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Bruna Wageck,1 Narelle S Cox,1– 3 Christine F McDonald,3– 5 Angela T Burge,1– 3,6 Ajay Mahal,7 Catherine J Hill,3,8 Annemarie L Lee,2,3,6 Rosemary Moore,3,8 Caroline Nicolson,9,10 Paul O’Halloran,11 Aroub Lahham,1– 3 Rebecca Gillies,1,8 Anne E Holland1– 3,6 1La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia; 2Monash University, Melbourne, Australia; 3Institute for Breathing and Sleep, Melbourne, Australia; 4Department of Respiratory and Sleep Medicine, Austin Health, Melbourne, Australia; 5Department of Medicine, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia; 6Department of Physiotherapy, Alfred Health, Melbourne, Australia; 7The Nossal Institute of Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia; 8Department of Physiotherapy, Austin Health, Melbourne, Australia; 9Department of Pulmonary Hypertension, Alfred Health, Melbourne, Australia; 10Physiotherapy Department, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia; 11Department of Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, AustraliaCorrespondence: Anne E HollandMonash University, Central Clinical School, Level 6, Alfred Centre, 99 Commercial Road, Melbourne, VIC 3004, AustraliaTel +61 3 99030214Email a.holland@alfred.org.auBackground: Pulmonary rehabilitation is an effective treatment for people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), but its benefits are poorly maintained. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of COPD exacerbations in the year following pulmonary rehabilitation on outcomes at 12 months.Methods: This was a secondary analysis from a trial of home versus hospital-based rehabilitation in COPD, with 12 months of follow-up. Moderate and severe exacerbations were identified using administrative data (prescriptions) and hospital records (admissions) respectively. The impact of exacerbations at 12 months following pulmonary rehabilitation was evaluated for quality of life (Chronic Respiratory Questionnaire, CRQ), dyspnea (modified Medical Research Council, mMRC), exercise capacity (6-minute walk distance, 6MWD) and objectively measured physical activity (moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, MVPA).Results: A total of 166 participants were included, with mean age (SD) 69 (9) years and forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) 49 (19)% predicted. Moderate exacerbations occurred in 68% and severe exacerbations in 34% of participants. Experiencing a severe exacerbation was an independent predictor of worse 12-month outcomes for CRQ (total, fatigue and emotional function domains), mMRC, 6MWD and MVPA (all p< 0.05). Participants who completed pulmonary rehabilitation were less likely to have a severe exacerbation (29% vs 48%, p=0.02). Severe exacerbations were more likely in those with worse baseline CRQ total (odds ratio 0.97, 95% CI 0.95 to 0.99) and FEV1%predicted (0.98, 95% CI 0.96 to 0.99).Conclusion: Severe exacerbations occur frequently following pulmonary rehabilitation and predict worse 12-month outcomes. Strategies to maintain the benefits of pulmonary rehabilitation should address exacerbation prevention and management.Keywords: COPD, exacerbations, pulmonary rehabilitation, long term maintenance, predictors

Pulmonary rehabilitation is an effective therapeutic intervention for people with chronic respiratory disease. However, fewer than 5% of eligible individuals receive pulmonary rehabilitation on an annual basis, largely due to limited availability of services and difficulties associated with travel and transport. The Rehabilitation Exercise At Home (REAcH) study is an assessor-blinded, multi-centre, randomised controlled equivalence trial designed to compare the efficacy of home-based telerehabilitation and traditional centre-based pulmonary rehabilitation in people with chronic respiratory disease. Participants will undertake an 8-week group-based pulmonary rehabilitation program of twice-weekly supervised exercise training, either in-person at a centre-based pulmonary rehabilitation program or remotely from their home via the Internet. Supervised exercise training sessions will include 30 min of aerobic exercise (cycle and/or walking training). Individualised education and self-management training will be delivered. All participants will be prescribed a home exercise program of walking and strengthening activities. Outcomes will be assessed by a blinded assessor at baseline, after completion of the intervention, and 12-months post intervention. The primary outcome is change in dyspnea score as measured by the Chronic Respiratory Questionnaire – dyspnea domain (CRQ-D). Secondary outcomes will evaluate the efficacy of telerehabilitation on 6-min walk distance, endurance cycle time during a constant work rate test, physical activity and quality of life. Adherence to pulmonary rehabilitation between the two models will be compared. A full economic analysis from a societal perspective will be undertaken to determine the cost-effectiveness of telerehabilitation compared to centre-based pulmonary rehabilitation. Alternative models of pulmonary rehabilitation are required to improve both equity of access and patient-related outcomes. This trial will establish whether telerehabilitation can achieve equivalent improvement in outcomes compared to traditional centre-based pulmonary rehabilitation. If efficacious and cost-effective, the proposed telerehabilitation model is designed to be rapidly deployed into clinical practice. Clinical trial registered with the Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trials Register at ( ACTRN12616000360415 ). Registered 21 March 2016.

Purpose. To verify the influence of neural mobilization (NM) applied to the lower limbs on functional performance and dynamic balance in asymptomatic individuals. Methods. The total of 30 asymptomatic participants (15 women and 15 men; age, 30.1 ± 6.7 years; height, 1.70 ± 0.1 m; body mass, 73.1 ± 13.4 kg) were enrolled in this cross-over randomized controlled trial. The participants received NM of the femoral, sciatic, and tibial nerves, as well as static stretching (SS) of the following muscles: hamstring, lumbar, piriformis, hip adductors, hip flexors, quadriceps, and triceps surae. The order of applying NM and SS was randomly decided and the interventions were performed at least 48 hours apart. Functional performance was measured by performance in vertical jump (VJ) and dynamic balance was measured with the Star Excursion Balance Test (SEBT). Results. There were no differences between NM and SS for height (cm) in VJ (p = 0.16) or in the distance reached (%) in the SEBT, normalized by lower limb length (dominant limb: anterior, p = 0.35; posterolateral, p = 0.69; posteromedial, p = 0.50 / non-dominant limb: anterior, p = 0.68; posterolateral, p = 1.00; posteromedial, p = 0.77). Conclusions. NM did not exert any influence on functional performance or dynamic balance. Thereby, having no positive or negative impact on performance, NM can be used at any time of treatment.

Question: Does Kinesio Taping reduce swelling in athletes who have suffered an acute, lateral ankle sprain? Design: Randomised controlled trial with concealed allocation, intention-to-treat analysis and blinded assessment. Participants: Thirty-six athletes who participated regularly in one of seven different sports modalities and suffered an acute ankle sprain. Intervention: The experimental group received Kinesio Taping application for 3 days, which was designed to treat swelling. The control group received an inert Kinesio Taping application. Outcome measures: For the comparison between groups, the swelling was measured via volumetry, perimetry, relative volumetry and two analyses of the difference in volume and perimetry between ankles of each participant. Data were collected immediately after the 3 days of intervention and at follow-up, which was 15 days post intervention. Results: At 3 days after intervention, there were no differences between groups for swelling in volumetry (MD –2ml, 95% CI –28 to 32); perimetry (MD 0.2cm, 95% CI –0.6 to 1.0); relative volumetry (MD 0.0cm, 95% CI –0.1 to 0.1); and the other analyses. At day 15 follow-up, there were no significant between-group differences in outcomes. Conclusion: The application of Kinesio Taping, with the aim of stimulating the lymphatic system, is ineffective in decreasing acute swelling after an ankle sprain in athletes. Trial registration: Brazilian Registry of Clinical Trials, RBR-32sctf. [Nunes GS, Vargas VZ, Wageck B, dos Santos Hauphental DP, da Luz CM, de Noronha M (2015) Kinesio Taping does not decrease swelling in acute, lateral ankle sprain of athletes: a randomised trial. Journal of Physiotherapy 61: 28–33]

Introduction The Subjective Daily Assessment Scale (ESAD) is based on the visual analog scale (VAS) and assesses six parameters (pain, edema, heat, mobility, sensitivity, and confidence).Objective This study aimed to examine the association between the analyzed variables as assessed by the ESAD and physical therapy clinical discharge and return-to-play of injured athletes.Method Eighty-one patient records of athletes were analyzed; mean sample age was 23.9 ± 6.3 years. The athletes received treatment through the Sports Physical Therapy program of Santa Catarina State University, Brazil, between 2008 and 2011. Six parameters were ranked on a scale from 0 to 10, with 0 being the best possible condition and 10 the worst. Data analysis was conducted using stepwise Cox regression.Results At the time of the injury, the mean score for confidence was 5.82 ± 0.48, and at the time of return-to-play, it was 0.48 ± 1.1; the mean score for pain decreased from 3.7 ± 2.64 to 0.34 ± 0.83. However, due to the strong association between pain and confidence, only confidence remained in the final model. For each reduction in the value reported for confidence, the probability of return-to-play was 0.62 times greater.Conclusion The results showed that confidence was the best variable for predicting athlete return-to-play. ResumoIntrodução A Escala Subjetiva de Avaliação Diária (ESAD) é uma escala baseada na Escala Analógica Visual (EVA), que avalia seis parâmetros (dor, edema, calor, mobilidade, sensibilidade e confiança).Objetivo Este estudo tem como objetivo analisar a associação das variáveis analisadas a partir da ESAD com a liberação da fisioterapia.Método Foram utilizados 81 prontuários de atletas com média de idade de 23,9 ± 6,3 anos, que foram atendidos entre 2008 e 2011 no Projeto de Fisioterapia Desportiva da Udesc e que responderam a ESAD, classificando os seis parâmetros numa escala de 0 a 10, sendo que 0 significa a melhor condição e 10 a pior. Os dados foram analisados a partir da regressão de Cox, por meio do método stepwise.Resultados No momento da lesão, a confiança, em média, era de 5,82 ± 0,48 e, no momento do retorno ao esporte, passou para 0,48 ± 1,1, e a dor de 3,7 ± 2,64 foi para 0,34 ± 0,83, porém devido à forte associação entre dor e confiança, apenas a confiança permaneceu no modelo final. A cada diminuição do valor relatado na confiança a chance de retorno ao esporte aumenta 0,62 vezes.Conclusão Os resultados demonstraram que a confiança é a variável que melhor prediz a liberação do atleta.