Rehabilitation, physical therapy and occupational health

Identifying factors predicting prolonged rehabilitation after simultaneous bilateral total knee arthroplasty: a retrospective observational study

Rehabilitation is an effective procedure for promoting functional recovery after simultaneous bilateral total knee arthroplasty (TKA); however, it has been cited as a significant economic burden of medical car...

Authors: Shu Takagawa, Naomi Kobayashi, Yohei Yukizawa, Takayuki Oishi, Masaki Tsuji, Toshihiro Misumi and Yutaka Inaba

Effects of a web-based rehabilitation aftercare on subjective health, work ability and motivation: a partially randomized controlled trial

Rehabilitation is seen as crucial in dealing with the demographic change in many European countries. In Germany, for example, after having stayed in a rehabilitation center, patients have the possibility to pa...

Authors: Darko Jekauc, Sabine Rayling, Sara Klopp, Detlef Schmidt, Lena-Marie Rittmann and Julian Fritsch

Consensus on pre-operative total knee replacement education and prehabilitation recommendations: a UK-based modified Delphi study

Over 90,000 total knee replacement (TKR) procedures are performed annually in the United Kingdom (UK). Patients awaiting TKR face long delays whilst enduring severe pain and functional limitations. Almost 20% ...

Authors: Anna M. Anderson, Christine Comer, Toby O. Smith, Benjamin T. Drew, Hemant Pandit, Deborah Antcliff, Anthony C. Redmond and Gretl A. McHugh

En bloc resection and reconstruction of a huge chondrosarcoma involving multilevel upper thoracic spine and chest wall: case report

En bloc resection of malignant tumors involving upper thoracic spine is technically difficult. We surgically treated a patient with grade 2 chondrosarcoma involving T1–5, left upper thoracic cavity, and chest ...

Authors: Xiaodong Tang, Zhenyu Cai, Ruifeng Wang, Tao Ji and Wei Guo

Diagnostic accuracy of sensory and motor tests for the diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome: a systematic review

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is the most common entrapment mononeuropathy of the upper extremity. The previous systematic review of the diagnostic tests for CTS was outdated. The objective of this study was to...

Authors: Armaghan Dabbagh, Joy C. MacDermid, Joshua Yong, Tara L. Packham, Luciana G. Macedo and Maryam Ghodrati

Prognostic factors for the improvement of pain and disability following multidisciplinary rehabilitation in patients with chronic neck pain

Recent clinical studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of specific, multidisciplinary, bio-psychosocial, rehabilitation programmes for chronic neck pain. However, prognostic factors for the improvement of...

Authors: Martin Weigl, Josefine Letzel and Felix Angst

Validation and investigation of cross cultural equivalence of the Fremantle back awareness questionnaire - German version (FreBAQ-G)

Disrupted self-perception of the low back might contribute to chronic non-specific low back pain. The Fremantle back awareness questionnaire is a simple questionnaire to assess back specific self-perception. T...

Authors: Axel Schäfer, Benedict M. Wand, Kerstin Lüdtke, Katja Ehrenbrusthoff and Thomas Schöttker-Königer

The effects on pain, physical function, and quality of life of quadriceps strengthening exercises combined with Baduanjin qigong in older adults with knee osteoarthritis: a quasi-experimental study

Exercise is recommended as a principal treatment for individuals with knee osteoarthritis (KOA). However, the best choice for an optimal exercise program able to promote long-term compliance in KOA patients is...

Authors: Fenglan Wang, Xiaoli Zhang, Xiao Tong, Min Zhang, Fengmei Xing, Kun Yang, Nana Jiao and Zhiguang Duan

Task-oriented exercises improve disability of working patients with surgically-treated proximal humeral fractures. A randomized controlled trial with one-year follow-up

General physiotherapy is a common means of rehabilitation after surgery for proximal humeral fracture (PHF). Better-targeted exercises seem worthy of investigation and the aim of this study was to assess the e...

Authors: Marco Monticone, Igor Portoghese, Daniele Cazzaniga, Valentina Liquori, Giuseppe Marongiu, Antonio Capone, Marcello Campagna and Giovanni Zatti

The effect of physiotherapy in rotator cuff injury patients with platelet-rich plasma: study protocol of a non-randomized controlled trial

The study aims to identify whether Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) combined with early physiotherapy has an advantage over PRP alone for rotator cuff injury patients, regarding pain release, function score, tear si...

Authors: Chi Zhang, Jianxiong Wang, Li Wang, Yujie Xie, Fuhua Sun, Wei Jiang, Akira Miyamoto and Lei Lei

Comprehensiveness and validity of a multidimensional assessment in patients with chronic low back pain: a prospective cohort study

Chronic low back pain is a multidimensional syndrome affecting physical activity and function, health-related quality of life and employment status. The aim of the study was to quantify the cross-sectional and...

Authors: Thomas Benz, Susanne Lehmann, Achim Elfering, Peter S. Sandor and Felix Angst

Comparative short-term outcomes of enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) program and non-ERAS traditional care in elderly patients undergoing lumbar arthrodesis: a retrospective study

Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) program is an evidence-based improvement over non-ERAS traditional care. The aim of the present study was to analyze the safety, feasibility, and efficacy of an ERAS prog...

Authors: Zhong-En Li, Shi-Bao Lu, Chao Kong, Wen-Zhi Sun, Peng Wang and Si-Tao Zhang

Does breaking up prolonged sitting improve cognitive functions in sedentary adults? A mapping review and hypothesis formulation on the potential physiological mechanisms

Prolonged (excessive) sitting is detrimentally associated with cardiovascular, metabolic and mental health. Moreover, prolonged sitting has been associated with poor executive function, memory, attention and v...

Authors: Baskaran Chandrasekaran, Arto J. Pesola, Chythra R. Rao and Ashokan Arumugam

The risk factors of postoperative delirium in patients with hip fracture: implication for clinical management

Delirium is a common complication of hip surgery patients. It is necessary to investigate the epidemiological characteristics and related risk factors of delirium after hip fracture surgery, to provide evidenc...

Authors: Weifang Xu, Haiping Ma, Wang Li and Chen Zhang

Effectiveness of Mulligan manual therapy over exercise on headache frequency, intensity and disability for patients with migraine, tension-type headache and cervicogenic headache – a protocol of a pragmatic randomized controlled trial

Non - pharmacological management of migraine, tension-type headache (TTH), and cervicogenic headache (CGH) may include spinal manual therapy and exercise. Mulligan Manual Therapy (MMT) utilizes a protocol of h...

Authors: Kiran Satpute, Nilima Bedekar and Toby Hall

Criterion validity of The International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form (IPAQ-SF) for use in clinical practice in patients with osteoarthritis

To tailor physical activity treatment programs for patients with osteoarthritis, clinicians need valid and feasible measurement tools to evaluate habitual physical activity. The widely used International Physi...

Authors: Kenth Louis Joseph, Hanne Dagfinrud, Anne Christie, Kåre Birger Hagen and Anne Therese Tveter

Prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders among perioperative nurses: a systematic review and META-analysis

To evaluate the prevalence of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMSDs) in perioperative nurses and to explore their association with personal characteristics.

Authors: Marco Clari, Alessandro Godono, Giacomo Garzaro, Gianluca Voglino, Maria Rosaria Gualano, Giuseppe Migliaretti, Attilia Gullino, Catalina Ciocan and Valerio Dimonte

Combining targeted instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization applications and neuromuscular exercises can correct forward head posture and improve the functionality of patients with mechanical neck pain: a randomized control study

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the short- and intermediate-term effects of the combined application of instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization (IASTM) techniques and neuromuscular exercises of ...

Authors: Konstantinos Mylonas, Pavlos Angelopoulos, Evdokia Billis, Elias Tsepis and Konstantinos Fousekis

Task shifting in the care for patients with hand osteoarthritis. Protocol for a randomized controlled non-inferiority trial

Current health policy states that patients with osteoarthritis (OA) should mainly be managed in primary health care. Still, research shows that patients with hand OA have poor access to recommended treatment i...

Authors: Ingvild Kjeken, Kjetil Bergsmark, Ida K. Haugen, Toril Hennig, Merete Hermann-Eriksen, Vivian Tryving Hornburg, Åshild Hove, Anne Prøven, Trine Amalie Sjøvold and Barbara Slatkowsky-Christensen

Identification of subgroup effect with an individual participant data meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials of three different types of therapist-delivered care in low back pain

Proven treatments for low back pain, at best, only provide modest overall benefits. Matching people to treatments that are likely to be most effective for them may improve clinical outcomes and makes better us...

Authors: Siew Wan Hee, Dipesh Mistry, Tim Friede, Sarah E. Lamb, Nigel Stallard, Martin Underwood and Shilpa Patel

The virtue of optimistic realism - expectation fulfillment predicts patient-rated global effectiveness of total hip arthroplasty

Emerging evidence highlights the importance of preoperative expectations in predicting patient-reported outcomes of orthopedic surgeries. To date, it is still a matter of controversy whether patient satisfacti...

Authors: Anne Kästner, Virginie S. C. Ng Kuet Leong, Frank Petzke, Stefan Budde, Michael Przemeck, Martin Müller and Joachim Erlenwein

Successful recovery following musculoskeletal trauma: protocol for a qualitative study of patients’ and physiotherapists’ perceptions

Annually in the UK, 40,000–90,000 people are involved in a traumatic incident. Severity of injury and how well people recover from their injuries varies, with physiotherapy playing a key role in the rehabilita...

Authors: N. Middlebrook, N. R. Heneghan, D. Falla, L. Silvester, A. B. Rushton and A. A. Soundy

Comparing two interdisciplinary occupational rehabilitation programs for employees on sick leave: a mixed-method design study protocol

Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) and common mental disorders (CMDs) are the most frequent reasons for long-term sick leave and work disability. Occupational rehabilitation programs are used to help employees r...

Authors: Monica Eftedal, Torill H. Tveito, Ulrik Gensby, M. Kamrul Islam, Stein Atle Lie, Gro Aasland, Svein Kostveit and Chris Jensen

Stratified care integrated with eHealth versus usual primary care physiotherapy in patients with neck and/or shoulder complaints: protocol for a cluster randomized controlled trial

Neck and shoulder complaints are common in primary care physiotherapy. These patients experience pain and disability, resulting in high societal costs due to, for example, healthcare use and work absence. Cont...

Authors: Mark L. van Tilburg, Corelien J. J. Kloek, Martijn F. Pisters, J. Bart Staal, Johanna M. van Dongen, Marjolein de Weerd, Raymond W. J. G. Ostelo, Nadine E. Foster and Cindy Veenhof

The comparison effects of intra-articular injection of Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP), Plasma Rich in Growth Factor (PRGF), Hyaluronic Acid (HA), and ozone in knee osteoarthritis; a one year randomized clinical trial

Our study compare the short and long-term efficacy of the intra articular injections (IAIs) of hyaluronic acid (HA), platelet-rich plasma (PRP), plasma rich in growth factors (PRGF), and ozone in patients with...

Authors: Seyed Ahmad Raeissadat, Parsa Ghazi Hosseini, Mohammad Hasan Bahrami, Reza Salman Roghani, Mohammad Fathi, Azadeh Gharooee Ahangar and Mahtab Darvish

Cross-cultural translation, adaptation, and validation of the Amharic version pain self-efficacy questionnaire in people with low back pain in Ethiopia

The Pain Self-Efficacy Questionnaire (PSEQ) is a valid and reliable instrument that evaluates pain self-efficacy beliefs in people with pain conditions. However, it has not been validated and used in Ethiopia....

Authors: Mulugeta Bayisa Chala, Catherine Donnelly, Yemataw Wondie, Setareh Ghahari and Jordan Miller

Development and validation of a shoulder-specific body-perception questionnaire in people with persistent shoulder pain

There is evidence that people with persistent shoulder pain exhibit findings consistent with the presence of sensorimotor dysfunction. Sensorimotor impairments can manifest in a variety of ways, and further de...

Authors: Tomohiko Nishigami, Akihisa Watanabe, Toshiki Maitani, Hayato Shigetoh, Akira Mibu, Benedict Martin Wand, Mark J. Catley, Tasha R. Stanton and G. Lorimer Moseley

Comparison between velocity‐specific exercise and isometric exercise on neck muscle functions and performance: a randomised clinical trial

Evidence has shown that velocity-specific exercise results in additional benefits for peripheral joint muscles by promoting their functions, however, its effects on spinal muscles are yet to be investigated. T...

Authors: Sharon MH Tsang, Kenneth TK Chan, Parco LT Ho, Jacky CY Kwok, Daniel HT Tse and Henry HT Tsoi

Improving osteoarthritis management in primary healthcare: results from a quasi-experimental study

To improve quality of care for patients with hip and knee osteoarthritis (OA), general practitioners (GPs) and physiotherapists (PTs) in a Norwegian municipality initiated an intervention. The intervention aim...

Authors: Nina Østerås, Irma Brandeggen Blaker, Tore Hjortland, Elizabeth Cottrell, Jonathan G. Quicke, Krysia S. Dziedzic, Steven Blackburn and Aksel Paulsen

Neglect of relevant treatment recommendations in the conduct and reporting of a laser therapy knee osteoarthritis trial: letter to the editor

We read with interest the article by Gomes et al. entitled: “Exercise program combined with electrophysical modalities in subjects with knee osteoarthritis: A randomised, placebo-controlled clinical trial”. Gomes...

Authors: Martin Bjørn Stausholm and Jan Magnus Bjordal

A cluster-randomized trial of workplace ergonomics and neck-specific exercise versus ergonomics and health promotion for office workers to manage neck pain – a secondary outcome analysis

Neck pain is prevalent among office workers. This study evaluated the impact of an ergonomic and exercise training (EET) intervention and an ergonomic and health promotion (EHP) intervention on neck pain inten...

Authors: Venerina Johnston, Xiaoqi Chen, Alyssa Welch, Gisela Sjøgaard, Tracy A. Comans, Megan McStea, Leon Straker, Markus Melloh, Michelle Pereira and Shaun O’Leary

Exercise-therapy and education for individuals one year after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: a pilot randomised controlled trial

Guided rehabilitation beyond 6-months is rare following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR), despite high prevalence of unacceptable symptoms and quality of life (QoL). Our primary aim was to dete...

Authors: Brooke E. Patterson, Christian J. Barton, Adam G. Culvenor, Randall L. Cooper and Kay M. Crossley

Photobiomodulation therapy and the clinical reality in Brazil: response to the letter to the editor

Authors: Cid André Fidelis de Paula Gomes, Almir Vieira Dibai-Filho, Fabiano Politti, Adriano Rodrigues de Oliveira, Cheila de Souza Bacelar Pereira, Aron Charles Barbosa da Silva and Daniela Aparecida Biasotto-Gonzalez

Clinical and cost effectiveness of arthritis gloves in rheumatoid arthritis (A-GLOVES): randomised controlled trial with economic analysis

Arthritis (or compression) gloves are widely prescribed to people with rheumatoid arthritis and other forms of hand arthritis. They are prescribed for daytime wear to reduce hand pain and improve hand function...

Authors: Alison Hammond, Yeliz Prior, Sarah Cotterill, Chris Sutton, Elizabeth Camacho, Calvin Heal, Jo Adams, Yvonne Hough, Terence W. O’Neill and Jill Firth

Effects of unweighting on gait kinematics during walking on a lower-body positive-pressure treadmill in patients with hip osteoarthritis

Hip osteoarthritis (OA) is a musculoskeletal condition that makes walking difficult due to pain induced by weight-bearing activities. Treadmills that support the body weight (BW) reduce the load on the lower l...

Authors: Yoshiaki Kataoka, Tomohiro Shimizu, Ryo Takeda, Shigeru Tadano, Yuki Saito, Satoshi Osuka, Tomoya Ishida, Mina Samukawa, Tohru Irie, Daisuke Takahashi, Norimasa Iwasaki and Harukazu Tohyama

Hyperalgesia affects muscle activity and knee range of motion during a single-limb mini squat in individuals with knee osteoarthritis: a cross-sectional study

The effect of hyperalgesia on functionality remains uncertain for individuals with knee osteoarthritis (KOA). This study aimed examine the clinical measures and hyperalgesia’s effect on muscle activity, knee r...

Authors: Jéssica Garcia Jorge, Ana Luiza Costa e Silva Cabral, Vanessa Martins Pereira Silva Moreira, Wallisen Tadashi Hattori and Valdeci Carlos Dionisio

Associations of objectively measured total duration and maximum bout length of standing at work with lower-extremity pain intensity: a 2-year follow-up of construction and healthcare workers

Musculoskeletal disorders are among the major reasons for years lived with disability. Approximately one third of the European working population report lower-extremity discomfort and many attribute these disc...

Authors: Lars-Kristian Lunde, Suzanne Merkus, Markus Koch, Stein Knardahl, Morten Wærsted and Kaj Bo Veiersted

Reliability and construct validity of the modified Finnish version of the 9-item patient health questionnaire and its associations within the biopsychosocial framework among female health-care workers with sub-acute or recurrent low back pain

Health-care workers have an increased risk for chronic low back pain (LBP) leading to reduced workability. Depression, a highly prevalent, costly and disabling condition, is commonly seen in patients with sub-...

Authors: J. H. Suni, T. Virkkunen, P. Husu, K. Tokola, J. Parkkari and M. Kankaanpää

EHealth to empower patients with musculoskeletal pain in rural Australia (EMPoweR) a randomised clinical trial: study protocol

Low back pain (LBP) and knee osteoarthritis (OA) are major contributors to disability worldwide. These conditions result in a significant burden at both individual and societal levels. Engagement in regular ph...

Authors: Carlos I. Mesa-Castrillon, Milena Simic, Manuela L. Ferreira, Kristy Hatswell, Georgina Luscombe, Antonio Michell de Gregorio, Phillip R. Davis, Adrian Bauman, Stephen Bunker, Ornella Clavisi, Grahame Knox, Kim L. Bennell and Paulo H. Ferreira

Inter-professional agreement and collaboration between extended scope physiotherapists and orthopaedic surgeons in an orthopaedic outpatient shoulder clinic – a mixed methods study

Extended scope physiotherapists (ESP) are increasingly supplementing orthopaedic surgeons (OS) in diagnosing patients with musculoskeletal disorders. Studies have reported satisfactory diagnostic and treatment...

Authors: Merete Nørgaard Madsen, Maria Lange Kirkegaard, Thomas Martin Klebe, Charlotte Lorenzen Linnebjerg, Søren Martin Riis Villumsen, Stine Junge Due, Jeanette Trøstrup, Camilla Blach Rossen, Hans Okkels Birk, Brian Elmengaard and Lone Ramer Mikkelsen

Implementation of an electronic care pathway for hip fracture patients: a pilot before and after study

Care pathways are generally paper-based and can cause communication failures between multidisciplinary teams, potentially compromising the safety of the patient. Computerized care pathways may facilitate bette...

Authors: Jason Talevski, Viviana Guerrero-Cedeño, Oddom Demontiero, Pushpa Suriyaarachchi, Derek Boersma, Sara Vogrin, Sharon Brennan-Olsen and Gustavo Duque

Parecoxib alleviates the inflammatory effect of leukocyte-rich platelet-rich plasma in normal rabbit tendons

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is widely used to treat tendon injuries. Its therapeutic effect varies depending on the different cell components, and white blood cells (WBCs) may play an important role in this phe...

Authors: Ming Zhou, Ning Wang, Gang Wang, Zishan Jia and Xiaolei Qi

Occupational risk factors for shoulder chronic tendinous pathology in the Spanish automotive manufacturing sector: a case-control study

Musculoskeletal Diseases (MSDs) are among the most prevalent health problems encountered in the workforce in Europe. Multiple risk factors contribute to their onset. In the present study, different individual ...

Authors: Beatriz Rodriguez Diez-Caballero, Joaquín Alfonso-Beltrán, Iker J. Bautista and Carlos Barrios

Effect of thermal therapy and exercises on acute low back pain: a protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Low back pain (LBP) is the first cause of years lived with disability worldwide. This is due to the development of chronic pain. Thus, it is necessary to identify the best therapeutic approaches in the acute p...

Authors: Claudia Côté-Picard, Jean Tittley, Catherine Mailloux, Kadija Perreault, Catherine Mercier, Clermont E. Dionne, Jean-Sébastien Roy and Hugo Massé-Alarie

Modeling the effect of static stretching and strengthening exercise in lengthened position on balance in low back pain subject with shortened hamstring: a randomized controlled clinical trial

Hamstring shortening may have negative impacts on function and biomechanics of knee and hip joints and lumbo-pelvic rhythm. Many interventions are believed to correct hamstring to its normal length. There are ...

Authors: MohammadBagher Shamsi, Maryam Mirzaei, Soodeh Shahsavari, Ameneh Safari and Morteza Saeb

Functioning and equality according to International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) in people with skeletal dysplasia compared to matched control subjects – a cross-sectional survey study

Skeletal dysplasias are rare disorders often leading to severe short stature. This study aimed to gain new comprehensive information about functioning and equality in people affected by skeletal dysplasia comp...

Authors: Hanna Hyvönen, Heidi Anttila, Susanna Tallqvist, Minna Muñoz, Sanna Leppäjoki-Tiistola, Antti Teittinen, Outi Mäkitie and Sinikka Hiekkala

A multisite longitudinal evaluation of patient characteristics associated with a poor response to non-surgical multidisciplinary management of low back pain in an advanced practice physiotherapist-led tertiary service

Non-surgical multidisciplinary management is often the first pathway of care for patients with chronic low back pain (LBP). This study explores if patient characteristics recorded at the initial service examin...

Authors: Shaun O’Leary, Maree Raymer, Peter Window, Patrick Swete Kelly, Darryl Lee, Linda Garsden, Rebecca Tweedy, Ben Phillips, Will O’Sullivan, Anneke Wake, Alison Smith, Sheryl Pahor, Luen Pearce, Rod McLean, David Thompson, Erica Williams…

Effects of a movement control and tactile acuity training in patients with nonspecific chronic low back pain and control impairment – a randomised controlled pilot study

Nonspecific chronic low back pain (NSCLBP) is a heterogeneous condition that is associated with complex neuromuscular adaptations. Exercise is a widely administered treatment, but its effects are small to mode...

Authors: Katharina van Baal, Jana Allofs, Katja Ehrenbrusthoff, Christian Grüneberg, Thomas Hering, Christian Kopkow and Christian Thiel

Prevention of sickness absence through early identification and rehabilitation of at-risk patients with musculoskeletal pain (PREVSAM): a randomised controlled trial protocol

Musculoskeletal pain is globally a leading cause of physical disability. Many musculoskeletal-related pain conditions, such as low back pain, often resolve spontaneously. In some individuals, pain may recur or...

Authors: MEH Larsson, L. Nordeman, K. Holmgren, A. Grimby-Ekman, G. Hensing, C. Björkelund, S. Bergman, A. Ekhammar, M. Dottori and S. Bernhardsson

Early postoperative physical activity and function: a descriptive case series study of 53 patients after lumbar spine surgery

The purpose of this prospective case series study was to compare changes in early postoperative physical activity and physical function between 6 weeks and 3 and 6 months after lumbar spine surgery.

Authors: Rogelio A. Coronado, Hiral Master, Daniel K. White, Jacquelyn S. Pennings, Mackenzie L. Bird, Clinton J. Devin, Maciej S. Buchowski, Shannon L. Mathis, Matthew J. McGirt, Joseph S. Cheng, Oran S. Aaronson, Stephen T. Wegener and Kristin R. Archer