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Musculoskeletal Disorders

Report

Determining the Appropriateness of Spinal Manipulation and Mobilization for Chronic Low Back Pain

As part of a larger study, back pain experts discussed and rated the appropriateness of spinal manipulation and mobilization for chronic low back pain. Ratings were higher for mobilization than manipulation, and rates of agreement increased after panelists met to discuss the issues.

Jul 24, 2018
Journal Article

Medical Care Spending and Labor Market Outcomes: Evidence from Workers' Compensation Reforms

Following workers' compensation reforms in California, workers with low back injuries received less medical care, leading to an 8% drop in post-injury earnings relative to other injured workers. These results suggest that medical spending can impact health and that health affects labor outcomes.

May 2, 2018
Journal Article

Journal Article

How Does Sagittal Imbalance Affect the Appropriateness of Surgical Indications and Selection of Procedure in the Treatment of Degenerative Scoliosis? Findings from the RAND/UCLA Appropriate Use Criteria Study

Sagittal imbalance -- an imbalance in the spine causing forward displacement of the head -- is a major factor affecting both whether surgery is appropriate and which procedure is preferred among patients with degenerative lumbar scoliosis.

Apr 26, 2018
Journal Article

Journal Article

Cognitive and Mind-Body Therapies for Chronic Low Back Pain and Neck Pain: Effectiveness and Value

A recent Institute for Clinical and Economic Review provides evidence that some cognitive and mind-body therapies are effective for chronic low back pain and also cost-effective.

Apr 18, 2018
Journal Article

Manipulation and Mobilization for Treating Chronic Low Back Pain

While both manipulation and mobilization may reduce pain and improve functioning for patients with chronic low back pain, manipulation appears to have a greater effect.

Mar 2, 2018
Journal Article

Journal Article

Quality of Care and Patient-Reported Outcomes in Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: A Prospective Observational Study

Patients with carpal tunnel syndrome who receive necessary care, including surgery and activity assessment and management, have better outcomes.

Feb 13, 2018
Journal Article

Journal Article

Development of a Canadian Core Clinical Dataset to Support High-quality Care for Canadian Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis

The core elements in the Canadian Rheumatoid Arthritis Core Clinical Dataset were rated as important and feasible to collect by rheumatology care providers and people living with arthritis from across Canada.

Oct 13, 2017
Report

Are Advanced Prosthetics Worth the Costs?

Prosthetic knees and feet allow for more-dynamic movements and improve user quality of life, but payers have recently started questioning their value for money. A simulation model can assess the clinical outcomes and costs of microprocessor-controlled knees compared with more traditional ones.

Sep 5, 2017
Periodical

Periodical

RAND Review: September-October 2017

This issue highlights recent RAND research on North Korea; RAND's future workspace pilot project; and insights on the post--Arab Spring experience in the Middle East.

Aug 24, 2017
Journal Article

Journal Article

Estimating the Long-Term Functional Burden of Osteoporosis-Related Fractures

Osteoporosis-related fractures are associated with significant longer-term (up to two years and beyond) declines in functional health status.

Aug 3, 2017
Journal Article

Journal Article

Yoga, Physical Therapy, or Education for Chronic Low Back Pain: A Randomized Noninferiority Trial

A structured yoga program for patients with chronic lower back pain may be a reasonable alternative to physical therapy, depending on patient preferences, availability, and cost.

Aug 2, 2017
Journal Article

Journal Article

Quality of Care for Work-Associated Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Over 80 percent of a regional system's occupational clinics adhered to recommended care processes for Carpal tunnel syndrome, and differences in care quality were associated more with clinical factors than patient socioeconomics and demographics.

Jul 18, 2017
Journal Article

Journal Article

Patient Use of Cost and Quality Data When Choosing a Joint Replacement Provider in the Context of Reference Pricing

Despite growing availability of cost and quality information, hip and knee replacement patients almost always focus on the choice of a surgeon, primarily based on reputation, as opposed to a hospital.

Jun 12, 2017
Journal Article

Journal Article

Engaging Patients and Caregivers Managing Rare Diseases to Improve the Methods of Clinical Guideline Development: A Research Protocol

A new, online method to engage more patients and caregivers in developing clinical guidelines will be created and then tested, using Duchenne muscular dystrophy as an example.

Jun 2, 2017
Journal Article

Journal Article

Association Between Hospitals' Engagement in Value-Based Reforms and Readmission Reduction in the Hospital Readmission Reduction Program

Hospitals participating in one or more voluntary Medicare value-based reform programs were less likely to readmit patients within 30 days of discharge than non-participating hospitals.

May 23, 2017
Journal Article

Journal Article

Does a Quality Improvement Campaign Accelerate Take-Up of New Evidence? A Ten-State Cluster-Randomized Controlled Trial of the IHI's Project JOINTS

States participating in Project JOINTS, a six-month quality improvement campaign to reduce infection risk after joint replacement surgery, adhered to three new evidence-based practices significantly more than non-participants.

May 23, 2017
Journal Article

Journal Article

Association of Spinal Manipulative Therapy With Clinical Benefit and Harm for Acute Low Back Pain: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

The use of spinal manipulative therapy to treat acute lower back pain was associated with modest improvement in pain and function in this systematic meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

May 19, 2017
Journal Article

Journal Article

Hyaluronic Acid Injection Therapy for Osteoarthritis of the Knee: Concordant Efficacy and Conflicting Serious Adverse Events in Two Systematic Reviews

A lack of standards for reporting and synthesizing adverse events associated with common treatments can lead to conflicting conclusions about the balance of their benefits and harms.

Nov 28, 2016
Journal Article

Journal Article

Cost-effectiveness of Combined Oral Bisphosphonate Therapy and Falls Prevention Exercise for Fracture Prevention in the USA

For white women aged 75-80, 1 year of exercise and 5 years of bisphosphonate therapy are effective at preventing osteoporitic fractures.

Oct 27, 2016
Journal Article

Mindfulness Meditation for Chronic Pain: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Chronic pain patients increasingly seek treatment through mindfulness meditation. This study aims to synthesize evidence on efficacy and safety of mindfulness meditation interventions for the treatment of chronic pain in adults.

Oct 7, 2016

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