Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “Back Injuries”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 811 records · Page 45Linked to original sources
PubMed1991

Changes in stature during exercise and sports training.

Shrinkage in stature is used in ergonomics and sports contexts as an index of load on the spine. Measurement is now computer-aided to facilitate data collection. Applications of the technique to sport and exercise have included evaluations of weight-training, running and jumping drills. The technique has also been employed in assessing procedures for spinal unloading such as gravity inversion. Future applications include investigations of procedures used to prevent back injury as well as studies of sports that impose high transient loads on the spine.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1992

Application problems of a biomechanical model in improving roofwork.

The compression force during traditional roofwork and improved roofwork was calculated by means of a two-dimensional static biochemical model. The improvement resulted in a 30% reduction in compression force, but also influenced factors which cannot be incorporated into the model but may cause back injuries. The frequency and velocity of movements were reduced and the trunk torsion increased. It is recommended that in further development this trunk torsion should be avoided. For valid application of biomechanical models in ergonomics, further research is needed. Priority should be given to epidemiologic research to establish the influence of compression force, trunk torsion and latero-flexion, frequency and velocity of movement on the development of lumbar injuries.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1992

The influence of dynamic factors on triaxial net muscular moments at the L5/S1 joint during asymmetrical lifting and lowering.

Asymmetrical lifting and lowering are predominant activities in the workplace. Mechanical causes are suggested for many back injuries and the dynamic conditions within which spine loading occurs are related to spine loading increase. More data on tridimensional biomechanical lumbar spine loading during asymmetrical lifting and lowering are needed. A tridimensional dynamic multisegment model was developed to compute spinal loading for asymmetrical box-handling situations. The tridimensional positions of the anatomical markers were generated by a direct linear transformation algorithm adapted for the processing of data from two real and two virtual views (mirrors). Two force platforms measured the external forces. Five male subjects performed three variations (slow, fast and accelerated) of asymmetric lifting and two variations (slow and fast) of asymmetric lowering. The torsional, extension/flexion and lateral bending net muscular moments at the L5/S1 joint were computed and peak values selected for statistical analysis. For the lifting task, the fast and accelerated conditions showed significant increases over the slow condition for torsion, extension/flexion and lateral-bending moments. The accelerated condition also showed significant increases over the fast condition for extension. A comparison between lifting and lowering tasks showed equivalent loadings for torsion and extension. The moments were compared to average maximal values measured on equivalent male subject populations by isokinetic dynamometry. This showed torsional and extension values of 30 and 83% of the maximal possible subject capacity, respectively. These results demonstrated that dynamic factors do influence the load on the spine and highlighted the influence of both lifting and lowering on the loading of the spine. This suggested that for a more complete analysis of asymmetrical handling, the maximal velocity and acceleration produced during lifting should be included.

Adult↗
PubMed1978

Neurogenic and vascular claudication.

Intermittent claudication from peripheral vascular disease is sometimes difficult to distinguish from similar claudication due to degenerative disease of the lumbar spine. In the present study 26 patients with vascular disease were compared with 23 patients with lumbar degenerative disease. Assessment was by clinical and radiological examination. In the vascular group characteristic distinguishing features were: abnormal foot pulses, arterial bruits, relief of symptoms by standing, a constant claudicating distance and stocking sensory loss. In the lumbar group typical findings were: discomfort on lifting, bending, coughing or sneezing, pain on standing, history of back injury, variable claudicating distance and segmental sensory loss.

Aged↗
PubMed1995

Sorting and recycling of domestic waste. Review of occupational health problems and their possible causes.

In order to reduce the strain on the environment from the deposition of waste in landfills and combustion at incineration plants, several governments throughout the industrialized world have planned greatly increased recycling of domestic waste by the turn of the millennium. To implement the plans, new waste recycling facilities are to be built and the number of workers involved in waste sorting and recycling will increase steadily during the next decade. Several studies have reinforced the hypothesis that exposure to airborne microorganisms and the toxic products thereof are important factors causing a multitude of health problems among workers at waste sorting and recycling plants. Workers at transfer stations, landfills and incineration plants may experience an increased risk of pulmonary disorders and gastrointestinal problems. High concentrations of total airborne dust, bacteria, faecal coliform bacteria and fungal spores have been reported. The concentrations are considered to be sufficiently high to cause adverse health effects. In addition, a high incidence of lower back injuries, probably due to heavy lifting during work, has been reported among workers at landfills and incineration plants. Workers involved in manual sorting of unseparated domestic waste, as well as workers at compost plants experience more or less frequent symptoms of organic dust toxic syndrome (ODTS) (cough, chest-tightness, dyspnoea, influenza-like symptoms such as chills, fever, muscle ache, joint pain, fatigue and headache), gastrointestinal problems such as nausea and diarrhoea, irritation of the skin, eye and mucous membranes of the nose and upper airways, etc. In addition cases of severe occupational pulmonary diseases (asthma, alveolitis, bronchitis) have been reported. Manual sorting of unseparated domestic waste may be associated with exposures to large quantities of airborne bacteria and endotoxin. Several work functions in compost plants can result in very high exposure to airborne fungal spores and thermophilic actinomycetes. At plants sorting separated domestic waste, e.g. the combustible fraction of waste composed of paper, cardboard and plastics, the workers may have an increased risk of gastrointestinal symptoms and irritation of the eyes and skin. At such plants the bioaerosol exposure levels are in general low, but at some work tasks, e.g. manual sorting and work near the balers, exposure levels may occasionally be high enough to be potentially harmful. Workers handling the source-sorted paper or cardboard fraction do not appear to have an elevated risk of occupational health problems related to bioaerosol exposure, and the bioaerosol exposure is generally low.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Equipment Reuse↗
PubMed1996

Time-dependent changes in the lumbar spine's resistance to bending.

OBJECTIVE: To show how time-related factors might affect the risk of back injury. DESIGN: Mechanical testing of cadaveric lumbar motion segments. BACKGROUND: High bending stresses acting on the lumbar spine are associated with injuries to the intervertebral discs and ligaments. Since these soft tissues are viscoelastic, the bending stress ('bending moment') must depend on the speed of movement and the duration of loading, but this has not previously been quantified. METHODS: Forty-five cadaveric lumbar segments, consisting of two vertebrae and the intervening disc and ligaments, were loaded in combined bending and compression in order to simulate movements and postures in living people. The relationship between flexion angle and bending moment was determined at different loading rates, and after sustained loading in bending and in compression. RESULTS: Rapid flexion movements increased the peak bending moment by 10-15% compared to slow movements. On average, repeated flexion over a period of 5 min reduced the peak bending moment by 17%, and 5 min of sustained flexion reduced it by 42%. Two hours of compressive creep loading reduced the height of the intervertebral discs by 1.1 mm, increased the range of flexion by 12%, and reduced peak bending moment by 41%. CONCLUSIONS: The scale of these changes suggests that, in life, the risk of bending injury to the lumbar discs and ligaments will depend not only on the loads applied to the spine, but also on loading rate and loading history. RELEVANCE: The results show how time-dependent factors can increase the risk of bending injury to the osteoligamentous lumbar spine.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1996

Pseudo-pneumoretroperitoneum secondary to lumbar emphysema: CT demonstration in two cases.

Several conditions may simulate the radiolucent appearances of pneumoretroperitoneum at plain film. These include gas shadows in locations other than the retroperitoneal space or fluid within the retroperitoneal compartments. Two cases of emphysema within the soft tissues of the back mimicking pneumoretroperitoneum on plain radiographs are described. One case was secondary to epidural anesthesia and another to trauma. In both, computed tomography (CT) led to the correct diagnosis. The possible pitfalls in the differential diagnosis of retroperitoneal gas are described with emphasis of the diagnostic role of CT.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Co-contraction recruitment and spinal load during isometric trunk flexion and extension.

BACKGROUND: Pushing and pulling tasks account for 20% of occupational low-back injury claims. Primary torso muscle groups recruited during pushing tasks include rectus abdominis and the external obliques. However, analyses suggest that antagonistic co-contraction of the paraspinal muscles is necessary to stabilize the spine during flexion exertions. The study quantified co-contraction and spinal load differences during isometric flexion and extension exertions. The goal was to provide insight into the mechanisms requiring greater co-contraction during trunk flexion exertions compared to extension exertions. METHODS: Electromyographic (EMG) signals were recorded from the trunk muscles of healthy volunteers during isometric trunk flexion and extension exertions. A biomechanical model was implemented to estimate total muscle force from the measured EMG and trunk moment data. A similar model estimated the muscle forces necessary to achieve equilibrium while minimizing the sum of squared muscle forces. The difference in these forces represented co-contraction. Spinal load attributed to co-contraction was computed. RESULTS: Average co-contraction during flexion exertions was approximately twice the value of co-contraction during extension, i.e. 28% and 13% of total muscle forces respectively. Co-contraction accounted for up to 47% of the total spinal load during flexion exertions. Consequently, spinal compression during the flexion tasks was nearly 50% greater than during extension exertions despite similar levels of trunk moment. INTERPRETATION: Co-contraction must be considered when evaluating spinal load during pushing exertions. Results underscore the need to consider neuromuscular control of spinal stability when evaluating the biomechanical risks.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Lower limb post-immobilization dystonia in Parkinson's disease.

Fixed dystonic posturing of the hands and feet may complicate advanced Parkinson's disease (PD) and add considerably to the functional disability of patients. We report 3 PD patients who developed lower limb fixed dystonic posturing after a brief period of immobilization (<2 months). Two patients had been immobilized after hip and back injuries and one for transfusion therapy for anemia. This fixed dystonic posturing resulted in severe functional disability. Oral medications failed to control symptoms. Of two patients who received botulinum toxin injections only one experienced benefit. Orthopedic surgery resulted in clinical improvement with increased mobility and independence in one patient. Post-immobilization dystonia of lower limbs in PD is resistant to medical treatment and leads to significant functional disability. Botulinum toxin may provide partial relief in some cases and orthopedic surgery can also be considered.

Accidental Falls↗
PubMed2006

Changes to somatosensory detection and pain thresholds following high frequency repetitive TMS of the motor cortex in individuals suffering from chronic pain.

Research has shown that transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) results in a transient reduction in the experience of chronic pain. The present research aimed to investigate whether a single session of high frequency TMS is able to change the sensory thresholds of individuals suffering from chronic pain. Detection and pain thresholds for cold and heat sensations were measured before and after 20Hz repetitive TMS (rTMS) administered over the motor cortex. A significant decrease in temperature for cold detection and pain thresholds and a significant increase in temperature for heat pain thresholds were evident following a single session of rTMS. In contrast, no change in detection and pain thresholds was obtained following sham rTMS. The finding that rTMS can have a direct effect on sensory thresholds in individuals suffering from chronic pain has implications for the therapeutic use of rTMS in the relief of chronic pain.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Pediatric posterior reversible leukoencephalopathy syndrome and NSAID-induced acute tubular interstitial nephritis.

Reversible posterior leukoencephalopathy syndrome is a recently described disorder with typical radiologic findings in the posterior regions of the cerebral hemisphere and cerebellum. The symptoms include headache, nausea, vomiting, visual disturbances, focal neurologic deficits, and seizures. A 10-year-old male was hit on his back, resulting in backache. He was medicated with sodium diclofenate and mefenamic acid. The next day, he had edema and oliguria. By the third day, his blood pressure increased and he began to experience restlessness and worsening mental status. He then complained of headache and visual disturbances and had a seizure. A magnetic resonance imaging scan revealed abnormalities in the posterior regions of the cerebral hemisphere and cerebellum. The patient was treated with antiepileptics and calcium antagonists. His hypertension and seizures were well controlled. On the 22nd day, he was discharged without any neurologic or renal deficits. Reversible posterior leukoencephalopathy syndrome does not occur frequently in childhood, and this is the first case report of reversible posterior leukoencephalopathy syndrome related to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. One should consider reversible posterior leukoencephalopathy syndrome as a side effect of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug use in daily medical treatment.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1999

Biomechanical evaluation of assistive devices for transferring residents.

This is the first of two articles to report a biomechanical evaluation and psychophysical assessment of nine battery-powered lifts, a sliding board, a walking belt, and a baseline manual method for transferring nursing home residents from a bed to a chair. The objectives of the biomechanical evaluation were: (1) to investigate the effects of transfer method and resident weight on the biomechanical stress to nursing assistants performing the transferring task, and (2) to identify resident-transferring methods that could reduce the biomechanical stress to the nursing assistants. Nine nursing assistants served as test subjects; two elderly persons participated as residents. A four-camera motion analysis system, two force platforms, and a three-dimensional biomechanical model were used to measure biomechanical load. The results indicate that transfer method and resident weight affect a nursing assistant's low-back loading. The basket-sling and overhead lift devices significantly reduced the nursing assistants' back-compressive forces during the preparation phase of a resident transfer. In addition, the use of basket-sling, overhead, and stand-up lifts removed about two-thirds of the exposure to low-back stress (lifting activities per transfer) as compared to the baseline manual method. Thus, the use of these devices reduces biomechanical stress, and thereby will decrease the occurrence of resident-handling-related low-back injuries. Furthermore, lifting device maneuvering forces were found to be significantly different and a number of design/use problems were identified with various assistive devices. The second article will detail the psychophysical assessment of the same resident-transferring methods.

Biomechanical Phenomena↗
PubMed1979

The albatross syndrome--how to prevent it.

While no single test or historical feature will allow the physician to predict the patients who will have poor results from ulcer surgery, certain factors may alert the physician to a possible poor result and encourage careful re-evaluation of the need for surgery. Any patient with intractable pain should be assessed carefully in an attempt to establish the cause of the intractability, and this assessment should include endoscopy. The endoscopist may help to identify those patients with structural disease that is too minimal to explain the intractable complaints. Careful attention should also be given to the evaluation of the patient's personality, work record, and relationship to spouse, family, and friends. Patients who have previously been disabled by other medical problems such as low back injury should be approached with caution. While newer procedures in ulcer surgery may alter the incidence of standard postgastrectomy complications it will not alter the incidence of the albatross syndrome, which is more directly related to the selection of the patient rather than the selection of the surgeon or surgical procedure.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Disabling spondyloarthrosis risk factors in valley of Mexico workers.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to describe the most prevalent physically disabling conditions for insured workers belonging to the Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS) in the Valley of Mexico and to identify risk factors for disabling spondyloarthrosis. METHODS: Retrospective cases and prevalent controls from IMSS clinics in the Mexico City metropolitan area were studied. Eighty cases were IMSS workers reporting disability due to spondyloarthrosis; 80 controls were active workers at the same workplace and shared the economic activity of the cases. The 1995 IMSS Disability Report was reviewed. From this report congenital conditions of the musculoskeletal system, obesity, history of trauma, and sociodemographic patient characteristics were assessed. RESULTS: The most important risk factors were a history of spina bifida (odds ratio [OR] = 29.3, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] = 5.3-161; p = 0.0009), supernumerary vertebrae (OR = 21.3, 95% CI = 5.3-95; p = 0.0001), history of low back (lumbar) trauma (OR = 3.9, 95% CI = 1.9-8.3; p = 0.0004), flatfoot (OR = 11.7, 95% CI = 1.9-69, p = 0.02), and obesity (OR = 2.0, 95% CI = 1.06-4.03; p = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: A history of congenital deformity of the musculoskeletal system, spinal column trauma, and obesity were risk factors most associated with work disability due to spondyloarthrosis.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Practice-related changes in lumbar loading during rapid voluntary pulls made while standing.

OBJECTIVE: To determine if five days of practice on a novel dynamic, multi-joint pulling task resulted in lower magnitudes of lumbar loading or a more consistent relationship between pulling force and lumbar loading. DESIGN: A repeated measures design compared how practice influenced the magnitude of lumbar torque and the correlations between lumbar torque and pulling force. BACKGROUND: Previous studies suggest that practice can decrease the magnitude of lumbar loading on simple manual material handling tasks, but it is unknown whether practice reduces lumbar loading for more complex tasks. Neither is it known whether the consistency of lumbar loading increases with practice. METHODS: Ten healthy adults practiced impulse-like horizontal pulls to targets equaling 20%, 40% and 80% of their estimated maximal dynamic pulling force over 5 days. Movements were unrestrained, other than keeping the feet flat on the ground. We used a four-segment, sagittal plane inverse dynamics model to compute lumbar, hip, knee, and ankle torques on days 1 and 5 from ground reaction forces and moments, pulling forces, and kinematics. RESULTS: An analysis of variance showed significant practice-related changes in lumbar torque at the time of peak pulling force (lumbar torque(peakPF)). The lumbar torque(peakPF) decreased for the 20% pulls, did not change for the 40% pulls, and increased for the 80% pulls. Two subjects showed a significant decrease in lumbar torque(peakPF) for all three force levels. Coefficients of determination between pulling force and lumbar torque (r(2)(PF,LT): a measure of the consistency of the relationship between these two variables) were significantly higher on day 5 than day 1. CONCLUSIONS: Practice on a novel pulling task changed the magnitude of lumbar torques and increased their correlation with pulling force, suggesting that subjects learned strategies that improve motor control of lumbar torques. Relevance The study showed that the magnitude and consistency of lumbar loading changed spontaneously as subjects practiced a novel multijoint pulling task. Such changes may decrease the risk of low-back injury.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

A new method: perforator-based tissue expansion for a preexpanded free cutaneous perforator flap.

Recent advances in concepts of preexpanded free flaps have made it possible to replace larger postburn contracture area. Free anterolateral thigh (ALT) cutaneous perforator flaps are popular due to constant, reliable anatomy and various clinical applications in our department. Combination of preexpansion, perforator-based prefabrication of tissue expansion and a free anterolateral thigh flap is first introduced and developed to resurface the large territory of postburn cervical contracture in a 33-year-old female patient with second to third degree flame burn with a 45% total body surface area (TBSA) involvement. The limited lateral flexion and rotation was noted despite aggressive rehabilitation for 6 months. The 650cm(3) kidney-shaped tissue expander was inserted around the myocutaneous perforator under the fascia via the midlateral thigh incision in first stage. Two months later right lateral neck scar (size=25cm x 13cm) was excised after serial clinic saline injection. The preexpanded free flap (size=29cm x 15cm) combined with z plasty and capsulectomy was harvested and covered in the contracture defect. A flap totally survived. One-staged resurfacing was achieved with immediate postoperative improvement. The hospital stay was 6 days. The donor site was closed primarily. After 6 months follow-up, the functional improvement was assessed as follows: an increase in rotation of 14 degrees (preoperative 74 degrees to postoperative 88 degrees ); and an increase in lateral flexion of 10 degrees (preoperative 30 degrees to postoperative 40 degrees ). The prefabrication of the free cutaneous perforator flap by perforator-based tissue expansion above the muscle has several advantages: (1) it provides accurate and safe expansion without damage of any perforator compared with the blunt dissection; (2) larger territory of free flaps can be used for burn reconstruction; (3) donor site is primarily closed with low tension; (4) it is not a random expanded flap due to direct expansion of specific skin territory around the perforator. The disadvantages are two-staged procedures, complications of tissue expansion (e.g. infection, extrusion), the possibility of compression of pedicles.

Adult↗