Additional Updates Brief reviews of relevant research for DCs INTRODUCTION In early 2011, Research Review Service will be publishing a bonus update containing brief summaries of top research that has not been reviewed in full. …Below are some brief excerpts from this document. STUDY #1: PREVIOUS BACK INJURY AND DISC DEGENERATION Publication information: Hancock MJ et al. The Role of Back Injury or Trauma in Lumbar Disc Degeneration: An Exposure-Discordant Twin Study. Spine 2010; 35(21): 1925-1929. This study suggests that back injury based on patient report is not an important pre-dictor of future disc degeneration. In recent years, beliefs regarding the determinants of disc degeneration have changed dramatically. It was previously thought that the primary determinants of disc degeneration included age, gender, cigarette smoking, exposure to vehicular vibration and, in particular, occupational physical loading. More recently it has been demonstrated that most of these factors have, at most, a relatively minor influence on disc degeneration. In fact, routine loading may actually have some benefits for the lumbar discs in terms of slowing desiccation. Even though genetic factors seem to be the most consistent influence on disc degeneration, there is still much to be learned. Dr. Shawn Thistle is the founder and president of Research Review Service Inc., an online, subscription-based service designed to help busy practitioners to integrate current, relevant scientific evidence into their practice. Shawn graduated from CMCC and holds an Hon-ours Degree in Kinesiology from McMaster University. He also holds a certificate in Contemporary Medi-cal acupuncture from McMaster University, and is a Certified active Release Techniques (aRT®) Pro-vider. For more information about the Research Review Service, visit www.researchreviewservice.com. STUDY #2: AGE AND LUMBAR ROM Publication Information: Intolo P et al. The effect of age on lumbar range of motion: A systematic review. Manual Therapy 2009; 14: 596-604. The results of this study remind clinicians to consider the age of their patients when assessing lumbar ROM, or using it as an outcome during the course of treatment. It should be noted that this study could not elucidate whether decreases in lumbar ROM are inevitable or irreversible, nor make inferences on other biomechanical characteristics of the aging spine. STUDY #3: MIGRAINE HEADACHE AND CROM IN WOMEN Publication Information: Bevilaqua-Grossi D et al. Cervical mobility in women with mi-graine. Headache 2009; 49: 726-731. Although this was a small study, the results suggest that women with episodic or transformed migraine have reduced cervical ROM compared to controls. Since many migraine patients also report neck pain, and a common goal of manual therapists is to restore “normal” ROM, future research will hopefully examine if there is a cause-and-effect relationship between ROM and migraine that we could positively influence with treatment. For these three reviews in full, including summaries of study methods and results, please see www.canadianchiropractor.ca. Shawn Thistle, BKin (Hons), DC, CSCS 62 • CaNaDIaN CHIROPRaCTOR | DECEMBER 2010 www.canadianchiropractor.ca
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