This book covers pattern recognition techniques applied to various areas of biomedicine, including disease diagnosis and prognosis, and several problems of classification, with a special focus on—but not limited to—pattern recognition modeling of biomedical signals and images. Multidisciplinary by definition, the book’s topic blends computing, mathematics and other technical sciences towards the development of computational tools and methodologies that can be applied to pattern recognition processes. In this work, the efficacy of such methods and techniques for processing medical information is analyzed and compared, and auxiliary criteria for determining the correct diagnosis and treatment strategies are recommended and applied. Researchers in applied mathematics, the computer sciences, engineering and related fields with a focus on medical applications will benefit from this book, as well as professionals with a special interest in state-of-the-art pattern recognition techniques as applied to biomedicine.

This book summarizes research about sciatica for clinicians such as chiropractors, physical therapists, primary care providers, osteopaths, and physiatrists. Well-informed patients will also benefit from reading this book. This book uses thousands of references, hundreds of images, original illustrations, and case studies to review mechanisms of pain, examination techniques, and treatment of sciatica. While the focus is on non-pharmaceutical and minimally invasive treatments, this book also reviews the indications for more invasive procedures. Each chapter also includes a historical review dating back decades or centuries, which puts the newer treatments in perspective.In this book you will learn: What is sciatica and does it always relate to the spine? What common features occur in most cases of sciatica? Has our concept of what causes sciatica changed over time? What does it mean when symptoms are above the knee or below the knee? Can imaging help determine if disc lesions are causing symptoms? Does sciatica mean you are just getting old? What mechanisms allow disc herniations to heal? What percentage of cases of sciatica typically require surgery? What are the most effective non-pharmaceutical treatments for sciatica? What vitamins and natural substances are beneficial for sciatica?