Manual Therapy and Exercise for the Management of Chronic Neck Pain With Multiple Neurovascular Comorbidities: A Case Report.

This case describes the clinical decision-making behind the conservative clinical management of an individual presenting with chronic neck pain with myriad neuromuscular comorbidities. The focus of this case report is to support the safe utilization of manual therapy and describe the tolerable prescription of strength and endurance exercise in a patient with numerous complications to improve self-efficacy. A 22-year-old female college student presented with a chief complaint of chronic, non-specific neck pain with comorbid Chiari malformation, migraines, upper cervical spinal fusion, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS), and postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) to an outpatient physical therapy clinic for evaluation and treatment. Following four sessions of physical therapy treatment, no clinically significant improvement in the individual's symptoms and daily function was achieved. Despite the lack of measurable change, the patient reported the program's value on her ability to self-manage her complex condition. The patient responded well to manual therapy, specifically thrust manipulations. In addition, both endurance and strengthening exercises were well tolerated and provided a measure of self-management that may not have been achieved before physical therapy management. This case report highlights the need for exercise and pain-modulating interventions in highly complex individuals to reduce medical intervention by advancing the patient's self-efficacy. There is a need for further research about the utility of standardized outcome measures, joint manipulations, and the addition of cervico-ocular exercises for those who present with neck pain and pertinent neuromuscular comorbidities.

Public health engagement: detection of suspicious skin lesions, screening and referral behaviour of UK based chiropractors.

BACKGROUND: UK morbidity and mortality rates from skin cancer are increasing despite existing preventative strategies involving education and early detection. Manual therapists are ideally placed to support these goals as they see greater quantities of exposed patient skin more often than most other healthcare professionals. The purpose of this study therefore was to ascertain the ability of manual therapists to detect, screen and refer suspicious skin lesions. METHOD: A web-based questionnaire and quiz was used in a sample of UK chiropractic student clinicians and registered chiropractors to gather data during 2011 concerning skin screening and referral behaviors for suspicious skin lesions. RESULTS: A total of 120 questionnaires were included. Eighty one percent of participants agreed that screening for suspicious skin lesions was part of their clinical role, with nearly all (94%) assessing their patients for lesions during examination. Over 90% of the participants reported regularly having the opportunity for skin examination; with nearly all (98%) agreeing they would refer patients with suspicious skin lesions to a medical practitioner. A third of respondents had referred a total of 80 suspicious lesions within the last 12 months with 67% warranting further investigation. CONCLUSIONS: Nearly all respondents agreed that screening patients for suspicious skin lesions was part of their clinical role, with a significant number already referring patients with lesions.