Pain and disability in low back injured individuals participating in a physical fitness program

The purpose of this study was to investigate changes in (a) components of physical fitness, and (b) self-reports of pain, disability and three psychological variables (mood, self-esteem, and state/trait anxiety) in 43 subjects with either acute or chronic low back pain who completed at least 8 weeks in a group physical fitness program in a fitness facility. A within-subjects repeated measures design was employed with each subject serving as his/her own control. Results from MANOVA analyses indicated significant improvement over the 8-week period in both cardiorespiratory aerobic fitness and muscular strength. Concurrently, significant improvements were found in self-reports of pain intensity, pain-related disability, state anxiety and the vigor subscale of mood. Taken as a whole, the results suggest that participation in a structured physical fitness program may play a role in the management of idiopathic low back pain. -- Key Words: acute low back pain; chronic low back pain; aerobic exercise; self-esteem; anxiety; mood; disability; Workers' Compensation

The Montreal General Hospital Pain Centre (1974-2000): The Contributions of Ronald Melzack

This paper chronicles the development of the Montreal General Hospital Pain Centre from its inception in 1974 to the present. Highlighted in particular are the contributions of Ronald Melzack to this history. Data for the article arose, in the main, from an interview with Dr Melzack carried out earlier in the year. Discussions with former and present members of the pain centre team, including former graduate students, provided additional information. The article begins with a recounting of those individuals and events that inspired Ron early in his 'pain career' to pursue his dream of a multidisciplinary pain centre, the first of its kind in Canada. The forces that helped shape the development of this centre and the challenges that had to be overcome are described

Role of Health Care Professionals in Multidisciplinary Pain Treatment Facilities in Canada

PURPOSE: To examine the role of health care professionals in multidisciplinary pain treatment facilities (MPTF) for the treatment of chronic pain across Canada.METHODS: MPTF were defined as clinics that advertised specialized multidisciplinary services for the diagnosis and management of chronic pain, and had staff from a minimum of three different health care disciplines (including at least one medical specialty) available and integrated within the facility. Administrative leaders at eligible MPTF were asked to complete a detailed questionnaire on their infrastructure as well as clinical, research, teaching and administrative activities.RESULTS: A total of 102 MPTF returned the questionnaires. General practitioners, anesthesiologists and physiatrists were the most common types of physicians integrated in the MPTF (56%, 51% and 32%, respectively). Physiotherapists, psychologists and nurses were the most common nonphysician professionals working within these MPTF (75%, 68% and 57%, respectively), but 33% to 56% of them were part-time staff. Only 77% of the MPTF held regular interdisciplinary meetings to discuss patient management, and 32% were staffed with either a psychologist or psychiatrist. The three most frequent services provided by physiotherapists were patient assessment, individual physiotherapy or exercise, and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation. The three most common services provided by psychologists were individual counselling, cognitive behavioural therapy and psychodynamic therapy. The major roles of nurses were patient assessment, assisting in interventional procedures and patient education.CONCLUSION: Different health care professionals play a variety of important roles in MPTF in Canada. However, few of them are involved on a full-time basis and the extent to which pain is assessed and treated in a truly multidisciplinary manner is questionable.Peer Reviewe

Role of health care professionals in multidisciplinary pain treatment facilities in Canada

PURPOSE: To examine the role of health care professionals in multidisciplinary pain treatment facilities (MPTF) for the treatment of chronic pain across Canada. METHODS: MPTF were defined as clinics that advertised specialized multidisciplinary services for the diagnosis and management of chronic pain, and had staff from a minimum of three different health care disciplines (including at least one medical specialty) available and integrated within the facility. Administrative leaders at eligible MPTF were asked to complete a detailed questionnaire on their infrastructure as well as clinical, research, teaching and administrative activities. RESULTS: A total of 102 MPTF returned the questionnaires. General practitioners, anesthesiologists and physiatrists were the most common types of physicians integrated in the MPTF (56%, 51% and 32%, respectively). Physiotherapists, psychologists and nurses were the most common nonphysician professionals working within these MPTF (75%, 68% and 57%, respectively), but 33% to 56% of them were part-time staff. Only 77% of the MPTF held regular interdisciplinary meetings to discuss patient management, and 32% were staffed with either a psychologist or psychiatrist. The three most frequent services provided by physiotherapists were patient assessment, individual physiotherapy or exercise, and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation. The three most common services provided by psychologists were individual counselling, cognitive behavioural therapy and psychodynamic therapy. The major roles of nurses were patient assessment, assisting in interventional procedures and patient education. CONCLUSION: Different health care professionals play a variety of important roles in MPTF in Canada. However, few of them are involved on a full-time basis and the extent to which pain is assessed and treated in a truly multidisciplinary manner is questionable

Erratum to: Guidelines for the use and interpretation of assays for monitoring autophagy (3rd edition) (Autophagy, 12, 1, 1-222, 10.1080/15548627.2015.1100356

non present