Back pain is common in the adolescent population, but little research exists on treatment options for this group of patients. In a new study, researchers randomly assigned teenagers with back pain into one of two treatment groups for a three-month period: spinal manipulation combined with exercise therapy or exercise therapy alone. The investigators monitored low…

A recent study assessed the effect of various sitting postures on the external rotator muscle strength of the shoulder. Among a group of 100 participants, researchers observed that shoulder external rotator strength declined 8% following five minutes of sitting in a forward head rounded shoulder posture. International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy, February 2018

According to a recent research review, anywhere from 25.8% to 77% of keyboard musicians suffer from musculoskeletal pain in one or more body sites, with the wrists and hands being the most affected, followed by the neck and shoulders. Further analysis showed that playing for more than 60 minutes at a time without a break…

On-call work requires being ready to work at any time, which can be very stressful for many individuals. A recent study investigated the association between on-call work and health issues among a sample of over 29,000 men and women from a variety of industries and found that being on-call increases the risk for the following…

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a chronic inflammatory lung disease that causes breathing difficulty, cough, mucus (sputum) production, and wheezing. A recent study found that manipulative therapies can help improve functional exercise capacity in patients with COPD, potentially helping to improve the quality of life of patients with the condition. Journal of Alternative and…

An eight-member multidisciplinary panel recently set out to determine clinical practice guidelines for the management of acute and chronic low back pain in adults. Their review of the current available evidence led them to conclude that a multimodal approach including spinal manipulative therapy, other commonly used active interventions, self-management advice, and exercise are an effective…

According to a new report, more than 19 million children and adolescents in the United States (US) received treatment in medical centers, private medical practices, and hospitals for musculoskeletal-related conditions or injuries in 2012 at a total cost of about $7.6 billion. The report also found that musculoskeletal conditions account for 5.4% of hospital charges…

According to a new study that monitored the status of 391 migraine patients for 18 months, 42.5% of participants experienced neck pain in conjunction with migraine episodes. In a third of these patients, neck pain triggered their migraine and the rest reported that neck pain manifested once their headache was underway. The authors of the…

Heart patients typically do well when enrolled in a cardiac rehab program, but they usually revert to unhealthy lifestyles once they are discharged from care. A new study suggests that virtual coaches and fitness trackers could keep these patients active, even after cardiac rehab ends. In the study, investigators found that a twelve-week mobile health…

A review of data from two studies found that in 2015, neck and low back pain ranked as the fourth leading cause of disability-adjusted life years worldwide just after ischemic heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, and lower respiratory infection. The review also notes that in 2015, over 500 million people worldwide suffered from low back pain…