A comparison of hip and lumbopelvic inflexibility and low back pain in runners and cyclists.

OBJECTIVE: To study the correlation between the incidence of low back pain in active runners and cyclists to their level of lumbopelvic inflexibility. SETTING: Laboratory setting. SUBJECTS: One hundred eight volunteers were chosen. None had prior surgery to the hip or lumbar spine regions. Along with runners and cyclists, a sedentary control group was chosen. A medical questionnaire focusing on activity levels in sport and the incidence of disability and low back pain was completed. Eight variables were calculated for statistical significance. INTERVENTIONS: None. KNOWN OUTCOME MEASURES: Correlation between all variables were calculated. Additionally, ANOVAs for total group on each dependent variable were conducted, followed by Tukey HSDs where significant. RESULTS: Results indicated significant correlations between hip extension and sit and reach [r (106) = .36, p > .001], year in sport and mileage [r (106) = .39, p > .001], and sex and hip extension [r (106) = .35, p > .001]. CONCLUSION: A correlation between hip and low back inflexibility and the incidence of low back pain and disability in runners and cyclists is not supported by our data. Inconsistency of age control within our subject groups, along with the choice of flexibility testing, may necessitate further investigation on this subject.

Rotator cuff disease: current trends in orthopedic management.

Rotator cuff disease is a clinical entity that is frequently encountered in the typical primary care office. Of particular importance to the chiropractic physician is the close proximity of the shoulder joint to the cervical spine. Due to the relatively high level of morbidity in the population, rotator cuff disease should be looked at carefully on both the physical and advanced diagnostic level. Several factors contributing to rotator cuff pathology include subacromial impingement, the relative microvascular pattern of the cuff mechanism and prior trauma. The natural history of attrition and aging also play a role in rotator cuff disease. Advanced disease is successfully diagnosed through the efficient utilization and proper sequencing of advanced orthopedic imaging studies.

Lyme disease.

A 29-year-old male tennis player was examined for neck pain, limited mobility, and right elbow pain. The patient was treated for cervical facet syndrome by chiropractic manipulative therapy (CMT) for a period of 6 weeks. After this time the patient had a relapse of cervical pain, spinal myofascitis, dermatitis and migratory arthropathy. Several specialists were consulted throughout the case including a rheumatologist, and a tentative diagnosis of psoriatic arthritis and fibromyalgia was made. A follow-up blood evaluation led to a new diagnosis of Lyme disease.