Changes in morphology in brain regions implicated in motor control: An association with motor behavior in patients with chronic neck pain?
Background: Patients who suffer from neck pain often demonstrate motor deficits when compared to healthy controls (HC). With structural MRI techniques we were able to further unravel the underlying factors that might be associated with the changes in motor performance. Brain morphology has been associated with motor behaviour and pain, however not many studies have focused on differences in brain morphology in patients suffering from chronic idiopathic neck pain (INP) and whiplash associated disorders (WAD). (Source: Manual Therapy)
Source: Manual Therapy - April 1, 2017 Category: Physiotherapy Authors: R. De Pauw, I. Coppieters, J. Kregel, K. Caeyenberghs, B. Cagnie Source Type: research
To subgroup, or not to subgroup?
Background: Outcomes for treatment of chronic low back pain (CLBP) are moderate at best. One possible reason for this may be because the majority of studies consider samples to be homogeneous. Derivation of subgroups of people with CLBP may allow development of targeted interventions which may improve outcomes. However, when treatments matched to specific subgroups of people with CLBP have been compared to unmatched or control treatments, they have generally also had limited outcomes to date. A second possible reason for poor outcomes is that the majority of interventions do not consider the multidimensional nature of CLBP...
Source: Manual Therapy - April 1, 2017 Category: Physiotherapy Authors: M. Rabey, A. Smith, D. Beales, H. Slater, P. O'Sullivan Source Type: research
An investigation into the effects of applying a lumbar Maitland mobilisation at different frequencies on sympathetic nervous system activity levels in the lower limb
Background: Oscillatory segmental Maitland mobilisations are commonly used in the management of lower back pain and segmental joint restriction. Research in this area suggests that joint mobilisations at a frequency of 2Hz (120 oscillations per minute) may excite the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) to a greater magnitude than sustained pressure glides or 0.5Hz oscillatory mobilisations and that sympathetic excitability is linked to mechanical hypoalgesia. The current study sought to explore how increasing the frequency of oscillation (to 3 Hz/180 oscillations per minute) might influence SNS response in the lower limb. (So...
Source: Manual Therapy - April 1, 2017 Category: Physiotherapy Authors: J. Perry, V. Piekarz Source Type: research
The effects of a four-week intensive scoliosis-specific exercise programme on patient-related quality of life in adult subjects: A > 3 years follow-up study
Background: Health-related quality of life (QoL) is often reduced in adults with scoliosis; therefore it is essential for any treatment they receive to address this. The Scoliosis Research Society-30 (SRS-30) questionnaire is a widely used, specific instrument to measure clinical outcomes in patients with scoliosis. (Source: Manual Therapy)
Source: Manual Therapy - April 1, 2017 Category: Physiotherapy Authors: J. Black, E. Maude, C. Pilcher, D. Glynn Source Type: research
Using the neck torsion manoeuvre to identify a cervical cause of postural instability
Background: Disturbed postural stability in neck pain is likely due to dysfunction of cervical afferent function. However there are several other potential causes of altered postural stability such as vestibular pathology, and there is a need for specific tests to help differentiate the underlying cause. The neck torsion (head still body rotated) manoeuvre acts to stimulate the cervical receptors but not the vestibular receptors and has shown potential to be useful to identify abnormal cervical afferent input, as an underlying cause of balance disturbances in patients with whiplash associated disorders (WAD) and idiopathic...
Source: Manual Therapy - April 1, 2017 Category: Physiotherapy Authors: J. Treleaven, K. Williams Source Type: research
Treatment targeting for individual patients with musculoskeletal shoulder disorders: Starting with moderators of treatment response
Background: Musculoskeletal shoulder disorders are common and impact upon general function, quality of life and work capacity. Prognostic factors have been identified which can help primary care clinicians identify which subgroups or individuals with a shoulder disorder are at risk of a poor prognosis, however first-line clinical treatment decision aids to support specific treatment selection are currently lacking. Primary care shoulder pain treatments include: (i) advice+analgesia, (ii) steroid injection, and (iii) physiotherapy, however optimal treatment selection rationale is unknown. (Source: Manual Therapy)
Source: Manual Therapy - April 1, 2017 Category: Physiotherapy Authors: C. McRobert Source Type: research
Negative neurodynamic tests do not exclude neural dysfunction
Background: Neurodynamic tests are frequently used to detect neural involvement in patients with radiating arm or leg symptoms. However, some patients have normal neurodynamic tests despite a clear nerve compromise. A classical example is carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), in which a subgroup of patients present with normal neurodynamic tests even though electrodiagnostic tests confirm nerve involvement. The question arises why this discrepancy exists and whether there might be a pathophysiological explanation for the presence of negative neurodynamic tests despite a clear diagnosis of neural tissue compromise. (Source: Manual Therapy)
Source: Manual Therapy - April 1, 2017 Category: Physiotherapy Authors: L. Baselgia, D. Bennett, A. Schmid Source Type: research
Somatosensory profiles in a healthy sample: A unique display using quantitative sensory testing demonstrating the variability of cold pain thresholds
Background: Sensory hyperalgesia has been associated with persistent pain such as neuropathic pain conditions (Maier et al 2010), and fibromyalgia (Blumenstiel, et al, 2011). This has been examined using Quantitative Sensory Testing (QST) within the laboratory environment. QST has identified sensory abnormalities and sensory hyperalgesia in patient populations when comparing against healthy subjects as a control group. However, there is limited published data on the sensory responses of healthy individuals making it difficult to quantify the true boundary of sensory hyperalgesia. (Source: Manual Therapy)
Source: Manual Therapy - April 1, 2017 Category: Physiotherapy Authors: B. Ganatra, T. Watson Source Type: research
Early active rehabilitation after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair: A prospective randomized pilot study
Background: Rotator cuff repair is an important indication for physiotherapeutic intervention in rehabilitation. Passive range of motion exercises are the standard treatment protocol in the early postsurgical phase. There is no study about specific isometric muscle activation of the rotator cuff in this first rehabilitation period. (Source: Manual Therapy)
Source: Manual Therapy - April 1, 2017 Category: Physiotherapy Authors: R. Raschhofer Source Type: research
Validity of small fibre sensory testing
Background: Neurological integrity testing (NI) is performed clinically to ascertain changes to nerve function. Whereas clinicians routinely focus on large fibre testing (e.g., light touch, reflexes, muscle strength), there is emerging evidence that small nerve fibres degenerate early in patients with entrapment neuropathies. Tests for small fibre function should therefore be an integral part of NI. The validity of testing small nerve fibres clinically remains unknown. (Source: Manual Therapy)
Source: Manual Therapy - April 1, 2017 Category: Physiotherapy Authors: C. Ridehalgh, A. Schmid Source Type: research
Acute bilateral experimental neck pain reorganises axioscapular and trunk muscle activity during slow arm movements
Background: Neck pain is one of the most common causes for consulting the healthcare system and after the initial onset of neck pain many will develop on-going neck pain. It has been hypothesised that the shoulder girdle may be an important contributing factor in on-going neck pain although its mechanisms are not fully understood. (Source: Manual Therapy)
Source: Manual Therapy - April 1, 2017 Category: Physiotherapy Authors: S. Christensen, R. Hirata, T. Graven-Nielsen Source Type: research
Validity of the upper limb neurodynamic test 1 for the diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome. The role of structural differentiation
Background: Several studies have analysed the use of the Upper Limb Neurodynamic Test 1 (ULNT1) for diagnosing Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) obtaining weak diagnostic accuracy, which could be related to the lack of consensus in the selected diagnostic criteria of ULNT1. In a recent review, it was suggested that many of the studies examining the validity of ULNTs used criteria that were too liberal to consider ULNTs positive. To address this shortcoming, some authors recommended that structural differentiation (SD), should be added as an essential criterion for classifying ULNTs as positive. (Source: Manual Therapy)
Source: Manual Therapy - April 1, 2017 Category: Physiotherapy Authors: E. Bueno-Gracia, J.M. Tric ás-Moreno, P. Fanlo-Mazas, M. Malo-Urriés, M. Haddad-Garay, E. Estébanez de Miguel, C. Hidalgo-García, J. Krauss, A. Ruiz-de-Escudero-Zapico Source Type: research
Block randomised exercise classes for people with shoulder pain: Effectiveness of two different exercise classes and an investigation of prognostic correlates
Background: Shoulder pain is a common musculoskeletal condition. Patients are traditionally treated with one-to-one physiotherapy. A recent study showed improved clinical outcomes after an exercise class in people with frozen shoulder, compared to one-to-one physiotherapy (Russell 2014). There are no outcome studies of exercise classes for people with non-specific shoulder pain. Further, it is unclear if the addition of postural exercise improves the outcomes of shoulder treatment. Although the association between somatic (non-musculoskeletal) symptoms, number of pain sites and low back pain outcomes are well understood, t...
Source: Manual Therapy - April 1, 2017 Category: Physiotherapy Authors: E. Barrett, K. McCreesh, K.O.' Sullivan, J. Lewis Source Type: research
Early stage primary/idiopathic adhesive capsulitis – Which clinical identifiers are valid?
Background: Adhesive capsulitis is a shoulder disorder that is frequently difficult to diagnose in its early stage and differentiate from other commonly presenting shoulder disorders. Early recognition and treatment have been suggested to decrease the overall morbidity of the disorder. A set of eight clinical identifiers established by consensus of experts was proposed for early stage adhesive capsulitis but lacked formal validation. (Source: Manual Therapy)
Source: Manual Therapy - April 1, 2017 Category: Physiotherapy Authors: S. Walmsley, P. Osmotherly, D. Rivett Source Type: research
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Source: Manual Therapy - April 1, 2017 Category: Physiotherapy Source Type: research
