Healthcare News
Intra-op liposomal bupivacaine found to be beneficial after spinal fusion in scoliosis
For adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) patients undergoing posterior spinal fusion (PSF), intraoperative liposomal bupivacaine (LB) infiltration is associated with lower total opioid consumption and shorter length of stay (LOS), according to a study published online May 1 in Spine.
Source: Medical Xpress
Ultra-processed foods may increase depression risk, long-term study shows
Ultra-processed food is food that has been industrially produced, containing ingredients that you would not find in your home kitchen. It is designed to be “highly profitable (low-cost ingredients, long shelf-life, emphatic branding), convenient (ready-to-consume), and hyper-palatable.” Now, a large Australian study has found that high consumption of ultra-processed foods is linked to depressive symptoms.
Source: Medical News Today
Your thoughts can harm your neck and back during lifting tasks
The mental distress of cognitive dissonance—encountering information that conflicts with how we act or what we believe—can lead to added pressure on the neck and low back during lifting and lowering tasks, new research suggests.
Source: Medical Xpress
Dowager’s Hump: What It Is and How To Get Rid of It
The hump at the base of your neck may be caused by osteoporosis or poor posture
Source: Cleveland Clinic healthessentials
12 Tips to Relieve Back Pain When Driving
Your time in the driver’s seat can cause your lower back pain to flare up. Steps you can take to reduce irritation and relieve pain include adjusting your seat settings, using lumbar support, and applying topical ointments.
Source: healthline
What is a panic attack?
A panic attack is an episode of intense fear with an abrupt onset, lasting from several minutes to up to an hour. It has many mental and physical symptoms such as chest pain, shortness of breath, nausea, dizziness, chest pain and a sense of pending doom.
Source: Mayo Clinic Health System
New research sheds light on symptoms of understudied spine disease
Prior studies suggest DISH affects up to a third of men over the age of 50. This non-inflammatory type of arthritis is characterized by the progressive calcification of spinal tissues that eventually leads to the fusion of the vertebrae within the spine. However, whether this calcification causes pain, especially in the early stages of the disease, isn't well understood or well documented.
Source: Medical Xpress
Pulsed radiofrequency with steroid injection brings sciatica relief
Researchers found that a minimally invasive procedure combined with epidural steroid injection treatment led to superior pain reduction and disability improvement over one year in patients with sciatica. The results of the study were published in Radiology. The combined treatment performed better than steroid injections alone.
Source: Medical Xpress
Best medications for low back pain, according to new research
Ouch, that aching back! Perhaps it’s from sitting too long, picking up a heavy object, a sudden slip or fall, or an aging spine — whatever the cause, sudden pain in the lower back is a common complaint. People often reach for over-the-counter pain medication to help. But which type of pain med is most effective?
Source: CNN
Pain in the back: Preventing and treating spinal arthritis
The spine is susceptible to osteoarthritis because of the motion between the vertebrae. It's most common in the lower back, or lumbar spine, because these joints carry most of the body weight.
Source: Medical Xpress
Why is the pain worse after an epidural steroid injection?
The reasons for an increase in pain are not well documented. The epidural space, where the doctor injects the steroid, is small. The introduction of steroid fluid into this space, where nerves are already inflamed, may temporarily increase pressure, irritating spinal nerves.
Source: Medical News Today
Ankylosing spondylitis back pain treatment
Back pain is the main symptom of ankylosing spondylitis (AS), a form of arthritis that affects the spine. The pain typically affects the lower back or hips, where the spine and pelvis join up. It may get worse after periods of inactivity, such as after sleeping.
Source: Medical News Today
Which medications are best for treating acute low back pain?
Acute low back pain is a common cause of disability. An analysis in the Journal of Orthopaedic Research examined which non-opioid drugs are best for treating this condition.
Source: Medical Xpress
How to deal with anxiety
It's natural for everyone to experience anxiety at different times in their lives. Maybe you're worried about making a good first impression with your new partner's family, and you become anxious in the days leading up to the meeting about what you'll wear.
Source: Medical Xpress
Polluted Air May Speed Osteoporosis Bone Loss
Exposure to elevated levels of air pollutants is associated with bone damage in postmenopausal women, according to a new study that said the effects were most evident on the lumbar spine.
Source: US News
Fractures, strains, and falls: How to prevent winter back injuries
Winter weather can be treacherous for your back. Whether it's a lumbar strain from shoveling wet, heavy snow or taking a spill on a slick sidewalk, winter conditions can seriously affect your back health.
Source: Medical Xpress
What to know about anxiety
Anxiety is a common and natural emotion, but it can also cause physical symptoms, such as shaking and sweating. Anxiety disorders can affect daily life but can often improve with treatment.
Source: Medical News Today
Brain Fog
Brain fog is not a formal medical diagnosis but an umbrella term for cognitive (thinking and memory) difficulties. Brain fog can arise from specific environmental factors, like stress or sleep deprivation, or be a symptom of an underlying health condition. It can also be a side effect of a medication
Source: Verywell Health
Ankylosing spondylitis and neck pain
Usually, ankylosing spondylitis (AS) starts in the lower spine, but it can also affect the upper spine and neck. For some, the neck is where AS symptoms begin, which may cause stiffness and pain.
Source: Medical News Today
Noninvasive Interventions Can Reduce Spine Pain Versus Usual Care
A multidisciplinary biopsychosocial intervention or an individualized postural therapy (IPT) intervention can reduce pain-related disability at three months compared with usual care among patients with acute or subacute spine pain, according to a study published in the Dec. 20 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Source: HealthDay
What Is Facet Hypertrophy?
Facet hypertrophy is a common problem that causes the facet joints in your spine to enlarge. New bone growth and bone spurs can also develop as the joint tries to repair the damaged cartilage. The swelling and new growth can narrow the spinal canal and compress nearby nerves, causing pain.
Source: Verywell Health
ACP recommends bisphosphonates for initial treatment for osteoporosis in males and postmenopausal females
The American College of Physicians (ACP) has issued an update of its guideline with clinical recommendations for treatments of primary osteoporosis and low bone mass in adults.
Source: Medical Xpress
The link between mental health and ADHD is strong—so why aren't we paying attention?
Adults with high levels of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms are more likely to experience anxiety and depression than adults with high levels of autistic traits, according to new research led by psychologists at the University of Bath in the UK.
Source: Medical Xpress
What are some possible early warning signs of osteoporosis?
Osteoporosis causes bones to become porous and weaker, and many people do not have noticeable symptoms until they experience an injury or fracture. However, early signs of the condition can include receding gums, weakened grip strength, and brittle fingernails.
Source: Medical News Today
What to know about uncovertebral joint hypertrophy
Uncovertebral joints are joints in the neck that stabilize and allow for movement. In some cases, these joints can swell or become enlarged, causing stiffness and pain.
Source: Medical News Today
What to know about ankylosing spondylitis
Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a form of arthritis that mainly affects the spine, lower back, and sacroiliac joints.
Source: Medical News Today
Can hormonal imbalances cause depression?
Hormones play an important role in regulating bodily functions and can affect a person’s mood. A hormonal imbalance may cause symptoms of depression.
Source: Medical News Today
What to know about cervical stenosis in the spine
Cervical stenosis (CS) is the medical term for the narrowing of the spinal canal in the cervical or “neck” region of the spine. In CS, the upper part of the spinal canal becomes narrowed, compressing the spinal cord and nerve roots in this area.
Source: Medical News Today
What does arthritis in the spine look and feel like?
Spinal arthritis includes a range of degenerative conditions affecting the joints in the spine. The condition may cause swelling and pain. Imaging scans may also show changes to the bone structure.
Source: Medical News Today
Anxiety Treatment: Mindfulness Program 'As Effective' As Common Antidepressant
Practicing mindfulness meditation can help relieve stress and anxious feelings.Now, a new study suggests that an 8-week mindfulness program works just as well for treating anxiety as a common antidepressant.
Source: Healthline
Understanding Depression and Osteoporosis
People with osteoporosis (a condition that causes bones to become weak and brittle) are more likely to have depression (a serious mood disorder causing persistent sadness and loss of interest in activities) than people who do not have osteoporosis.
Source: Verywell Health
Stretches and exercises to relieve SI joint pain
The sacroiliac (SI) joint connects the spine to the pelvis. People who have injured this joint may experience pain in the lower back, buttocks, and down the back of the thigh. Simple stretches and exercises may ease the pain and help people move around more comfortably.
Source: Medical News Today
Minimally Invasive Lumbar Decompression Versus Minimally Invasive Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion for Treatment of Low-Grade Lumbar Degenerative Spondylolisthesis
Objective: To compare perioperative outcomes, radiographic parameters, and patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) between minimally invasive unilateral laminotomy with bilateral decompression (MIS-ULBD) versus MIS transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (MIS-TLIF) for treatment of low-grade lumbar degenerative spondylolisthesis.
Source: Spine
Using more social media increases depression risk for all personality types, study says
Public policy and education researchers found that higher social media exposure may contribute to depression, regardless of personality traits. In their recent study, high neuroticism was associated with an increased risk of developing depression within six months. The study’s authors suggest that interventions should encourage reduced social media use for all personality types, especially high neuroticism, and low agreeableness.
Source: Medical News Today
Spinal fusion for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis yielded high return to sport rates
Results showed patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis who were released to unrestricted activity at 4 to 8 weeks after posterior spinal fusion had high return to sport rates with a rapid return to baseline performance levels.
Source: Healio
What Causes Pain Between The Shoulders And How To Fix It
Pain between the shoulders is common: As many as one in 10 men and one in five women experience upper back pain, according to a 2015 journal article in Occupational Medicine[1]. Often, upper back pain between the shoulders is caused by a muscle strain due to overuse, injury or poor posture, and although the resulting discomfort can range from mildly uncomfortable to severe and debilitating, the root cause can often be corrected with a combination of rest, stretching and exercise.
Source: Forbes Health
Lumbar facet arthroplasty with total spine system yielded low complication rates at 1 year
Results showed patients who underwent lumbar facet arthroplasty with a total spine system had low complication rates and significant improvements in patient-reported outcome measures at 1-year follow-up.
Source: Healio
Why Back Pain Is More Common as You Age, and What to Do About It
It's not your imagination: Your back has definitely gotten achier and more injury-prone as you've aged. But what's behind the growing discomfort, and is there anything you can do to make it go away?
Source: Livestrong
Q and A: Back pain
It seems like everyone I know has some type of back pain. My husband and I both suffer from back pain but mine is a dull ache at the end of the day while he seems to have shooting pain. Why are our backs so susceptible to pain and how do I know when we should talk with our doctor?
Source: Medical Xpress
Ankylosing spondylitis and spinal stenosis
Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a form of arthritis that typically affects the spine, lower back, and sacroiliac joints. People with the condition have an increased risk of developing other spinal problems, such as spinal stenosis.
Source: Medical News Today
Aching Backs in Seniors: An Expert`s Guide to Pain Meds
Back and neck pain are often an unfortunate part of aging, but older adults can safely find relief with various medications, a new research review concludes.
Source: HealthDay
What to know about Adderall and Depression
Adderall is a medication that a person may take for the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). There is some debate over whether Adderall can cause depression. However, with correct use according to the prescription, this is extremely rare.
Source: Medical News Today
Vitamin B6 Supplements May Help Reduce Anxiety, Depression
Researchers say high daily doses of vitamin B6, and to a lesser degree vitamin 12, can help lower anxiety and depression. Experts say the findings are important but further research is needed.
Source: Healthline
What are the most likely causes of upper back pain?
Pain in the upper back is usually the result of poor posture, muscle overuse, or injury. Treatment may include home remedies, such as rest and gentle exercises, or possibly seeing a physical therapist.
Source: Medical News Today
Can COVID-19 cause neck pain?
Some people with COVID-19 experience neck pain, soreness, and stiffness. In some cases, neck pain can be a persistent symptom of long COVID.
Source: Medical News Today
Signs You Have High-Functioning Anxiety
The term high functioning anxiety describes an individual who, despite feeling anxious, seems able to effectively manage the demands of day-to-day life
Source: Cleveland Clinic
Multiple Sclerosis & Anxiety: What’s the Link?
People with MS can also experience mental health symptoms, depression, and anxiety.This may be related to neuroinflammation and is thought to be heavily influenced by the uncertain nature of the condition.
Source: Verywell Health
Recognizing and Treating Anxiety and Depression in Children
Children, like adults, can sometimes feel anxious and down. But unlike adults, children, particularly younger children, are not always able to express these feelings.
Source: healthline
Smoke break: New study strengthens link between smoking and increased fracture risk in men
It's no secret that puffing cigarettes is the culprit behind a whole host of ailments, including respiratory diseases and cancers of the lungs and throat. But a new University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) study has revealed that male smokers—who, demographically, are more likely than women to light up—are also placing themselves at a significantly increased risk of osteoporosis, bone fractures, and early death.
Source: Medical Xpress
Americans Try Many Things to Ease Chronic Back Pain
Nearly half of all U.S. adults have back pain, and 40% say the pain limits their social activities, according to a new poll.
Source: WebMD
What Is Fear of Success?
People often hear about the fear of failure, but people may also experience a fear of success. This may sound contradictory, since much of society prizes success.
Source: Verywell Health
Cervical Disc Replacement Surgery: Eligibility, Procedure, Recovery, and More
A cervical disc replacement (CDR) is a procedure that replaces a damaged disc between the vertebrae in your neck with an artificial disc. Discs are gel-like cushions that reduce friction between your vertebrae.
Source: healthline
A Guide to Healthy Sleep Positions
A good sleeping position along with a good quality of sleep throughout the night relaxes the spine and muscles. Sleep is needed not just for relaxation but also for mental and physical recovery.
Source: News Medical Life Sciences
Can exercise help stress, anxiety, and depression?
Physical activity can relieve stress and may also improve anxiety and depression symptoms. Experts think it does this by both promoting resilience and giving a person a break from their stress, boosting their mood.
Source: Medical News Today
Managing ankylosing spondylitis flares
Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a type of autoimmune disease. This means that the immune system attacks healthy cells in the body. In the case of AS, the immune system attacks the joints, which leads to pain and other symptoms. It also may cause joint damage.
Source: Medical News Today
8 reasons you're experiencing lower right back pain and what to do about it
Lower right back pain can be due to a sprain, infection, cancer, pregnancy, and much more. To get proper treatment you need the right diagnosis so track any other symptoms you're having. Your symptoms and the type of pain you're experiencing can help you identify the cause and find relief for lower right back pain. Here's what might be at play.
Source: Insider
Everyday tips for chronic back pain
Your back pain could get better, and soon. There are many treatments that could help, from physical therapy to small but strategic changes in your daily routine. Even your breathing might make a difference!
Source: WebMD
Not (just) a shock: ECT reduces suicides in depressed elders
Electroconvulsive therapy reduces deaths by suicide among older adults with depression in the months immediately following hospitalization, researchers report in the 10 September issue of the American Journal of Psychiatry.
Source: Medical Xpress
Testing and treating newborns for spinal muscular atrophy: Saving lives and healthcare costs
Gene therapy for spinal muscular atrophy might have a high up-front price tag. But by screening and treating infants early, the therapy can save both lives and money in the long term.
Source: Medical Xpress
Focusing on the present during the pandemic can reduce longer-term mental health impacts
Focusing on the present and not the past or future will better protect your mental health and wellbeing during the COVID 19 pandemic, a new study has found.
Source: Medical Xpress
Study evaluates robotic- and navigation-assisted pedicle screw placement in adult degenerative spinal surgery
The use of robotics and computer navigation in spinal surgery is rapidly expanding. Increasing numbers of hospitals and spine surgeons are adopting the technology, which aims to enhance precision, accuracy and predictability. The main barriers to implementing the new technologies include additional time in the operating room (OR) and concerns regarding the accurate placement of pedicle screws.
Source: Medical Xpress
Lower back pain now treated by implantable nerve stimulation device
The recently approved ReActiv8 Implantable Neurostimulation system, now available at UCHealth, is a new option for patients with chronic low back pain.
Source: UCHealth
Is Walking Good for Sciatica?
Whether you should walk and how much you should walk are questions to discuss with your doctor or physical therapist. The general view now is that movement and activity are a good thing for people with sciatica, as long as you walk correctly and are not increasing pain.
Source: healthline
Perceptual distortions in late-teens predict psychotic symptoms in mid-life
Schizophrenia is often diagnosed well into adulthood, typically from the late teens to early 40s. Are there early indicators that could help predict which individuals will go on to develop this serious mental illness?
Source: Medical Xpress
Scientists tie improved learning processes to reduced symptoms of depression
Virginia Tech scientists with the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC have identified neural learning processes to be associated with symptoms of depression and linked improvements in these processes to improved symptoms in research participants being treated for depression.
Source: Medical Xpress
Muscle relaxants largely ineffective for low back pain
Muscle relaxant drugs are largely ineffective for low back pain, despite being widely prescribed for this condition, suggests an analysis of the latest evidence published by The BMJ today.
Source: Medical Xpress
Lower back pain now treated by implantable nerve stimulation device
The recently approved ReActiv8 Implantable Neurostimulation system, now available at UCHealth, is a new option for patients with chronic low back pain.
Source: UCHealth
How to Tell if You Have Arthritis in Your Neck
No matter where it occurs in the body, arthritis can be a real pain. One type, which goes by the name cervical spondylosis, can leave you with a stiff neck or major aches.
Source: msn
Artificial intelligence: Key to preventing relapse of severe mental illness?
New AI software developed by researchers at Flinders University shows promise for enabling timely support ahead of relapse in patients with severe mental illness.
Source: Medical Xpress
Putting fat to good use as stem cell source for spinal fusion surgery
Adipose cells, better known as fat, may be the least popular component of the human body. However, most people don't realize that fat actually has many important functions in establishing and maintaining good health—providing energy, insulating the body against heat loss and protecting nerves, just to name a few. Now, researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine suggest there's another role for the poor maligned adipose cell: a practical and plentiful source of stem cells for use in spinal fusion surgeries.
Source: Medical Xpress
Low doses of 'laughing gas' could be fast, effective treatment for severe depression
A new study at the University of Chicago Medicine and Washington University found that a single inhalation session with 25% nitrous oxide gas was nearly as effective as 50% nitrous oxide at rapidly relieving symptoms of treatment-resistant depression, with fewer adverse side effects.
Source: Medical Xpress
Most pediatric spinal fractures related to not wearing seatbelts
Two thirds of all pediatric spinal fractures, especially in the adolescent population, occur in motor vehicle accidents (MVAs) where seatbelts are not utilized, reports a study in Spine.
Source: Medical Xpress
COVID-19 pandemic has had significant impact on the mental health of adolescents
A study of over 59,000 Icelandic adolescents by a team of Icelandic and North American behavioral and social scientists found that COVID-19 has had a significant, detrimental impact on adolescent mental health, especially in girls. The study is the first to investigate and document age- and gender-specific changes in adolescent mental health problems and substance use during the COVID-19 pandemic, while accounting for upward trends that were appearing before the pandemic.
Source: Medical Xpress
Why Is My Sciatica Not Going Away?
Sciatica is a condition caused by an irritation, inflammation, pinching, or compression of your sciatic nerve. It can lead to moderate-to-severe pain and weakness in your lower back, buttocks, and legs. Sciatica typically heals in 4 to 6 weeksTrusted Source, but for some people, it can last longer.
Source: Healthline
Cannabis use disorder tied to spine surgery complications
Cannabis abuse appears to be associated with worse spine surgery outcomes, according to a study published online March 23 in Spine.
Source: Medical Xpress
COVID-19 stress and remote schools worsened youth mental health
A survey of over 32,000 caregivers of youth in Chicago Public Schools found that around a quarter of children and adolescents were described as stressed, anxious, angry or agitated after pandemic-related school closures and the switch to remote learning.
Source: Medical Xpress
What Are Your Treatment Options for Advanced Ankylosing Spondylitis?
Advanced AS is often treated with stronger medicines, including corticosteroids, conventional disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs), biologic drugs, and JAK inhibitors. AS treatment might also include surgery and treatment of disease complications.
Source: Verywell Health
Depression: A family affair
"The main message here is that depression is a family affair," Myrna Weissman, PhD, professor at Columbia University and Chief of the Division of Translational Epidemiology at New York State Psychiatric Institute, told attendees of the 2021 Virtual American Psychiatric Association Annual Meeting. "Especially if you’re dealing with offspring."
Source: Psychiatric Times
Trying to help a depressed teen? 9 Do’s and Don’ts
If you have a teenager in the house, you’re probably familiar with silence or vague responses when you attempt conversation, a tendency to sleep the day away unless you intervene, and a preference for phones and computers over face-to-face time with loved ones. These behaviors are pretty characteristic of most teens, but they can also be signs of depression. Abrupt changes in their mood can lead you to wonder whether they’re struggling with mental health symptoms or just, well, being a teenager.
Source: Healthline
What Not to Do If You Have Neck Pain
When treating your neck pain, you need to be active in your treatment, and you should stop doing certain things that may be causing your neck pain or things that may be leading to unnecessary worry and anxiety about your pain. Avoiding certain activities can be an important component of managing your cervical pain.
Source: Verywell Health
Dopamine is key to the mystery of metabolic dysfunction in psychiatric patients
Why do patients who receive antipsychotic medications to manage schizophrenia and bipolar disorder quickly gain weight and develop prediabetes and hyperinsulemia? The question remained a mystery for decades, but in a paper published today in Translational Psychiatry, researchers from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine finally cracked the enigma.
Source: Medical Xpress
What to know about nuclear bone scans
A nuclear bone scan is an imaging technique that uses radioactive substances to create three-dimensional (3D) images of the bones.
Source: Medical News Today
Seeing schizophrenia: X-rays shed light on neural differences, point toward treatment
There is no cure for schizophrenia, but the key to treating it more effectively is to better understand how it arises. And that, according to Ryuta Mizutani, professor of applied biochemistry at Tokai University in Japan, means studying the structure of brain tissue. Specifically, it means comparing the brain tissues of schizophrenia patients with those of people in good mental health, to see the differences as clearly as possible.
Source: Medical Xpress
Radioactive bone cement found to be safer in treating spinal tumors
A radioactive bone cement that's injected into bone to provide support and local irradiation is proving to be a safer alternative to conventional radiation therapy for bone tumors, according to a study led by University of California, Irvine researchers.
Source: Medical Xpress
Impact of patient-reported symptom information on lumbar spine MRI Interpretation
According to an open-access article in ARRS' American Journal of Roentgenology (AJR), in lumbar spine MRI, presumptive pain generators diagnosed using symptom information from brief electronic questionnaires showed almost perfect agreement with pain generators diagnosed using symptom information from direct patient interviews.
Source: Medical Xpress
Irregular sleep schedules connected to bad moods and depression, study shows
An irregular sleep schedule can increase a person's risk of depression over the long term as much as getting fewer hours of sleep overall, or staying up late most nights, a new study suggests.
Source: Medical Xpress
Mentally ill kids become less healthy adults
A new pair of studies from a Duke research team's long-term work in New Zealand make the case that mental health struggles in early life can lead to poorer physical health and advanced aging in adulthood.
Source: Medical Xpress
How to recognize and treat a pinched nerve in the neck
A pinched nerve in the neck can be very painful. However, there are a number of treatments that can help ease pain and relieve pressure on the nerve.
Source: Medical News Today
Topical steroids reduce swallowing difficulties following ACDF surgery
A study presented as part of the AAOS 2020 Virtual Education Experience has found that topical steroids administered during anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) surgery help reduce swallowing difficulties following the procedure. The findings were presented by lead investigator Todd Albert, surgeon-in-chief emeritus at the Hospital for Special Surgery, New York, USA.
Source: Spinal News International
COVID-19 isolation hurting women more than men
A study by University of Calgary researchers with the Hotchkiss Brain Institute examining sex and gender differences on sleep, empathy and mood during months of isolation due to COVID-19 has found that women are suffering more than men with poorer sleep and more anxiety, depression and trauma, while also feeling more empathetic than men.
Source: Medical Xpress
Increased social media use linked to developing depression, research finds
Young adults who increased their use of social media were significantly more likely to develop depression within six months, according to a new national study authored by Dr. Brian Primack, dean of the College of Education and Health Professions and professor of public health at the University of Arkansas.
Source: Medical Xpress
Strong social support decreases mental health problems in young adults
A team of McGill University researchers has found that young adults who perceived higher levels of social support reported fewer mental health problems.
Source: Medical Xpress
What are the best treatments for a bruised or painful tailbone?
The tailbone, or coccyx, is the bone at the very bottom of the spine. A bruised tailbone can be very painful, but various treatments can help relieve the pain.
Source: Medical News Today
A bit of stress might not be so good for us after all, study finds
The notion that a bit of stress makes people perform better has been baked into our everyday lives. But research from UBC neuroscientist Dr. Adele Diamond suggests it might not be so good for us after all.
Source: Medical Xpress
In shaky times, focus on past successes if overly anxious, depressed
The more chaotic things get, the harder it is for people with clinical anxiety and/or depression to make sound decisions and to learn from their mistakes. On a positive note, overly anxious and depressed people's judgment can improve if they focus on what they get right, instead of what they get wrong, suggests a new UC Berkeley study.
Source: Medical Xpress
Exercise may protect bone health after weight loss surgery
Although weight loss surgery is a highly effective treatment for obesity, it can be detrimental to bone health. A new study published in the Journal of Bone and Mineral Research suggests that exercise may help address this shortcoming.
Source: Medical Xpress
How to Keep Your Spine Happy While Working – or Learning – at Home
Whether you're the parent of a young student who is learning remotely this fall or a student yourself – or you're working from home – understanding ways to minimize your spine injury risk is essential.
Source: US News
Unhealthy drinking habits seen with some psychiatric disorders
Patients with anxiety disorder, depression, and bulimia nervosa who drink alcohol are likely to exceed recommended limits, according to a study published online Nov. 5 in Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Researc
Source: Medical Xpress
Suicide rates increase after disasters strike, researcher finds
A team of researchers including the University of Delaware's Jennifer Horney, founding director of the epidemiology program in the College of Health Sciences, examined the impact of 281 natural disasters on suicide rates during a 12-year span.
Source: Medical Xpress
What uncertainty can mean for your mind and body
From the macro level of the pandemic, climate change, social and political unrest to the personal level of job uncertainty, illnesses within families and various levels of social isolation—any and all of these contribute to a sense of uncertainty.
Source: Medical Xpress
Causes and Treatment of Swayback Posture
Swayback posture is a particular type of poor posture that often leads to lower back pain. People who exhibit swayback posture have exaggerated curves in their spine, forward-tilting hips, and the appearance of leaning back when standing.
Source: healthline
How Long Does a Pinched Nerve Last?
If you suspect you have a pinched nerve, read on to learn what steps you can take now to help and what to expect during your recovery.
Source: healthline
Social distancing is increasing loneliness in older adults
Social distancing introduced in response to COVID-19 is increasing feelings of loneliness in Scotland's older population and impacting their wellbeing, according to a new University of Stirling study.
Source: Medical Xpress
Augmented Reality for Spinal Surgery
Spinal surgery is a last resort when medications and non-surgical treatments are not working. The surgery itself must be precise to get the best outcomes. Now there’s a new FDA-approved augmented reality device that’s helping surgeons have a more accurate and faster surgery—translating to a better recovery for patients.
Source: News Medical Life Sciences
Can You Prove You Have Whiplash?
More than two-million Americans suffer from whiplash each year, and about 10 percent of them become permanently disabled. Minor neck injuries account of up to 60 percent of all permanent impairment claims, and over one million people will have chronic pain. Yet, whiplash remains one of the hardest injuries to prove.
Source: Newswire
Novel neuroimaging study on dissociative symptoms reveals wounds of childhood trauma
A team led by investigators at McLean Hospital has now found that brain imaging analyses can uncover changes in functional connections between brain regions linked to a specific individual's dissociative symptoms following trauma.
Source: Medical Xpress
6 cervical pillow options
The neck makes up a small portion of the spinal column. Healthcare professionals refer to this section as the cervical spine. A specialist cervical pillow adds a layer of extra support for the neck while a person sleeps or lies down.
Source: Medical News Today
Researchers use artificial intelligence tools to predict loneliness
Accurately assessing the breadth and depth of societal loneliness is daunting, limited by available tools, such as self-reports. In a new proof-of-concept paper, published online September 24, 2020 in the American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, a team led by researchers at University of California San Diego School of Medicine used artificial intelligence technologies to analyze natural language patterns (NLP) to discern degrees of loneliness in older adults.
Source: Medical Xpress
Disruption of work relationships adds to mental-health concern
A recent Harvard study highlights how much emotional support we get from workplace relationships, and that it has not only been our jobs that the pandemic has disrupted, but these important informal ties as well.
Source: Medical Xpress
3 research-based ways to cope with the uncertainties of pandemic life
If you're having trouble handling pandemic uncertainty, psychology research can offer tips on how to deal with these unprecedented times.
Source: Medical Xpress
Upper back pain between shoulder blades: Is it serious?
Poor posture, injury, or problems with the spine can all lead to upper back pain. A common cause of pain between the shoulder blades is muscle strain.
Source: Medical News Today
Back-pain patients taking opioid painkillers produce anti-opioid antibodies
University of Wisconsin-Madison scientists have discovered that a majority of back-pain patients they tested who were taking opioid painkillers produced anti-opioid antibodies. These antibodies may contribute to some of the negative side effects of long-term opioid use.
Source: News Medical Life Sciences
8 Myths About Your Back - Busted
Misinformation about back problems abounds. How many times have you heard that exercise can hurt your back? Or that if you consult a spine surgeon about pain, you’re sure to wind up in surgery? If you have back pain, it’s important to get the facts straight from the experts.
Source: healthessentials
The Loneliness of Social Isolation Can Affect Your Brain and Raise Dementia Risk in Older Adults
Feeling lonely is the social equivalent to feeling physical pain. It even triggers the same pathways in the brain tht are involved in processing emotional responses to physical pain.
Source: Medical Xpress
Experiencing Childhood Trauma Makes Body and Brain Age Faster: Study
Children who suffer trauma from abuse or violence early in life show biological signs of aging faster than children who have never experienced adversity, according to research published by the American Psychological Association. The study examined three different signs of biological aging—early puberty, cellular aging and changes in brain structure—and found that trauma exposure was associated with all three.
Source: Medical Xpress
Best Stretches For Lower Back Flexibility And Pain Relief
Lower back problems are very common. They can cause a constant dull ache or a sudden sharp pain. Lower back pain has a variety of possible causes, which range from poor posture to underlying medical conditions. However, certain stretches may help by relieving pain and improving flexibility.
Source: Medical News Today
What You Need To Know About Occipital Neuralgia
Occipital neuralgia is a type of headache. It starts in the upper neck or back of the head and can radiate behind the eyes and over the scalp.
Source: Medical News Today
Hip Replacement May Also Ease Back Pain
If you have a bad hip and lower back pain, a new study suggests that hip replacement surgery may solve both issues at once.
Source: WebMD
Poor Mental Health in Lockdown Most Common Among Young Women
Young women are the most likely to have experienced high levels of depression, anxiety, and loneliness in lockdown, compared to older adults, according to new research from the UCL Center for Longitudinal Studies (CLS).
Source: Medical Xpress
Ten Tips for Looking After Your Back While You're Sitting Down
Working from home is challenging. Apart from reduced social interaction and the domestic juggling involved, homes are not usually designed to replicate a workplace environment when it comes to employees' health.
Source: Medical Xpress
The best sleeping positions that experts recommend for back pain, acid reflux, and more
It's important to make sure you're sleeping in the right position that will help you get enough quality sleep each night.
Source: Insider
Understanding 'big emotions': Early intervention helps reduce toddler tantrums
Parents of young toddlers with challenging behaviors have found support through a new early-intervention program aimed at children aged 12-24 months, a study has shown.
Source: Medical Xpress
Is Your Neck Pain Preventing You From a Good Night's Sleep?
Too much time in front of a computer can lead to neck pain it can also could be preventing you from getting a good night's rest. Here's why.
Source: Patch
Does teenage anxiety have its roots in infancy?
The fact that teenagers worry isn't necessarily a concern—it's when the adolescent brain amplifies and distorts a simple worry that mental health problems can arise. As scientists aim to unlock why teenagers get anxious, and how infancy and upbringing are implicated, early intervention strategies are being refined to redirect harmful thoughts and teach adolescents to read the emotions of others—a crucial way to keep their own distressing feelings in check.
Source: Medical Xpress
How to have a better day during the pandemic
It's entirely reasonable during a pandemic to feel more stressed, anxious, lonely and depressed than usual. Yet, despite the circumstances, some people are doing OK. Some people continue to feel love for others, gratitude for what they have and joy in the small things.
Source: Medical Xpress
Playtime with dad may improve children's self-control
Children whose fathers make time to play with them from a very young age may find it easier to control their behavior and emotions as they grow up, research suggests.
Source: Medical Xpress
What doctors wish their patients knew about spinal fusions
There is a great deal of misinformation on the internet and in the media about spinal surgery and specifically spinal fusion. When contemplating a spinal surgery and deciding if a fusion is necessary, it is critical to consider multiple factors. First and foremost, the vast majority of patients with a spine problem can be successfully treated and live a good quality of life without ever undergoing a spinal surgery.
Source: National Spine Health Foundation
Drug Might Relieve Low Back Pain in Whole New Way
A new nonopioid pain reliever could be welcome news for people who have difficult-to-treat back pain. Tanezumab is what's called a monoclonal antibody. And it might offer extended relief from chronic lower back pain, a large, new study finds.However, a serious side effect remains a concern.
Source: WebMD
Kyphoplasty: Uses, benefits, and risks
Kyphoplasty is a surgical procedure to treat vertebral compression fractures. It can reduce pain and increase mobility. It offers a minimally invasive alternative to other surgeries.
Source: Medical News Today
Our brains are powerful—but secretive—forecasters of video virality
When Stanford University neuroscientist Brian Knutson tracked his smartphone usage, he was shocked to learn that he spent twice as much time on his phone as he had anticipated.
Source: Medical Xpress
Is It Normal to Have Back Pain After a C-Section?
Back pain after giving birth can be nerve-racking, especially when you’re still recovering from surgery. You probably expected to feel some discomfort from the incision, but now you’re aching in more places than you thought possible. There isn’t a single possible cause of pain, but rather several plausible explanations for aches, which you might feel in your upper or lower back.
Source: healthline
You can do it! A 'growth mindset' helps us learn
One of the most influential phenomena in education over the last two decades has been that of the "growth mindset". This refers to the beliefs a student has about various capacities such as their intelligence, their ability in areas such as maths, their personality and creative ability.
Source: Medical Xpress
Altruism may not make people as happy as prior studies suggested
A pair of researchers, one with the University of Bonn, the other Harvard University, has found that altruism may not make people as happy as prior studies have suggested. In their paper published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Armin Falk and Thomas Graeber describe a study they carried out with student volunteers and what they learned.
Source: Medical Xpress
5 Ways to Keep Your Spine Healthy and Happy
Whether it's a herniated disc, spinal stenosis, or strained muscles, it can take some time to diagnose and treat the causes of back pain. And all the while, you're trying to navigate health insurance, work and family life, and everyday stressors in addition to your back pain.
Source: Spine-health
Low back and neck pain tops U.S. health spending
Seeing a physician or other health specialist for low back and neck pain? You're not alone, according to a new scientific study.
Source: Medical Xpress
Reasons for Revision Spine Surgery
Revision spine surgery may be deemed necessary by your doctor (or you) if you still have symptoms after the first procedure, or if you have new symptoms. But how do you know if you really need that 2nd back surgery? Check this list to start your research.
Source: Verywell Health
Lifetime suicide risk factors identified
A review of studies into suicide risk factors at different stages of peoples' lives, as well as of the effectiveness of assessment and treatment approaches, has found that while some factors such as genetics and family history play a part in suicide risk throughout life, other factors including clinical depression, substance misuse, lack of social support and economic factors become stronger after adolescence.
Source: Medical Xpress
3 easy deskside stretches to keep muscle pain at bay
If you're not taking regular breaks to move around during your workday, your muscles may rebel after being scrunched in your desk chair hour after hour.
Source: Medical Xpress
Brain imaging may improve diagnosis and treatment of mental health disorders
Brain imaging may one day be used to help diagnose mental health disorders—including depression and anxiety—with greater accuracy, according to a new study conducted in a large sample of youth at the University of Pennsylvania and led by Antonia Kaczkurkin, Ph.D. and Theodore Satterthwaite, MD.
Source: Medical Xpress
Robotic trunk support assists those with spinal cord injury
An engineering team has invented a robotic device -- the Trunk-Support Trainer (TruST) -- that can be used to assist and train people with spinal cord injuries (SCIs) to sit more stably by improving their trunk control, and thus gain an expanded active sitting workspace without falling over or using their hands to balance.
Source: Science Daily
One dose of radiotherapy as effective as five doses for cancer in the spine
A single dose of radiotherapy is as "effective" as five doses for end-of-life cancer patients suffering with painful spinal canal compression, finds a large study conducted by UCL.
Source: Medical Xpress
Imaging study provides new biological insights on functional neurological disorder
Individuals with functional neurological disorder (FND) have symptoms not explained by traditional neurological conditions, including limb weakness, tremor, gait abnormalities, seizures and sensory deficits.
Source: Medical Xpress
Exposure to PM 2.5 pollution linked to brain atrophy, memory decline
Women in their 70s and 80s who were exposed to higher levels of air pollution experienced greater declines in memory and more Alzheimer's-like brain atrophy than their counterparts who breathed cleaner air, according to USC researchers.
Source: Medical Xpress
Increased, but low, suicide risk associated with use of anti-epileptic drugs
Three of the most common forms of anti-epileptic drugs in Denmark are associated with an increase in patients' risk of suicide. However, the risk is low and should be seen in conjunction with the many beneficial effects of the medicines. This is the conclusion of a new study carried out by researchers from Aarhus University and Aarhus University Hospital.
Source: Medical Xpress
Free Fragment (Sequestered Disc) Treatment
A free fragment, also known as a sequestered disc, is one type of herniated disc in which a piece breaks off from the main structure. Once separated, the detached fragment can, and often does, move up or down, causing symptoms or repercussions at an entirely different level of the spine.
Source: Verywell Health
Beware of swimming if you use deep brain stimulation for Parkinson`s
Researchers have identified nine cases of people who lost their ability to swim after having a deep brain stimulation device implanted to control symptoms of Parkinson's disease. The new research is published in the November 27, 2019, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.
Source: Medical Xpress
People who cannot read may be three times as likely to develop dementia
New research has found that people who are illiterate, meaning they never learned to read or write, may have nearly three times greater risk of developing dementia than people who can read and write.
Source: Science Daily
Causes of Neck Pain and Treatment Options
Neck pain has many potential causes ranging from acute problems, like muscle strains and whiplash, to conditions that develop over time, such as cervical spondylosis (neck osteoarthritis) and myofascial pain syndrome. Pinched nerves, infections, fractures, and spinal cord problems are other possible reasons you may be experiencing neck pain.
Source: Verywell Health
Chronic Back Pain? You May Find Relief With Behavioral Medicine
No pain, no gain? Not true for people suffering from chronic back pain. Instead, it’s the opposite: Back pain is one of the main causes of missed work (and missed paychecks). But could the key to coping with chronic back pain be in your mind?
Source: healthessentials
Looking for links between Parkinson's and bipolar disorder
A new systematic review and meta-analysis ask whether bipolar disorder is associated with developing Parkinson's disease. Although the authors conclude that there is a link, it is a tough question to unpick.
Source: Medical News Today
Long-term study data shows DBS is effective treatment for most severe form of depression
A study published online on Friday, October 4, in the American Journal of Psychiatry found that deep brain stimulation (DBS) of an area in the brain called the subcallosal cingulate (SCC) provides a robust antidepressant effect that is sustained over a long period of time in patients with treatment-resistant depression—the most severely depressed patients who have not responded to other treatments.
Source: Medical Xpress
When to Worry About Back Pain in Kids
Back pain is a well-known source of discomfort in adults, but it is also being diagnosed more frequently in children and adolescents. Most parents don't expect otherwise healthy children to complain of back pain—a problem generally associated with middle age or later. However, back pain has been found to occur in between 14% and 24% of children and adolescents.
Source: Verywell Health
Tips for Preventing Degenerative Disc Disease
As the name suggests, degenerative disc disease is (mostly) an age-related process that goes on in your spine in which the shock-absorbing cushion located between adjacent spinal vertebrae (bones) deteriorates.
Source: Verywell Health
Is Your Back Pain Non-Specific, Mechanical, or Serious?
Non-specific low back pain is the type of back pain that neither you nor your doctor can definitively, accurately trace back to its root. In other words, it is not related to a specific, diagnosable disease. An example is a back muscle strain due to an athletic injury or other trauma.
Source: Verywell Health
Health Tip: Lifting Heavy Things
People who practice smart lifting techniques are less likely to suffer muscle sprains, pulls and injuries caused by heavy lifting.
Source: Health Day
Why do some people stop breathing after seizures?
Could a chemical produced by the brain that regulates mood, sleep and breathing also be protective in people with epilepsy? New research has found that higher levels of serotonin in the blood after a seizure are linked to a lower incidence of seizure-related breathing problems called apneas, when a person temporarily stops breathing.
Source: Medical Xpress
FDA approves first spinal tether device to treat children with idiopathic scoliosis
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved the first spinal tether device intended to be used in children and adolescents to correct the most common form of scoliosis, called idiopathic scoliosis, that has not responded to conservative treatment options, such as external bracing.
Source: News Medical
Deep brain stimulation eases Parkinson’s disease symptoms by boosting dopamine
In a new study of seven people with Parkinson's disease, Johns Hopkins Medicine researchers report evidence that deep brain stimulation using electrical impulses jumpstarts the nerve cells that produce the chemical messenger dopamine to reduce tremors and muscle rigidity that are the hallmark of Parkinson's disease, and increases feelings of well-being.
Source: Medical Xpress
Easy neck stretches for tension relief
It can happen when you're stuck in traffic, or hunched over for hours at your desk, or even sitting in the stands watching your child's lacrosse game—that painful twinge in the back of your neck.
Source: Medical Xpress
Exercises for easing and preventing upper back pain
Upper back pain and tension are common complaints, particularly when people feel stressed or spend a lot of time hunched over desks or computers. Exercises that stretch the neck, shoulders, and upper back can help relieve pain and loosen tight muscles.
Source: Medical News Today
Specific multinutrient combination benefits patients with early stage Alzheimer`s disease
A new longitudinal study has shown that a nutritional drink designated a "food for special medical purposes" containing the multinutrient combination Fortasyn Connect can benefit patients with the earliest stages of Alzheimer's disease (AD), mild cognitive impairment, who are at risk of progressing to the dementia stage of AD, report scientists in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease Reports.
Source: Medical Xpress
Ankylosing spondylitis: Nine possible complications
Ankylosing spondylitis is a chronic autoimmune disorder that often lasts a lifetime. Anyone diagnosed with the condition should be aware of the complications that it presents to health.
Source: Medical News Today
Brain disease kills more than 100 Indian children
More than 100 children in the Indian state of Bihar—home to some of the country's worst health indicators—have now been killed by a brain virus potentially linked to lychees, officials said.
Source: Medical Xpress
Parkinson disease incidence lower in hep C patients who receive antivirals
The incidence of Parkinson disease (PD) is lower for patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection who receive interferon-based antiviral therapy, according to a study published online June 5 in JAMA Neurology.
Source: Medical Xpress
Causes of lower back pain when standing or walking
Lower back pain is very common, so determining an underlying cause may often come down to looking at other symptoms and details.
Source: Medical News Today
Why adults at risk for Huntington`s choose not to learn if they inherited deadly gene
As many as 90 percent of individuals who have a parent with Huntington's disease (HD) choose not to take a gene test that reveals if they will also develop the fatal disorder -- and a new study details the reasons why.
Source: Science Daily
What can cause a tingling sensation on the back?
A tingling, or pins and needles, sensation in the back can result from conditions that affect the underlying nerves. Doctors refer to this sensation as paresthesia. Causes can include infections, spinal injuries, fibromyalgia, and vascular malformations.
Source: Medical News Today
Safe exercises for a herniated disk
Gentle exercises, stretches, and activities can all help relieve the pain of a herniated disk. Exercises can also strengthen and improve flexibility in the spine, neck, and back.
Source: Medical News Today
How a golf swing can lead to early lumbar degeneration
The authors describe how the modern golfer repeatedly experiences minor traumatic injuries to the spine, which over time can result in a pathogenic process termed 'repetitive traumatic discopathy
Source: Science Daily
Computers can be a real pain in the neck
Many people slouch or strain their necks while working at the computer. A new study shows how jutting the head forward to read more closely compresses the neck and leads to neck and shoulder problems.
Source: Science Daily
Quadriplegic Mayo scientist helps advance spine injury tech
A team of researchers at Minnesota’s Mayo clinic, led by an individual who was left with quadriplegia from a teenage injury, are pushing the boundaries of spinal regeneration, according to a new Star Tribune report.
Source: Mass Device
Defects More Common Than Expected in Kids After Zika Exposure
About 1 in 7 babies aged 12 to 18 months who were exposed to Zika virus before birth have significant neurodevelopmental problems, a study published online December 13 in the New England Journal of Medicine shows.
Source: Medscape
Brain Stimulation of Novel Target Improves Depression
Direct electrical stimulation of the lateral orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) acutely improves mood in patients with depressive symptoms, new research shows.
Source: Medscape
Obesity, risk of cognitive dysfunction? Consider high-intensity interval exercise
It's fast-paced, takes less time to do, and burns a lot of calories. High-intensity interval exercise is widely recognized as the most time-efficient and effective way to exercise.
Source: Science Daily
Low back pain: Pulsed radiofrequency may be the answer
A new study reveals that pulsed radiofrequency may help patients with low back pain that has not responded to conservative therapy.
Source: Medical News Today
New gene variants associated with chronic back pain
Chronic back pain is the number one cause of years lived with disability worldwide. Medical researchers have now identified three novel genetic variants associated with chronic back pain.
Source: Science Daily
What to know about head and brain MRI scans
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans provide 3-D images of specific body parts. The scan produces highly detailed images from every angle.
Source: Medical News Today
Inflammatory back pain resolves in many patients
Runsheng Wang, M.D., from the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York City, and colleagues examined long-term outcomes in patients with IBP and predictors of progression to SpA.
Source: Medical Xpress
Sitting, standing, walking: How do they affect your memory?
Previous research has shown that exercise is beneficial for the brain and that it helps treat depression and prevent cognitive decline. So, what is the importance of posture and movement for the brain? A new study investigates.
Source: Medical News Today
Simple, cost effective treatment following failed back surgery shows promise
Failed back surgery (continued low back and leg pain after surgery) is relatively common. With each reoperation, success, as defined by pain reduction, becomes less likely and most patients do not improve.
Source: BUMC
Health insurer policies may discourage use of non-opioid alternatives for lower back pain
Public and private health insurance policies in the U.S. are missing important opportunities to encourage the use of physical therapy, psychological counseling and other non-drug alternatives to opioid medication for treating lower back pain, a study led by researchers at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health has found.
Source: UC News
Could omega-3 supplements help reduce anxiety?
A recently published meta-analysis concludes that omega-3 oil supplements might reduce symptoms of anxiety for some people.
Source: Medical News Today
What are the health effects of chronic stress?
Today's life rhythms and demands are often challenging and require intense physical and psychological efforts in order to be sustained. An individual reacts to physical and mental strain that is potentially health threatening by activating interconnected neuroendocrine circuits.
Source: NCBI
Magnetic surgical cement heals spinal fractures, provides targeted drug delivery
Patients with spinal fractures caused by tumors or osteoporosis usually undergo a procedure called kyphoplasty, where the fracture is filled with surgical cement. While kyphoplasty can stabilize the bone, cancer patients are still often left with spinal column tumors that are very hard to reach with conventional chemotherapy, which has to cross the blood-brain barrier when delivered intravenously.
Source: Today
Can neck pain be a sign of something serious?
It is common for people to experience pain in the right side of the neck. In most cases, the pain occurs due to a muscle strain or another benign cause. People can often treat their pain using home remedies and medications. However, for severe or prolonged neck pain, it is best to see a doctor.
Source: Medical News Today
How do you stretch out your tailbone?
The tailbone, or coccyx, is at the bottom of the spine and helps to support the pelvis. It is possible to injure or fracture the tailbone, causing inflammation and pain. Persistent tailbone pain is known as coccydynia.
Source: Medical News Today
Tending to the diaphragm may relieve chronic low back pain
Is treating the diaphragm the key to relieving chronic pain in the lower back? Researchers set out to investigate, conducting the first ever clinical trial to test the efficacy of special osteopathic techniques tending to the diaphragm for easing chronic low back pain.
Source: Medical News Today
Which Doctor Can Help Me With Back Pain?
If you hurt a joint or strain a muscle, sometimes there's comfort in knowing that at least others feel your pain. If you're dealing with back pain, many will know exactly what you're going through.
Source: Health US news
New imaging system makes back surgery safer, faster and less expensive
Researchers develop a new way to make back surgery safer, faster and more cost effective. Scientists have developed and tested a 3-dimensional, real-time optical tracking system, like a 'Google Maps' for the body.
Source: Science Daily
Chronic dizziness can result from, or trigger, psychiatric disorders
Chronic nausea can outcome from a series of underlying health problems, many ordinarily involving neurologic, vestibular and cardiac diseases. For patients who have seen a accumulation of specialty physicians though reaching a diagnosis, a psychiatric mention competence assistance them find relief, researchers noted.
Source: Health reload
Evidence mounts that daily opioid users may fare worse after spine surgery, study finds
In a multicenter database study of adults who had undergone surgery for spinal deformities, researchers say that those who had used narcotics daily on average had worse outcomes, such as longer intensive care unit stays and more severe postop disability, compared with those who did not use opioids preoperatively.
Source: Johns Hopkins
Study reveals potential for more precise diagnosis and treatment of TBI
Patients who've suffered from traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) have changes in tiny blood vessels in their brains that researchers believe are linked to a range of cognitive symptoms, according to new findings presented at the 2018 American Academy of Neurology (AAN) Annual Meeting. The findings may help doctors pinpoint specific types of TBIs and tailor personalized therapies.
Source: Medical Xpress
First approved medication for tardive dyskinesia demonstrates safety, study shows
A recently FDA-approved medication for the movement disorder tardive dyskinesia is safe and well tolerated, according to neurologists presenting results from a yearlong monitoring study.
Source: Medical Xpress
Eight factors predict pain after spine surgery
Eight factors contribute to postoperative pain after spine surgery, according to a study presented at the 2018 World Congress on Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine, held from April 19 to 21 in New York City.
Source: Medical Xpress
Young athletes commonly have bone marrow edema in lower spine, study shows
Bone marrow edema is common in the sacroiliac joints of both amateur and professional young athletes, with damage most frequently seen in the posterior lower ilium, according to research presented at the American College of Rheumatology Annual Meeting.
Source: Healio
Rocker bottom shoes help reduce chronic low back pain
A new study confirms that rocker bottom shoes helps strengthen back muscles, improving the spine's curvature and thus reducing low back pain.
Source: Science Daily
Innovative tissue engineering strategies to repair spinal disc herniation
New therapeutic approaches to repair herniated discs in the lumbar spine using novel tissue engineering and regenerative medicine strategies have shown promising outcomes in preclinical studies and target the underlying problem of disc injury or instability, unlike current nonsurgical and surgical treatments.
Source: Medical xpress
MS patients may benefit from vitamin D supplements
You may have heard some buzz about vitamin D and multiple sclerosis. There are some hopeful signs that it can ease your symptoms, but researchers still have a lot of work to do before we know for sure.
Source: WebMD
New system to detect spinal deformity
Researchers have developed a symmetry-recognition system for the surface of the human back that can three-dimensionally detect the early stages of idiopathic scoliosis, a type of spinal deformity, without the help of a specialist doctor.
Source: Science Daily
Bullying rates remain higher for children with disabilities, even as they mature
More than 22 percent of children ages 12-18 say they have been bullied in school within the last month; a significant portion of those children have disabilities. However, little research exists on how bullying rates for individual children change over time. Now, a researcher and bullying expert has determined that children with disabilities are victimized by bullying at a much higher rate over time than their peers without disabilities.
Source: Science Daily
Minimally invasive treatment provides relief from back pain
The majority of patients were pain free after receiving a new image-guided pulsed radiofrequency treatment for low back pain and sciatica, according to a study presented today at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).
Source: PR Newswire Association
All you need to know about levoscoliosis
Levoscoliosis is a form of scoliosis where the spine abnormally twists or curves to the left, sometimes making a 'C' shape.
Source: Medical News Today
What is dextroscoliosis?
Dextroscoliosis refers to an abnormal, right-leaning curvature of the spine. It is a type of scoliosis.
Source: Medical News Today
Visiting the doctor for low back pain? Expect something different now
If you visit your family doctor with low back pain (LBP), you may be surprised at the treatment options they suggest now. Recent changes to major international guidelines for the management of LBP mean that general practitioners (GP) are now unlikely to recommend pain medicines which were previously the go-to treatment. Instead of pain medicines, GPs might suggest non-medicinal approaches including yoga, mindfulness and various types of physiotherapy and psychological therapies.
Source: Science Daily
Brain to Robot: Move, Please
Using the power of thought to control a robot that helps to move a paralysed hand: a project from the ETH Rehabilitation Engineering Laboratory could fundamentally change the therapy and daily lives of stroke patients.
Source: Science Daily
Research finds decrease in opioid use among patients recovering from hip and knee replacement
Opioid use in patients recovering from hip and knee replacement decreased by one-third between 2006 and 2014, reflecting success in efforts to promote a multimodal approach to pain management (using a variety of methods to manage pain) rather than using opioids alone, reveals new research being presented at the ANESTHESIOLOGY® 2017 annual meeting.
Source: News-medical.net
Brain activity buffers against worsening anxiety
Using non-invasive brain imaging, the researchers found that people at-risk for anxiety were less likely to develop the disorder if they had higher activity in a region of the brain responsible for complex mental operations. The results may be a step towards tailoring psychological therapies to the specific brain functioning of individual patients.
Source: Science news line
Gene breakthrough on lithium treatment for bipolar disorder
Genes linked to schizophrenia in psychiatric patients suffering from bipolar disorder are the reason why such patients don't respond to the "gold standard" treatment for bipolar -- the drug lithium -- according to international research.
Source: Science Daily
Study provides insights into potential causes of spinal stenosis
A new study published in the Journal of Orthopaedic Research indicates that certain genetic changes are linked with an increased risk of developing lumbar spinal stenosis, a narrowing of the open spaces in the lower spine that can lead to pain in the legs when individuals walk.
Source: News-medical.net
Breakthrough research suggests potential treatment for autism, intellectual disability
A research team has identified the pathological mechanism for a certain type of autism and intellectual disability by creating a genetically modified mouse. They are hopeful it could eventually lead to a therapeutic fix.
Source: Science Daily
MRI uncovers brain abnormalities in people with depression, anxiety
Researchers using MRI have discovered a common pattern of structural abnormalities in the brains of people with depression and social anxiety, according to a study being presented next week at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).
Source: PR Newswire Association LLC
Mind over matter could reduce back pain anguish
Could mindfulness and meditation be more powerful than opioids for lower back pain?
The University of Queensland School of Psychology's Dr Melissa Day is conducting a project that will test that possibility and could even
save lives.
"Chronic pain is implicated in an estimated 20 per cent of suicides in Australia, and is experienced by millions nation-wide," Dr Day said.
Source: Medical Xpress
Scientists link bipolar disorder to unexpected brain region
For the first time, researchers show that ensembles of genes within the striatum could be deeply involved in bipolar disorder. Most modern studies of bipolar disorder have concentrated on the brain's cortex, the largest part of the brain in humans, associated with higher-level thought and action.
Source: Science Daily
No significant change seen in obesity status after TLIF despite clinical improvements
Although investigators found improvements for function and pain, they discovered no significant change in weight after obese patients underwent transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion.
Source: Healio
Foot wrap offers alternative to medication for patients with restless legs syndrome
Authors from Lake Erie Research Institute in Pennsylvania report an adjustable foot wrap caused to treat restless legs syndrome (RLS) is 1.4 times more effective than the standard pharmaceutical treatment. The pilot study published today in The Journal of the American Osteopathic Association.
Source: Science Daily
Depression linked with worse subjective outcomes after epidural steroid injection for spinal pathology
Investigators found that after lumbar epidural steroid injection for degenerative spine disease, patients with depression had worse absolute scores for patient-reported outcomes and higher disability compared with patients who were not depressed.
Source: Healio
Financial stress is associated with migraine, if you have specific circadian gene variants
People with a specific variation in the CLOCK gene have more migraines under financial stress. This work, the first time that the genetics of circadian rhythms has been shown to have an effect on migraine, is presented at the ECNP conference in Paris.
Source: Science Daily
Brain changes linked to physical, mental health in functional neurological disorder
An imaging study has identified differences in key brain structures of individuals whose physical or mental health has been most seriously impaired by a common but poorly understood condition called functional neurological disorder, sometimes called conversion disorder.
Source: Science Daily
Preoperative diagnosis predictive of patient satisfaction after lumbar spine surgery
Researchers identified patients who underwent lumbar spine surgery and were enrolled in the Quality Outcomes Database. Patients completed the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) for back pain and leg pain preoperatively and at 1 year after surgery. Investigators grouped patients according to their diagnosis and response to a question regarding satisfaction.
Source: Healio
