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Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) Mar 2024The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical effectiveness of craniosacral therapy (CST) in the management of any conditions. (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVES
The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical effectiveness of craniosacral therapy (CST) in the management of any conditions.
METHODS
Two independent reviewers searched the PubMed, Physiotherapy Evidence Database, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and Osteopathic Medicine Digital Library databases in August 2023, and extracted data from randomized controlled trials (RCT) evaluating the clinical effectiveness of CST. The PEDro scale and Cochrane Risk of Bias 2 tool were used to assess the potential risk of bias in the included studies. The certainty of the evidence of each outcome variable was determined using GRADEpro. Quantitative synthesis was carried out with RevMan 5.4 software using random effect models.
DATA SYNTHESIS
Fifteen RCTs were included in the qualitative and seven in the quantitative synthesis. For musculoskeletal disorders, the qualitative and quantitative synthesis suggested that CST produces no statistically significant or clinically relevant changes in pain and/or disability/impact in patients with headache disorders, neck pain, low back pain, pelvic girdle pain, or fibromyalgia. For non-musculoskeletal disorders, the qualitative and quantitative synthesis showed that CST was not effective for managing infant colic, preterm infants, cerebral palsy, or visual function deficits.
CONCLUSIONS
The qualitative and quantitative synthesis of the evidence suggest that CST produces no benefits in any of the musculoskeletal or non-musculoskeletal conditions assessed. Two RCTs suggested statistically significant benefits of CST in children. However, both studies are seriously flawed, and their findings are thus likely to be false positive.
PubMed: 38540643
DOI: 10.3390/healthcare12060679 -
Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania) Dec 2023: To identify the most frequently reported predictive factors for the persistency of pregnancy-related pelvic girdle pain (PPGP) at 3-6 months after childbirth in women... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
: To identify the most frequently reported predictive factors for the persistency of pregnancy-related pelvic girdle pain (PPGP) at 3-6 months after childbirth in women with PPGP alone or PPGP in association with pregnancy-related lower back pain (PLBP). : Eligibility criteria: Two authors independently selected studies excluding PPGP determined by a specific, traumatic, gynecological/urological cause or isolated PLBP and studies that did not include the presence/absence of PPGP as the the primary outcome. We, instead, included studies with an initial assessment in pregnancy (within 1 month of delivery) and with a follow-up of at least 3 months after delivery. : The research was performed using the databases of Medline, Cochrane, Pedro, Scopus, Web of Science and Cinahl from December 2018 to January 2022, following the indications of the PRISMA statement 2021 and the MOOSE checklist. It includes observational cohort studies in which data were often collected through prospective questionnaires (all in English). : Two independent authors performed evaluations of the risk of bias (ROB) using the quality in prognostic studies (QUIPS) tool. : An in-depth qualitative analysis was conducted because, due to a high degree of heterogeneity in the data collection of the included studies and a lack of raw data suitable for quantitative analysis, it was not possible to carry out the originally planned meta-analyses for the subgroups. : The research process led to the inclusion of 10 articles which were evaluated using the QUIPS tool: 5 studies were evaluated as low ROB and 5 were evaluated as moderate ROB. High levels of pain in pregnancy, a large number of positive provocation tests, a history of lower back pain and lumbo-pelvic pain, high levels of disability in pregnancy, neurotic behavior and high levels of fear-avoidance belief were identified as strong predictors of long-term PPGP, while there was weak or contradictory evidence regarding predictions of emotional distress, catastrophizing and sleep disturbances. : The impossibility of carrying out the meta-analysis by subgroups suggests the need for further research with greater methodological rigor in the acquisition of measures based on an already existing PPGP core predictors/outcome sets.
Topics: Pregnancy; Humans; Female; Pelvic Girdle Pain; Low Back Pain; Prospective Studies; Pregnancy Complications; Surveys and Questionnaires
PubMed: 38138226
DOI: 10.3390/medicina59122123 -
Heliyon Aug 2023Pregnancy-related low back pain (PLBP) is a common musculoskeletal disorder, affecting people's physical and psychological health. Acupuncture is widely used in clinical...
BACKGROUND
Pregnancy-related low back pain (PLBP) is a common musculoskeletal disorder, affecting people's physical and psychological health. Acupuncture is widely used in clinical practice as a treatment for PLBP. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of acupuncture or acupuncture combined with other treatments for PLBP patients.
METHODS
The Cochrane Library, PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, the Chinese Biological Medicine Database, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, WanFang Database, and VIP information database were searched from inception to January 31, 2022. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were eligible, without blinding and language restriction. Cochrane's risk of bias tool was used to assess the methodological quality. Meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.3.
RESULTS
Twelve randomized controlled trials involving 1302 patients were included. The results showed that compared to the control group, the VAS score was significantly decreased after acupuncture treatment. In addition, no significant difference was found in the preterm delivery rate (RR = 0.38, 95%CI: 0.24 to 0.61, P = 0.97) after acupuncture treatment. Compared with other therapies, acupuncture or acupuncture plus other therapies revealed a significant increase in the effective rate (OR: 6.92, 95%CI: 2.44 to 19.67, I = 0%). No serious adverse events owing to acupuncture were reported.
CONCLUSION
Acupuncture or acupuncture combined with other interventions was a safe and effective therapy for treating PLBP. However, the methodological quality of the RCTs was low. More rigorous and well-designed trials should be conducted.
PubMed: 37593601
DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e18439 -
Cureus Jul 2023Pregnant women frequently complain of low back discomfort associated with their pregnancies. On their quality of life, it could have a detrimental effect.... (Review)
Review
Pregnant women frequently complain of low back discomfort associated with their pregnancies. On their quality of life, it could have a detrimental effect. Pregnancy-related low back pain (LBP) and pelvic girdle pain (PGP) are associated with substantial direct and indirect expenditures. Evidence addressing strategies to treat and prevent these illnesses needs to be clarified. This review aimed to examine the connection between exercise, LBP, and PGP. To find relevant studies (in the English language) that matched the inclusion and exclusion criteria, a systematic search of peer-reviewed literature was carried out using the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Scopus, the Web of Science, Pub Med, and ClinicalTrials.Gov. The publishing window was limited to the previous 10 years (2012-2022). Utilizing Review Manager version 5.4 (The Nordic Cochrane Centre, The Cochrane Collaboration, Copenhagen), the results were examined. JADAD ratings were used to evaluate the quality of the included studies. To analyze the endpoints, the mean, standard mean difference (SMD), and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were determined. We chose 16 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that included 1885 pregnant individuals with pelvic girdle and/or lower back discomfort. The combined data showed that the exercise group had lower VAS scores than the control group. The final result, however, did not significantly differ. Most of the studies had high JADAD scores, ranging from 3 to 5 points. Lower back pain and/or pelvic girdle discomfort during pregnancy are not influenced by exercise; however, women who are provided with a regular exercise program appear to manage the condition effectively with improved functional status.
PubMed: 37593303
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.42010 -
The Journal of Pain Dec 2022This study provides evidence- and consensus-based recommendations for the instruments to measure the five Pelvic Girdle Pain Core Outcome Set (PGP-COS): pain frequency,... (Review)
Review
Outcome Measurement Instruments and Evidence-based Recommendations for Measurement of the Pelvic Girdle Pain Core Outcome Set (PGP-COS): A Systematic Review and Consensus Process.
This study provides evidence- and consensus-based recommendations for the instruments to measure the five Pelvic Girdle Pain Core Outcome Set (PGP-COS): pain frequency, pain intensity/severity, function/disability/activity limitation, health-related quality of life and fear avoidance. Studies evaluating measurement properties of instruments measuring any PGP-COS outcome in women with PGP were identified through a systematic search of MEDLINE, EMBASE and PEDro databases (inception-July 2021). The methodological quality of studies and quality of measurement properties were evaluated using the COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health status Measurement Instruments (COSMIN) checklist. Quality criteria and the synthesized evidence were graded using the modified grading of recommendations, assessment, development, and evaluation (GRADE) approach. A consensus meeting with PGP stakeholders was then held to establish recommendations, based on the evidence, for the instruments that should be used to measure the PGP-COS. Ten instruments were identified from 17 studies. No instrument showed high quality evidence for all measurement properties and/or measured all PGP-COS outcomes. Based on current evidence and consensus, the Pelvic Girdle Questionnaire (PGQ), the Short Form-8 (SF-8) and the Fear Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire (FABQ) are recommended for measuring the PGP-COS. Future research should establish additional measurement properties of instruments and to substantiate these recommendations.
Topics: Female; Humans; Pelvic Girdle Pain; Consensus; Quality of Life; Surveys and Questionnaires; Outcome Assessment, Health Care
PubMed: 36115519
DOI: 10.1016/j.jpain.2022.08.003 -
International Journal of Women's Health 2022Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) has emerged as a key concern in patient care. It has become one of the major objectives of clinical trials. Our study aims to... (Review)
Review
PURPOSE
Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) has emerged as a key concern in patient care. It has become one of the major objectives of clinical trials. Our study aims to describe the quality of life (QoL) during uncomplicated pregnancy and to assess its associated factors.
PATIENTS AND METHODS
The search of articles was carried out using the online database of PUBMED and Web of Science with a limit of time between 2011 and 2021. Data were retrieved by two independent reviewers.
RESULTS
721 publications responding to keywords were identified, of which 73 articles on the topic were selected. The main countries that have published on this subject are Australia (n = 10) and China (n = 7). Twenty-three articles deal with QoL for pathological pregnancies. All the pathologies studied have a negative impact on the HRQoL of pregnant women, and its improvement depends on the type of treatment. Obesity, low back, and pelvic girdle pain, and hyperemesis gravidarum were the frequent pathologies during pregnancy. Socio-demographic characteristics related to improved well-being (favorable economic status, social support). Similarly, better sleep quality and moderate physical exercise were linked to an increased QoL. Physical and psychological factors were associated with a lower QoL.
CONCLUSION
The HRQoL refers to patients' subjective evaluation of physical, mental, and social components of well-being. Optimizing the QoL during pregnancy necessitates a deeper understanding of their issues as well as counseling which provides support wherever needed.
PubMed: 35941917
DOI: 10.2147/IJWH.S361643 -
Frontiers in Endocrinology 2022The aim of this review is to assess the current evidence regarding the impact of relaxin on incidence of soft tissue hip injuries in women.
PURPOSE
The aim of this review is to assess the current evidence regarding the impact of relaxin on incidence of soft tissue hip injuries in women.
METHODS
A trained research librarian assisted with searches of PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, and SPORTDiscus, with a preset English language filter. The review was completed per the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Manual for Evidence Synthesis methodology. Included studies required assessment of relaxin effects on musculoskeletal health, pelvic girdle stability, or hip joint structures in human subjects. Letters, texts, and opinion papers were excluded.
RESULTS
Our screen yielded 82 studies. Molecularly, relaxin activates matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) including collagenases MMP-1/-13 and gelatinases MMP-2/-9 to loosen pelvic ligaments for parturition. However, relaxin receptors have also been detected in female periarticular tissues, such as the anterior cruciate ligament, which tears significantly more often during the menstrual cycle peak of relaxin. Recently, high concentrations of relaxin-activated MMP-9 receptors have been found on the acetabular labrum; their expression upregulated by estrogen.
CONCLUSIONS
Menstrual cycle peaks of relaxin activate MMPs, which locally degrade collagen and gelatine. Women have relaxin receptors in multiple joints including the hip and knee, and increased relaxin correlates with increased musculoskeletal injuries. Relaxin has paracrine effects in the female pelvis on ligaments adjacent to hip structures, such as acetabular labral cells which express high levels of relaxin-targeted MMPs. Therefore, it is imperative to investigate the effect of relaxin on the hip to determine if increased levels of relaxin are associated with an increased risk of acetabular labral tears.
Topics: Female; Hip Injuries; Humans; Incidence; Knee Joint; Menstrual Cycle; Relaxin
PubMed: 35185802
DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2022.827512 -
International Journal of Environmental... Dec 2021Pelvic floor dysfunctions affect a third of the adult female population, including a large number of clinical conditions, which can be evaluated through validated... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Pelvic floor dysfunctions affect a third of the adult female population, including a large number of clinical conditions, which can be evaluated through validated questionnaires that inform us of the status and perception of women both objectively and subjectively. The main objective of this study was to review and explain the topics of the validated questionnaires in Spanish on pelvic floor dysfunctions and to review their psychometric properties.
METHODS
A systematic review was carried out in the PUBMED and WOS databases. The keywords used were in PUBMED: (((((((("Fecal Incontinence" [Mesh]) OR "Urinary Incontinence" [Mesh]) OR "Pelvic Organ Prolapse" [Mesh]) OR "Pelvic Floor Disorders" [Mesh]) OR "Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological" [Mesh]) OR "Pelvic Girdle Pain" [Mesh]) OR "sexual function" [Title/Abstract]) OR "Prolapse" [Title/Abstract]) AND "Surveys and Questionnaires" [Mesh] AND "Validation" [Title/Abstract] combined with the Boolean operators "AND"/"OR". In contrast, in WOS, a segregated search was carried out with each of the terms of pelvic floor dysfunction together with "Validation" and "Surveys and Questionnaires". All articles published up to 19 November 2021 were considered. Methodological quality was assessed with the COSMIN scale.
RESULTS
A total of 687 articles were identified, of which 13 were included. The evaluated questionnaires and the structural characteristics and psychometric properties of each of them were collected.
CONCLUSION
The Spanish versions of the questionnaires show good basic structural and psychometric characteristics for the evaluation of patients with pelvic floor dysfunctions and that they resemble other versions of the same questionnaire published in other languages.
Topics: Adult; Female; Humans; Language; Pelvic Floor; Psychometrics; Quality of Life; Surveys and Questionnaires
PubMed: 34886580
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph182312858 -
PloS One 2021Inconsistent reporting of outcomes in clinical trials of women with Pelvic Girdle Pain (PGP) hinders comparison of findings and the reliability of evidence synthesis. A...
BACKGROUND
Inconsistent reporting of outcomes in clinical trials of women with Pelvic Girdle Pain (PGP) hinders comparison of findings and the reliability of evidence synthesis. A core outcome set (COS) can address this issue as it defines a minimum set of outcomes that should be reported in all clinical trials on the condition. The aim of this study was to develop a consensus-based COS for evaluating the effectiveness of interventions in PGP during pregnancy and postpartum for use in research and clinical practice.
METHODS
A systematic review of previous studies on PGP and semi-structured interviews with women were undertaken to identify all outcomes that were reported in prior studies and that are relevant to those experiencing the condition. Key stakeholders (clinicians, researchers, service providers/policy makers and individuals with PGP) then rated the importance of these outcomes for including in a preliminary PGP-COS using a 3-round Delphi study. The final COS was agreed at a face-to-face consensus meeting.
RESULTS
Consensus was achieved on five outcomes for inclusion in the final PGP-COS. All outcomes are grouped under the "life impact" domain and include: pain frequency, pain intensity/severity, function/disability/activity limitation, health-related quality of life and fear avoidance.
CONCLUSION
This study identified a COS for evaluating the effectiveness of interventions in pregnancy-related and postpartum-related PGP in research and clinical settings. It is advocated that all trials, other non-randomised studies and clinicians in this area use this COS by reporting these outcomes as a minimum. This will ensure the reporting of meaningful outcomes and will enable the findings of future studies to be compared and combined. Future work will determine how to measure the outcomes of the PGP-COS.
CORE OUTCOME SET REGISTRATION
This PGP-COS was registered with COMET (Core Outcome Measures for Effectiveness Trials) in January 2017 (http://www.comet-initiative.org/studies/details/958).
Topics: Consensus; Female; Humans; Outcome Assessment, Health Care; Pelvic Girdle Pain; Postpartum Period; Pregnancy; Research Design; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 33630941
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0247466 -
PloS One 2020To estimate the economic burden of common health problems associated with pregnancy and childbirth, such as incontinence, mental health problems, or gestational...
AIM
To estimate the economic burden of common health problems associated with pregnancy and childbirth, such as incontinence, mental health problems, or gestational diabetes, excluding acute complications of labour or birth, or severe acute adverse maternal outcomes.
METHODS
Searches for relevant studies were carried out to November 2019 in Medline, Embase, CINAHL, PsycINFO and EconLit databases. After initial screening, all results were reviewed for inclusion by two authors. An adapted version of a previously developed checklist for cost-of-illness studies was used for quality appraisal. All costs were converted to 2018 Euro using national consumer price indices and purchasing power parity conversion factors.
RESULTS
Thirty-eight relevant studies were identified, some of which reported incremental costs for more than one health problem (16 gestational diabetes, 13 overweight/obesity, 8 mental health, 4 hypertensive disorders, 2 nausea and vomiting, 2 epilepsy, 1 intimate partner violence). A high level of heterogeneity was observed in both the methods used, and the incremental cost estimates obtained for each morbidity. Average incremental costs tended to be higher in studies that modelled a hypothetical cohort of women using data from a range of sources (compared to analyses of primary data), and in studies set in the United States. No studies that examined the economic burden of some common pregnancy-related morbidities, such as incontinence, pelvic girdle pain, or sexual health problems, were identified.
CONCLUSION
Our findings indicate that maternal morbidity is associated with significant costs to health systems and society, but large gaps remain in the evidence base for the economic burden of some common health problems associated with pregnancy and childbirth. More research is needed to examine the economic burden of a range of common maternal health problems, and future research should adopt consistent methodological approaches to ensure comparability of results.
Topics: Cost of Illness; Female; Humans; Medical Informatics; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications
PubMed: 31945775
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0227377