy, manual therapy, thoracic spine
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Perspectives for Patients
Healthcare providers usually call pain at the front of your knee or under your kneecap patellofemoral pain syndrome. This pain may cause you to limp and may limit your activities, but there is good news: exercises can reduce knee pain and allow you to return to normal activities without needing surgery. A study published in the August 2011 issue of JOSPT provides new insight and evidence-based exercises to help answer which exercises are best at quickly reducing your pain.
J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2011;41(8):571. doi:10.2519/jospt.2011.0505
KEY WORDS: hip, patellofemoral pain syndrome
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Perspectives for Patients
A torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), followed by reconstruction surgery, can be devastating for an athlete. Advances in physical therapy now help athletes improve rapidly during the early period after surgery. However, guidelines on how to determine if it is safe to return to sport are more general and vary widely. Athletes and the people who care about and for them need reliable and valid methods to determine when they are ready to return to sport. A study published in the June 2011 issue of JOSPT provides new insight and evidence-based tools to help answer this question.
J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2011;41(6):388. doi:10.2519/jospt.2011.0504
KEY WORDS: anterior cruciate ligament, hop tests, knee, prevention
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Perspectives for Patients
Whether you are the pitcher, coach, or concerned parent, the health of the athlete’s throwing arm is very important. A better understanding of the forces that occur during different types of baseball throws could lead to improved guidelines, helping to boost performance while preventing injuries. A study published in the May 2011 issue of JOSPT provides new insight into the forces placed on the shoulder and elbow during flat-ground and long-toss throws.
J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2011;41(5):304. doi:10.2519/jospt.2011.0503
KEY WORDS: elbow, pitcher, shoulder, throwing
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Perspectives for Patients
Each year, about 200 000 patients decide to have a hip replacement. An important factor to consider is the recovery process following surgery. Researchers have found that most patients have decreased pain and improved ability to perform their daily activities after a hip replacement. However, what remains unknown is how long it takes to recover. In its April 2011 issue, JOSPT published a research study providing new evidence that can help you understand the time needed to recover after this surgery and how soon you will be able to walk more easily.
J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2011;41(4):240. doi:10.2519/jospt.2011.0502
KEY WORDS: hip pain, recovery
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Perspectives for Patients
In its February 2011 issue, JOSPT published a research study that provides new evidence that can help people who suffer from heel pain. According to the study, although stretching the calf and foot can reduce heel pain, the addition of hands-on physical therapy resulted in better pain relief and greater improvements in function during the first month of treatment. This JOSPT Perspectives for Patients is designed for clinicians to give to their patients to explain how this new insight can affect their care.
J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2011;41(2):51-51. doi:10.2519/jospt.2011.0501
KEY WORDS: calf stretch, foot stretch, hands-on therapy, heel pain, manual therapy, patient education
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