Low back pain prevalence and risk factors in Italian adolescent male soccer players: results from an online survey.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this retrospective survey was to analyze the prevalence of low back pain (LBP) among Italian adolescent soccer players, and to identify potential risk factors. METHODS: Participants were requested to answer an online survey based on the standardized Nordic questionnaires for musculoskeletal symptoms. RESULTS: Data were obtained from 204 male soccer players aged 14-17 years competing at the national and regional level. More than half of the players had experienced LBP in their lives. One-way ANOVA revealed that the players with LBP were taller, heavier and with a higher BMI (all P values<0.00001). When considering the playing position, ANOVA revealed that 14-15 years-old strikers displayed higher LBP scores than all other roles (all P values<0.05). Accordingly, strikers were exposed to a higher risk of LBP than midfielders (RR=1.48; 95% CI: 1.10-2.01; P=0.01) and goalkeepers (RR=1.48; 95% CI: 1.02-2.971; P=0.04), but not defenders (RR=1.23; 95% CI: 0.93-1.63; P=0.15). Within the 14-15 age-class, strikers were, again, those most exposed to LBP risk (all P values<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Anthropometric and soccer-related features should be monitored to ensure early identification of potential risk factors for LBP. This information should be considered along with the specific playing position as strikers emerged as the roles most exposed to LBP risk.

The effectiveness of biofeedback for improving pain, disability and work ability in adults with neck pain: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Biofeedback is used to optimise muscle activation patterns in people with neck pain. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of electromyographic and pressure biofeedback on pain, disability and work ability in adults with neck pain. DESIGN: Systematic review and meta-analysis. METHODS: We searched key databases and trial registries to September 2020, using terms synonymous with 'neck pain' and 'biofeedback'. We included randomised controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating biofeedback (against any comparison) for adults with neck pain. Outcomes included pain, disability, work ability and adverse events. Two authors independently selected the studies, extracted data, and evaluated risk of bias. GRADE was applied to each meta-analysis. Data were pooled using random-effects models to determine the standardised mean change (SMC). RESULTS: We included 15 RCTs (n = 990). Moderate-quality evidence suggests biofeedback has a moderate effect on reducing short-term disability (SMC = -0.42, 95%CI: 0.59 to -0.26, nine trials, n = 627), and a small effect on reducing intermediate-term disability (SMC = -0.30, 95%CI: 0.53 to -0.06, five trials, n = 458). Biofeedback had no effect on pain or work ability in the short- and intermediate-term (low-to moderate-quality evidence). One study reported headaches in 6.7% of participants, but headache frequency was not reported by group. LIMITATIONS: There were a variety of control interventions across studies. Few studies compared biofeedback with no treatment or placebo. CONCLUSION: Biofeedback appears to have a small-to-moderate effect on reducing neck pain disability in the short- and intermediate-term, but no effect on pain or work ability. More trials reporting adverse events and comparing biofeedback to placebo are needed.

Trunk rotation alters postural sway but not gait in female children and early adolescents: Results from a school-based screening for scoliosis.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to assess the influence of trunk rotation (TR) on postural sway and spatial-temporal parameters of gait in children and early adolescents screened at school for the presence of scoliosis. METHODS: Two hundred and fifty-five individuals aged 9-14 (141 boys, 114 girls) underwent trunk rotation (TR) assessment by means of angle of trunk rotation (ATR) measurements performed with Bunnell's scoliometer. Participants with ATR ≥ 5° formed the TR group whose data were compared with those of a control group (CON) composed of individuals with ATR < 5° matched for age and anthropometric features. Postural sway was calculated on the basis of center of pressure (COP) time series acquired using a pressure plate. Spatial-temporal parameters of gait were derived from trunk accelerations collected by a single inertial sensor located in the low-back region. RESULTS: Sway area, sway path, COP velocities in medio-lateral (ML) and antero-posterior (AP) directions and COP displacements in ML direction were found significantly higher in girls with TR, while no differences between the TR and CON groups were detected in boys. Both boys and girls with TR exhibited gait patterns similar to those of their CON schoolmates. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that even mild levels of TR may influence balance of female children and early adolescents screened for scoliosis, and thus early interventions including selective and task-oriented exercises appear advisable. In contrast, TR does not appear to influence gait, but further investigations are required to clarify whether different ATR cut-offs may reveal alterations of spatial-temporal parameters.

How balance task-specific training contributes to improving physical function in older subjects undergoing rehabilitation following hip fracture: a randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of a rehabilitation programme including balance task-specific training in improving physical function, pain, activities of daily living (ADL), balance and quality of life in subjects after a hip fracture. DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial. SUBJECTS: A total of 52 older subjects selected for internal fixation due to extra-capsular hip fracture were randomized to be included in an experimental ( n = 26) and control group ( n = 26). INTERVENTIONS: The experimental group underwent a rehabilitation programme based on balance task-specific training. The control group underwent general physiotherapy, including open kinetic chain exercises and walking training. Both groups individually followed programmes of 90-minute sessions five times/week for three weeks. OUTCOME MEASURES: The Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), a Pain Numerical Rating Scale, the Berg Balance Scale, the Functional Independence Measure and the 36-item Short-Form Health Survey. The participants were evaluated before and after training, and after 12 months. RESULTS: Significant effects of time, group and time × group were found for all outcome measures in favour of the experimental group. A clinically important between-group difference of 25 points was achieved after training and at follow-up in terms of the primary outcome (WOMAC function before treatment, after treatment and at follow-up was 84.8 (3.7), 39.8 (4.9) and 35.7 (6.2) for the experimental group and 80.9 (5.7), 65.2 (7.1) and 61.0 (11.1) for the control group). CONCLUSION: An inpatient rehabilitation programme based on balance task-specific training is useful in improving physical function, pain, ADL and quality of life in older patients after hip fracture.

Nordic Walking for the Management of People With Parkinson Disease: A Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: It is well known that physical exercise is the main therapeutic element of rehabilitation programs for people with Parkinson disease (PD). As traditional forms of exercise can guarantee significant health benefits, the emergence of nonconventional physical activities, such as Nordic walking (NW), may add positive effects. OBJECTIVE: To appraise the available evidence on the main effects of NW in the rehabilitation programs for people with PD and to propose a design for upcoming research that might improve the uniformity of future trials. STUDY DESIGN: Systematic review. LITERATURE SURVEY: A literature search of 5 established databases (PubMed, MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane) was conducted. METHODOLOGY: Any relevant randomized controlled trials pertinent to NW in PD published in English from inception to February 2017 were included. Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines were followed, and the methodologic quality of each study was assessed by the Physiotherapy Evidence Database scale. DATA SYNTHESIS: Sixty-six studies were retrieved, and 6 randomized controlled trials (221 subjects) were entered into the qualitative synthesis. Overall, these studies portrayed NW as feasible and likely to be effective in improving the functional and clinical outcomes of people with PD. When we compared NW with other exercise-based interventions, such as treadmill training, free walking, a program of standardized whole-body movements with maximal amplitude (Lee Silverman Voice Treatment BIG training), or a home-based exercise program, the findings proved controversial. CONCLUSIONS: High heterogeneity and methodologic discrepancies among the studies prevent us from drawing firm conclusions on the effectiveness of NW in comparison with other exercise-based interventions currently used by people with PD. Further investigations with a common design are necessary to verify whether NW may be included within conventional rehabilitation programs commonly recommended to people with PD. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: II.

Responsiveness and Minimal Important Changes of the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index in Subjects Undergoing Rehabilitation Following Hip Fracture.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the responsiveness and minimal important changes (MICs) for the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) and its subscales in subjects with hip fractures. DESIGN: At the beginning and end of a 2-month rehabilitation program, 106 patients completed the WOMAC. After the program, the global perceived effect (GPE) was analyzed to produce a dichotomous outcome (improved vs. stable). Responsiveness for the WOMAC and its subscales were calculated by distribution (effect size; standardized response mean) and anchor-based methods (receiver operating characteristic curves; correlations between change scores of the WOMAC and its subscales and GPE). Receiver operating characteristic curves were also used in order to compute the best cutoff levels between improved and stable subjects (MICs). RESULTS: The effect size ranged from 0.64 to 11.10 and the standardized response mean from 0.79 to 2.65. The receiver operating characteristic analyses revealed an MIC value (area under the curve, sensitivity, specificity) for the WOMAC of 29 (0.817, 92, 78); values of 35 (0.820, 77, 76) 44 (0.625, 25, 95), and 24 (0.707, 100, 76) were found for pain, stiffness, and physical function subscales, respectively. Correlations between change scores of the WOMAC and its subscales and GPE were low (0.240, for stiffness subscale) to moderate (0.438-0.570 for the other subscales and the WOMAC). CONCLUSIONS: The WOMAC and its subscales (all but stiffness) were sensitive in detecting clinical changes in subjects with hip fracture undergoing rehabilitation. We recommend taking the MICs provided into account when assessing patients' improvement or planning studies in this clinical context.

Development of the Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia for Parkinson's disease: confirmatory factor analysis, reliability, validity and sensitivity to change.

The aim of this study was to validate the Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia for Parkinson's disease (TSK-PD). This was a cross-sectional evaluation of the psychometric properties of an adapted questionnaire. The psychometric testing included confirmatory factor analysis, reliability by internal consistency (Cronbach's α) and test-retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient), construct validity by comparing TSK-PD with the Falls Efficacy Scale-International (FES-I), the Movement Disorder Society - Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Score (HADS) and the Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) (Pearson's correlations), and sensitivity to change by calculating the smallest detectable change. The questionnaire was administered to 132 patients with Parkinson's disease. Factor analysis confirmed a two-factor (harm and activity avoidance), 13-item solution, which led to an acceptable data-model fit. Internal consistency (α=0.94) and test-retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient, model 2.1=0.90) were good. Construct validity showed a close correlation between the TSK-PD and FES-I (r=-0.710); a moderate correlation with the MDS-UPDRS (r=0.513); moderate to close correlations with HADS-D (r=0.443) and HADS-A (r=0.626); moderate correlations with the mental subscales of the SF-36 (r=-0.327 to -0.563); and poor correlations with the physical subscales of the SF-36 (r=-0.236 to -0.248). The smallest detectable change was 11. The TSK-PD had a good factorial structure and satisfactory psychometric properties. Its use is recommended for clinical and research purposes.