Full-Text Referred Articles

MTAP Research Papers:

1. Matheson LN. History, design characteristics, and uses of the pictorial activity and task sorts. Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation, 2004;14(3):175-95.

PubMed: Link

Abstract: Development of the Pictorial Activity and Task Sort (PATS) technology in the field of Occupational Rehabilitation is described. The history of several PATS measures is traced, and each measure is briefly described. The use of these measures to efficiently collect data in functional capacity evaluation and to provide guidance in occupational rehabilitation is briefly described. Key design characteristics are presented and several recommendations are provided for future development of PATS.

2. Mayer JM, Mooney V, Matheson LN, Leggett S, Verna JL, Balourdas G, DeFilippo G. The reliability and validity of a new computerized pictorial activity and task sort. Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation, 2005;15(2):185-95.

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Abstract: Development of a new pictorial activity and task sort and examination of its reliability and validity is described. The Multidimensional Task Ability Profile (MTAP) is the latest in a
series of measures that use a combination of drawings and task descriptions in a self-report format to assess functional capacity. The MTAP is found to be reliable on a test-retest and
split-half basis. The concurrent validity of the MTAP was examined in performance testing of lift capacity. Results demonstrate that the MTAP has good concurrent validity.

3. Mayer JM, Ralph L, Look M, Erasala GN, Verna JL, Matheson LN, Mooney V. Treating acute low back pain with continuous low-level heat wrap therapy and/or exercise: A randomized controlled trial. The Spine Journal 2005;5(4):395-403.

PubMed Link

Abstract: BACKGROUND CONTEXT: Restorative exercise and palliative modalities are frequently used together for the treatment of acute low back pain. However, little is known about the effects of combining these treatments. PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy of combining continuous low-level heat wrap therapy with directional preference-based exercise on the functional ability of patients with acute low back pain. STUDY DESIGN/SETTING: A randomized controlled trial was conducted at three outpatient medical facilities. PATIENT SAMPLE: One hundred individuals (age 31.2+/-10.6 years) with low back pain of less than 3 months duration. OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome measure was functional ability assessed by the Multidimensional Task Ability Profile questionnaire. Secondary outcomes were disability assessed by the Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire and pain relief assessed by a 6-point verbal rating scale. METHODS: Participants were randomized to one of four groups: Heat wrap therapy alone (heat wrap, n=25); directional preference-based exercise alone (exercise, n=25); combination of heat wrap therapy and exercise (heat+exercise, n=24); or control (booklet, n=26). Treatment was administered for five consecutive days and included four visits to the study center over 1 week. RESULTS: At 2 days after the conclusion of treatment (Day 7), functional improvement for heat+exercise was 84%, 95%, and 175% greater than heat wrap, exercise, and booklet, respectively (p<.05). Seventy-two percent of the subjects in the heat+exercise group demonstrated a return to pre-injury function compared with 20%, 20%, and 19% for heat wrap, exercise, and booklet, respectively (p<.05). Disability reduction for heat+exercise was 93%, 139%, and 400% greater than heat wrap, exercise, and booklet, respectively (p<.05). Pain relief for heat+exercise was 70% and 143% greater than exercise and booklet, respectively (p<.05). CONCLUSIONS: Combining continuous low-level heat wrap therapy with directional preference-based exercise during the treatment of acute low back pain significantly improves functional outcomes compared with either intervention alone or control. Either intervention alone tends to be more effective than control.

4. Mayer JM, Mooney V, Matheson LN, Erasala GN, Verna JL, Udermann BE, Leggett S. Continuous low-level heat wrap therapy for the prevention and treatment of delayed onset muscle soreness of the low back muscles Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 2006;10.

PubMed Link

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of continuous low-level heat wrap therapy for the prevention and early phase treatment (ie, 0-48 h postexercise) of delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS) of the low back. DESIGN: Two prospective randomized controlled trials. SETTING: Outpatient medical facility. PARTICIPANTS: Sixty-seven subjects asymptomatic of back pain and in good general health (mean age, 23.5+/-6.6 y). INTERVENTIONS: Participants performed vigorous eccentric exercise to experimentally induce low back DOMS. Participants were assigned to 1 of 2 substudies (prevention and treatment) and randomized to 1 of 2 treatment groups within each substudy: prevention study (heat wrap, n=17; control [nontarget muscle stretch], n=18) and treatment study (heat wrap, n=16; cold pack, n=16). Interventions were administered 4 hours before and 4 hours after exercise in the prevention study and between hours 18 to 42 postexercise in the treatment study. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: To coincide with the expected occurrence of peak symptoms related to exercise-induced low back DOMS, hour 24 postexercise was considered primary. Pain intensity (prevention) and pain relief (treatment) were primary measures, and self-reported physical function and disability were secondary measures. RESULTS: In the prevention study, at hour 24 postexercise, pain intensity, disability, and deficits in self-reported physical function in subjects with the heat wrap were reduced by 47% (P<.001), 52.3% (P=.029), and 45% (P=.013), respectively, compared with the control group. At hour 24 in the treatment study, postexercise, pain relief with the heat wrap was 138% greater (P=.026) than with the cold pack; there were no differences between the groups in changes in self-reported physical function and disability. CONCLUSIONS: In this small study, continuous low-level heat wrap therapy was of significant benefit in the prevention and early phase treatment of low back DOMS.

5. Matheson L, Mayer JM, Mooney V, Sarkin A, Dreisinger T, Verna J, Leggett S. A method to provide a more efficient and reliable measure of self-report physical work capacity for patients with spinal pain. Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation, 2008;18(1):46-57.

PubMed Link

Abstract: Self-report measures of functional ability are commonly used in occupational rehabilitation to measure the current status of an individual and his or her progress in response to intervention. Most of these measures have been developed using classical test theory that does not provide calibration of the items. Methods of test development that originated in the field of Education have been applied recently to healthcare measures, providing item calibration and allowing proportional evaluation of total scores. The purpose of this article is to demonstrate the application of these methods in the revision of an existing self-report measure. The potential value of these methods to improve established measures is demonstrated.

1. Luders C. Responsiveness and factor structure of the Multidimensional Task Ability Profile. Thesis – Master of Science (committee: Levy S, Yaggie J, Pozos R, Mayer J). San Diego State University, 2005.
   
2. Varghese J. The use of the Multidimensional Task Ability Profile as a functional outcome measure in the management of spinal disorders. Thesis – Master of Physical therapy (committee: Skinner M, Johnson GM, Mayer J). University of Otago, New Zealand, 2006.

1. Mooney V, Verna JL, Morris CE. Management of chronic, disabling low back syndromes. in Low Back Syndromes. Integrated Clinical Management, Morris CE (ed), McGraw-Hill, NY, 2006.
2. Mooney V. Effective rehabilitation of lumbar and pelvic pain. in Management of Lumbar and Pelvic Pain, 2007.