Physiotherapy Research International: the Journal for Researchers and Clinicians in Physical Therapy

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BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Cupping therapy has been used widely as a safe and common method to tackle soft tissue lesions in most Asian countries, Central Europe, and parts of the United States. In this study, cupping therapy has been used for the treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), which is the most common entrapment neuropathy. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of cupping therapy on the clinical findings of patients with CTS. METHODS: This is a randomized clinical trial...

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effect of specific interventions aimed at (1) the upper thoracic spine (passive mobilization) and (2) the posterior shoulder (massage, passive mobilization, and stretching) to (3) an active control intervention in a homogeneous group with extrinsic subacromial shoulder impingement (SSI). STUDY DESIGN: Single-centre, prospective, double-blinded, randomized controlled trial. METHOD: Eligible individuals with clearly defined extrinsic SSI were randomized to each group...

OBJECTIVE: The recent increase in physiotherapy research has led to more physiotherapists being involved in research. Consequently, leaders must make a standpoint on whether the department should engage in research, whereas individual physiotherapists have to decide if they want to play an active role in carrying out a research project. The purpose of this study was to explore perceptions and experiences of both participating physiotherapists and their leaders regarding taking part in clinical physiotherapy research projects...

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine the interrater reliability and measurement error of the standardized Timed Up and Go (TUG) Test manual using the fastest of the three timed TUG trials in hospitalized and community-dwelling older individuals. METHODS: Thirty participants (19 from a hospital and 11 from an outpatient geriatric centre: 20 women, 10 men), 65 years or older, all of whom had been referred to physiotherapy due to a functional decline, were included...

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a systemic inflammatory disease that can cause repercussions on respiratory muscles and body composition. The aim of the current study was to evaluate inspiratory muscle strength, diaphragmatic mobility, and body composition in COPD subjects and to correlate these variables. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study performed with 21 COPD patients. Inspiratory muscle strength (manovacuometry), pulmonary function test (forced vital capacity [FVC], forced expiratory volume in 1 s [FEV1 ], and FEV1 /FVC ratio), diaphragmatic mobility (ultrasonography), and body composition (bioelectrical impedance analysis) were examined...

BACKGROUND: Technologies such as brain-computer interfaces are able to guide mental practice, in particular motor imagery performance, to promote recovery in stroke patients, as a combined approach to conventional therapy. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this systematic review was to provide a status report regarding advances in brain-computer interface, focusing in particular in upper limb motor recovery. METHODS: The databases PubMed, Scopus, and PEDro were systematically searched for articles published between January 2010 and December 2017...

OBJECTIVES: Measurements of joint range of motion (ROM) are part of a physical therapist's daily work. Activities of daily living and exercises can be complicated to perform when ROM is limited, and depending on the demands in daily living, the knee joint requires different ROM. In sports, a few degrees in ROM may make the difference between getting injured or not. The goals for physical therapists are to help the patients to regain full ROM, mobility, strength, and function after sustaining an injury...

OBJECTIVE: This study was developed as a consensus-building exercise within the International Bobath Instructors Training Association (IBITA) to develop a revised definition of the Bobath concept. METHODS: A three-phase design utilizing (a) focus groups, (b) survey methods, and, (c) real-time Delphi. This paper details Phase 1 and 2. RESULTS: Forty IBITA members participated in five focus groups. Eight broad themes were developed from the focus groups from which the survey statements were developed...

INTRODUCTION: Individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) frequently have an ineffective cough ability due to dysfunctions in expiratory muscles. In such cases, several articles have reported the occurrence of residual muscular activity in muscles that are accessory to coughing. The knowledge about this activity may be useful for building cough assistance devices. The goal of this review is to investigate and to describe the electromyographic signals generated during voluntary coughing in healthy people and in patients with SCI...

OBJECTIVES: To undertake a bibliometric analysis of the physiotherapy literature at two points in time to identify similarities, differences, and the evolution of scholarship over a 40-year time-frame. METHOD: To undertake a quantitative comparative analysis of the published and indexed scholarship literature contained within Scopus relating to physiotherapy over two 10-year time windows-1978-1987 and 2008-2017. The method used, bibliometrics, is capable of identifying the nature of scholarship, the key actors, and how the focus and methods used to conduct studies have changed...

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Physiotherapists' different attitudes towards low back pain (LBP) are associated with patients' attitudes towards pain and with patients' disability. The Health Care Providers' Pain and Impairment Relationship Scale (HC-Pairs) is a self-administered instrument that assesses the attitudes and beliefs of health care professionals regarding LBP and the patient's daily function. The aims of this study are to translate, culturally adapt, and asses the psychometric properties of the Hebrew version of the HC-Pairs...

OBJECTIVE: For individuals who rely on wheeled mobility devices for primary mobility, the ability to transfer independently greatly enhances participation in activities within and outside of the home. Nonlevel transfers are challenging and inevitable as not all surfaces in all settings can be made level with an individual's seat to floor height. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of two transfer aids, grab bars, and backrests, on the performance and quality of nonlevel transfers...

BACKGROUND: Subjective visual vertical (SVV) deviations have been correlated to abnormal cerebellar function in individuals diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS). It has been shown that individuals with MS have increased incidence of SVV abnormalities, yet this is not routinely tested in this population during physical therapy evaluation. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to determine if there is a relationship between SVV and balance performance in people with MS who have cerebellar involvement...

OBJECTIVE: To identify and compare factors influencing the use of standardized outcome measures by neurological physical therapists working in representative developed (Canada) and developing (India) countries. METHODS: A self-administered web-based questionnaire on facilitators and barriers to using neurological outcome measures was sent by email to neurological physical therapists in Canada and India. Frequencies of responses to each question were computed. Differences between countries were assessed using two-proportion z test...

OBJECTIVE: We explored the feasibility of use of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) with 15- and 4-cmH2 O for a randomized controlled trial with patients with pleural drainage. METHODS: Ten patients with traumatic pleural effusion drained within 24 hr, with controlled pain received randomly CPAP with 0-, 4-, and 15-cmH2 O. Computed tomography was used to assess the lung aeration. Patients reported the level of tolerability. Air leak was also observed as a parameter of safety...

OBJECTIVES: Reablement is a relatively new service targeting people with or at risk of functional decline. The approach is team based, and physiotherapists (PTs), occupational therapists, and nurses have the responsibility to guide and supervise the support personnel, referred to as home trainers (HTs). The aim of this study was to explore how the HTs follow up instructions and supervision by PTs in reablement. METHODS: This qualitative study included video recordings of practice and individual interviews in seven Norwegian reablement teams...

OBJECTIVE: Few studies have focused on the effect of resistance training under conditions of malnutrition in older adults requiring long-term care. The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of nutritional status in older adults on resistance training-induced changes in physical performance. METHODS: A total of 91 community-dwelling older adults participated in 24 weeks of resistance training. Participants used the 60% of one repetition maximum for three sets of 10 repetitions for resistance training...

OBJECTIVES: To examine responsiveness and estimate minimal clinically important difference (MCID) of the Thai version of Functional Rating Index (Thai FRI) and examine head-to-head comparisons of the Thai FRI and other questionnaires. METHODS: This study related to validation of a questionnaire and head-to-head comparisons. Patients with low back pain (LBP) completed the Thai FRI, Roland-Morris (RM), modified Oswestry, and multilevel RM disability questionnaires...

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Falling is a major health concern that has contributed significantly to older people's injury and loss of life worldwide, warranting the development of fall-prevention strategies, the success of which has been attributed to the levels of knowledge and practice about fall prevention among physiotherapists and other health professionals. The objective of this study was to determine the self-reported levels of knowledge on risk factors of fall and practices about fall prevention in older adults among physiotherapists in Nigeria...