Étude des déficits sensori-moteurs associés aux douleurs lombaires

Au cours des dix dernières années, on a pu observer l'émergence de nouvelles problématiques de recherche portant sur les dysfonctions et les syndromes douloureux de la région lombaire. En effet, de nombreux chercheurs s'intéressent maintenant aux liens possibles entre le contrôle moteur, l'utilisation des informations proprioceptives en provenance du tronc et le développement de douleurs lombaires chroniques et aiguës. Dans cette thèse, trois articles permettant d'approfondir la question des déficits sensori-moteurs associés aux douleurs lombaires sont présentés. Les effets de la douleur chronique et de la douleur expérimentale dans des tâches de forces isométriques et de repositionnement du tronc sont, entre autres, abordés. Un quatrième article aux portées cliniques présente les résultats d'une étude sur les effets préventifs de la manipulation vertébrale. L'évaluation du statut sensori-moteur des patients atteints de douleurs lombaires permettra éventuellement de développer de nouveaux indices cliniques qui faciliteront le suivi et les interventions cliniques

Rehabilitation program for traumatic chronic cervical pain associated with unsteadiness: a single case study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Neck problems are often recurring or chronic. After pain, unsteadiness and balance problems are among the most frequent symptoms reported by chronic neck pain (CNP) patients. Altered sensorimotor control of the cervical spine and sensorimotor integration problems affecting postural control have been observed in CNP patients. Very few data are available regarding the post-intervention effects of rehabilitation programs on postural control in CNP.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>This is a case study of a traumatic CNP patient (a 45-year old female) with postural unsteadiness who participated in an 8-week rehabilitation program combining therapeutic exercises with spinal manipulative therapy. Pre-intervention data revealed that the postural control system was challenged when postural control sensory inputs were altered, particularly during the head-extended-backward condition. Post-intervention centre of pressure measurements indicated a drastic reduction in postural sway during trials with changes in neck orientation.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>This case report indicates that an 8-week rehabilitation program combining therapeutic exercises with spinal manipulative therapy may have had an effect on improvement of postural control in a trauma CNP patient with unsteadiness. These results warrant further studies to investigate the relationships between pain amelioration, sensorimotor control of the cervical spine, muscle fitness and postural steadiness.</p

Trunk muscle fatigue during a lateral isometric hold test: what are we evaluating?

Background Side bridge endurance protocols have been suggested to evaluate lateral trunk flexor and/or spine stabilizer muscles. To date, no study has investigated muscle recruitment and fatigability during these protocols. Therefore the purpose of our study was to quantify fatigue parameters in various trunk muscles during a modified side bridge endurance task (i.e. a lateral isometric hold test on a 45#194 #176 roman chair apparatus) and determine which primary trunk muscles get fatigued during this task. It was hypothesized that the ipsilateral external oblique and lumbar erector spinae muscles will exhibit the highest fatigue indices. Methods Twenty-two healthy subjects participated in this study. The experimental session included left and right lateral isometric hold tasks preceded and followed by 3 maximal voluntary contractions in the same position. Surface electromyography (EMG) recordings were obtained bilaterally from the external oblique, rectus abdominis, and L2 and L5 erector spinae. Statistical analysis were conducted to compare the right and left maximal voluntary contractions (MVC), surface EMG activities, right vs. left holding times and decay rate of the median frequency as the percent change from the initial value (NMF.sub.slope). Results No significant left and right lateral isometric hold tests differences were observed neither for holding times (97.2 [+ or -] 21.5 sec and 96.7 [+ or -] 24.9 sec respectively) nor for pre and post fatigue root mean square during MVCs. However, participants showed significant decreases of MVCs between pre and post fatigue measurements for both the left and right lateral isometric hold tests. Statistical analysis showed that a significantly NMF.sub.slope of the ipsilateral external oblique during both conditions, and a NMF.sub.slope of the contralateral L5 erector spinae during the left lateral isometric hold test were steeper than those of the other side's respective muscles. Although some participants presented positive NMF.sub.slope for some muscles, each muscle presented a mean negative NMF.sub.slope significantly different from 0. Conclusions Although the fatigue indices suggest that the ipsilateral external oblique and contralateral L5 erector spinae show signs of muscle fatigue, this task seems to recruit a large group of trunk muscles. Clinicians should not view this task as evaluating specifically lateral trunk flexors, but rather as providing an indication of the general endurance and stabilisation capacity of the trunk. Keywords: Side bridge test, Muscle fatigue, Trunk muscle, Functional testin

Chiropractic management of patients post-disc arthroplasty: eight case reports

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>When conservative therapies for low back pain (LBP) are not effective, elective surgery may be proposed to these patients. Over the last 20 years, a new technology, disc replacement, has become increasingly popular because it is believed to maintain or restore the integrity of spinal movement and minimize the side-effects compared to fusion. Although disc replacement may relieve a patient from pain and related disability, soreness and stiffness of the lumbopelvic region seem to be common aftermaths of the surgery. This prospective case series was undertaken to identify and describe potential adverse events of lumbar spinal manipulation, a common therapy for low back pain, in a group of patients with symptoms after disc prostheses.</p> <p>Cases presentation</p> <p>Eight patients who underwent lumbar spine total disc replacement were referred by an orthopaedic surgeon for chiropractic treatments. These patients had 1 or 2 total lumbar disc replacements and were considered stable according to the surgical protocol but presented persistent, post-surgical, non-specific LBP or pelvic pain. They were treated with lumbar spine side posture manipulations only and received 8 to 10 chiropractic treatments based on the clinical evolution and the chiropractor's judgment. Outcome measures included benign, self-limiting, and serious adverse events after low back spinal manipulative therapy. The Oswestry Disability Index, a pain scale and the fear avoidance belief questionnaire were administered to respectively assess disability, pain and fear avoidance belief about work and physical activity. This prospective case series comprised 8 patients who all had at least 1 total disc replacement at the L4/L5 or L5/S1 level and described persistent post-surgical LBP interfering with their daily activities. Commonly-reported side-effects of a benign nature included increased pain and/or stiffness of short duration in nearly half of the chiropractic treatment period. No major or irreversible complication was noted.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>During the short treatment period, no major complication was encountered by the patients. Moreover, the benign side-effects reported after lumbar spine manipulation were similar in nature and duration to those frequently experienced by the general population.</p