Latest Chiropractic Research as of August 2022
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Medline contains more than 28 million references, with over one million new citations added each year. Keeping up is tough, but the ChiroUp research team makes it easier by continually scouring and summarizing freshly published literature to mine out new clinical pearls and best practice data. The following up-to-date chiropractic research review offers ten recent studies that will impact our patients and practices.
1. 100% Sensitivity for Distal Biceps Tendon Tear
"A positive palpation rotation test was seen in 33/33 patients (100% sensitivity), as correlated with MRI. The combination of an intact distal biceps tendon within the antecubital fossa, tenderness on resisted supination, and a positive palpation rotation test are highly suggestive of a partial distal biceps tendon tear."
Deeper Dive: Review the new Biceps Palpation-Rotation Test
Caputo V, Cusano A, LeVasseur MR, Spencer M, Mazzocca AD, Caputo AE. The Utility of the Biceps Palpation-Rotation Test in Diagnosing Partial Distal Biceps Tendon Tears. Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery. 2022 Mar 22. Link
2. Chronic Neck Pain Linked to Breatining Dysfunction
“Patients with chronic neck pain have reduced respiratory muscle strength and pulmonary function compared with asymptomatic individuals, and this difference could be clinically meaningful.”
Deeper Dive: Review this 15 Minutes to Clinical Excellence video on Dysfunctional Breathing, including the most appropriate exercises to correct the issue.
López-de-Uralde-Villanueva I, Del Corral T, Salvador-Sánchez R, Angulo-Díaz-Parreño S, López-Marcos JJ, Plaza-Manzano G. Respiratory dysfunction in patients with chronic neck pain: systematic review and meta-analysis. Disability and Rehabilitation. 2022 Jul 6:1-2. Link
3. Neuromobilization Helps CTS (again)
“The addition of neuromobilization in the rehabilitation program of carpal tunnel syndrome has better effects on treatment outcomes.”
Deeper Dive: Review this prior blog detailing CTS neurodynamic testing and treatment
Ijaz MJ, Karimi H, Ahmad A, Gillani SA, Anwar N, Chaudhary MA. Comparative Efficacy of Routine Physical Therapy with and without Neuromobilization in the Treatment of Patients with Mild to Moderate Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. BioMed Research International. 2022 Jun 22;2022. Link
4. Adding a Tendon Gliding Exercise Boosts CTS Outcomes
“The tendon gliding exercise contributed as a beneficial, effect-enhancing adjunct to the neurodynamic technique and carpal bone mobilization technique.”
Deeper Dive: Review the new CTS Tendon Gliding exercise
Sheereen FJ, Sarkar B, Sahay P, Shaphe MA, Alghadir AH, Iqbal A, Ali T, Ahmad F. Comparison of Two Manual Therapy Programs, including Tendon Gliding Exercises as a Common Adjunct, While Managing the Participants with Chronic Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. Pain Research and Management. 2022 Jun 8;2022. Link
5. New Foramen Opening Exercise For Radiculopathy
Twenty lumbar radiculopathy patients presented to an emergency department with moderate or large disc herniations (via MRI). Half were randomized into a Foramen Opening self-treatment group. Compared to controls, the patients performing the Foramen Opening exercise demonstrated "significant improvements" in VAS back and leg pain, Oswestry disability scores, and straight leg raise. And "patients in the experimental group consumed less medication than control patients (21% versus 79%), including less than half the opioids (tramadol). No adverse responses occurred."
Deeper Dive: Subscribers can review a video tutorial for this new Foramen Opening exercise.
Shacklock M, Rade M, Poznic S, Marinko A, Fredericson M, Kröger H, Kankaanpää M, Airaksinen O. Treatment of Sciatica and Lumbar Radiculopathy with an Intervertebral Foramen Opening Protocol: Pilot Study in a Hospital Emergency and In-patient Setting. Physiotherapy Theory and Practice. 2022 Mar 8:1-1 Link
6. Vitamin D & Tennis Elbow
“Vitamin D levels were significantly lower in lateral epicondylopathy patients in our study. This finding supports that low vitamin D may be one of the factors in the etiology of lateral epicondylopathy.”
Deeper Dive: Want more great advice to improve your outcomes? Blog followers see an average of two new studies per month, but ChiroUp subscribers see an average of two new studies per day on the ChiroUp research feed, plus all of the essential assets to integrate these skills into your practice.
Yaka H, Başbuğ V, Tekin AA, Özer M. Evaluation of the relationship between lateral epicondylitis and vitamin D. Joint diseases and related surgery. 2022;33(2):414-8. Link
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7. Nearly Half of Neck Pain Patients Have Scapular Dyskinesis
“In patients with neck, back, or shoulder pain…the prevalence of scapular dyskinesia was 41.9%.”
Deeper Dive: Review this 15 Minutes to Excellence video on Scapular Dyskinesis
SAĞLAM G, TELLİ H. The prevalence of scapular dyskinesia in patients with back, neck, and shoulder pain and the effect of this combination on pain and muscle shortness. Link
8. Poor Long-Term Prognosis for Whiplash
The long-term prognosis of patients with whiplash injury-related neck pain was found to be poor. At least 5 years after the whiplash injury:
89.5% of patients experienced whiplash injury-related neck pain.
68.4% of patients had pain scores ⩾ 3 on the NRS.
68.4% of patients were still receiving treatment.
73.7% of patients encountered difficulty performing daily life activities and occupational duties.
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Park D, Kwak SG, Chang MC. Five to ten-year prognosis of whiplash injury-related chronic neck pain: A brief report. Journal of back and musculoskeletal rehabilitation. 2022 Jun 17(Preprint):1-5. Link
9. Pre-Manipulative Vascular Screening Tests Ineffective
"The validity of pre-manipulative tests of the cervical spine is often questioned, and the understanding of the effect of head/neck position on blood flow is still incomplete. The aim of the study was to assess the influence of commonly used evaluation and treatment positions on intracranial hemodynamic parameters. [This study found] No effects from commonly used assessment and treatment of neck positions on hemodynamic parameters."
Deeper Dive: Want to learn more about SMT and Stroke? Check out this popular ChiroUp on-demand webinar.
Moll F, Sleiman M, Sturm D, Kerry R, von Piekartz H. Pre-manipulative cervical spine testing and sustained rotation do not influence intracranial hemodynamics: an observational study with transcranial Doppler ultrasound. Journal of Manual & Manipulative Therapy. 2022 May 4:1-1. Link
10. New Test is 92% Sensitive for Rotator Cuff Pathology
"Our results demonstrate that the Internal rotation and shift-test is a reliable and valid tool for assessing superior rotator cuff pathology. With good-to-excellent intra-rater and inter-rater reliability and strong sensitivity [92%] and specificity [67%], this test should be considered a valuable addition to clinicians' cadre of clinical evaluation tools."
Deeper Dive: Subscribers can review the new Internal Rotation and Shift-Test here.
Fieseler G, Laudner K, Sendler J, Cornelius J, Schulze S, Lehmann W, Hermassi S, Delank KS, Schwesig R. The internal rotation and shift-test for the detection of superior lesions of the rotator cuff: reliability and clinical performance. JSES international. 2022 Feb 18. Link
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