No abstract available.
Back Pain* ; Rehabilitation*

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of topically applied capsaicin cream for the treatment of chronic low back and posterior neck pain. Fourty-one patients with chronic low back or posterior neck pain of more than 6 months despite comprehensive management in our rehabilitation department were selected for this study. Of these subjects, a group of 21 patients used capsaicin cream, and the other 21 patients used NSAID gel as a control group. Pain intensities in both groups were measured with the visual analogue scale(VAS) before the treatment, 2 weeks and 5 weeks after the treatment. McGill Pain Questionnaire(MPQ) was used before and 5 weeks after the treatment. According to followed-up VAS, MPQ-number of words chosen, and MPQ-pain rating index, there was an evidence of effective pain relief by capsaicin cream for the low back and posterior neck pain 5 weeks after the treatment. We conclude that continuous use of capsaicin cream for 5 weeks can be beneficial for the chronic pain patients in relieving pain and subsequently helping their rehabilitation process.
Capsaicin* ; Chronic Pain ; Humans ; Neck Pain* ; Rehabilitation

A variety of theories have been reported as causes of shoulder pain in overhead throwing athletes. Recently, an explanation with microinstability of the shoulder and internal impingement has been proposed. The concept of the microinstability is that pathologic laxity of the anterior capsule caused by repeated abduction and external rotation of the shoulder leads to abnormal glenohumeral biomechanics and causes internal impingement of the shoulder. Based on the understanding of the pathology, it is recommended to identify the causes of shoulder pain in the overhead throwing athletes and perform appropriate rehabilitation or surgical treatment.
Athletes ; Humans ; Pathology ; Rehabilitation ; Shoulder Pain ; Shoulder*

PURPOSE: This study was performed to verify the effect of Tai Chi exercise on patients with rheumatoid arthritis particularly their level of pain, fatigue, sense of balance and daily life performance (ADL). METHOD: It employed a non-equivalent control group pre- and post-test design. The research instruments used in this study were pain, fatigue, sense of balance and ADL. Thirty-two patients in the experimental group carried out 50 minutes of Tai Chi exercise for 12 weeks, and 29 patients in the control group did not. Before and after the experiment, both groups were tested for pain, fatigue, sense of balance and ADL. Collected data were processed using the SPSS/WIN 10.0 program analyzed by the frequency, percentage, X2-test, and t-test. RESULTS: Pain and fatigue significantly decreased in the experimental group. However the improvement in ADL of the rheumatoid arthritis patients was not statistically significant but their sense of balance was enhanced significantly. CONCLUSION: Tai Chi exercise is an effective nursing intervention that can be used for rheumatoid arthritis patients.
Activities of Daily Living ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid/*rehabilitation ; Fatigue/*rehabilitation ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pain/*rehabilitation ; Postural Balance ; *Tai Ji

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the whole spine of the patients with chronic low back pain. METHOD: The cervico-thoraco-lumbar spine were evaluated in 128 patients with chronic low back pain. We analyzed radiologic and clinical findings of the cervico-lumbar spine and electrodiagnostic findings. RESULTS: Most of all cases showed abnormal findings in plain radiography and electrodiagnostic study. The radiologic findings were as follow: cervical X-ray with straightening of cervical lordotic curve in 85 cases; thoracic X-ray with scoliosis in 55 cases; lumbar X-ray with disc space narrowing in 85 cases. The electrodiagnostic study revealed lumbosacral radiculopathy in 87 cases. There were significant positive relationship between increased lumbosacral angle and straightening of cervical lordotic curve, and between lumbar scoliosis and thoracic scoliosis. CONCLUSION: Cervico-thoracic spinal abnormalities were shown in most of the patients with chronic low back pain. Therefore, The evaluation of whole spine would be needed comprehensive rehabilitation approach for the patients with chronic low back pain.
Humans ; Low Back Pain* ; Radiculopathy ; Radiography ; Rehabilitation ; Scoliosis ; Spine*

OBJECTIVE: To compare an isotonic lumbar extension exercise program utilizing lumbar extension exercise machines with modified combination program of isotonic lumbar extension exercises, including dynamic stabilization exercise, to improve and maintain trunk stability in the patient with microscopic lumbar discectomy. METHOD: We studied 41 male workers who underwent microscopic lumbar discectomy. Group 1 (n=24) was treated with the isotonic lumbar extension exercise program. Group 2 (n=17) was treated with the modified combination program of dynamic lumbar stabilization exercise and isotonic lumbar extension exercise. The categories that were evaluated and measured were trunk stability, isometric peak torque of lumbar extensor, weight distribution rate of both leg and trunk muscle balance, and Oswestry low back pain (LBP) disability index. RESULTS: After 3 months, group 1 revealed higher isometric peak torque, weight distribution rate of both leg and trunk muscle balance compared with that of group 2. At the end of 6 months, group 2 revealed higher isometric peak torque compared with that of group 1. CONCLUSION: We suggested that combined exercise program, that included the dynamic lumbar stabilization exercise and the isotonic lumbar extension exercise, was a valuable treatment for postoperative lumbar rehabilitation.
Diskectomy* ; Exercise ; Humans ; Leg ; Low Back Pain ; Male ; Rehabilitation ; Torque

Wrist pain is a common presentation to the general practitioner and emergency department. Most cases are simple to treat, and pain frequently resolves with conservative treatment. However, there are certain conditions, such as scaphoid nonunion and Kienböck's disease, where delayed diagnosis and treatment can result in long-term deformity or disability. This article covers the various causes of wrist pain, recommendations on how wrist pain should be assessed, as well as details some of the common conditions that warrant specialist referral.
Acute Pain ; diagnosis ; etiology ; rehabilitation ; Arthralgia ; diagnosis ; etiology ; rehabilitation ; Chronic Pain ; diagnosis ; etiology ; rehabilitation ; Disability Evaluation ; Fractures, Ununited ; complications ; diagnosis ; Humans ; Orthopedic Procedures ; methods ; Osteonecrosis ; complications ; diagnosis ; Pain Measurement ; Scaphoid Bone ; injuries ; Wrist Injuries ; complications ; diagnosis ; rehabilitation ; Wrist Joint

BACKGROUND: Arthroscopic shoulder surgery is often associated with severe postoperative pain. It is important to control pain in this setting, not only to improve the patient's well-being but also to facilitate rehabilitation. The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of a continuous suprascapular nerve block for pain relief after arthroscopic shoulder surgery. METHODS: Forty patients (20 in each group) scheduled for elective arthroscopic shoulder surgery received a suprascapular nerve block and a catheter was introduced before surgery. The patients were received standardized general anesthesia. After surgery, a single bolus of normal saline (Group I) or 0.2% ropivacaine (Group II) 6 ml was injected through a catheter in each group. All patients received either a continuous infusion of normal saline (Group I) or a continuous infusion of 0.2% ropivacaine (Group II) through the catheter at a rate of 3 ml/hr plus a bolus of 3 ml with a lock out time of 30 min. Pain relief was assessed at 2, 4, 8, 12, 24 hours using visual analog scale (VAS) and verbal pain scores (VPS). RESULTS: VAS and VPS were lower in the ropivacaine group (Group II) than in the normal saline group (Group I). There were no complication in either group. CONCLUSIONS: Continuous suprascapular nerve block using 0.2% ropivacaine is a safe and efficacious treatment for postoperative shoulder pain.
Anesthesia, General ; Catheters ; Humans ; Nerve Block* ; Pain, Postoperative ; Rehabilitation ; Shoulder Pain ; Shoulder* ; Visual Analog Scale

Musculoskeletal problems in the upper extremity after stroke are common conditions affecting the shoulder, elbow, wrist and hand, which are often symptomatic. These symptomatic conditions include complex regional pain syndrome type 1, secondary adhesive capsulitis of the shoulder, spasticity, secondary mechanical injuries, which often presents simultaneously in combined nature, so that one targeted treatment is not always successful. Musculoskeletal pain and complication is one of the reasons, for patients not being possible to start or participate in the daily regular rehabilitation programs actively after stroke.
Bursitis ; Elbow ; Hand ; Humans ; Muscle Spasticity ; Musculoskeletal Pain ; Rehabilitation ; Shoulder ; Shoulder Pain ; Stroke* ; Upper Extremity* ; Wrist

The McGill Pain Questionnaire consists primarily of 3 major classes in word descriptorssensory, affective and evaluative-and is used in the studies of clinical and experimental pain. The purpose of the study is to analyz e characteristics of the central pain in patients with spinal cord injury and to compare with the musculosleletal pain using McGill Pain Questionnaire(MPQ) Korean version. The subjects of this study were ninety-nine patients with spinal cord injury who were admitted to Ajou University Hospital or registered with other social agencies, and thirty patients with musculoskeletal pain who were treated at the rehabilitation medicine out patient clinic of Ajou University Hospital. Central pain had significantly higher sensory, miscellaneous and total scores of MPQ Korean version than the musculoskeletal pain. There were no correlations between visual analogue scale and each dimension of MPQ Korean version except evaluative dimension in central pain. Central pain had significantly higher scores than musculoskeletal pain in subelasses such as spatial punctate, incisive, thermal and coldness. The most frequently chosen words were "radiating"(46%) in central pain and "throbbing"(32%) in musculoskeletal pain of all subjects. In conclusion, the central pain has no difference in pain intensity but shows bizzare and diverse character compared with the musculoskeletal pain. Authors suggest that MPQ Korean version can be an useful measuring tool for the evaluation and the follow up of the central pain of spinal origin.
Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Musculoskeletal Pain* ; Pain Measurement* ; Rehabilitation ; Spinal Cord Injuries* ; Spinal Cord*