Biomedical subjects

Jane Latimer

Publications and source records attributed to Jane Latimer.

8 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2003

Back extensor muscle endurance test scores in coal miners in Australia.

STUDY DESIGN: A cross-sectional analytic study was conducted. OBJECTIVES: To collect normative data on back extensor endurance holding times and evaluate the discriminative validity of the Biering-Sorensen test in a group of coal miners in Australia. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Low back pain is a common complaint among those working in the Australian coal mining industry. One test that may be predictive of first-time episodes of low back pain is the Biering-Sorensen test of back extensor endurance strength. While this test has been evaluated in overseas sedentary populations, normative data and the discriminative ability of the test have not been evaluated with coal miners. METHODS: Eighty-eight coal miners completed a questionnaire for known risk factors for low back pain, performed the Biering-Sorensen test, and undertook a test of aerobic fitness. Data analysis was performed to describe the groups and to determine whether any significant difference existed between those with a past history of low back pain and those without. RESULTS: Significantly lower than expected holding times were found in this group of coal miners (mean 113 s). This result was significantly lower than demonstrated in previous studies (mean 138 s, t87 = 6.32, p < 0.001). When holding times for those with a past history of low back pain were compared with times for those with no history of low back pain, the difference was not statistically significant (t86 = 1.56, p = 0.12), nor was there a significant difference in fitness between those with a past history of low back pain and those without (t86 = 0.47, p = 0.64). DISCUSSION/CONCLUSIONS: Coal miners in Australia have lower than normal Biering-Sorensen holding times. This lower back holding time does not differ between coal miners with a past history of low back pain and those without.

Adult↗

PubMed2003

Objective manual assessment of lumbar posteroanterior stiffness is now possible.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the reliability and criterion-related validity of a revised version of the reference-based protocol for manually assessing lumbar posteroanterior (PA) stiffness. With the revised protocol, a therapist matched the stiffness of the spine to 1 of 11 stiffness references provided by a mechanical device. SUBJECTS: Two physiotherapists and 41 asymptomatic subjects participated. METHODS: Subjects' PA stiffness was assessed by the therapists and the Stiffness Assessment Machine(criterion measure) under standardized conditions. The therapists pressed on the subject's spine and then the mechanical device, the task being to match the stiffness of the back to 1 of the 11 stimuli provided by the device. Each of the 11 stiffness stimuli represented a point on the -5 to +5 stiffness scale. Interrater reliability was evaluated with 2-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) intraclass correlation coefficient for a single rating (ICC [2,1]) and the SEM, whereas criterion-related validity was evaluated with the Pearson product moment correlation (r), including the Fleiss correction. RESULTS: The ICC (2,1) was 0.78 (SEM 0.56), and the criterion-related validity reached 0.74 (Fleiss correction 0.86). CONCLUSIONS: This research shows that therapists can accurately judge asymptomatic subjects' spinal stiffness using a matching task. We believe that this method may allow therapists to quantify lumbar PA stiffness in clinical practice.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2002

Does spinal manipulative therapy help people with chronic low back pain?

A systematic review of randomised clinical trials was conducted to assess the effect of spinal manipulative therapy on clinically relevant outcomes in patients with chronic low back pain. Databases searched included EMBASE, CINAHL, MEDLINE and PEDro. Methodological assessment of the trials was performed using the PEDro scale. Where there was sufficient homogeneity, a meta-analysis was conducted. Nine trials of mostly moderate quality were included in the review. Two trials were pooled comparing spinal manipulative therapy and placebo treatment, and two other trials were pooled comparing spinal manipulative therapy and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Spinal manipulative therapy reduced pain by 7mm on a 100mm visual analogue scale (95% CI 1 to 14) at one month follow-up when compared with placebo treatment, and by 14mm (95% CI -11 to 40) when compared with NSAIDs. Spinal manipulative therapy reduced disability by 6 points (95% CI 1 to 12) on a 100-point disability questionnaire when compared with NSAIDs. It is concluded that spinal manipulation does not produce clinically worthwhile decreases in pain compared with sham treatment, and does not produce clinically worthwhile reductions in disability compared with NSAIDs for patients with chronic low back pain. It is not clear whether spinal manipulation is more effective than NSAIDs in reducing pain of patients with chronic low back pain.

Chronic Disease↗

PubMed2002

An evaluation of Superthumb and the Kneeshaw device as manual therapy tools.

This research evaluated two hand-held tools (Superthumb and Kneeshaw device) that have been developed in order to reduce hand pain associated with the performance of manual therapy. Two studies were conducted: one evaluated the ability to perceive elastic stiffness with the devices and the other evaluated physiotherapist and patient comfort when the devices were used to apply a mobilisation to the lumbar spine. In the first study we found that the two tools and the pisiform grip provided equivalent ability to detect small differences in elastic stiffness, however the tools introduced a bias so that the stiffness stimuli felt stiffer than when assessed with the pisiform grip. In the second study we found that the two tools were substantially less comfortable than the pisiform grip, for both patient and therapist, when a therapist applied a Grade III mobilisation to the lumbar spine. The results suggest that neither tool, in its current form, is suitable for clinical practice.

Adult↗

PubMed1999

Prescription of activity for low back pain: What works?

This paper provides evidence-based guidelines for the prescription of activity in the management of non-specific low back pain (NSLBP). The 62 clinical trials published between 1966 and 1997, identified by a search of the Medline and Cinahl databases, were reviewed to provide the basis for the guidelines. The available evidence suggests that physiotherapists should advise patients with acute and sub-acute NSLBP to avoid bed rest and to return to normal activity using time rather than pain as the guide to activity resumption. While structured exercise programs have not been shown to provide a benefit for acute NSLBP, there is strong evidence to support their use for patients with sub-acute and chronic NSLBP and in the prevention of NSLBP.

Journal Article↗

PubMed1999

Authors' response.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Journal Article↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Contribution of ribcage movement to thoracolumbar posteroanterior stiffness.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate (1) whether thoracolumbar posteroanterior (PA) stiffness differs between 2 conditions of ribcage movement: unconstrained and constrained, and (2) whether the effect of ribcage constraint on PA stiffness varies according to where the PA force is applied. DESIGN: Two-factor within-subjects design. SETTING: Spinal Mechanics Laboratory, University of Sydney. INTERVENTION: A convenience sample of 41 subjects, asymptomatic for back pain, participated. PA stiffness at T12-L4 was measured in the unconstrained and constrained ribcage conditions with a mechanical device. For the constrained condition, we used a clamping device to apply a force to the subject's lower thorax to reduce movement. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: PA stiffness at T12-L4 under both ribcage conditions. RESULTS: PA stiffness at T12-L4 significantly increased when the ribcage was constrained (P<.05). However, the effect of ribcage movement did not depend on the location of the PA force. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that the properties of the ribcage influence measures of PA stiffness in the thoracolumbar (T12-L4) spine uniformly. Variations in PA stiffness in segments T12-L4 may reflect the properties of the intervertebral joints.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Forces applied during manual therapy to patients with low back pain.

BACKGROUND: To date, there is little information available regarding the forces used during mobilization treatment of patients with low back pain (LBP). OBJECTIVE: This study measured such forces and investigated whether the force characteristics could be predicted on the basis of physical therapist and patient characteristics. SUBJECTS: Ten physical therapists applied a central posteroanterior (PA) mobilization treatment to 80 patients with LBP, providing data on treatment of 123 lumbar levels. METHODS: Physical therapists were required to treat their patients while the patients lay on an instrumented couch. This couch has been shown to be highly accurate in its measurement of force in 3 directions (error <2%) and has demonstrated high test-retest reliability (ICC [2, 1], 99% CI = 0.99-1.00). The forces applied by the physical therapists were recorded over a 10-second period. Data on the characteristics of the physical therapists and patients were collected by means of questionnaires. RESULTS: The force used by physical therapists related not only to patient characteristics but also to physical therapist characteristics. Interestingly, current pain intensity and nature of symptoms did not affect the forces used. The overall patterns of the force characteristics were generally consistent with previous studies performed in asymptomatic subjects. However, the magnitude of the force applied and the frequency of each grade used in the present study are relatively higher than in earlier studies. CONCLUSION: These preliminary data provide some useful quantitative information about the forces used during mobilization treatment of patients with LBP. Also, the force characteristics described here may provide useful data for both teaching and research in manual therapy.

Adult↗