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Purpose: The purpose of this trial was to investigate changes in pain, the range of motion (ROM) and spasticity in people with painful hemiplegic shoulder (PHS) after the application of an upper limb neuromuscular taping (NMT).Methods: We conducted a randomised clinical trial. The study included 32 people, 31% female (mean ± SD age: 66 ± 9 years), with PHS after stroke with pain at rest and during functional movements. The experimental group received the application of NMT and a standard physical therapy programme (SPTP), whereas the control group received SPTP. The groups received four 45-minute long sessions over four weeks. The VAS, ROM and spasticity were assessed before and after the intervention with follow-up at four weeks.Results: The experimental group had a greater reduction in pain compared to the control group at the end of the intervention, as well as at one month after the intervention (p < 0.001; all the group differences were greater than 4.5 cm, which is greater than the minimal clinically important difference of 2.0 cm). The experimental group had a significantly higher (i.e. better) ROM, by 30.0°, than the control group in shoulder flexion (95% CI: 37.3–22.7) at 4 weeks and by 24.8° (95% CI: 32.1–17.6) at 8 weeks as well as in abduction by 30.6° (95% CI: 37.5–23.7) at 4 weeks and 25.1° (95% CI: 33.8–16.3) at 8 weeks.Conclusion: Our study demonstrates that NMT decreases pain and increases the ROM in subjects with shoulder pain after a stroke.Implications for RehabilitationPainful hemiplegic shoulder is a frequent complication after stroke with negative impacts on functional activities and on quality of life of people, moreover restricts rehabilitation intervention.Neuromuscular taping is a technique introduced by David Blow for the treatment of neuromuscoloskeletal problems.This study shows the reduction of pain and the improvement of range of motion after the application of an upper limb neuromuscular taping.Rehabilitation professionals who are involved in the management of painful hemiplegic shoulder may like to consider the benefits that neuromuscular taping can produce on upper limb. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

The Pain Self-Efficacy Questionnaire ( PSEQ) is a patient self-reported measurement instrument that evaluates pain self-efficacy beliefs in patients with chronic pain. The measurement properties of the PSEQ have been tested in its original and translated versions, showing satisfactory results for validity and reliability. The aims of this study were 2 fold as follows: (1) to translate the PSEQ into Italian through a process of cross-cultural adaptation, (2) to test the measurement properties of the Italian PSEQ ( PSEQ-I). The cross-cultural adaptation was completed in 5 months without omitting any item of the original PSEQ. Measurement properties were tested in 165 patients with chronic low back pain ( CLBP) (65% women, mean age 49.9 years). Factor analysis confirmed the one-factor structure of the questionnaire. Internal consistency (Cronbach's α = 0.94) and test-retest reliability ( ICCagreement = 0.82) of the PSEQ-I showed good results. The smallest detectable change was equal to 15.69 scale points. The PSEQ-I displayed a high construct validity by meeting more than 75% of a priori hypotheses on correlations with measurement instruments assessing pain intensity, disability, anxiety, depression, pain catastrophizing, fear of movement, and coping strategies. Additionally, the PSEQ-I differentiated patients taking pain medication or not. The results of this study suggest that the PSEQ-I can be used as a valid and reliable tool in Italian patients with CLBP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Background: The grip strength test is widely used; however, little has been investigated about its reliability when used in elderly with subjects thumb carpometacarpal (CMC) osteoarthritis (OA). The purpose of this study was to examine the test-retest reliability of the grip strength test in elderly subjects with thumb CMC OA. Methods: A total of 78 patients with unilateral thumb CMC OA, 84.6 % female (mean ± SD age 83 ± 5 years), were recruited. Each patient performed three pain free maximal isometric contractions on each hand in two occasions, 1 week apart. Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), standard error of measurement (SEM), and 95 % limits of agreement (LOA) were calculated. Results: Test-retest reliability was excellent for side affected (ICC = 0.947; p = 0.001) and contralateral (ICC = 0.96; p = 0.001) thumb CMC OA. Conclusions: The present results indicate that maximum handgrip strength can be measured reliably, using the Jamar hand dynamometer, in patients with thumb CMC OA, which enables its use in research and in the clinic to determine the effect of interventions on improving grip. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Background: Grip testing is commonly used as an objective measure of strength in the hand and upper extremity and is frequently used clinically as a proxy measure of function. Increasing knowledge of hand biomechanics, muscle strength, and prehension patterns can provide us with a better understanding of the functional capabilities of the hand. The objectives of this study were to determine the contribution of ulnar digits to overall grip strength in individuals with thumb carpometacarpal (CMC) osteoarthritis (OA). Methods: Thirty-seven subjects participated in the study. This group consisted of 19 patients with CMC OA (aged 60-88 years) and 18 healthy subjects (60-88 years). Three hand configurations were used by the subjects during grip testing: use of the entire hand (index, middle, ring, and little fingers) (IMRL); use of the index, middle, and ring fingers (IMR); and use of only the index and middle fingers (IM). Results: Grip strength findings for the two groups found that compared to their healthy counterparts, CMC OA patients had, on average, a strength deficiency of 45.6, 35.5, and 28.8 % in IMRL, IMR, and IM, respectively. The small finger contribution to grip is 14.3 % and the ring and small finger contribute 34 % in subjects with CMC OA. Discussion: Grip strength decreases as the number of digits contributing decreased in both groups. The ulnar digits contribution to grip strength is greater than one third of total grip strength in subjects with CMC OA. Individuals with CMC OA demonstrate significantly decreased grip strength when compared to their healthy counterparts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Purpose: We evaluated the effectiveness of intrapulmonary percussive ventilation (IPV) compared to traditional standard chest physical therapy (CPT) in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and productive cough. Methods: We conducted a quasi-experimental clinical trial. Twenty patients, 40% female (mean ± SD age: 70 ± 8 years), with COPD and productive cough received a multimodal respiratory treatment including IPV and CPT or a control intervention CPT for 10 days. Outcomes: PImax, PEmax, heart rate, respiratory rate, SBP, DBP, Likert scale, Borg dyspnea scale and arterial blood gas analysis: PO2, PCO2, pH, HCO3 and SpO2 measurements. All measures were collected at baseline and at the end of the intervention. We used repeated ANOVA to examine the effects of interventions within groups, between-subjects and the within-subjects. Results: A significant effect of time interaction ( F = 7.27; p = 0.015, F = 6.16; p = 0.02 and F = 7.41; p = 0.014) existed for PO2, SpO2 and dyspnea over the moderate COPD and productive cough immediately after the intervention (all, p < 0.02). Both treatments are similarly effective in PImax and PEmax. No significant group effect or group-by-time interaction was detected for any of them, which suggests that both groups improved in the same way. Conclusions: This study provides evidence that a short-term combination of IPV and CPT improves PO2, SpO2 and perceived dyspnea than a traditional standard CPT in patients with COPD and productive cough. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Background. Taping is a widely used therapeutic tool for the treatment of musculoskeletal disorders, nevertheless its effectiveness is still uncertain. Purpose. The purpose of this study was to conduct a current review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) concerning the effects of elastic and nonelastic taping on spinal pain and disability. Data Sources. MEDLINE, CINAHL, EMBASE, PEDro, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), Scopus, IS1 Web of Knowledge, and SPORTDiscus databases were searched. Study Selection. All published RCTs on symptomatic adults with a diagnosis of specific or nonspecific spinal pain, myofascial pain syndrome, or whiplash-associated disorders (WAD) were considered. Data Extraction. Two reviewers independently selected the studies and extracted the results. The quality of individual studies was assessed using the PEDro scale, and the evidence was assessed using GRADE criteria. Data Synthesis. Eight RCTs were included. Meta-analysis of 4 RCTs on low back pain demonstrated that elastic taping does not significantly reduce pain or disability immediately posttreatment, with a standardized mean difference of —0.31 (95% confidence interval = — 0.64, 0.02) and —0.23 (95% confidence interval= — 0.49, 0.03), respectively. Results from single trials indicated that both elastic and nonelastic taping are not better than placebo or no treatment on spinal disability. Positive results were found only for elastic taping and only for short-term pain reduction in WAD or specific neck pain. Generally, the effect sizes were very small or not clinically relevant, and all results were supported by low-quality evidence. Limitations. The paucity of studies does not permit us to draw any final conclusions. Conclusion. Although different types of taping were investigated, the results of this systematic review did not show any firm support for their effectiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

The objectives of this study were to determine the effectiveness of a programme of prevention exercises conducted in a corporate environment in poultry industry slaughterers suffering from musculoskeletal disorders. Forty workers, 70% female (mean ± SD age: 44.4 ± 8.4 years) were consecutively, in an alternative way, assigned to one of two groups receiving either set of 10 sessions (experimental or control group). The experimental group followed an exercise programme for a period of five weeks and a protocol of home exercises. The control group performed the exercise protocol only at home. The Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ) and the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) to measure disability, the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) score and the Pain Drawing to measure pain were used as outcome evaluations. A significant effect of time interaction (all P <0.001 and; F = 40.673; F = 33.907 and F = 25.447) existed for lumbar VAS, RMDQ and ODI immediately after the intervention (all P < 0.006). No significant group effect or group-by-time interaction was detected for any of them, which suggests that both groups improved in the same way. This study shows that a programme of prevention exercises may have a positive effect in improving musculoskeletal disorders of slaughterhouse workers. Pain decreased in the lumbar region, and there was an almost significant reduction in disability. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Objective: The aim of this study was to construct PubMed search strings that could efficiently retrieve studies on manual therapy (MT), especially for time-constrained clinicians. Methods: Our experts chose 11 Medical Subject Heading terms describing MT along with 84 additional potential terms. For each term that was able to retrieve more than 100 abstracts, we systematically extracted a sample of abstracts from which we estimated the proportion of studies potentially relevant to MT. We then constructed 2 search strings: 1 narrow (threshold of pertinent articles >40%) and 1 expanded (including all terms for which a proportion had been calculated). We tested these search strings against articles on 2 conditions relevant to MT (thoracic and temporomandibular pain). We calculated the number of abstracts needed to read (NNR) to identify 1 potentially pertinent article in the context of these conditions. Finally, we evaluated the efficiency of the proposed PubMed search strings to identify relevant articles included in a systematic review on spinal manipulative therapy for chronic low back pain. Results: Fifty-five search terms were able to extract more than 100 citations. The NNR to find 1 potentially pertinent article using the narrow string was 1.2 for thoracic pain and 1.3 for temporomandibular pain, and the NNR for the expanded string was 1.9 and 1.6, respectively. The narrow search strategy retrieved all the randomized controlled trials included in the systematic review selected for comparison. Conclusion: The proposed PubMed search strings may help health care professionals locate potentially pertinent articles and review a large number of MT studies efficiently to better implement evidence-based practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Purpose: To perform a Rasch analysis (RA) of the Fear Avoidance Beliefs questionnaire (FABQ-I) in a sample of chronic non-specific low back pain (CLBP) patients. The RA is expected to provide information about the internal construct validity and all the single items consistency of the FABQ-I and then contributing to the knowledge about the questionnaire's clinimetric properties. Methods: One hundred and fifty subjects with CLBP were enrolled into the study. The FABQ-I have been studied by means of RA. The sample size needed to obtain stable person, item and rating-scale calibrations for use with the Rasch model was based on the level of error expected in the measure. Results: RA did not support the total scale as an unidimensional measure of Fear Avodiance Beliefs. Also the analysis of the Physical Activity (PA) and Word (WO) subscales as well as the attempts of manipulation failed in achieving an acceptable fit to the Rasch model. Conclusion: FABQ-I may be considered to reflect a multiple psychological constructs describing scale. The raw score of the FABQ-I and changes in scores must be interpreted with caution because as a general measure of fear avoid beliefs was not supported. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Purpose: To create an Italian version of the Pain Beliefs and Perceptions Inventory (PBAPI-I) and evaluate its psychometric properties. Methods: The PBAPI was culturally adapted in accordance with international standards. The psychometric testing included factor analysis, investigating reliability by internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha) and test/retest stability (intraclass correlation coefficient, ICC), and exploring construct validity by comparing the PBAPI-I with a pain numerical rating scale (NRS), the Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ), the Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS), the Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia (TSK), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Score (HADS) and the Chronic Pain Coping Inventory (Pearson's correlation). Results: One hundred and sixty-seven subjects with chronic low back pain (83 % compliance) completed the tool. Factor analysis revealed a three-factor (Time, Mystery and Self-Blame), 16-item solution (explained variance: 80 %). The questionnaire was internally consistent ( α = 0.91-0.96), and its stability was good (ICCs = 0.73-0.82). As expected, the construct validity estimates indicated that the Time and Mystery subscales moderately correlated with the NRS ( r = 0.33-0.54), RMDQ ( r = 0.34-0.47), PCS ( r = 0.37-0.49) and TSK ( r = 0.30-0.43), whereas the correlations between the Self-Blame subscale and the same measures were poorer. The correlations with the HADS were moderate and poor (anxiety: r = 0.37-0.05; depression: r = 0.39-0.07). Maladaptive coping strategies were more related to pain beliefs than adaptive strategies. Conclusion: The PBAPI-I has good psychometric properties that replicate those of other versions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...