Most Read Papers - Physiatry, Rehabilitation Medicine

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...

Neuropsychological research has permitted defining specific cognitive profiles among individuals with mental retardation (MR) of different etiology. Namely, the cognitive profile of people with Down syndrome (DS) is often reported to be characterized by a deficit in language abilities that usually exceed impairments in visual-spatial capacities. However, recent studies have demonstrated a more complex neuropsychological profile in this population, with atypical development in the cognitive and in the linguistic domain...

BACKGROUND: Transforaminal epidural injections with steroids (TESI) are increasingly being used in patients sciatica. The STAR (steroids against radiculopathy)-trial aimed to evaluate the (cost-) effectiveness of TESI in patients with acute sciatica (< 8 weeks). This article contains the economic evaluation of the STAR-trial. METHODS: Participants were randomized to one of three study arms: Usual Care (UC), that is oral pain medication with or without physiotherapy, n = 45); intervention group 1: UC and transforaminal epidural steroid injection (TESI) 1 ml of 0...

PURPOSE: Functional neurological disorders are common, highly stigmatised and associated with significant disability. This review aimed to synthesise qualitative research exploring the experiences of people living with motor and/or sensory FND. Identifying their needs should inform service development, education for healthcare professionals and generate future research questions. METHOD: Five databases were systematically searched (Medline, PsychInfo, Web of Science, Embase and Cinahl) in November 2022, updated in June 2023...

INTRODUCTION/AIMS: Glucocorticoids (GC) are first-line therapy for many neuromuscular diseases. There is a lack of guidelines regarding the prevention and management of GC complications in the context of neuromuscular disease, introducing the potential for practice variation, that may compromise quality of care. Our aim was to evaluate the practice patterns among Canadian adult neuromuscular neurologists on the screening, management, and treatment of GC-related complications and to identify variances in practice...

Nociplastic pain by the "International Association for the Study of Pain" is defined as pain that arises from altered nociception despite no clear evidence of nociceptive or neuropathic pain. Augmented central nervous system pain and sensory processing with altered pain modulation are suggested to be the mechanism of nociplastic pain. Clinical criteria for possible nociplastic pain affecting somatic structures include chronic regional pain and evoked pain hypersensitivity including allodynia with after-sensation...

BACKGROUND: Current recommendations for physical exercise include information about the frequency, intensity, type, and duration of exercise. However, to date, there are no recommendations on what time of day one should exercise. The aim was to perform a systematic review with meta-analysis to investigate if the time of day of exercise training in intervention studies influences the degree of improvements in physical performance or health-related outcomes. METHODS: The databases EMBASE, PubMed, Cochrane Library, and SPORTDiscus were searched from inception to January 2023...

OBJECTIVE: Coccydynia is a disorder that decreases quality of life with significant functional failure. Extra-corporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) is used to treat several painful musculoskeletal disorders. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The medical records of 34 patients (29 females, 5 males) who had been treated with ESWT between 2017 and 2018 for chronic coccydynia were evaluated. Visual analog scale (VAS) scores were noted at the initial consultation, at each session, and during the initial and follow-up (at 6 months) examinations after the treatment...

BACKGROUND: Chronic low back pain (CLBP) is a prevalent and debilitating condition, leading to significant challenges to both patients and the governmental healthcare system. Non-pharmacologic interventions have received increasing attention as potential strategies to alleviate chronic low back pain and improve patient outcomes. The aim of this systematic review was to comprehensively assess the changes in blood inflammatory biomarkers after non-pharmacologic interventions for CLBP patients, thus trying to understand the complex interactions between non-pharmacologic interventions and inflammatory biomarker changes in CLBP...

Intravenous iron has become an essential component for the treatment of iron deficiency and iron deficiency anemia. Individuals administering Intravenous iron should have knowledge in intravenous iron administration, including a pre-infusion assessment to evaluate infusion reaction risks, pre- and post-infusion monitoring, identification of and management of infusion reactions, accurate documentation of these reactions, laboratory monitoring and recognition and management of treatment-emergent hypophosphatemia...

Cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) has been proven to be the most common pathological change in cerebral small vessel disease except arteriosclerosis. In recent years, with the discovery of imaging technology and new imaging markers, the diagnostic rate of CAA has greatly improved. CAA plays an important role in non-hypertensive cerebral hemorrhage and cognitive decline. This review comprehensively describes the etiology, epidemiology, pathophysiological mechanisms, clinical features, imaging manifestations, imaging markers, diagnostic criteria, and treatment of CAA to facilitate its diagnosis and treatment and reduce mortality...

OBJECTIVE: This study expands previous equine-assisted intervention research by evaluating the effectiveness of therapeutic horseback riding (THR) on self-regulation, socialization, communication, adaptive, and motor behaviors in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). METHOD: Participants with ASD (aged 6-16 years; N = 127) were stratified by nonverbal IQ standard scores (≤85 or >85) and randomized to 1 of 2 groups for 10 weeks: THR intervention or a barn activity (BA) control group without horses that used similar methods...

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the effects on pain and disability recovery after a whiplash of a guided neck-specific exercise (NSE) therapy, compared to a different or an unguided NSE therapy. DESIGN: A literature search was conducted from inception to May 31, 2023, in three electronic databases: PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Web of Science. Eleven randomized controlled trials were included. Meta-analyses were performed with Review Manager software. The standardized mean difference (SMD) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) was used to measure the effect sizes and only short-term time points were considered...

Pain in the attachment of the plantar fascia in the calcaneus represents 10% of all sports injuries, affects 10% of foot runners, and will affect around 20% of the world population. There is no effective conservative treatment for it. This paper justifies a new definition and name for this pathology, Plantar Fascia Syndrome (PFS), presents a methodology for its diagnosis, and presents the clinical and functional effectiveness of a new conservative treatment based on platelet-rich plasma (PRP). In total, 25 patients (from an initial sample of 260) diagnosed with recalcitrant PFS lasting for more than 12 months were treated with a single infiltration of 2 mL of PRP, according to a new technic proposed...

AIM: To review the evidence of the effects of neonatal magnesium sulphate for neuroprotection in perinatal asphyxia and hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy (HIE). METHOD: This was a systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) (with meta-analysis) and non-RCTs assessing magnesium sulphate for treating perinatal asphyxia and HIE at 35 weeks or more gestation (primary outcomes: neonatal death and death or long-term major neurodevelopmental disability)...

Spastic cerebral palsy (SCP) is a common neurodevelopmental disorder in children, which can be categorized into unilateral and bilateral subtypes. Most studies examining the muscle-tendon properties of the lower extremities in individuals with SCP do not distinguish between subtypes. However, spastic muscle morphology is an important determinant for its function. Therefore, differences in muscle-tendon pathology might lead to different treatment strategies. The aim of this retrospective study was to investigate the muscle-tendon properties between children with unilateral SCP and those with bilateral SCP...

OBJECTIVES: Current research suggests static stretch-induced maximal strength increases and muscle hypertrophy with potential to substitute resistance-training routines. However, most studies investigated the plantar flexors. This study explored the effects of a static stretching program on maximal strength, hypertrophy and flexibility of the pectoralis major and compared the effects with those of traditional resistance training. METHODS: Eighty-one (81) active participants were allocated to either a static stretching, strength-training or control group...

OBJECTIVES: To examine the effectiveness of different exercise-based interventions to mitigate the risk of anterior cruciate ligament injury in football players, and to determine which is the most appropriate for them, specifically for female football players. DESIGN: Four databases were accessed in July 2023 using the keywords football, soccer, athletic injuries, anterior cruciate ligament, knee injuries, injury prevention, exercise-based programme, and risk factor...

Dietary fiber are non-digestible carbohydrates that are diverse, have varied functions, and are acquired by consuming plant-based foods. Some forms of fiber are digested by the gut microbiota and produce bioactive metabolites called short chain fatty acids-butyrate, acetate, and propionate. Dietary fiber is able to alter human physiology through multiple mechanisms that can result in health benefits. Unfortunately, nearly 19 out of 20 Americans do not consume the minimum recommended amount of fiber each day...

AIM: To compare overall, fine, and gross motor abilities in adults born preterm with very low birthweight (VLBW) and a control group of term-born individuals. METHOD: In a joint assessment of the Helsinki Study of Very Low Birth Weight Adults and NTNU Low Birth Weight in a Lifetime Perspective study, data were collected with harmonized methods for 118 adults born preterm (gestational age < 37 weeks) with VLBW (≤1500 g) and 147 control individuals...