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More Limitations of Diagnostic Findings

In a recent post on my Myofascial Release Exchange Blog, I posted some interesting findings on false positive MRI results with respect to back, neck, and shoulder abnormalities. I came across another study that calls into question the validity of using MRI results as primary means of diagnosing dysfunction. A study just published by the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine
finds that 70% of able-bodied hockey players have abnormal hip and
pelvis MRIs, but present with no symptoms of pain or dysfunction. The
study stresses the need for physicians not to rely excessively on
imaging when diagnosing a patient.

This again should bring attention to problems that present with positive MRI results for an abnormality. The positive MRI finding does not necessarily point to the true cause. If (using the above
percentages) 70% of non-injured hockey players have positive MRI results
for tears, etc, how can one use these findings as an accurate portrayal
of a person's true condition?

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Comment by Walt Fritz, PT on March 30, 2010 at 10:00am: Thanks for that one, Peter. It is all about balance. Using the diagnostic testing as a clue to the true problem, but not putting full stock in these findings.

Walt Fritz, PT
www.myofascialresource.com

Comment by Peter Lelean on March 25, 2010 at 5:48am: Yes Walt . . here's another one . . Lacroix VJ, Kinnear DG, Mulder DS, Brown RA.
Department of Family Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Clin J Sport Med. 1998 Jan;8(1):5-9. Lower abdominal pain syndrome in national hockey league players: a report of 11 cases. “ Despite the use of conventional investigative procedures such as physical examination, ultrasound, bone scan, computed tomography scan, and magnetic resonance imaging scan, preoperative findings were consistently negative. Operative findings revealed varying degrees of tearing of the external oblique aponeurosis and external oblique muscle associated with ilioinguinal nerve entrapment.”
All part of migratory fascia syndrome, featuring prominently in osteitis pubis cases.
Cheers Peter