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.

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 supervised exercise on aerobic capacity in cancer survivors: Adherence and workload predict variance in effect

AIM: To examine the efficacy of supervised aerobic exercise training on aerobic capacity in survivors of cancer.METHODS: We conducted a systematic search identifying randomized controlled trials of supervised aerobic exercise interventions among adult cancer survivors with aerobic capacity(VO2max/peak) as the primary outcome. We calculated pooled effect sizes and performed multiple regression moderator analysis. RESULTS: We identified 18 studies including 1149 survivors of cancer. Studies included mixed cancer groups(4 studies), breast cancer(10 studies), hematological cancers(2 studies), lung cancer(1 study) and liver cancer(1 study). Survivors of cancer who participated in supervised aerobic exercise training improved aerobic capacity(VO2peak) more than controls(18 comparisons, 1093 participants; standardized mean effect: 0.74; 95%CI: 0.52, 0.96; P < 0.001). However, there was significant heterogeneity among the included trials(I2: 63%; P < 0.001). Sixty-six percent of the between-study heterogeneity was explained by differences in exercise adherence and total exercise workload among studies(R2: 65.8%; P < 0.04). CONCLUSION: Supervised aerobic exercise training provides a moderate-to-large beneficial effect on aerobic capacity among survivors of cancer. Aerobic capacity was improved to a greater degree in exercise studies with better participant attendance and higher overall exercise workload.

Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation in Intensive Care Unit Patients:Integrative Review

Intensive care units’ acquired muscle weakness is present in approximately 50% of the patients. Although active muscle training can attenuate weakness, a large proportion of critical patients cannot participate in any active mobilization. Neuromuscular electrical stimulation may be an alternative strategy to reverse muscle weakness. The objective of the study was to review the scientific publications on the use of neuromuscular electrical stimulation and its parameters and the main results in patients hospitalized in intensive care units. This is an integrative review surveying studies in online databases. The studies were selected from the following descriptors: neuromuscular electrical stimulation AND parameters AND intensive care units AND muscle weakness. The inclusion criteria included articles that addressed the topic of neuromuscular electrical stimulation and the parameters used in patients admitted to intensive care units, aged 18 years or older. Exclusion criteria were studies involving animals, case reports, letters to the editor and book chapters. The search comprised articles in the Portuguese, English and Spanish languages from January 2013 to March 2019. Of the 185 articles identified, nine met the eligibility criteria. The studies were evaluated assessing the level of evidence, and the relevant information was presented in the table and discussed. The parameters of the neuromuscular electrical stimulation employed in the studies showed positive results for the maintenance of strength and muscle mass. There was evidence of benefits in the local and systemic microcirculation, potentially mobilizing endothelial stem cells, to prevent atrophy, to reduce mechanical ventilation time and stay in intensive care unit;and when incorporated into the usual physiotherapy care, proved to be more effective than usual care. Its use is safe and viable in critically ill patients.

A remote,fully oriented personalized program of physical exercise for women in follow-up after breast cancer treatment improves body composition and physical fitness

This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of an individualized remote exercise program on the improvement of body composition and physical fitness of a heterogeneous group of patients who completed breast cancer treatment.This prospective study included 107 women aged 18 to 60,shortly after curative treatment for localized breast cancer,at the Erasto Gaertner Cancer Hospital(HEG)in Curitiba,PR,Brazil.Body composition,maximal oxygen consumption,and muscle resistance were evaluated after nine months of intervention while considering adherence to the program,level of physical activity,presence of binge eating disorder,tumor classification,and treatment type.Seventy-eight women(72.8%)adhered to the training program.Adherent participants showed significant changes in body mass([-4.3±3.6]kg;p<0.0001),body mass index([-1.6±1.5]kg·m^(−2);p<0.0001),body fat(−3.4%±3.1%;p<0.0001),maximal oxygen consumption([7.5±2.0]ml·kg^(−1)·min^(−1));p<0.0001),and abdominal resistance([11.2±2.8]reps;p<0.0001).In contrast,these variables did not change significantly in the non-adherent group.Among the adherent participants,those subclassified in the severe binge group showed a more noticeable reduction in body mass,body mass index,and body fat(p<0.05)than those in the non-binge group.Individualized remotely-guided physical exercise programs can improve the body composition and physical fitness of women undergoing post-breast cancer surveillance,regardless of pathological history or treatment.

Postoperative subacute static progressive stretch does not increase the risk of distal lower limb venous thromboembolism

Purpose:Static progressive stretch(SPS)can be applied to treat chronic joint stiffness.However,the impacts of subacute application of SPS to the distal lower limbs,where deep vein thrombosis(DVT)is common,on venous thromboembolism remain unclear.This study aims to explore the risk of venous thromboembolism events following subacute application of SPS.Methods:A retrospective cohort study was conducted on patients diagnosed with DVT following a lower extremity orthopedic surgery before being transferred to the rehabilitation ward from May 2017 to May 2022.Patients with unilateral lower limb comminuted para-articular fractures,transferred to rehabilitation ward for further treatment within 3 weeks after operation,followed up more than 12 weeks since initial manual physiotherapy,and diagnosed DVT by ultrasound before rehabilitation course were included in the study.Patients with polytrauma,without evidence of previous peripheral vascular disease or incompetence,had medication for thrombosis treatment or prophylaxis before the operation,detected with paralysis due to nervous system impairment,infected after operation during the regime,or with acute progression of DVT were excluded.The included patients were randomized to the standard physiotherapy and the SPS integrated groups for observation.Associated DVT and pulmonary embolism data were collected during the physiotherapy course to compare the groups.SSPS 28.0 and GraphPad Prism 9 were used for data processing.Ap<0.05 was set significant difference.Results:In total of 154 patients with DVT participating in this study,75 of them were treated with additional SPS for postoperative rehabilitation.The participants in the SPS group showed improved range of motion(12.3°±6.7°).However,in the SPS group,there was no difference in thrombosis volume between the start and termination(p=0.106,p=0.787,respectively),although difference was seen intra-therapy(p<0.001).Contingency analysis revealed the pulmonary embolism incidence(OR=0.703)in the SPS group compared to the mean physiotherapy.Conclusion:The SPS technique is a safe and reliable option to prevent potential joint stiffness without aggravating the risk of distal DVT for postoperative patients suffering from relevant trauma.

Treatment of Primary Dysmenorrhea with Herb- partitioned Moxibustion plus Ultra-short Wave

Objective: To observe the clinical effect of herb-partitioned moxibustion plus ultra-short wave for primary dysmenorrhea(PD). Methods: One hundred and thirty patients with PD were randomly divided into a treatment group and a control group, 65 cases in each group. Patients in the treatment group were treated with herb-partitioned moxibustion plus ultra-short wave, while patients in the control group were treated with oral administration of Ibuprofen sustained-release capsules. After completing three courses of treatments, the clinical effects were evaluated by professional researchers. Results: The recovery rate of the treatment group was 58.5%, and the total effective rater was 98.5%; versus 24.6% and 81.5% in the control group. The between-group differences were statistically significant(P<0.05). Conclusion: Herb-partitioned moxibustion plus ultra-short wave is an easy-to-operate and effective therapy for PD.

Clinical research of postoperative comprehensive rehabilitation in treating brachial plexus injuries

Brachial plexus injury is regarded as one of the most difficult international medical problem. Microsurgery is an advanced technology and has progressed further on the operation, especially on the nerve repair.