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Temporarily stopping participation and starting a rehab program effective for young soccer players experiencing back pain
Though soccer doesn't experience the same popularity levels in the U.S. that it does internationally, it's still the most widely played sport in the world, with participation numbers that only continue to grow. Consequently, the rate of injuries sustained by soccer players also continues to increase, especially in the spine. Spondylolysis, which results from a stress fracture to a vertebra, is the most common condition that leads to low back pain (LBP) for soccer players under 18, making it an important disorder for young players. In an effort to determine an effective strategy for dealing with this condition, a study found that temporarily halting participation in sports and beginning a conservative rehab program (free of surgery) was extremely beneficial for young soccer players and greatly facilitated their return to sports.

Regular smokers shown to improve less following back surgery than nonsmokers
The negative impact of being a habitual smoker has never been underplayed, particularly when it comes to lung health and cancer. In addition to those risks, however, smoking can also lead to more complications and slower recovery following certain types of surgery. To determine how great these risks are, a study evaluated the recovery of a number of patients following lumbar spinal surgery, and found smokers to improve less, with more pain and a lower quality of life than nonsmokers, adding more reasons to the laundry list of potential pitfalls of smoking regularly.

Physical therapists need to treat psychosocial factors in addition to physical ones
Most patients enter a physical therapist's office with a physical ailment of some sort, and intend to be treated primarily for that particular ailment. While this is the major concern for physical therapists (PTs) and should remain as such, a recent issue of Physical Therapy magazine stresses the importance of treating the "whole" patient, and the necessity of addressing their psychosocial issues associated with their condition to ensure the best possible outcome. Treating an injury or condition is a process that triggers a number of emotional responses, and, according to the issue, PTs need to keep them in mind and tend to them while treating patients. This sort of shift can mean better overall results and more patient satisfaction, both of which are sought after by all PTs.

Thinking about seeing a chiropractor for your low back pain? Read this report and think again.
The high occurrence rates of low back pain (LBP) and the hindrances it causes on peoples' lives continue to be well documented, and those who suffer from it continue to seek any form of treatment that may be effective in alleviating their pain. One of the most popular interventions Americans use is to see a chiropractor, who will use manipulation and a number of other methods to treat LBP. Yet despite their common usage in the U.S., the evidence of a chiropractor's effectiveness is limited. Looking into this matter further with the intent of drawing more definitive conclusions, a review of available information on the subject actually found no meaningful effects of chiropractic interventions on LBP in the long-term, leading to more questions than answers on the usefulness of chiropractics.

Doing away with the concept of 'diagnosis' could be the key in optimizing treatment for axial neck pain
Axial neck pain, one of the three major types of neck pain, is a musculoskeletal disorder (affecting both the muscles and bones) that's limited to pain in the neck only. Unfortunately, when it comes to diagnosing axial neck pain and determining how to treat it, many spine specialists differ in their approach, using only the types of tests they know will confirm the treatment they wish to recommend. As a result, patients are put through a number of expensive and sometimes unnecessary tests that may or may not even help in better defining their condition. The problems with this system lie primarily in the lack of uniformity of spine clinicians, who continue to do things their own way even if they're not proven to be effective. Many researches believe the flawed system needs to be overhauled entirely, and one possible change that's been gaining some popularity is to nix the term “diagnosis” altogether, and instead use a series of clinical prediction rules that will highlight specific characteristics in patients that will determine which treatments will lead to the best possible outcome for each subject.

Insider's perspective from those with low back pain claim it never fully goes away
Low back pain (LBP) continues to affect the lives of millions of Americans on a regular basis, preventing many from engaging in everyday activities and leading a normal lifestyle. Efforts have been made to be better understand LBP and the reason it reoccurs so often, but there is still not a universal system for measuring its recurrence rates. Some measurements take into account time off work and health-care utilization, but questions exist as to if those figures accurately depict the bigger picture of LBP. A group of researchers noted this and thought it would be beneficial to hear from LBP sufferers in an open-forum discussion to get a sense of how it impacts their lives. The overall consensus showed that most with LBP felt it was an ongoing condition that comes and goes in varying degrees, but never fully goes away. Health care use was minimal since participants felt it never actually helped their pain, and work was only missed in extreme situations. These findings suggest that time off work and health-care use aren't effective measurement statistics, and that treatment strategies need to be improved significantly.

Early physical therapy treatment for low back pain can prevent future complications
Low back pain (LBP) is one of the most common disorders found throughout the world, with about 65-80% of adults experiencing the condition at some point in their lifetime, making it an urgent and pressing matter to address with the best possible treatment. Physical therapy administered early on is regarded by most as the leading treatment method available, but there are some medical professionals who question its effectiveness and choose to treat it by other means. Seeking definitive answers, a study was conducted that compared early PT to a number of other interventions and found it to be effective in reducing the likelihood of receiving costly procedures like injections and surgery later on in the course of LPB.

How healthcare professionals' word choice affects patients' perceptions on low back pain
Low back pain (LBP) continues to affect countless individuals throughout the globe with distress and discomfort, and remains a major concern of health-care professionals. In addition to the physical aspects that are largely responsible for LBP, there are also some psychosocial factors that can contribute to it and create negative beliefs about the condition. For this reason, the word choice used by physicians to deliver news to patients is of utmost importance, as it can shape patients' views and potentially lead to the condition worsening. A study investigated the role of word choice in a clinical setting and found direct correlations between certain words and inappropriately negative outlooks, which means physicians should be much more cognizant about the manner in which they deliver messages to patients.

How characteristics of swinging mechanics can lead to low back pain for golfers
Golf is a sport that enjoys wide-ranging popularity on an international scale due to its casual nature and mild intensity level. Despite the fact that golf doesn't require much energy exertion and is fairly safe compared to most other sports, injuries still do occur, with lower back pain (LBP) being the most common complaint for both professional and amateur golfers. Consequently, physical therapists have been investigating which characteristics, if any, in a golf swing could contribute to a more likely chance of a golfer experiencing low back pain and why. One study compared golfers with LBP to those without it, and found a number of indicators that may lead to LBP that can be avoided if addressed properly.

Many patients with low back pain fail to follow recommendations for improvement
Low back pain (LBP) is an extremely common condition and major source of discomfort that affects a large percentage of people throughout the world at some point in their lives. When not treated correctly, cases of LBP can go on to turn more extreme and pose future problems that could've been avoided if guidelines were followed properly by patients. Noting this, an Australian study surveyed patients with LBP and found that many of those suffering from the condition didn't seek advice, and of those that did, a significant amount didn't actually follow the recommendations given to them. This figure points out much of what's wrong with the overall face of LBP rehab and should be considered in moving forward.

A close look at hyperkyphosis: how it develops, how to manage it
Age-related hyperkyphosis, which is defined by an exaggerated curvature of the thoracic spine, is a common condition in the elderly population that impairs the ability to function properly and increases the risk of falls and fractures. Though it effects somewhere between 20-40% of senior citizens, the natural history of hyperkyphosis is not completely understood, and it’s thought to come about from a variety of processes. Fortunately, if hyperkyphosis is identified and treated early in its onset, the chances of recovering from it are much more likely. Take a look at what can cause it and the best ways to treat hyperkyphosis if it occurs.

Full-scale evaluation of lumbar spinal stenosis surgery for older adults
Spinal stenosis, a condition in which the narrowing of the spinal cord causes nerve pinching and subsequent pain in the buttocks, is the most common indicator for spine surgery in older adults, which itself is extremely prevalent. Despite the popularity of the surgery, however, a general consensus on the best surgical method has yet to be reached, as many surgeons still take their own individualized approach. To investigate these various methods and to clarify which is the best option, a study was conducted that evaluated Medicare trends to determine the optimal surgical style.