The Effects of Pain Neuroscience Education with Conventional Physical Therapy on Chronic Plantar Fasciitis: A Case Study

Background and Purpose: Plantar Fasciitis (PF) is a condition that affects the foot and causes complaints such as pain and stiffness. The most common symptom of this condition is pain. There are many treatment options to deal with this condition, such as conservative therapy, medications, and surgical interventions in rare cases. This case study aims to investigate the potential impact of pain neuroscience education (PNE), combined with a conventional Physical Therapy (PT) program on a 37-year-old-patient with chronic plantar fasciitis. Case description: A 37-year-old male health care professional presented to an outpatient physical therapy clinic with a diagnosis of chronic PF for around two years. The participant had tried several treatment options with no improvement of his symptoms. After undergoing a physical therapy evaluation, he was given a plan of care for twelve sessions by a skilled physical therapist for a six-week period, with each session consisting of 30 minutes of conventional PT, followed by 5 to 15 minutes of PNE. Results: After completing the prescribed plan of care, the patient reported a reduction in subjective symptoms via the Visual Analog Scale (VAS). He also reported improvement with symptoms and functional independence via the Foot Function Index (FFI). The patient reported no change in the quality of sleep via Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Lastly, he demonstrated no objective improvement in foot pressure with the Navicular Drop Test. Discussion: This case report indicates that PNE, combined with conventional PT for PF can have a positive impact on subjective pain and foot function. PNE should involve many topics about the physiology of pain and the nervous system and should be administered by a certified therapeutic pain specialist. Further studies are recommended to investigate the impact of this intervention in combination with traditional PT for PF in larger populations.

Effectiveness of a Group Exercise Class vs. Home Exercise Program as a Follow-up to Physical Therapy for Older Adults with High Fall Risk

This quasi-experimental study compared the results of a traditional model of physical therapy(PT)care to a PT wellness model known as GroupHab.The traditional model included discharge from PT with a home exercise program(HEP)to be self-administered with or without the addition of a community-based exercise program.The wellness model included participation in a PT-designed and supervised group exercise program(GroupHab class)in an outpatient clinical setting following discharge from PT.Independent t-tests were used to compare the number of falls,exercise frequency,and exercise duration between the two groups.A repeated measures,analysis of variance(RM-ANOVA)compared changes in balance confidence scores both within and between groups,and a multivariate analysis of variance(MANOVA)analyzed group differences across multiple quality of life ratings using the SF-20.All data were analyzed at the 0.05 alpha level using SPSS 24 statistical software.Our results showed a significantly greater reduction in recurrent falls among the GroupHab wellness group compared to the HEP group(t=2.811,p=0.009).The resulting odds ratio for subsequent falls was 2.2 among HEP participants and 0.2 among GroupHab participants.Exercise adherence was also greater for those who participated in the GroupHab class.They documented greater exercise frequency(t=-3.253,p=0.002)and more exercise minutes(t=-7.188,p<0.001)than those who participated in the HEP.When comparing changes in the participants’balance confidence,we found an average increase of 5%among GroupHab participants compared to a 6%decrease among HEP participants(F=16.877,p<0.001,power=0.981).Although our multivariate analysis of the SF-20 scores revealed no significant difference overall(F=0.768,p=0.73),the univariate analyses showed significantly greater improvements among GroupHab participants in selected areas of physical function.These results suggest that at-risk older adults who are discharged into a functionally-based group exercise class are less likely to experience recurrent falls and are more likely to have more confidence in their balance than those who are discharged with a standard HEP and/or use of community-based exercise classes.

Perceived Stress and Coping Strategies in Entry-Level Doctor of Physical Therapy Students Enrolled in a Hybrid-Learning Curriculum during the Pandemic

Physical therapy students can experience elevated levels of stress due to the pressure to be successful, changes in the environment, personal concerns, the lack of spare time, increased work, or financial burdens. The purpose of this study was to examine the perceived stress and coping strategies of Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) students enrolled in a hybrid-learning curriculum during the COVID-19 pademic. A total of 73 students enrolled in the DPT hybrid-learning curriculum responded to a survey which consisted of socio-demographics, the 10-item Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), and the 28-item Brief COPE. A general question regarding stress relating to COVID-19 was presented as a sliding percentage. Data analysis included a Spearman correlation, a Kruskal-Wallis test, and a linear regression to evaluate coping mechanisms against PSS scores. The mean (± SD) score on the PSS was 22.65 (± 10.21) and the Brief COPE was 59.18 (± 10.61). A non-significant negative correlation was found between the PSS and Brief COPE (r = -0.024). A third of the variation in the perceived stress score could be accounted for by students utilizing coping mechanisms regardless of other factors (R2 = 0.35). No significant differences were found when comparing PSS and Brief Cope to age, hours worked per week and term. Perceived stress was higher in females compared to males, but the results were not significant. Stress related to COVID-19 mean percentage reported by DPT students was 49.03%. During a global pandemic, DPT students enrolled in a hybrid-learning curriculum reported elevated levels of stress but reported higher adaptive versus maladaptive coping strategies. It can be beneficial that universities evaluate the stress and coping methods of students to potentially avoid the negative impacts of stress.

Comparison of Physical Therapy Follow-Up of Patients with Operated and Non-Operated Lumbar Spinal Stenosis According to the Nottingham Health Profile-Pain Scale

Background: Lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) continues to be a major problem in societies, causing job loss and lowering quality of life. There are two types of treatment methods, physical therapy and surgery. If patients with LSS avoid treatment, they are likely to experience neurological deterioration in later years. Objective: The study aimed to evaluate the effect of physical therapy applied after decompression surgery or the effect of only applied physical therapy in patients with lumbar spinal stenosis. Materials and Methods: The results of the physical therapy follow-up of patients who had surgery and did not have surgery due to lumbar spinal stenosis between July 2014 and December 2019 were compared with each other. All patients received physical therapy for 6 months. Included were 42 patients who underwent decompression surgery due to LSS; 56 patients were not operated. Clinical outcomes were measured using the Nottingham Health Profile-Pain (NHP-Pain) scale at the initial, first, third and sixth months. The results were compared statistically. Results: The age of the operated patients was 54.69 ± 8.42 (39 - 71), while the non-operated patients were 59.16 ± 14.04 (34 - 83). There was no significant difference in the statistical comparison (p = 0.053). While the body mass index (BMI) of the operated patients was 29.43 ± 4.99 (21 - 40), the BMI of the non-operated patients was 28.84 ± 4.62 (22 - 42). There was no significant difference in the statistical comparison (p = 0.552). The scores of a 6-month physical therapy follow-up of patients were evaluated according to the NHP-pain scale. The values of patients who underwent surgery, initial - 1st month (p < 0.001), 1st month - 3rd month (p = 0.028), 3rd month - 6th month (p = 0.389) follow-up of the intervals were compared statistically. The values of non-operated patients, initial - 1st month (p = 0.008), 1st month -3rd month (p = 0.013), 3rd month - 6th month (p = 0.025) were compared statistically. Patients with and without surgery had significantly different initial pain scores (p < 0.001). Conclusions: The NHP-Pain scores of the patients undergoing physical therapy with the operation were shown to provide more significant improvement than the group receiving only the physical therapy. Patients with LSS should be treated with an operation to obtain the maximum benefit of physical therapy.

Research Progress of LipiFlow Therapy for Meibomian Gland Dysfunction

Meibomian gland dysfunction(MGD)is a common ocular surface disease,and the pathogenesis of MGD is closely related to the alteration of meibomian gland morphology and(or)function.At present,the treatment strategy for MGD consists of physical therapy,artificial lubricants,topical and systemic antibiotics and antiinflammatory agents,topical steroids andΩ-3 dietary supplementation.Recently,the thermal pulsation system(LipiFlow)has been used clinically,which allows heat to be applied to the palpebral surfaces of the upper and lower eyelids directly over the meibomian glands,while simultaneously applying pulsatile pressure to the outer eyelid surfaces.Due to its specific design,the cornea and eyeball can successfully avoid the potential damage from overheating and improper expression,which will greatly improve the safety during the clinical application and patients'compliance.Studies have showed that the effectiveness of LipiFlow when treating MGD is at least as well as twice-daily lid warming and massage for 3 months,which displays a broad application prospect.At present,the application of LipiFlow in China has not been fully developed,and only some hospitals have experimental applications.This paper summarizes the research progress of LipiFlow treatment in MGD.

Functional Rehabilitation of Disc Herniation Treated with Combined Therapy

Current researches reveal that the number of cases diagnosed with operated lumbar disc herniation is growing rapidly, which should draw an increased attention to the treatment used. The objective of this study is to perform a comparative analysis between the application of a classical physical-kinetic program and the application of a combined kinetic program. This research will be conducted on 20 subjects with ages, between 40 - 50 years old, in INEMRCM Bucharest, for 14 days - 1 hour a day. Each subject underwent an invasive surgery for lumbar disc herniation on the L5-S1 vertebrae. During the research, the 2 patients will be given a physical-kinetic program, adapted to the pathology of the operated lumbar disc herniation. The purpose of this research is to check the efficiency of each kinetic program. Furthermore, through the muscular and articular evaluation made in the initial phase and the final phase, it will be possible to discuss the comparative evolution of the established kinetic program and the functional gain obtained. In conclusion, the research shows that mechanized therapy results in faster functional rehabilitation and physical exercise substantially improves quality of life.

The Physical and Clinical Aspects of Radiation Therapy in Skin Cancer and Subcutaneous Tissue Neoplasm

Cancers, malignant melanoma and sarcomas of the skin represent the most common group of malignancies in humans. The main treatment method of almost all skin cancers and subcutaneous tissue tumours is surgery, which consists of complete removal of a neoplastic lesion, with an adequate margin of healthy tissue. Radiotherapy plays an adjuvant role in this process, meaning complementing of the surgical procedure. This study compared four methods of irradiation treatment of cancer located in the skin or in subcutaneous tissues: contact brachytherapy, conventional orthovoltage therapy, electron beam conformal teleradiotherapy and IMRT dynamically shaped photonic beams conformal teleradiotherapy. In order to compare the methods and techniques of surface radiotherapy, following specific objectives were formulated. At the beginning in order to compare the scopes of the absorbed doses at different tissue depths, an analysis of parameters describing particular beams or radiation source has been performed—the curves for the absorbed-dose depth drop-offs. Doses distribution in tissue-like phantoms stimulating homogeneous cuboidal tissue block has been determined. A quality comparison of dose distribution in 2D and 3D treatment planning system for contact brachytherapy application has been made. The dose distribution for electron beam in the system has been determined. Conformal plannings for electron beam treatment, contact brachytherapy applicator treatment and 4 photon beams treatment optimized in IMRT technology have been performed. Dose distribution has been performed for the irradiated female patient within the well chest—the target included the recurrence area in the post-operative scar. The radiation therapy with X-rays has actually been completely eliminated from skin cancer and subcutaneous tissue radiotherapy by the electrons generated in linear accelerators, contact brachytherapy HDR and by high-energy photons used in conformal techniques, ex. IMRT. It is because the residual dose beyond the target is the highest for single X-ray beam. Although in brachytherapy HDR a rapid dose drop-off is observed, 5 cm from its normalization level for the target the residual radiation remains at the level of several percent. So, both X-rays beam radiation and brachytherapy in skin cancer treatment is connected with the administration of the dose with a high gradient in the health tissues. The dose distribution for photon conformal techniques IMRT or for electron radiation looks different. There with the dose normalization at the level of 90% or 85% we deal with the dose layer, the division does not exceed 15% of heterogeneity.

Exercise-induced modulation of miR-149-5p and MMP9 in LPS-triggered diabetic myoblast ER stress: licorice glycoside E as a potential therapeutic target

Background:This study explores the relationship between endoplasmic reticulum(ER)stress and diabetes,particularly focusing on the impact of physical exercise on ER stress mechanisms and identifying potential therapeutic drugs and targets for diabetes-related sepsis.The research also incorporates traditional physical therapy perspectives,emphasizing the genomic insights gained from exercise therapy in disease management and prevention.Methods:Gene analysis was conducted on the GSE168796 and GSE94717 datasets to identify ER stress-related genes.Gene interactions and immune cell correlations were mapped using GeneCard and STRING databases.A screening of 2,456 compounds from the TCMSP database was performed to identify potential therapeutic agents,with a focus on their docking potential.Techniques such as luciferase reporter gene assay and RNA interference were used to examine the interactions between microRNA-149-5p and MMP9.Results:The study identified 2,006 differentially expressed genes and 616 miRNAs.Key genes like MMP9,TNF-α,and IL1B were linked to an immunosuppressive state.Licorice glycoside E demonstrated high affinity for MMP9,suggesting its potential effectiveness in treating diabetes.The constructed miRNA network highlighted the regulatory roles of MMP9,IL1B,IFNG,and TNF-α.Experimental evidence confirmed the binding of microRNA-149-5p to MMP9,impacting apoptosis in diabetic cells.Conclusion:The findings highlight the regulatory role of microRNA-149-5p in managing MMP9,a crucial gene in diabetes pathophysiology.Licorice glycoside E emerges as a promising treatment option for diabetes,especially targeting MMP9 affected by ER stress.The study also underscores the significance of physical exercise in modulating ER stress pathways in diabetes management,bridging traditional physical therapy and modern scientific understanding.Our study has limitations.It focuses on the microRNA-149-5p-MMP9 network in sepsis,using cell-based methods without animal or clinical trials.Despite strong in vitro findings,in vivo studies are needed to confirm licorice glycoside E’s therapeutic potential and understand the microRNA-149-5p-MMP9 dynamics in real conditions.

Management of lymphedema is really a matter in patients with breast cancer

Lymphedema is a prevalent complication affecting patients with breast cancer,greatly impacting their quality of life.This editorial describes diagnostic methods and therapeutic interventions for managing lymphedema in patients with breast cancer.Diagnosis relies on clinical evaluation and objective measures,including arm circumference and volumetric assessments,along with lymphoscintigraphy and ultrasonic measurements.Treatment primarily involves complex decongestive physical therapy,comprising manual lymphatic drainage,compression therapy,exercise,and meticulous skin care.These interventions aim to reduce swelling,alleviate discomfort,and prevent further complications.Additionally,lifestyle modifications such as avoiding extreme temperatures and maintaining proper hygiene are essential.Flavonoids can be used for drug therapy.Despite its prevalence,lymphedema often receives inadequate attention in clinical practice,emphasizing the importance of raising awareness and enhancing medical services for affected individuals.Clinicians play a pivotal role in educating patients about preventive measures and ensuring timely intervention.Overall,a comprehensive approach encompassing early diagnosis,multidisciplinary management,and patient education is essential to mitigate the burden of lymphedema in patients with breast cancer and improve their overall well-being.

A comparison of Kneipp hydrotherapy with conventional physiotherapy in the treatment of osteoarthritis: a pilot trial

BACKGROUND： An increasingly aging population implies an increasing prevalence of osteoarthritis （OA） of hip or knee. It has been ascertained that unspecific hydrotherapy of OA according to Sebastian Kneipp not only improves the range of mobility but also reduces pain significantly and increases the quality of life of the patients affected. OBJECTIVE： The main aim of this pilot study was to determine the effects of hydrotherapy in comparison to conventional physiotherapy, and to analyze the feasibility of the study design under clinical circumstances. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS AND INTERVENTIONS： The study design is a prospective randomized controlled three-arm clinical pilot trial, carried out at a specialist clinic for integrative medicine. Thirty patients diagnosed with symptomatic OA of hip or knee and radiologic findings were randomly assigned to one of two intervention groups and a control group： hydrotherapy （group 1）, physiotherapy （group 2）, and both physiotherapy and hydrotherapy （group 3, control group） of the affected joint. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES： Primary outcome： pain intensity of the affected joint in the course of inpatient treatment; secondary outcome： health-related quality of life, joint-specific pain and mobility in the course of the study. RESULTS： Concerning the main outcome, intervention group 1 showed most beneficial effects in the course of inpatient treatment, followed by groups 3 and 2, and also the indirect flexion ability of hip or knee together with the general patient mobility through the ＂timed up and go＂ test were mainly improved within group 1 followed by groups 3 and 2. CONCLUSION： The results of this pilot study demonstrate beneficial effects of hydrotherapy. The study design is feasible. For statistically significant evidence and a robust conclusion of efficacy of Kneipp＇s hydrotherapy, a larger sample size is necessary. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER： NCT 00950326.

Electric stimulation and decimeter wave therapy improve the recovery of injured sciatic nerves

Drug treatment, electric stimulation and decimeter wave therapy have been shown to promote the repair and regeneration of the peripheral nerves at the injured site. This study prepared a Mackinnon’s model of rat sciatic nerve compression. Electric stimulation was given immediately after neurolysis, and decimeter wave radiation was performed at 1 and 12 weeks post-operation. Histological observation revealed that intraoperative electric stimulation and decimeter wave therapy could improve the local blood circulation of repaired sites, alleviate hypoxia of compressed nerves, and lessen adhesion of compressed nerves, thereby decreasing the formation of new entrapments and enhancing compressed nerve regeneration through an improved microenvironment for regeneration. Immunohistochemical staining results revealed that intraoperative electric stimulation and decimeter wave could promote the expression of S-100 protein. Motor nerve conduction velocity and amplitude, the number and diameter of myelinated nerve fibers, and sciatic functional index were significantly increased in the treated rats. These results verified that intraoperative electric stimulation and decimeter wave therapy contributed to the regeneration and the recovery of the functions in the compressed nerves.

Efficacy of therapeutic ultrasound vs sham ultrasound on pain and physical function in people with knee osteoarthritis: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

AIM: To determine the efficacy of therapeutic ultrasound vs sham for improving pain and physical function immediately post-intervention in people with knee osteoarthritis(OA). METHODS: We hand searched meta-analyses on the topic published in 2010 and updated the search in three electronic databases(MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL) January 1, 2009 to September 5, 2013 to identify relevant studies. The inclusion criteria were human randomized controlled trials published in the English language in which active therapeutic ultrasound was compared tosham ultrasound, data for people with knee OA were reported separately, participants were blinded to treatment allocation and outcomes assessed before and after treatment included pain, self-reported physical function and performance-based physical function. Two reviewers independently screened titles and abstracts retrieved in the search to identify trials suitable for full text review. Data extraction and risk of bias assessment of the identified trials were completed independently by two reviewers. Pooled analyses were conducted using inverse-variance random effects models.RESULTS: We screened 1013 titles and abstracts. Meta-analysis of pain outcomes from 5 small trials(281 participants/OA knees) showed that, compared to sham ultrasound, therapeutic ultrasound improves pain [standardized mean difference(SMD)(95%CI) =-0.39(-0.70--0.08); P = 0.01] but not physical function [self-reported in 3 trials(130 participants/OA knees): SMD(95%CI) =-0.21(-0.55-0.14), P = 0.24; walking performance in 4 trials(130 participants/OA knees): SMD(95%CI) =-0.11(-0.59-0.37), P = 0.65). For the walking performance outcome, the dispersion of the estimated effects exceeded that expected due to sampling error(χ2 = 8.37, P = 0.04, I 2 = 64%). Subgroup analyses of three trials that administered high dose ultrasound improved the consistency(I2 = 28%) but the treatment effect remained insignificant.CONCLUSION: Meta-analyzed double-blind placebocontrolled randomized trials provide low-strength evidence that therapeutic ultrasound decreases knee OA pain and very low-strength evidence that it does not improve physical function.

Regional Interdependence: A Model That Needs to Be Integrated in the Functional Evaluation and Physiotherapy Treatment—Part 1

Background: Rehabilitation is increasing the need to use codes in order to make both a functional diagnosis and a therapeutic intervention as correct and targeted as possible. Thus, it is very important to integrate the model of Regional Interdependence (RI) in the classical rehabilitation evaluation methods, since it will be of help for understanding, solving dysfunctional problems, and improving the patient management, which is often difficult given the fact that there is no concordance on functional tests and timing of treatments. The RI should be added to the functional evaluation each time that a patient presents symptoms in a specific location, which interest also distal regions. This is due to the functional and anatomical connections of the myofascial system, vascular, autonomic nervous system (ANS), the peripheral nervous system (PNS) and the neuro-immunoendocrine system. The RI can be summarized into three groups that are correlated when it comes to applying it practically: upper, bottom and front quadrant. Adding the concept of RI to the clinical and therapeutically practice, it would have positive effects on improving the quality of life and allocate better health’s resources. The aim of this paper is to make the functional assessment in clinical practice faster and more standardized.

The Effectiveness of 6 Months Hydrotherapy Program Based on Halliwick Concept on the Respiratory System of Down Syndrome Children

The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of a hydrotherapy program on FVC, FEV, PEF, RR and SaO2 on children with Down syndrome over six months and to compare it with a conventional respiratory physiotherapy program. Eighteen children, with Down Syndrome, aged 6 - 11 years (9.53 ± 0.454), divided into two groups of nine, the intervention group (IG), that participated in the hydrotherapy program and the control group (CG) participated in the classical physiotherapy program. We calculated mean values of FVC, FEV, PEF, RR and SaO2 before and after six months intervention for both groups. There was a statistically significant improvement in all factors for both groups. However, were statistically more significant for the intervention group (IG). Based on a specific protocol of intervention in the water and at the same time with a group of children who participated in a similar program of classical respiratory physiotherapy, it was found to be statistically more important than the second group in improving respiratory function. We recommend the use of hydrotherapy as a complementary therapy that should be part of the weekly program of these children in addition to the existing treatments they attend.

Non-Drug Therapy to Combat Coronavirus

Novel coronavirus is threatening the health of people all over the world and all possible treatment strategies are in urgent. The sensitive of virus to heat proposed temperature treatment as an effective method against coronavirus. Here, we proposed several non-drug therapies including far-infrared, thermal air, thermal oxygen, ozone, hydrogen therapy and plasma physical therapy for immediate clinical trial and implementation. Compared with the drug therapy, these methods are safe without side effects, the highest benefit-to-risk ratio, user-friendly, and low implementation costs. It is urgent and significant to start these non-drug therapeutic design and implementation as early as possible, to determine the safety and effectiveness of these therapeutic methods.

Traditional medicine in cancer:what is new in 2022

Cancer is one of the leading causes of death in most countries and regions,accounting for about ten million deaths each year worldwide.Despite the endeavors and achievements made in treating cancer during the past decades,rapid resistance to the current clinically used targeted drugs or targeted chemotherapeutic agents continues to be a major problem in cancer therapies.Moreover,many cancer patients are suffering from tumor complications or cancer-related symptoms.Traditional medicine has been practiced for thousands of years and is also currently diffusely used worldwide as an alternative therapy for cancer.Areas of investigation of traditional medicine in cancer treatment,such as traditional formulas,chemical components derived from herbal medicines,and acupuncture,have received increasing attention,especially in recent years.Here,we included selected studies reported last year regarding traditional medicine for cancer treatment in an attempt to summarize the most relevant findings,providing a valuable reference for the future investigation of traditional medicine in the cancer field.

Prevalence of musculoskeletal injuries and a proposal for neuromuscular training to prevent lower limb injuries in Brazilian Army soldiers:an observational study

Background: The activities carried out by soldiers in the army involve great physical demands and require intense trainings to perform combat-specific tasks. Musculoskeletal injury is a potential threat to the health and physical integrity of the soldier. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of lower limb musculoskeletal injuries among soldiers and to propose a training protocol to prevent the most frequent injuries.Methods: This observational(cross-sectional) study recruited a sample of 103 soldiers who required medical attention,from a total 202 new battalion soldiers. The medical records(paper and online) had a form of running text. All data collected were recorded by the registered physicians of the battalion medical post. The records were analyzed by the following variables: medical diagnosis, injury site, mechanism, type of treatment, time loss, existence of previous injury,and recurring injury.Results: A total of 112 musculoskeletal injuries were diagnosed in 71 soldiers, and other types of diseases/injuries were diagnosed in the other soldiers. Joint pain accounted for 55.4% of the diagnoses. The knee was the most affected site, while trauma and overload were the most common mechanisms of injury. Drug treatment was used most frequently, accounting for 58% of the cases. The majority of the sample obtained a temporary leave of absence for1 to 6 days or not at all. Previous injuries and recurrence were not presented as risk factors for injury. With the data received, a protocol for the prevention of injuries to the lower limbs was proposed.Conclusions: This study indicated that the most frequent site of injury is the knee, and joint pain is the most common diagnosis. These results may support the necessity to develop a neuromuscular training protocol to prevent lower limb injuries, which we suggest to be applied in future studies.

Implementation science for the adductor canal block:A new and adaptable methodology process

BACKGROUND Following the successful Perioperative Surgical Home(PSH)practice for total knee arthroplasty(TKA)at our institution,the need for continuous improvement was realized,including the deimplementation of antiquated PSH elements and introduction of new practices.AIM To investigate the transition from femoral nerve blocks(FNB)to adductor canal nerve blocks(ACB)during TKA.METHODS Our 13-month study from June 2016 to 2017 was divided into four periods:a three-month baseline(103 patients),a one-month pilot(47 patients),a three-month implementation and hardwiring period(100 patients),and a six-month evaluation period(185 patients).In total,435 subjects were reviewed.Data within 30 postoperative days were extracted from electronic medical records,such as physical therapy results and administration of oral morphine equivalents(OME).RESULTS Our institution reduced FNB application(64% to 3%)and increased ACB utilization(36% to 97%)at 10 mo.Patients in the ACB group were found to have increased ambulation on the day of surgery(4.1 vs 2.0 m)and lower incidence of falls(0 vs 1%)and buckling(5% vs 27%)compared with FNB patients(P<0.05).While ACB patients(13.9)reported lower OME than FNB patients(15.9),the difference(P=0.087)did not fall below our designated statistical threshold of P value<0.05.CONCLUSION By demonstrating closure of the“knowledge to action gap”within 6 mo,our institution’s findings demonstrate evidence in the value of implementation science.Physician education,technical support,and performance monitoring were deemed key facilitators of our program’s success.Expanded patient populations and additional orthopedic procedures are recommended for future study.

Addition of hip exercises to treatment of patellofemoral pain syndrome:A meta-analysis

AIM:To determine if the addition of hip-strengthening exercises decreases pain and improves function in patients with patellofemoral pain syndrome.METHODS:The authors completed a systematic reviewsearching eight databases(i.e.,Pub Med,Cochrane,CINHAL,MEDLINE,Sports Discus,EMBASE,APTA Hooked on Evidence,and PEDro).Two independent reviewers screened and excluded studies if they did not meet the following inclusion criteria:subjects had a primary diagnosis of patellofemoral pain syndrome(PFPS),intervention group included hip-strengthening exercises,control group included a traditional physical therapy intervention,study included outcome measures of pain and/or function,study used a randomized controlled trial design,PEDro score was ≥ 7,and study was published in a peer-reviewed journal.Primary outcome measures were subjective scales of pain and function.These measures were converted to standardized mean difference [effect size(ES)],and a random-effects model was used to calculate the overall ES.RESULTS:Two hundred eighty-three studies were screened for inclusion in our meta-analysis.Nine studies were deemed suitable for data extraction and analysis.A total of 426 subjects were used in the nine studies.Overall,there was a significant positive effect of hip-strengthening exercises on measures of pain and function in subjects with PFPS(ES = 0.94,P = 0.00004).None of the individual studies had a negative ES,with study ES ranging from 0.35 to 2.59.Because of the high degree of between-study variance(I2 = 76%;Q = 34.0,P < 0.001),subgroup meta-analyses and meta-regressions were performed.None of the potential moderator variables that were investigated(e.g.,outcome type,hip region targeted,duration of treatment) could explain a significant amount of the between-study variance in ES(P ≥ 0.23).CONCLUSION:Overall,the addition of hip-strengthening exercises to traditional physical therapy produced greater improvements in measures of pain and function.

Effect of six-month standardized tertiary rehabilitation program on the activities of daily living in stroke patients with hemiplegia

BACKGROUND： At present, there are many studies on the rehabilitation therapy of stroke patients with hemiplegia, but there is deficiency of corresponding standardized rehabilitation program. OBJECTIVE： To explore the effects of standardized tertiary rehabilitation on the activities of daily living in stroke patients with hemiplegia within 6 months after attack. DESIGN： A clinical observation. SETTING： Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Huashan Hospital of Fudan University. PARTICIPANTS： Eighty-two outpatients and inpatients with acute stroke were selected from the Department of Neurology, Shanghai Huashan Hosptial from January 1999 to June 2003, including 49 males and 33 females, 40 - 80 years of age, with a mean age of （65 ±11） years old. Inclusive criteria： According to the diagnostic standards for cerebrovascular diseases set by Fourth National Academic Meeting for Cerebrovascular Disease in 1995, the patients were diagnosed as new attack of cerebral infarction or cerebral hemorrhage, and confirmed by CT or MRI to be initial patients; They should be accorded with the following conditions, including within 1 week after stabilization of life signs, Glasgow coma score 〉 8 points, 40 - 80 years of age, with disturbance of limb function. Informed consents were obtained from all the patients or their relatives. Exclusive criteria： Patients were excluded due to active liver disease, liver and kidney malfunction, congestive heart failure, malignant tumor, history of dementia, failure in respiratory function, tetraplegia; cerebral infarction or cerebral hemorrhage for more than 3 weeks; unable to be followed up due to in other cities and provinces; psychiatric history; deafness and muteness. According to the will of the patients or their relatives, the patients who accepted the standardized rehabilitation program were enrolled as the treatment group （n =42）, and the others as the control group （n =40）. Approval was obtained from the ethical committee of the hospital. METHODS： All the patients were given routine therapies of internal medicine after admission. According to the conditions of Brunnstom recovery 6-phase evaluation, the patients in the treatment group were trained with the pre-designed comprehensive standardized rehabilitation program for corresponding period. At early period （within about 1 month after attack）, the patients received rehabilitative interventions in the Department of Emergency or Department of Neurology, once a day, 45 minutes for each time, 5 times a week; At middle period （about 1 - 3 months after attack）, the patients received rehabilitative interventions in the rehabilitation ward or center, once to twice a day, 30 - 45 minutes for each time, 4 - 5 days a week; At late period （about 3 - 6 months after attack）, the patients received rehabilitative intervention mainly assisted by rehabilitation physician in the community, relatives and volunteers, 3 - 4 times a week, and they were followed in the house or outpatient department once every two weeks. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES： The patients were evaluated blindly by the same rehabilitation physician using scale of modified Barthel index at admission and 1, 3 and 6 months after attack respectively. RESULTS： Totally 82 patients with acute stroke were enrolled, and 3 cases in the treatment group missed, including 2 cases died at 1 month after admission, and 1 case refused the follow up l0 days later, all the others were involved in the analysis of results. The scores of modified Barthel index at corresponding time points after admission in the treatment group were all obviously higher than those in the control group （P 〈 0,01）, and the score differences were also obviously higher than those in the control group （P 〈 0,01）. The activities of daily living at admission and 1, 3 and 6 months after admission in the treatment group were 22,50%, 46.43%, 75,95% and 89,52% of that of normal people respectively, and those in the control group were 17.09%, 25,77%, 43,38% and 55,00% respectively, The activities of daily Diving at admission and 1, 3 and 6 months in the treatment group were 131.66%, 180.17%, 175.08% and 162.76% of those in the controlgroup. As compared with at admission, the percentage of the score difference to the total score at the ends of the 1^st, 3^rd and 6^th months were 23.93%, 53.45% and 67.02% in the treatment group, while 8.67%, 25.36% and 36.98% in the control group. CONCLUSION： Standardized tertiary rehabilitation can obviously promote the activities of daily living in stroke patients with hemiplegia.