Physical therapy

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The use of Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT) in lung cancer is increasing. However, there is no consensus on the most appropriate treatment planning and delivery practice for lung SBRT. To gauge the range of practice, quantify its variability and identify where consensus might be achieved, ESTRO surveyed the medical physics community. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An online survey was distributed to ESTRO's physicist membership in 2022, covering experience, dose and fractionation, target delineation, dose calculation and planning practice, imaging protocols, and quality assurance...

Thermoluminescent dosimeters (TLDs) serve as compact and user-friendly tools for various applications, including personal radiation dosimetry and radiation therapy. This study explores the potential of utilizing TLD-100 personal dosimetry, conventionally applied in PET/CT (positron emission tomography/computed tomography) settings, in the PET/MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) environment. The integration of MRI into conventional radiotherapy and PET systems necessitates ionizing radiation dosimetry in the presence of static magnetic fields...

BACKGROUND: Advanced practice physiotherapy (APP) models of care have shown success in access, safety, satisfaction, and care quality for musculoskeletal pain conditions in various settings. Yet, there is a gap in defining competencies for physiotherapists to be the initial point of contact for people with chronic pain. This study aims to identify and agree upon the competencies necessary for a physiotherapist to fulfill the role of an APP in an interprofessional chronic pain clinic. METHODS: Three focus groups were conducted using a Nominal Group Technique and a modified Delphi process...

INTRODUCTION: The rise in participation in sports, like women's cricket, is linked with increased injury risk. Providing high-level longitudinal data is the first step in implementing evidence-based injury prevention strategies. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. OBJECTIVE: This cohort study aims to describe the injury profiles in sub-elite women's cricket in South Africa during the 2022/23 season. METHODS: Injuries were prospectively recorded using injury surveillance questionnaires, injury surveillance database, and logbooks completed by each team's medical staff...

BACKGROUND: Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) like liraglutide are primarily used for managing blood sugar levels in type 2 diabetes and aiding weight loss. Typically, their adverse effects are gastrointestinal, with limited exploration into their impact on mental health. CASE PRESENTATION: This report examines a 39-year-old male with type 2 diabetes who developed depressive symptoms after starting liraglutide for glycemic control and weight reduction...

BACKGROUND: Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a long-term and complex chronic disease that seriously affects the physical and mental health and quality of life of patients. Massage, as one of the methods in traditional Chinese medicine, can treat both symptoms and root causes and is widely used to treat CFS. The main purpose is to systematically evaluate the impact of massage therapy on the efficacy and safety of CFS patients, providing a reference for clinical practice. METHODS: By searching for literature published in PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Embase, Wanfang Database, VIP Database, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure Database until November 2023, randomized controlled trial studies were selected according to the established inclusion and exclusion criteria...

BACKGROUND: Playing guitar involves several physical demands, most inclusive of which are long hours of practice, which can make musculoskeletal symptoms common. OBJETIVE: To determine the epidemiology of neuromuscular injuries in guitar players residing in Portugal and risk factors. METHODS: The sample consisted of 105 guitar players, being 103 (98.10%) men, aged between 30-75 years (29,83±10,23). The measurement instrument used was a digital survey, shared by email, on social networks and in person...

BACKGROUND: Although many studies have investigated the physical and ergonomic risks of spine pain in specific occupation groups, the literature is lacking on occupation-based clinical and psychological presentation in patients with spine pain. OBJECTIVE: To analyze occupation-based variation in demographic, clinical, and psychological presentation in patients with spine pain. METHODS: This retrospective study analyzed the clinical data of 71727 patients with spine pain visiting a chain of spine rehabilitation clinics...

BACKGROUND: In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, educational institutions had to swiftly adapt and transition to remote teaching in order to maintain academic activities. However, these changes presented a number of challenges for professors, which could have negative effects on their health. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the association between changes in dietary and sleep habits, physical activity level, and sedentary behavior with the development of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) among Brazilian higher education professors during the pandemic period...

BACKGROUND: Previous systematic reviews have identified the benefits of exercise for chronic neck pain on subjective reports of pain, but not with objective measures such as quantitative sensory testing (QST). A systematic review was conducted to identify the effects of neck specific exercise on QST measures in adults with chronic neck pain to synthesise existing literature and provide clinical recommendations. METHODS: The study protocol was registered prospectively with PROSPERO (PROSPERO CRD42021297383)...

The management of diabetic ulcers poses a significant challenge worldwide, and persistent hyperglycemia makes patients susceptible to bacterial infections. Unfortunately, the overuse of antibiotics may lead to drug resistance and prolonged infections, contributing to chronic inflammation and hindering the healing process. To address these issues, a photothermal therapy technique was incorporated in the preparation of wound dressings. This innovative solution involved the formulation of a self-healing and injectable hydrogel matrix based on the Schiff base structure formed between the oxidized Bletilla striata polysaccharide (BSP) and hydroxypropyltrimethylammonium chloride chitosan...

UNLABELLED: People with advanced cancer and cachexia experience significant body weight loss, adversely impacting physical function and quality of life (QOL). Effective, evidence-based treatments for cancer cachexia are lacking, leaving patients with unmet needs. Exercise holds promise to improve patient QOL. However, information on patients' experiences of exercise, including their ability to cope with structured exercise, is limited. PURPOSE: To explore patient experiences completing a structured, supervised exercise program for people with cachexia due to advanced cancer...

PURPOSE: This study aimed to translate, cross-culturally adapt, and validate the MedRisk Instrument for Measuring Patient Satisfaction with Physical Therapy Care into Arabic (MRPS-Ar). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The 20-Item MRPS was translated and cross-culturally adapted into Arabic following international guidelines. Patients ( n  = 229) with musculoskeletal conditions who received physical therapy care completed the MRPS-Ar and global rating of change scale...

BACKGROUND AND RATIONALE: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has left no person unexposed to the wisdom about the need for human preparedness to tackle future pandemics irrespective of individual caste, race, religion, and education status. The extent of this change in knowledge and public perspective is difficult to measure in a populous nation like India subjected to individual freedom and cultural beliefs. Hence, we planned this study with the objective of evaluating the knowledge and perception of the Indian public towards COVID-19 disease, vaccination and research activities associated with the COVID-19 pandemic...

BACKGROUND: The LBP-related attitudes and beliefs of clinicians may impact the experience of patients by influencing clinician decision-making and by shaping the attitudes, beliefs, and actions of patients. The purpose of this study was to identify the specific LBP-related attitudes and beliefs of US-based physical therapists and determine if those beliefs correlate with clinical decision-making. METHODS: An electronic survey was sent to US-based physical therapists...

AIM: The aim of this study was to evaluate the physical-mechanical behavior of the occlusal veneers when subjected to thermomechanical cycling. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty specimens were divided into 04 groups (n=15 per group), according with the different restorative materials and thicknesses: material - lithium dissilicate LD (IPS e.max CAD, Ivoclar Vivadent) and nano- ceramic-resins NCR (ESPE Lava Ultimate, 3M); thickness - 0.6 and 1.2mm. The occlusal veneers were bonded over human flattened fresh extracted molars with dual-polymerizing luting agent (Variolink N, Ivoclar Vivadent and RelyX Ultimate 3M) using the respective adhesive system following the selective-etch technique (self-etch in dentin and total etch in enamel)...

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Interventions including posterior glenohumeral mobilizations (PGM), sleeper stretches, and thoracic manipulation are commonly used to address posterior shoulder tightness. The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of adding thoracic manipulation to PGM and sleeper stretches on passive range of motion (PROM), joint mobility, and infraspinatus electromyographic (EMG) activity in shoulders with decreased internal rotation (IR) PROM. DESIGN: Randomized Sequential Intervention Laboratory Study...

UNLABELLED: Evaluating an impairment in an individual's capacity to maintain, achieve, or restore balance suggests a deficiency in postural control. For effective identification of individuals at risk for falls, balance assessment should exhibit reliability, validity, and ease of use. This systematic review concentrated on dynamic and functional balance assessment methods and their validity in healthy adults aged 19-54. The objective was to clarify the tools that health professionals can utilize to assess balance in this healthy population...

INTRODUCTION: The negative impact of unmanaged psychological distress on quality of life and outcome in breast cancer survivors has been demonstrated. Fortunately, studies indicate that distress can effectively be addressed and even prevented using evidence-based interventions. In Germany prescription-based mobile health apps, known as DiGAs (digital health applications), that are fully reimbursed by health insurances, were introduced in 2020. In this study, the effectiveness of an approved breast cancer DiGA was investigated: The personalized coaching app PINK! Coach supports and accompanies breast cancer patients during therapy and follow-up...

Lactococcus garvieae is a Gram-positive coccus that can be easily misidentified as Enterococcus spp. or streptococci. Infection with L. garvieae is associated with the consumption of raw fish and unpasteurized dairy products. Although rare, it can cause infective endocarditis (IE). Herein, we report a case in which aortic valve replacement (AVR) was required for IE caused by L. garvieae . A 79-year-old Japanese man with a history of hypertension, myocardial infarction, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and abdominal aortic aneurysm presented with loss of appetite, myalgia, and difficulty in moving...