Pulmonary function tests performed on fifteen healthy males revealed that when participants adopted a forward head posture (FHD), they had significantly lower forced vital capacity, expiratory and inspiratory reserve volumes, forced expiratory volume at one second, and peak flow rate. Doctors of chiropractic routinely check for FHD and recommend exercise and ergonomic modifications to address…

Cervical radiculopathy is a condition characterized by pain, numbness, or weakness in the neck that goes down one or both arms. Questionnaires completed by 122 cervical radiculopathy patients found that one third recalled their symptoms started following a specific physical activity or trauma while the remainder said their cervical radiculopathy began without an inciting event.…

Hip osteoarthritis (OA) is among the most common degenerative joint diseases, and it is associated with chronic pain, reduced mobility, and stiffness in the region surrounding the hip joint. A systematic review of data from twelve studies found that a combination of manual therapy and patient education is effective at improving pain, hip range of…

Using data from the Fourth Korean Working Conditions Survey involving nearly 25,000 workers, researchers report that working over 40 hours a week is associated with up to a 40% increased risk for musculoskeletal pain in men and up to a 66% elevated risk for musculoskeletal pain in women. Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, December…

In a study that involved 120 patients with a temporomandibular disorder (TMD), researchers found that participants with neck pain exhibited a higher number of active trigger points in the masticatory and cervical muscles, greater forward head posture, and more severe degenerative changes in the cervical spine than TMD patients without neck pain. The findings reveal…

New research suggests that older adults with chronic back pain often have other musculoskeletal pain conditions. Among a group of 839 seniors with persistent back pain, 93% had pain in at least one additional area and 69% had pain in two or more additional sites. The researchers add that they have identified an association between…

Among a group of 152 older adults, researchers found that those with a history of back pain scored higher on assessments used to measure depression. The findings suggest that low back pain may be a potential risk for increased depression in older adults and managing a patient’s back pain may provide mental health benefits. Rehabilitation…

When it comes to treating carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), what’s the best approach? In this study, researchers monitored the status of 128 women with clinically diagnosed CTS who underwent either conservative care or surgical carpal tunnel release. After one year, the researchers reported similar outcomes for members of both groups; however, the women in the…

A review of health data concerning 15,000 South Korean adults revealed that women over the age of 50 with a weaker grip (which may indicate lower fitness levels) were more likely to report chronic low back pain than those with a stronger grip. The findings suggest that maintaining an active lifestyle in middle and old…

Among a group of 24 sedentary workers with neck pain, researchers found that both active and passive stretching resulted in similar improvements in range of motion, pain threshold, and perceived disability. Doctors of chiropractic commonly incorporate these types of stretches into their treatment plans for patients with neck issues. Journal of Back and Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation,…