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International Journal of Environmental... Jul 2021Primary dysmenorrhea (PD) refers to painful cramps before and/or during menstruation. There is a need for emphasis on alternative methods of conservative treatment, so... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
Primary dysmenorrhea (PD) refers to painful cramps before and/or during menstruation. There is a need for emphasis on alternative methods of conservative treatment, so as to reduce the dependence on drugs for alleviating the symptoms. The aim was to find out the effectiveness of some physiotherapy techniques in the treatment of PD. A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted according to PRISMA standards. The descriptors were "dysmenorrhea", "physical the-rapy", "physiotherapy", and "manual therapy". The search was performed in five databases: Scopus, PubMed, PEDro, Web of Science, and Medline, in February 2021. The inclusion criteria were randomized controlled trials over the last six years. Articles not related to the treatment of PD or using pharmacology as the main treatment were excluded. Nine articles met the objectives and criteria, with a total of 692 participants. The most used scale to measure pain was the VAS (visual analogue scale). The main techniques were isometric exercises, massage therapy, yoga, electrotherapy, connective tissue manipulation, stretching, kinesio tape, progressive relaxation exercises and aerobic dance. Meta-analysis shows benefits of physiotherapy treatment for pain relief compared with no intervention or placebo (MD: -1.13, 95% CI: -1.61 to -0.64, I: 88%). The current low-quality evidence suggests that physiotherapy may provide a clinically significant reduction in menstrual pain intensity. Given the overall health benefits of physiotherapy and the low risk of side effects reported, women may consider using it, either alone or in conjunction with other therapeutic modalities.
Topics: Dysmenorrhea; Electric Stimulation Therapy; Exercise Therapy; Female; Humans; Massage; Physical Therapy Modalities
PubMed: 34360122
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18157832 -
Annals of Palliative Medicine Feb 2022Limb hemiplegia is one of the common sequelae of stroke. Physical therapy-based rehabilitation training can rapidly improve limb functioning and muscle strength. This... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
Effects of physical therapy-based rehabilitation on recovery of upper limb motor function after stroke in adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
BACKGROUND
Limb hemiplegia is one of the common sequelae of stroke. Physical therapy-based rehabilitation training can rapidly improve limb functioning and muscle strength. This study investigated the effect of physical therapy on the recovery of upper limb motor function by employing a literature search and meta-analysis.
METHODS
We searched Embase, The Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials library, Wiley online library, PubMed, Ovid, and Clinicaltrials.org for randomized controlled trial (RCT) studies and performed an electronic search with the keyword combinations 'physical therapy/rehabilitation' & 'stroke/post-stroke' & 'upper extremity/upper limb'. After screening the literature for inclusion criteria and assessing the risk of bias, Revman 5.4 software was used for the analysis and to obtain forest and funnel plots.
RESULTS
A total of 15 RCTs with 1,081 patients were included in the quantitative analysis for this study. The meta-analysis results showed that compared with conventional therapy, physical therapy improved the upper limb Fugl-Meyer Assessment for Upper Extremity (FMA) scores in convalescent stroke patients (MD =7.27, 95% CI: 4.23-10.32, Z=4.68, P<0.00001), and increased the Functional Independence Measure (FIM) scores (MD =18.82, 95% CI: 6.34-31.30, Z=2.96, P=0.003), the Action Research Arm Test (ARAT) scores (MD =8.84, 95% CI: 6.53-11.15, Z=7.50, P<0.00001), and the Box and Block Test (BBT) scores (MD =6.11, 95% CI: 1.18-11.04, Z=2.43, P=0.02) of patients during the rehabilitation period.
DISCUSSION
The use of physical therapy-based rehabilitation training in the recovery period for stroke patients with hemiplegia can improve upper limb movement ability, increase muscle strength, reduce limb pain, and improve the quality of life.
Topics: Adult; Humans; Physical Therapy Modalities; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Stroke; Stroke Rehabilitation; Upper Extremity
PubMed: 35249330
DOI: 10.21037/apm-21-3710 -
The Journal of Orthopaedic and Sports... Mar 2017Increasingly, physical therapists in the United States and throughout the world are using dry needling to treat musculoskeletal pain, even though this treatment has been... (Review)
Review
Increasingly, physical therapists in the United States and throughout the world are using dry needling to treat musculoskeletal pain, even though this treatment has been a controversial addition to practice. To better generalize to physical therapy practice the findings about dry needling thus far, the authors of a study published in the March 2017 issue of JOSPT identified the need for a systematic review examining the effectiveness of dry needling performed by physical therapists on people with musculoskeletal pain. Their review offers a meta-analysis of data from several included studies and assesses the evidence for risks of bias. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2017;47(3):150. doi:10.2519/jospt.2017.0502.
Topics: Acupuncture Therapy; Humans; Meta-Analysis as Topic; Musculoskeletal Pain; Needles; Pain Management; Physical Therapy Modalities; Trigger Points
PubMed: 28245743
DOI: 10.2519/jospt.2017.0502 -
Critical Care Medicine Mar 2022Significant variability exists in physical rehabilitation modalities and dosage used in the ICU. Our objective was to investigate the effect of physical rehabilitation... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
OBJECTIVES
Significant variability exists in physical rehabilitation modalities and dosage used in the ICU. Our objective was to investigate the effect of physical rehabilitation in ICU on patient outcomes, the impact of task-specific training, and the dose-response profile.
DATA SOURCES
A systematic search of Ovid MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, and CINAHL plus databases was undertaken on the May 28, 2020.
STUDY SELECTION
Randomized controlled trials and controlled clinical trials investigating physical rehabilitation commencing in the ICU in adults were included. Outcomes included muscle strength, physical function, duration of mechanical ventilation, ICU and hospital length of stay, mortality, and health-related quality of life. Two independent reviewers assessed titles, abstracts, and full texts against eligibility criteria.
DATA EXTRACTION
Details on intervention for all groups were extracted using the template for intervention description and replication checklist.
DATA SYNTHESIS
Sixty trials were included, with a total of 5,352 participants. Random-effects pooled analysis showed that physical rehabilitation improved physical function at hospital discharge (standardized mean difference, 0.22; 95% CI, 0.00-0.44), reduced ICU length of stay by 0.8 days (mean difference, -0.80 d; 95% CI, -1.37 to -0.23 d), and hospital length of stay by 1.75 days (mean difference, -1.75 d; 95% CI, -3.03 to -0.48 d). Physical rehabilitation had no impact on the other outcomes. The intervention was more effective in trials where the control group received low-dose physical rehabilitation and in trials that investigated functional exercises.
CONCLUSIONS
Physical rehabilitation in the ICU improves physical function and reduces ICU and hospital length of stay. However, it does not appear to impact other outcomes.
Topics: Critical Illness; Exercise Therapy; Humans; Intensive Care Units; Length of Stay; Muscle Strength; Patient Discharge; Physical Therapy Modalities; Respiration, Artificial
PubMed: 34406169
DOI: 10.1097/CCM.0000000000005285 -
Schmerz (Berlin, Germany) Aug 2022The treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) usually involves surgical decompression of the nerve or splinting and additional medication. Physiotherapy and sports... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
The treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) usually involves surgical decompression of the nerve or splinting and additional medication. Physiotherapy and sports therapy could be non-invasive and alternative treatment approaches with a simultaneous low risk of side effects.
OBJECTIVE
The review systematically summarizes the current studies on the effectiveness of physiotherapy and sports therapeutic interventions for treatment of CTS and focuses on the reduction of symptoms and, as a secondary outcome, improvement of hand function.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
The systematic review includes randomized controlled trials reporting on physiotherapy or sports therapy interventions published prior to February 2021 in the electronic databases PubMed, CINAHL and Web of Science. Following the guidelines of preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) and the Cochrane Collaboration, a systematic search of the literature, data extraction and evaluation of the risk of bias using the Cochrane risk of bias tool were conducted by two independent researchers.
RESULTS
Out of 461 identified studies 26 were included in the qualitative analysis. The risk of bias in the individual studies was graded as moderate to low. Potential bias might arise due to inadequate blinding of patients and study personnel in some cases as well as due to selective reporting of study results and procedures. Manual therapy proved to be faster and equally effective in reducing pain and improving function in the long term compared to surgery. Mobilization techniques, massage techniques, kinesiotaping and yoga as therapeutic interventions also showed positive effects on symptoms.
CONCLUSION
For the management of mild to moderate CTS, physiotherapy and sports therapeutic interventions are characterized primarily by success after as little as 2 weeks of treatment as well as comparable success to surgery and 3 months of postoperative treatment. In addition, patients are not exposed to surgical risks. The protocol was registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) with the number 42017073839.
Topics: Carpal Tunnel Syndrome; Humans; Medicine; Musculoskeletal Manipulations; Physical Therapy Modalities
PubMed: 35286465
DOI: 10.1007/s00482-022-00637-x -
Physical Therapy Jun 2021The purpose of this article was to summarize the available evidence from systematic reviews on telerehabilitation in physical therapy.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this article was to summarize the available evidence from systematic reviews on telerehabilitation in physical therapy.
METHODS
We searched Medline/PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library databases. In addition, the records in PROSPERO and Epistemonikos and PEDro were consulted. Systematic reviews of different conditions, populations, and contexts-where the intervention to be evaluated is telerehabilitation by physical therapy-were included. The outcomes were clinical effectiveness depending on specific condition, functionality, quality of life, satisfaction, adherence, and safety. Data extraction and risk of bias assessment were carried out by a reviewer with non-independent verification by a second reviewer. The findings are reported qualitatively in the tables and figures.
RESULTS
Fifty-three systematic reviews were included, of which 17 were assessed as having low risk of bias. Fifteen reviews were on cardiorespiratory rehabilitation, 14 on musculoskeletal conditions, and 13 on neurorehabilitation. The other 11 reviews addressed other types of conditions and rehabilitation. Thirteen reviews evaluated with low risk of bias showed results in favor of telerehabilitation versus in-person rehabilitation or no rehabilitation, while 17 reported no differences between the groups. Thirty-five reviews with unclear or high risk of bias showed mixed results.
CONCLUSIONS
Despite the contradictory results, telerehabilitation in physical therapy could be comparable with in-person rehabilitation or better than no rehabilitation for conditions such as osteoarthritis, low-back pain, hip and knee replacement, and multiple sclerosis and also in the context of cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation. It is imperative to conduct better quality clinical trials and systematic reviews.
IMPACT
Providing the best available evidence on the effectiveness of telerehabilitation to professionals, mainly physical therapists, will impact the decision-making process and therefore yield better clinical outcomes for patients, both in these times of the COVID-19 pandemic and in the future. The identification of research gaps will also contribute to the generation of relevant and novel research questions.
Topics: COVID-19; Humans; Musculoskeletal Diseases; Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; Patient Satisfaction; Physical Therapy Modalities; Quality of Life; Research Design; Telerehabilitation; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 33561280
DOI: 10.1093/ptj/pzab053 -
International Journal of Environmental... Jan 2021the main objective of this study was to analyze the potential short-, medium- and long-term effects of a therapeutic physical exercise (TFE) programme on the... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
the main objective of this study was to analyze the potential short-, medium- and long-term effects of a therapeutic physical exercise (TFE) programme on the functionality of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients, measured with the Revised Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Functional Scale (ALSFRS-R) scale.
METHODS
a systematic review of the PubMed, SCOPUS, Cochrane, Scientific Electronic Library Online (Scielo), Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro), Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) and Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online (MEDline) databases was carried out. The information was filtered using the following Medical Subjects Heading (MeSH) terms: "Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis", "Physical Therapy", and "Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine". The internal validity of the selected documents was evaluated using the PEDro scale. The study included clinical trials published in the last 5 years in which one of the interventions was therapeutic physical exercise in patients with ALS, using the ALSFRS-R as the main outcome variable and functional variables as secondary variables.
RESULTS
10 clinical trials were analyzed, with an internal validity of 5-7 points. The TFE groups showed significant short-, medium- and long-term differences, obtaining a mean difference of 5.8 points compared to the 7.6 points obtained by the control groups, at six months, measured with ALSFRS-R. In addition, the participants showed significant improvements in functional abilities in the short, medium and long terms.
CONCLUSIONS
Therapeutic physical exercise could contribute to slowing down the deterioration of the musculature of patients with ALS, thus facilitating their performance in activities of daily living, based on the significant differences shown by these individuals in the short, medium and long term both in subjective perception, measured with ALSFRS-R, and functional capacities.
Topics: Activities of Daily Living; Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis; Exercise; Exercise Therapy; Humans; Physical Therapy Modalities
PubMed: 33530383
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18031074 -
International Journal of Environmental... Mar 2023(1) Objective: The aim of this study is to synthesize the effects of physical therapy on pain, frequency, or duration management in the short, medium, and long term in... (Review)
Review
(1) Objective: The aim of this study is to synthesize the effects of physical therapy on pain, frequency, or duration management in the short, medium, and long term in adult patients diagnosed with Tension-type headache (TTH). (2) Background: Tension-type headache (TTH) is the most common headache with migraine and its pathophysiology and treatment has been discussed for years without reaching a consensus. (3) Methods: A systematic review was conducted using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The review was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42020175020). The systematic search for clinical trials was performed in the databases PubMed, CINAHL, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, PEDro, Scopus, SciELO and Dialnet. Articles were selected according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, regarding the effectiveness of physical therapy interventions on adult patients with TTH published in the last 11 years with a score ≥ 6 in the PEDro Scale (Physiotherapy Evidence Database). (4) Results: In total, 120 articles were identified, of which 15 randomized controlled trials were finally included in order to determine the inclusion criteria. Changes in pain intensity, headache frequency or headache duration of individual studies were described (5) Conclusions: This systematic review shows that there is no standardized physical therapy protocol for the approach to tension headache, although all the techniques studied to date address in one way or another the cranio-cervical-mandibular region. The approach to the cranio-cervical-mandibular region reports significant effects in terms of decreasing the intensity of pain and frequency of headache episodes in the short and medium term. More long-term longitudinal studies are needed.
Topics: Adult; Humans; Tension-Type Headache; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Headache; Physical Therapy Modalities; Pain
PubMed: 36901475
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20054466 -
The Cochrane Database of Systematic... Aug 2021Children and adolescents diagnosed with cancer are at high risk of experiencing severe side effects from cancer treatment, many of which are amenable to physical... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Children and adolescents diagnosed with cancer are at high risk of experiencing severe side effects from cancer treatment, many of which are amenable to physical therapy. These side effects can negatively impact a child's quality of life and ability to participate in daily activities (e.g. play and attendance at school). Researchers have evaluated physical therapy interventions in children with cancer and childhood cancer survivors. However, factors such as small sample sizes, varying intervention protocols and differences in cancer types among trials make it difficult to draw conclusions about efficacy.
OBJECTIVES
The primary aim of this review was to evaluate the efficacy of physical therapy interventions - with a specific focus on symptom relief and compensation of therapy-related side effects - on the quality of life of children and adolescents diagnosed with cancer. Participants must be between the ages of 0 and 19 years at the time of the physical therapy intervention study. The intervention may occur prior to, during or following cancer treatment. The intervention must be compared to a control group of children receiving standard care, no physical therapy intervention or a comparison intervention. We have excluded general physical exercise studies where the primary aim was to improve physical fitness through aerobic, anaerobic, resistance exercise or combined physical exercise training regimens (i.e. combined aerobic and resistance exercise regimens). We have also intended to record the occurrence of any adverse effects resulting from physical therapy interventions. The secondary aims were to evaluate the efficacy of physical therapy on impairments of pain, peripheral neuropathy, balance, gait, functional abilities and mobility, motor function and performance, range of motion, strength and fatigue.
SEARCH METHODS
We searched CENTRAL, MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, PEDro, ongoing trial registries, conference proceedings and the reference lists of relevant studies and reviews in March 2020. We also contacted oncology rehabilitation researchers working in paediatrics in March 2020 to identify additional studies.
SELECTION CRITERIA
The review included randomised controlled trials (RCTs), cross-over trials, and controlled clinical trials (CCTs) that compared the effects of physical therapy interventions to a control group, and involved children and adolescents diagnosed with cancer between the ages of 0 and 19 years at the time of the intervention. We excluded studies examining general physical exercise interventions where the primary aim was to improve physical fitness through aerobic exercise, resistance exercise or combined physical exercise training regimens (i.e. combined aerobic and resistance exercise regimens).
DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS
We used standard methodological procedures expected by Cochrane.
MAIN RESULTS
We found no RCTs, cross-over trials or CCTs comparing the effects of physical therapy interventions with a focus on symptom relief and compensation of therapy-related side effects for children and adolescents between the ages of 0 and 19 years.
AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS
Results demonstrate that the evidence to date is inadequate to inform clinical practice. Recommendations for future research include the need for large-scale, high-quality designs that examine: (1) paediatric populations with same cancer types; (2) similar intervention protocols; (3) long-term outcomes; (4) physical therapy interventions (e.g. electrophysical modalities and sensory interventions); and (5) outcomes commonly impaired in children with cancer (e.g. peripheral neuropathy and gait deficits).
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Child; Child, Preschool; Exercise; Exercise Therapy; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Neoplasms; Physical Fitness; Physical Therapy Modalities; Quality of Life; Young Adult
PubMed: 34343340
DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD012924.pub2 -
Physical Therapy in Sport : Official... Nov 2021To evaluate the impact of interventions on pain associated with DOMS. (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the impact of interventions on pain associated with DOMS.
DATA SOURCES
PubMed, EMBASE, PEDro, Cochrane, and Scielo databases were searched, from the oldest records until May/2020. Search terms used included combinations of keywords related to "DOMS" and "intervention therapy".
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
Healthy participants (no restrictions were applied, e.g., age, sex, and exercise level). To be included, studies should be: 1) Randomized clinical trial; 2) Having induced muscle damage and subsequently measuring the level of pain; 3) To have applied therapeutic interventions (nonpharmacological or nutritional) and compare with a control group that received no intervention; and 4) The first application of the intervention had to occur immediately after muscle damage had been induced.
RESULTS
One hundred and twenty-one studies were included. The results revealed that the contrast techniques (p = 0,002 I = 60 %), cryotherapy (p = 0,002 I = 100 %), phototherapy (p = 0,0001 I = 95 %), vibration (p = 0,004 I = 96 %), ultrasound (p = 0,02 I = 97 %), massage (p < 0,00001 I = 94 %), active exercise (p = 0,0004 I = 93 %) and compression (p = 0,002 I = 93 %) have a better positive effect than the control in the management of DOMS.
CONCLUSION
Low quality evidence suggests that contrast, cryotherapy, phototherapy, vibration, ultrasound, massage, and active exercise have beneficial effects in the management of DOMS-related pain.
Topics: Cryotherapy; Exercise; Humans; Myalgia; Pain Management; Physical Therapy Modalities; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
PubMed: 34365084
DOI: 10.1016/j.ptsp.2021.07.005