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The article presents a study on ankle sprain in adolescent dancers and its inherent predictors. This prospective study was conducted in dance and performing arts schools. Respondents were composed of one hundred fifteen adolescent dancers. Predictors that were evaluated and studied includes age, foot and ankle laxity and range of motion and previous sprains in the ankle. Results reveals that younger dancers in the group and those with previous ankle sprains were at a higher risk of developing sprains.

The article presents a study that investigates if differences in balance and recovery would be found between controls and participants with unilateral or bilateral functional ankle instability (FAI). There were 61 patients who participated in the study. FAI was measured through self-report and the use of Cumberland Ankle Instability Tool (CAIT). Balance was measured in single leg stance while recovery was determined by time to return to baseline medio-lateral ankle movement after a 15 degree inversion perturbation. The study found out that there are differences in balance and recovery between external controls and participants with both unilateral and bilateral FAI but not between the legs of participants with unilateral FAI.

The article discusses the study which examines the psychometric properties of a 5-item version of the Core Outcome Measure in people with whiplash. It cites that data on whiplash results have been source from three whiplash cohorts such as encompassing acute, early chronic and late-chronic whiplash among primary care and insurance populations. It is found out that the Core Whiplash Outcome Measure (CWOM) has very good psychometric properties compared to the lengthier standard outcome measures.

The article looks into the factors that affect whether early functional treatment of inversion ankle sprains result in faster return to activity, greater patient satisfaction, less subjective instability and lower rate of reinjury than immobilization. Results indicate that immobilization was done through cast or plaster splint for two to six weeks compared to functional treatment that included bandages and aircast applied for the same period. It concludes that the return to previous activities and their rates of instability and reinjury after acute ankle sprain were similar after early functional treatment or immobilization. The commentary states that despite tackling a relevant clinical question, the study failed to supply evidence for the effectiveness of interventions after ankel sprain.

Objectives: This study aimed to provide a comprehensive profile of a representative sample of patients with acute low back pain drawn from the primary care setting. A secondary aim was to determine whether patient characteristics are associated with pain intensity or disability at the initial consultation., Methods: A total of 1172 consecutive patients with acute low back pain presenting to clinics of primary care practitioners (general practitioners, physiotherapists, and chiropractors) in Australia were recruited. Pain intensity and level of disability were measured at the first consultation, and a range of other variables were measured to describe the patient's characteristics. The characteristics were then grouped into 7 distinct factors: demographic, social, cultural, general health, psychologic, past low back pain history, and current low back pain history. Hierarchical linear regression models were used to determine each factor's independent relationship with pain intensity and disability., Results: The majority of patients reported having had a previous episode of low back pain (75.7%), and that the current episode was of sudden onset (76.7%). Only a small proportion (14.3%) had compensable back pain. Pain intensity and disability were associated with each other (P<0.01), current low back pain history (P<0.01), and psychologic (P<0.01) characteristics., Discussion: In a representative sample of acute low back pain patients in primary care, we found that the profile included only a small proportion of patients with compensable low back pain. Those without compensation were more likely to remain at work despite low back pain. Psychologic and other patient characteristics were associated with pain intensity and level of disability at the initial consultation.

Study Design: Cohort study., Objective: To evaluate the responsiveness of common pain and disability measures in a cohort of patients with chronic whiplash., Summary of Background Data: Pain and disability are routinely measured in clinical practice and clinical research. However, to date, a head-to-head comparison of competing measures for whiplash patients has not been performed., Methods: Pain (pain intensity, bothersomeness, and SF-36 bodily pain score) and disability (Patient Specific Functional Scale, Neck Disability Index, Functional Rating Index, Copenhagen Scale, and SF-36 physical summary) measures were completed by 132 patients with chronic whiplash at baseline and then again after 6 weeks together with an 11-point global perceived effect scale. Internal responsiveness was evaluated by calculating effect sizes and standardized response means, and external responsiveness by correlating change scores with global perceived effect scores and by ROC curves., Results: The ranking of responsiveness was consistent across the different analyses. Pain bothersomeness was more responsive than pain intensity, which was more responsive than the SF-36 pain measure. The Patient Specific Functional Scale was the most responsive disability measure, followed by the spine-specific measures, with the SF-36 physical summary measure the least responsive., Conclusion: Pain bothersomeness and the Patient Specific Functional Scale provide the most responsive measures of pain and disability, respectively, in patients with chronic whiplash.

Study Design: Cohort study., Objective: To conduct a head-to-head comparison of the responsiveness of pain, disability, and physical impairment measures in patients with low back pain., Summary of Background Data: Pain, disability, and physical impairment measures are routinely measured in clinical practice and clinical research. However, to date, a head-to-head comparison has not been performed., Methods: A numerical pain scale (0-10), the 24-item and 2 modified 18-item versions of the Roland Morris questionnaire, the patient specific functional scale, and physical impairment measures were completed by 155 patients with low back pain at baseline and then again after 6 weeks together with an 11-point global perceived effect scale. Responsiveness was evaluated by using effect sizes and t tests, correlating the change scores for each outcome with the global perceived effect score and by calculating the Guyatt responsiveness index., Results: The most responsive outcome proved to be the patient specific functional scale (effect size = 1.6), followed by the numerical pain scale (effect size = 1.3) and 24-item Roland Morris questionnaire (effect size = 0.8). The responsiveness of the two 18-item Roland Morris versions was equal to the 24-item version. However, the physical impairment measures were not very responsive (effect size 0.1-0.6). The ranking of the responsiveness indices was consistent across all statistical analyses., Conclusions: Physical impairments are routinely measured in clinical practice and clinical research, but the lower responsiveness indicates that this approach is not optimal. Our findings suggest that more emphasis should be placed on change in pain and disability scores than on change in physical impairments.

Purpose: To investigate muscle strength in subjects with unilateral functional ankle instability, with the specific aim of determining whether eccentric strength deficits exist., Methods: Isokinetic invertor and evertor torques were assessed eccentrically and concentrically at speeds of 60 and 120 degrees.s(-1) in 16 subjects with unilateral ankle instability. Absolute peak torque values were compared between the injured and noninjured limbs to determine whether strength deficits existed., Results: No eccentric or concentric evertor strength deficit was found in the injured limb. Interestingly, for the injured limb, a significant interaction effect was found whereby eccentric inversion strength was reduced., Conclusion: Functional ankle instability is not associated with deficits in evertor strength. Deficits in eccentric invertor strength were found, and this may contribute to the symptoms of functional ankle instability. Weak invertors may contribute to functional ankle instability because of a reduced ability to assist in controlling lateral displacement of the shank over the weight-bearing foot. Excess lateral postural sway outside of the base of support results in the foot's medial border rising from the floor once the limits of closed chain eversion is reached, which may result in the foot being forced into rapid inversion.