Contributors to the Fall Issue/Notes

Notes by Wilmer L. McLaughlin, John F. Mendoza, Patrick F. Coughlin, William J. O\u27Connor, Arthur L. Beaudette, Henry M. Shine, Jr., William M. Dickson, and William B. Wombacher

Notes

Notes by Benedict R. Danko, Patrick F. Coughlin, William J. O\u27Connor, John E. Lindberg, Lawrence S. May, Jr., Arthur L. Beaudette, and Mark Harry Berens

Contributors to the Fall Issue/Notes

Notes by Wilmer L. McLaughlin, John F. Mendoza, Patrick F. Coughlin, William J. O\u27Connor, Arthur L. Beaudette, Henry M. Shine, Jr., William M. Dickson, and William B. Wombacher

Contributors to the Fall Issue/Notes

Notes by Wilmer L. McLaughlin, John F. Mendoza, Patrick F. Coughlin, William J. O\u27Connor, Arthur L. Beaudette, Henry M. Shine, Jr., William M. Dickson, and William B. Wombacher

Notes

Notes by Benedict R. Danko, Patrick F. Coughlin, William J. O\u27Connor, John E. Lindberg, Lawrence S. May, Jr., Arthur L. Beaudette, and Mark Harry Berens

Notes

Notes by Benedict R. Danko, Patrick F. Coughlin, William J. O\u27Connor, John E. Lindberg, Lawrence S. May, Jr., Arthur L. Beaudette, and Mark Harry Berens

Reliability of Lumbar Isometric Torque in Patients with Chronic Low Back Pain

In this study, the test-retest reliability of lumbar isometric strength testing in patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP) was assessed. Isometric torque measurements were obtained from 89 patients with CLBP at seven different angles of lumbar flexion. Because previous studies have demonstrated significant strength differences between male and female subjects, separate data analyses were performed for each gender. Results indicated moderate to high reliability for patients with CLBP when tested at individually determined angles of flexion within their idiosyncratic range of motion (ROM) (female subjects: r=.59–.96, P\u3c.05, SEE=12.0–24.2 N·m; male subjects: r=.71–.93, P\u3c.05, SEE=25.1–62.1 N·m). For comparison with previously published data on asymptomatic controls, an additional set of analyses was conducted for subjects with full lumbar ROM. Similar reliability was demonstrated for this subsample (female subjects: r=.57–.93, P\u3c.05, SEE=12.4–27.9 N·m; male subjects: r=.63–.93, P\u3c.05, SEE=34.2–44.2 N·m). The authors concluded that isometric lumbar extension torque could be reliably measured in patients with CLBP at multiple positions within the full ROM, although reliability decreased at the most extended positions. The demonstrated reliability will allow researchers to assess treatment effects and group differences without undue concern for artifact attributable to measurement error

Relation of Change in Weight Status to the Development of Hypertension in Children and Adolescents

Background/Aims: This study examined the association of body mass index (BMI) percentile and change in BMI percentile to change in blood pressure (BP) percentile and development of hypertension in children and adolescents. Methods: This retrospective cohort included 101,725 subjects aged 3–17 years from three health systems across the United States. Height, weight, age, sex and BP measures were extracted from electronic health records, and then age/sex/height-adjusted BP percentiles and BMI percentiles were computed. Mixed linear regression estimated change in systolic BP percentile, and proportional hazards regression was used to estimate risk of incident hypertension associated with BMI percentile and change in BMI percentile. Results: The largest increases in BP percentile were observed among children and adolescents who became obese or maintained obesity. Over a median 3.1-year follow-up, 0.4% of subjects developed hypertension. Obese children aged 3–11 had 3.5-fold increased risk of developing hypertension compared with normal weight. Obese adolescents aged 12–17 had 3.2-fold increased risk of developing hypertension compared with normal weight. Children and adolescents who stayed obese had 5.4- and 4.8-fold increased risk of developing hypertension, respectively, compared with those who maintained a normal weight. Children who became obese and adolescents who became overweight had 2.6- and 2.3-fold increased risk of developing hypertension, respectively. Conclusion: We observed a strong, statistically significant association between increasing BMI percentile and increases in BP percentile, with risk of incident hypertension primarily associated with obesity. The adverse impact of weight gain and obesity in this young cohort over a short period of time underscores the need for effective strategies for prevention of overweight and obesity in youth to slow progression toward diabetes and cardiovascular disease later in life