{"title":"The role of electrodiagnosis in the evaluation of low back pain.","authors":"Gregory J Mulford, Stephen J Cohen","doi":"10.1016/j.coem.2006.05.002","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coem.2006.05.002","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Establishing a specific diagnosis is important in the effective management of individuals who present with a complaint of low back pain. Electrodiagnostic studies are an integral part of the diagnostic evaluation when the history or physical examination suggests that neural structures may contribute as symptom generators. Lumbo-sacral radiculopathies, plexopathies, and peripheral nerve injuries are of primary concern when evaluating individuals with low back pain, and electrodiagnostic studies assist in identifying and quantifying neurophysiologic injuries and abnormalities using techniques. A thorough, thoughtful, and individualized electrodiagnostic study performed by qualified physicians as an extension of a detailed history and physical examination can be an important and useful component in the proper evaluation of individuals with low back pain.</p>","PeriodicalId":87077,"journal":{"name":"Clinics in occupational and environmental medicine","volume":"5 3","pages":"591-613, vi"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2006-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"26245905","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Lumbar spine injection and interventional procedures in the management of low back pain.","authors":"Frank J E Falco, Lee Irwin, Jie Zhu","doi":"10.1016/j.coem.2006.04.001","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coem.2006.04.001","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Lumbar spine injections play a role in the evaluation and treatment of low back pain and lumbar radiculopathy. These injection procedures have been demonstrated to be effective in determining the pain generator for low back pain. There is still debate as to the long-term pain relief from epidural and intra-articular facet joint injections, and no controlled studies have examined the long-term effects of SI joint injections. Additional investigation is certainly warranted to evaluate further the long-term benefits and determine with patients would benefit the most from these injections. Current evidence validates that these injections provide temporary relief of low back and radicular leg pain up to several months, if not longer. This duration of pain relief creates an opportunity to maximize rehabilitation efforts while symptoms are minimal.</p>","PeriodicalId":87077,"journal":{"name":"Clinics in occupational and environmental medicine","volume":"5 3","pages":"655-702, vii-viii"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2006-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"26245911","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Occupational and physical therapy for work-related upper extremity disorders: how we can influence outcomes.","authors":"Dennis F Driver","doi":"10.1016/j.coem.2005.11.011","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coem.2005.11.011","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Upper extremity disorders in the workplace continue to be an economic strain on society. Physical and occupational therapy plays a crucial role in the management of the disorders. Medical providers should use therapists whose treatments demonstrate improvement in function and provide superior outcomes. Skilled therapy intervention requires that a therapist be able to identify and treat an injured worker in a holistic manner by looking at the whole individual, including issues that involve mechanical dysfunctions, psychosocial issues that include job satisfaction, and other age-related organic comorbidities. Therapists who work with injured employees must be highly skilled in identifying behavioral and organic disorders and must be confident in communicating these findings to various members of the health care team to help facilitate further medical testing.</p>","PeriodicalId":87077,"journal":{"name":"Clinics in occupational and environmental medicine","volume":"5 2","pages":"471-82, xi"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2006-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"26436121","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Tobacco and the movie industry.","authors":"Annemarie Charlesworth, Stanton A Glantz","doi":"10.1016/j.coem.2005.10.009","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coem.2005.10.009","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Despite the tobacco industry's voluntary restrictions and its agreement with the state attorneys general prohibiting direct and indirect cigarette marketing to youth and paid product placement, tobacco use remains prevalent in movies. Extensive research provides strong and consistent evidence that smoking in the movies promotes smoking. This article summarizes the evidence on the nature and effect of smoking in the movies on adolescents (and others) and proposes several solutions to reduce adolescent exposure to movie smoking and subsequent smoking.</p>","PeriodicalId":87077,"journal":{"name":"Clinics in occupational and environmental medicine","volume":"5 1","pages":"73-84, ix"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2006-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"25828201","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Respiratory health consequences of environmental tobacco smoke.","authors":"Atiya Dhala, Kenneth Pinsker, David J Prezant","doi":"10.1016/j.coem.2005.10.003","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coem.2005.10.003","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Over the last several decades there has been a growing interest in examining the health consequences of environmental tobacco smoke (ETS). As a result of a wide body of research, ETS is now considered an unacceptable and entirely preventable public health hazard, and public policy increasingly discourages the presence of tobacco smoke in the public domain. This article provides an overview of the composition of ETS and the major diseases and disorders strongly linked to ETS, emphasizing the effects of ETS on pulmonary function, asthma, and lung cancer.</p>","PeriodicalId":87077,"journal":{"name":"Clinics in occupational and environmental medicine","volume":"5 1","pages":"139-56, x"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2006-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"25829231","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Diagnosis of low back pain: role of imaging studies.","authors":"Randolph B Russo","doi":"10.1016/j.coem.2006.05.003","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coem.2006.05.003","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Approximately 70% of North Americans experience low back pain during their lifetime, with most of them demonstrating improvement within 2 to 4 weeks. The use of early radiographic evaluation is often unnecessary for uncomplicated acute low back injuries. Select patient populations have been identified for early evaluation. If the following red flags are associated with the pain, spinal imaging is indicated: possible fracture, neoplasm, infection, and cauda equina syndrome. High suspicion for the presence of one of these entities should prompt more formal evaluation of the spine. This article provides an overview of the commonly used diagnostic procedures in the evaluation of lumbar spine disorders.</p>","PeriodicalId":87077,"journal":{"name":"Clinics in occupational and environmental medicine","volume":"5 3","pages":"571-89, vi"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2006-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"26245903","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Epidemiology of work-related upper extremity disorders: understanding prevalence and outcomes to impact provider performances using a practice management reporting tool.","authors":"Geneva M Giang","doi":"10.1016/j.coem.2005.12.002","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coem.2005.12.002","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>In 2001, the number of repeated trauma cases accounted for 4% of total workplace injuries and 65% of all occupational illnesses, with work-related upper extremity disorders accounting for most cases. Because chronic disability leads to the highest cost, systematic evaluation of this growing occupational condition is needed. This article sheds light on work-related upper extremity disorders by understanding the prevalence and pattern for these diagnoses, their impact on outcomes influenced by age, gender and geography on metrics such as utilization, duration, disability status, and costs. To assess these types of outcomes measurements, a good reporting and management system must be in place to allow for ongoing evaluation and analysis of data and in the construction of intervention programs to improve provider performances and, ultimately, patient outcomes.</p>","PeriodicalId":87077,"journal":{"name":"Clinics in occupational and environmental medicine","volume":"5 2","pages":"267-83, vi"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2006-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"26377795","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Ligament injuries of the hand and wrist.","authors":"Bruce F Hermann","doi":"10.1016/j.coem.2005.12.001","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coem.2005.12.001","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The human hand is one of the most amazing instruments we possess. Ligament injuries to the hand and wrist are common occupational injuries. These injuries can be diagnosed using thorough history and physical examination skills in conjunction with diagnostic imaging. Prompt diagnosis and treatment of these injuries are crucial, because many injuries heal with minimal decrease in function if they are treated early without allowing them to become chronic. When these injuries are discovered late, not only does treatment become more difficult but also traumatic arthritis frequently develops. A brief anatomic description follows each of the most common ligament sprains and strains of the hand and wrist and their evaluation and treatment.</p>","PeriodicalId":87077,"journal":{"name":"Clinics in occupational and environmental medicine","volume":"5 2","pages":"323-31, vii"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2006-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"26377798","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Tobacco and carcinogens in the workplace.","authors":"Thomas P Bradley, Anne L Golden","doi":"10.1016/j.coem.2005.10.011","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coem.2005.10.011","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Workplace exposures to carcinogens long have been associated with cancers, and corrective measures to limit exposures have resulted in reductions in such cancers and improved worker health. Some exposures are currently of historical interest, and many current or past exposures are associated with conflicting evidence as to causality. We present a brief overview of the effects of exposure to asbestos, tobacco, and other known carcinogens.</p>","PeriodicalId":87077,"journal":{"name":"Clinics in occupational and environmental medicine","volume":"5 1","pages":"117-37, x"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2006-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"25829230","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Nick Patel, Arunabh Talwar, Virginia Cullen Reichert, Terence Brady, Mukesh Jain, Mark H Kaplan
{"title":"Tobacco and HIV.","authors":"Nick Patel, Arunabh Talwar, Virginia Cullen Reichert, Terence Brady, Mukesh Jain, Mark H Kaplan","doi":"10.1016/j.coem.2005.10.012","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coem.2005.10.012","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The risks to an HIV-infected person who smokes are dramatically amplified compared with the general population. Smoking has been shown to be an independent risk factor for non-AIDS-related mortality in patients who have HIV, even in patients who receive highly active antiretroviral therapy. It has been independently associated with lower scores for quality-of-life indices, such as general health perception, physical functioning, bodily pain, energy, and cognitive functioning. Over time, considering the significant pathology elicited by tobacco, it is hoped that smoking cessation will help reduce the risks of lung disease, heart disease, and neoplastic conditions in patients who have HIV and increase their general sense of well-being.</p>","PeriodicalId":87077,"journal":{"name":"Clinics in occupational and environmental medicine","volume":"5 1","pages":"193-207, xi"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2006-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"25829234","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}