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Persistent right ankle pain: mine
History Over the years I have sprained my ankles many times. All requiring significant force. In 1967 at high school (age 17), I was running downstairs, missed a step, and my full body weight pushed my ankle into severe inversion with immediate severe and mobilising pain, followed by a rapid swelling within an hour. I was taken to the local hospital A & E department, and an X-ray revealed that I had not fractured my ankle. That event terminated my career in the 1st 15 rugby t
Mark Laslett
Feb 259 min read
The Problem of ACC in New Zealand
ACC is a government mandated monopoly insurance company NGO, set up in 1974 by the Norman Kirk led Labour government. I had been in private practice for 2.5 years at the time and remember it well. I have had to deal with ACC ever since 1974. Here is the cirrent status. This is a copy and paste from a X (Twitter) post today February 11 2026. Today I received the regular ACC Update email. In it was the ACC Board chair's / CEO message: " The Board is committed to delivering on t
Mark Laslett
Feb 114 min read


Modic changes Type 1&2 are treatable
Just published: Lassen MR, Scarborough M, Gilchrist N, Tripathi SS, Price C, Horcajadas A, DeAndres J, Baranidharan G, Ahuja S, Otte KS et al : Intradiscal linezolid (PP353) treatment for chronic low back pain associated with Modic change type 1: an international, first-in-human, randomised, sham procedure-controlled, double-blind, phase 1b clinical trial . eClinicalMedicine 2026, 0 (0).[1] Also, you should read a valuable lead-up paper by Lloyd Czaplewski et al. (2023)[2] T
Mark Laslett
Feb 44 min read
Is Back Pain Prevalence & Impact changing?
Question put to X’s Grok December 6 2025 On review of the evidence over the last 50 years or more it seems that even in the 1970s, the prevalence of back pain was high, the costs to society in terms of disability and lost productivity was being signalled as a major problem. The rise if costs, direct and indirect seems to be rising exponentially. My first question is: Is this consistent with the evidence you have available to you? The second question relates to that last 30 o
Mark Laslett
Dec 6, 20256 min read
The issue of a criterion standard for diagnosis with specific reference to painful gluteal tendinopathy.
Here is a X (Twitter) exchange between Tom Goom @tomgoom and myself November 25 and 26 2025. It relates directly to the core principles of diagnostic accuracy of clinical tests. Tom Goom is a widely respected physiotherapist who focuses on running injuries. His November 24 post discusses how gluteal tendinopathy can mimic back and leg pain, stressing the importance of a detailed history and exam for accurate diagnosis. Here's the full content: “ Gluteal Tendinopathy can prese
Mark Laslett
Nov 26, 20253 min read
Final Publication of two volume textbook
At last, the final texts are published with my front cover for Volume II, Applying Principles to Cases" being updated today. Volume I has 178 pages and Volume II 390 pages. Only premium colour is being offered in paperback and hardcover. Standard colour just didn't seem good enough. Here's a link to the short YouTube promo video clip
Mark Laslett
Oct 25, 20251 min read


Textbook "The Science & Art of Musculoskeletal Diagnosis" is fully published!
I am delighted to announce that Volume II: Applying Principles to Cases is now uploaded to Amazon and is undergoing final review. In a...
Mark Laslett
Oct 13, 20251 min read
The Science & Art of Musculoskeletal Diagnosis Volume 1 published today!
I am thrilled and proud to announce the publication of the first of two volumes today. It is 178 pages in Letter-sized (8.5 X 11 inches)...
Mark Laslett
Sep 25, 20251 min read
New paper published!!
It is with great pleasure I announce that our new paper has been accepted for publication: "Deneuville JP, Laslett M, Cervantes A,...
Mark Laslett
Sep 14, 20252 min read
Update
Volume I of my Text "The Science & Art of Musculoskeletal Diagnosis" will be 179 pages and looks set for release by the end of this Month...
Mark Laslett
Sep 14, 20251 min read
New Text available soon!
I am in the final stages of publishing Volume I of my new textbook "The Science & Art of Musculoskeletal Diagnosis" All that is needed...
Mark Laslett
Aug 18, 20251 min read
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