<![CDATA[Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy - James H. Swain, MPT]]> http://www.jospt.org/jameshswain en-us (c) 2011 Wed, 30 Apr 2008 09:05:25 EST http://feedvalidator.org/docs/rss2.html www.eResources.com (Generator) jospt@eresources.com (JOSPT) jospt@eresources.com (eResources) 0 Juvenile Osteochondritis Dissecans of the Knee http://www.jospt.org/issues/articleID.2465/article_detail.asp James H. Swain, Nathan L. Grimm, Kevin G. Shea

The patient was a 13-year-old male soccer player who was referred to a physical therapist with complaints of persistent worsening left medial knee pain with weight-bearing activity. Physical examination revealed no signs of joint effusion, lower extremity range-of-motion or strength discrepancies, ligamentous compromise, or tenderness to palpation. However, the patient reported discomfort with weight bearing, and a slightly antalgic gait was observed. Knee radiographs revealed a concave lucency involving the medial femoral condyle, consistent with an osteochondritis dissecans lesion. Magnetic resonance imaging confirmed an osteochondritis dissecans lesion of the medial femoral condyle, and the patient was diagnosed with stage I juvenile osteochondritis dissecans of the knee. Conservative management by a physical therapist was the recommended treatment, and after 6 months, the patient no longer complained of left knee pain, and repeat knee radiographs demonstrated evidence of a healing osteochondritis dissecans lesion.

J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2010;40(8):534. doi:10.2519/jospt.2010.0413

KEY WORDS: magnetic resonance imaging, medial femoral condyle, radiographs

]]> Fri, 30 Jul 2010 00:00:00 EST http://www.jospt.org/issues/articleID.2465/article_detail.asp Effects of Gravity-Facilitated Traction on lntervertebral Dimensions of the Lumbar Spine* http://www.jospt.org/issues/articleID.2049/article_detail.asp Michael D. Kane, Robert D. Karl, James H. Swain
The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of gravity-facilitated traction (inversion) on intervertebral dimensions of the lumbar spine. Fifteen normal male subjects were fully inverted for a period of 10 minutes. Vertebral separation was measured on lateral roentgenograms both pre- and postinversion by outlining the margins of the intervertebral bodies both anteriorly and posteriorly and the greatest vertical heights of the intervertebral foramina. Fine point engineering calipers were used to facilitate measurements. A student t-test for paired data was used to determine significance of separation between lumbar segments, following 10 minutes of inversion. The α level was set at 0.05 for statistical significance. Gravity-facilitated traction produced increased separation at all levels measured. Significant increases in total mean anterior separation, total mean posterior separation, and total mean intervertebral foraminal separation were determined. Mean anterior separation was significant at all levels except L3-L4. Mean posterior separation was significant at all levels except L1-L2 and L5-S1. Mean intervertebral foraminal separation was significant at all levels but L5-S1. If increases in intervertebral dimensions play a role in the relief of low back syndrome, then gravity-facilitated traction may be an effective moda1i;y in the treatment of this condition.

J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 1985;6(5):281-288.

]]> Thu, 18 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EST http://www.jospt.org/issues/articleID.2049/article_detail.asp