musculoskeletal Tag

06 Jul

Posted at 10:19h in Orthopedics, Pain Research

The human hand contains an intricate network of tendons that coordinate fine motor movements required for writing, gripping, typing, lifting, and countless daily activities. Even a relatively small tendon injury can significantly affect hand strength, dexterity, and overall function. Because tendons have a limited blood supply, healing often occurs more slowly than injuries involving muscles, making timely diagnosis and appropriate treatment important.

As people age, tendons gradually undergo structural changes. Collagen fibers become less elastic, water content decreases, and microscopic degeneration may accumulate over years of repetitive use. These changes can increase susceptibility to tendon tears, inflammation, and overuse injuries. Understanding how hand tendon injuries develop and the available treatment options may help patients seek appropriate care before long-term stiffness or permanent functional loss occurs. Individuals searching for a hand pain specialist in Singapore are often looking for an assessment that distinguishes minor tendon irritation from injuries requiring specialized orthopedic management.

[caption id="attachment_74777" align="aligncenter" width="500"]hand-tendon-orthopedic-surgeon-singapore Pexels[/caption]

03 Mar

Posted at 18:05h in Occupational Health, Pain Research
Editor's note: This post provides background information only.  Please discuss any and all musculoskeletal and/or pain issues with your health care provider for specific medical advice. [caption id="attachment_72678" align="aligncenter" width="500"]sitting-at-work-back-pain.jpg Photo by fauxels: https://www.pexels.com/photo/top-view-photo-of-people-discussing-3182774/[/caption] Musculoskeletal Decline and the Productivity Crisis: Why Understanding Osteoporosis and Osteoarthritis Matters for the UK Workforce  Recent Health and Safety Executive statistics indicate that work-related musculoskeletal disorders remain the most commonly reported cause of work-related ill health in the UK, accounting for over 6 million lost working days annually (HSE, 2023). Back, neck, and upper limb conditions dominate these figures. At a national level, the Office for National Statistics continues to report prolonged productivity stagnation, with output per hour showing limited sustained growth over the past decade. While productivity trends are multifactorial, the contribution of chronic physical impairment warrants closer attention. From a clinical perspective, when assessing occupational risk, distinguishing between metabolic bone disorders and degenerative joint diseases is essential. For example, understanding osteoporosis vs osteoarthritis helps clarify how systemic bone fragility differs from progressive joint degeneration, each carrying distinct long-term implications for work capacity. Globally, the Global Burden of Disease Study continues to identify low back pain as the leading cause of years lived with disability worldwide (Vos et al., 2020). Taken together, these findings position musculoskeletal decline not only as a public health burden but also as a measurable contributor to workplace productivity loss across working-age populations.

20 Jan

Posted at 11:55h in Author Interviews, COVID -19 Coronavirus
MedicalResearch.com Interview with: [caption id="attachment_56438" align="alignleft" width="155"]Dr Caroline Wei Shan Hoong, MBBS, MRCP Associate Consultant Endocrinologist Department of General Medicine Woodlands Health Campus National Healthcare Group, Singapore Dr. Wei Shan Hoong[/caption] Dr Caroline Wei Shan Hoong, MBBS, MRCP Associate Consultant Endocrinologist Department of General Medicine Woodlands Health Campus National Healthcare Group, Singapore MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? Response: In the course of our clinical work, we have noticed a predominance of musculoskeletal complaints among some of COVID-19 patients who are otherwise clinically well, and a small subset of them who develop a viral arthralgia (joint pains) sometimes occurring separately from the onset of acute respiratory symptoms. Besides a few isolated case reports, there was not much described about COVID-19 associated viral arthralgia in the literature. Clinicians are well aware of the need to test for COVID-19 when patients present with cough or shortness of breath. However, when they present as joint pains without any respiratory symptoms, a diagnosis of COVID-19 could easily be missed. Due to overlapping clinical features like low platelet count and elevated liver enzymes, they could easily be misdiagnosed as having other vector-borne infections such as dengue fever, if clinicians do not have a high clinical suspicion of COVID-19. Hence we decided to describe the epidemiology and various presentations of musculoskeletal manifestations of COVID-19 in our cohort of patients. 

13 Nov

Posted at 13:49h in Author Interviews, Exercise - Fitness, Pain Research
MedicalResearch.com Interview with: Ms Lynne Gaskell MSc University of Salford Manchester UK MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? Response: Musculoskeletal Pain as a result of common problems affecting the back, neck, shoulder, knee and multi-site pain is an increasing cause of reduced function and quality of life, and ever increasing demands on healthcare, Prognosis is often poor with many people reporting persistent symptoms after consulting their primary care practitioner. The likelihood of persistent and recurrent clinical symptoms may accentuate the physical, psychological, and social impacts of musculoskeletal pain particularly with the middle aged and elderly populations. Pilates is an exercise approach that has become increasingly popular in recent years and includes over fifty different exercises to improve flexibility, balance, core strength, core stability. It can therefore can be individualised for people with different needs, preferences, musculoskeletal conditions, ages and abilities. Aligning exercise to patient’s functional needs has been linked to long-term exercise adherence. Many physiotherapists such as sydney physio solutions have started to specialise in this as a form of treatment, click here for more info on pilates and the many benefits they can have on your physical health. This study investigated the personal experiences and perceptions of the impact of Pilates on the day-to-day lives of adults with a myriad of chronic MSK conditions following a 12 week Pilates Exercise Programme.The results were organised into five main themes: 1. Physical Improvements strength, core stability, flexibility and balance. 2. Pilates Promotes an Active Lifestyle and improved performance at work and / or hobbies. 3. Psychosocial benefits and improved confidence, 4. Increased Autonomy in Managing their own Musculoskeletal Condition and 5. Motivation to continue with exercise.

06 Sep

Posted at 12:26h in Author Interviews, JAMA, Pain Research, Technology
MedicalResearch.com Interview with: [caption id="attachment_44273" align="alignleft" width="150"]Richard L Kravitz, MD, MSPH Professor, General Internal Medicine Director, UC Center Sacramento Dr. Kravitz[/caption] Richard L Kravitz, MD, MSPH Professor, General Internal Medicine Director, UC Center Sacramento MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings?  Response:  The study was designed to address tso problems. The first is that many patients with chronic pain struggling to find a workable regimen. The second is more general. Patient sometimes I hesitate to participate in clinical research because they right away do not see the relevance I directly to them selves. And have one trials are away I’m addressing both problems.