Clinical and radiological outcomes of kinesiotaping in patients with chronic neck pain: A double-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled study.

OBJECTIVES: In this study, we aimed to evaluate the efficacy of kinesiotaping (KT) in patients with chronic non-specific neck pain (NSNP) in terms of pain, disability, cervical range of motion (ROM), and cervical lordosis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between October 2013 and March 2014, a total of 50 patients (10 males, 40 females; mean age 35.1±9.9 years; range, 17 to 62 years) with chronic NSNP were randomized into the KT (n=25) or the sham KT intervention (n=25) groups. Both groups were additionally given a therapeutic exercise (TE) program. The Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and Neck Disability Index (NDI) scores and ROM measurements were recorded at baseline, at the end of treatment, and at one month. Lateral cervical digital radiographs were analyzed by the Cobb, posterior tangent and effective lordosis methods at baseline and at one month after the treatment. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant decrease in the VAS scores compared to baseline in the KT group. The NDI scores significantly decreased in both groups. The patients in the KT group experienced a significant increase in all planes of cervical ROM after the treatment. Cervical radiographs revealed a significant increase in the Cobb and posterior tangent angles only in the KT group. CONCLUSION: Our study results suggest that KT significantly improves VAS, NDI scores, ROM and cervical lordosis angles. The combination of TE and KT is useful in reducing pain and disability and improving ROM and cervical lordosis loss in patients with chronic NSNP.

The effect of interferential current therapy on patients with subacromial impingement syndrome: a randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled study.

BACKGROUND: Although interferential current (IFC) is a common electrotherapeutic modality used to treat musculoskeletal pain, there is not any randomized controlled trial investigating its clinical efficacy in subacromial impingement syndrome (SAIS). AIM: Investigation of effectiveness of IFC treatment in patients with SAIS. DESIGN: Randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled study. SETTING: Physical medicine and rehabilitation outpatient clinic. POPULATION: Patients (N.=65) between 25 and 65 years of age, with a diagnosis of SAIS according to clinical evaluation and subacromial injection test. METHODS: Patients were randomly distributed into two groups: 1) active IFC group (N.=33); 2) sham IFC group (N.=32). Exercise, cryotherapy, and a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) were given to both groups. Ten sessions of IFC with bipolar method were applied to the active IFC group daily 20 minutes per session, 5 days per week, for 2 weeks while sham IFC was applied to the sham IFC group with the same protocol. Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Constant scores, and Shoulder Disability Questionnaire (SDQ) were used for evaluation at baseline, immediately post-treatment, and 1 month post-treatment. Both the patients and the researcher who assessed the outcomes were blinded to the treatment protocol throughout the study period. RESULTS: Sixty of the 65 patients (active IFC group N.=30, sham IFC group N.=30) completed the study, 3 patients from active IFC, 2 from sham IFC group dropped during the follow up period. Statistically significant improvement was observed in all parameters of both groups immediately and 1 month post-treatment (P<0.01). There were no statistical differences between the active IFC group and sham IFC group in all outcome parameters (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrated that IFC therapy does not provide additional benefit to NSAID, cryotherapy, and exercise program in treatment of SAIS. CLINICAL REHABILITATION IMPACT: Our study responds to the needs of the lack of evidence in the field of rehabilitation. IFC therapy does not provide additional benefit for the treatment of SAIS.

Effectiveness of Shortwave Diathermy for Subacromial Impingement Syndrome and Value of Night Pain for Patient Selection: A Double-Blinded, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of short wave diathermy (SWD) in patients with subacromial impingement syndrome. DESIGN: In this double-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled trial, 57 patients (aged 35-65 yrs) were classified into night pain positive (NP[+]) (n = 28) and night pain negative (NP[-]) (n = 29) groups. Both groups were randomly assigned to SWD (NP[+], n = 14; NP[-], n = 14) and sham (NP[+], n = 15; NP[-], n = 14) subgroups. Visual analog scale, Constant-Murley Scale (CS), and Shoulder Disability Questionnaire (SDQ) scores were used for evaluation. RESULTS: There was only a significant difference in pain with activity at 1-mo (mean difference [MD], -1.65; 95% confidence interval, -3.01 to -0.28]) and 2-mo evaluations (MD, -2.1; 95% confidence interval, -3.51 to -0.69) between SWD versus sham groups. In the NP(+) SWD group, the CS pain score was significantly higher than in the NP(+) sham group at all evaluations after treatment. At 1 mo, the NP(-) SWD group showed significantly better pain, strength, total CS, and SDQ scores than the NP(-) sham group. At 2 mos, the pain, range of motion, strength, and total CS and SDQ scores were better in the NP(-) SWD group than in the NP(-) sham group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Short wave diathermy is more effective in subacromial impingement syndrome without NP.