Background: Cerebral autoregulation (CA) is the brain's ability to always maintain an adequate and relatively constant blood supply, which is often impaired in cerebrovascular diseases. Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) examines oxygenated hemoglobin (OxyHb) in the cerebral cortex. Low-and very low-frequency oscillations (LFOs ≈ 0.1 Hz and VLFOs ≈ 0.05 to 0.01 Hz) in OxyHb have been proposed to reflect CA. Aim: To systematically review published results on OxyHb LFOs and VLFOs in cerebrovascular diseases and related conditions measured with NIRS. Approach: A systematic search was performed in the MEDLINE database, which generated 36 studies relevant for inclusion. Results: Healthy people have relatively stable LFOs. LFO amplitude seems to reflect myogenic CA being decreased by vasomotor paralysis in stroke, by smooth muscle damage or as compensatory action in other conditions but can also be influenced by the sympathetic tone. VLFO amplitude is believed to reflect neurogenic and metabolic CA and is lower in stroke, atherosclerosis, and with aging. Both LFO and VLFO synchronizations appear disturbed in stroke, while the former is also altered in internal carotid stenosis and hypertension. Conclusion: We conclude that amplitudes of LFOs and VLFOs are relatively robust measures for evaluating mechanisms of CA and synchronization analyses can show temporal disruption of CA. Further research and more coherent methodologies are needed.

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Sacroiliac joint (SIJ) pain has been identified as a primary or contributing source of pain in patients with low back pain. The Laslett cluster of SIJ pain provocation tests has the strongest evidence for noninvasive clinical testing. The purpose of this report was to describe the impact of physical therapy treatments for a patient postpartum with SIJ pain who satisfied the Laslett cluster. Specifically, the goal was to assess the impact of progressive pelvic floor muscle exercise and manual therapy. The Modified Oswestry Low Back Pain Disability Questionnaire (MODI) was the primary outcome measure used in this case. In addition, the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NRPS) and Global Rating of Change (GROC) were used as secondary outcome measures. In this case report, the patient responded to the combined interventions with decreases in MODI, NRPS and GROC. Further research is warranted to develop stronger evidence to identify specific interventions for the treatment of SIJ pain.

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