Participant grading, insertion time and number of attempts using the EZ-IO tibia, EZ-IO humerus and FASTR devices.

<p>Participant grading, insertion time and number of attempts using the EZ-IO tibia, EZ-IO humerus and FASTR devices.</p

Participant and observer grading on the EZ-IO tibia, EZ-IO humerus and FASTR device.

<p>Participant and observer grading on the EZ-IO tibia, EZ-IO humerus and FASTR device.</p

Pressure-dependent cumulative volumes in unfixed donors using the EZ-IO tibia, EZ-IO humerus and FASTR device.

<p>Pressure-dependent cumulative volumes in unfixed donors using the EZ-IO tibia, EZ-IO humerus and FASTR device.</p

Time-dependent flow rates after 1-, 3- and 5-minute intervals using the EZ-IO tibia, EZ-IO humerus and FASTR device.

<p>Box plot = 25–75% percentile, whiskers = 1,5 x standard deviation, points = outliers. white box = 1 minute, pattern box = 3 minutes, grey box = 5 minutes.</p

Pressure-dependent flow rates per minute in unfixed donors using the EZ-IO tibia, EZ-IO humerus and FASTR device.

<p>Pressure-dependent flow rates per minute in unfixed donors using the EZ-IO tibia, EZ-IO humerus and FASTR device.</p

Normalized cumulative volumes in ethanol-fixed body donors.

<p>Normalized cumulative volumes in ethanol-fixed body donors.</p

Time-dependent cumulative volumes after 1-, 3- and 5-minute intervals using the EZ-IO tibia, EZ-IO humerus and FASTR device.

<p>Box plot = 25–75% percentile, whiskers = 1,5 x standard deviation, points = outliers. white box = 1 minute, pattern box = 3 minutes, grey box = 5 minutes.</p

Normalized flow rates in ethanol-fixed body donors.

<p>Normalized flow rates in ethanol-fixed body donors.</p

Pelvic Belt Effects on Health Outcomes and Functional Parameters of Patients with Sacroiliac Joint Pain

<div><p>Introduction</p><p>The sacroiliac joint (SIJ) is a common source of low back pain. However, clinical and functional signs and symptoms correlating with SIJ pain are widely unknown. Pelvic belts are routinely applied to treat SIJ pain but without sound evidence of their pain-relieving effects. This case-control study compares clinical and functional data of SIJ patients and healthy control subjects and evaluates belt effects on SIJ pain.</p><p>Methods</p><p>17 SIJ patients and 17 healthy controls were included in this prospective study. The short-form 36 survey and the numerical rating scale were used to characterize health-related quality of life in patients in a six-week follow-up and the pain-reducing effects of pelvic belts. Electromyography data were obtained from the gluteus maximus, biceps femoris, rectus femoris and medial vastus. Alterations of muscle activity, variability and gait patterns were compared in patients and controls along with the belts’ effects in a dynamic setting when walking.</p><p>Results</p><p>Significant improvements were observed in the short-form 36 survey of the SIJ patients, especially in the physical health subscores. Minor declines were also observed in the numerical rating scale on pain. Belt-related changes of muscle activity and variability were similar in patients and controls with one exception: the rectus femoris activity decreased significantly in patients with belt application when walking. Further belt effects include improved cadence and gait velocity in patients and controls.</p><p>Conclusions</p><p>Pelvic belts improve health-related quality of life and are potentially attributed to decreased SIJ-related pain. Belt effects include decreased rectus femoris activity in patients and improved postural steadiness during locomotion. Pelvic belts may therefore be considered as a cost-effective and low-risk treatment of SIJ pain.</p><p>Trial Registration</p><p>ClinicalTrials.gov <a href="https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02027038?term=NCT02027038&rank=1" target="_blank">NCT02027038</a></p></div

Pelvic belt application.

<p>A SacroLoc belt (Bauerfeind AG, Zeulenroda-Triebes, Germany) is applied to a female volunteer under moderate tension, as recommended by the manufacturer.</p