An overview of rehabilitation approaches for focal hand dystonia in musicians: A scoping review.

OBJECTIVE: To provide a comprehensive overview of rehabilitation treatment strategies for focal hand dystonia (FHD) in musicians, examining their evolution and effectiveness. DATA SOURCES: A systematic search of five databases, PubMed, PEDro, Cochrane Library, Trip, and Google Scholar, to identify relevant articles on FHD rehabilitation. The last search was performed on 20 December 2023. METHODS: Inclusion criteria were applied to 190 initially identified articles, resulting in 17 articles for review. Exclusions were made for duplicates, irrelevant titles, abstracts, and non-rehabilitation interventions. RESULTS: Ten different rehabilitation approaches were identified over 20 years. While no definitive intervention protocol exists, a multimodal approach is commonly recommended. CONCLUSIONS: This scoping review underscores the diversity of rehabilitation strategies for FHD. It suggests the potential of multimodal approaches, emphasizing the need for further large-scale clinical efficacy studies.

Ultrasound-Guided Infiltrative Treatment Associated with Early Rehabilitation in Adhesive Capsulitis Developed in Post-COVID-19 Syndrome.

Background and Objectives: Post-COVID-19 syndrome is commonly used to describe signs and symptoms that continue or develop after acute COVID-19 for more than 12 weeks. The study aimed to evaluate a treatment strategy in patients with adhesive capsulitis (phase 1) developed in post-COVID-19 syndrome. Materials and Methods: The method used was an interventional pilot study in which 16 vaccinated patients presenting with the clinical and ultrasound features of adhesive capsulitis (phase 1) developed during post-COVID-19 syndrome were treated with infiltrative hydrodistension therapy under ultrasound guidance associated with early rehabilitation treatment. Results: Sixteen patients with post-COVID-19 syndrome treated with ultrasound-guided infiltration and early rehabilitation treatment showed an important improvement in active joint ROM after 10 weeks, especially in shoulder elevation and abduction movements. The VAS mean score before the treatment was 6.9 ± 1.66. After 10 weeks of treatment, the VAS score was 1 ± 0.63. Conclusions: The study demonstrated that the management of adhesive capsulitis (phase 1) developed in post-COVID-19 syndrome, as conducted by physiotherapists in a primary care setting using hydrodistension and a rehabilitation protocol, represented an effective treatment strategy.

Short versus standard treatment with pegylated interferon alfa-2A plus ribavirin in patients with hepatitis C virus genotype 2 or 3: the cleo trial.

BACKGROUND: In patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 2 or 3, 24 weeks' treatment with pegylated interferon alfa (PEG-IFN-alpha) and ribavirin induces a sustained virological response (SVR) in almost 80% of cases. Evidence suggests that a similar response rate may be obtained with shorter treatment periods, especially in patients with a rapid virological response (RVR). The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of 12 or 24 weeks of treatment in patients with chronic HCV genotype 2 or 3 and to identify patients suitable for 12 weeks treatment. METHODS: Two hundred and ten patients received PEG-IFN-alpha-2a (180 ug/week) and ribavirin (800-1200 mg/day) for 4 weeks. Patients with a RVR (HCV RNA not detectable) were randomized (1:1) to either 12 (group A1) or 24 (group A2) weeks of combination therapy. Patients without a RVR continued with 24-weeks' combination therapy (group B). HCV RNA was monitored at weeks 4, 8, 12, and 24, and at week 24 post-treatment. RESULTS: At study end, end of treatment response (ETR) was observed in 62 (86%) patients of group A1 and in 55 (77%) patients of group A2 (p < 0.05) Relapse rate was 3% each in groups A1 and A2, and 6% in group B. Among patients with a HCVRNA test 24 weeks after the end of treatment, SVR was observed in 60 (83%) of group A1 patients and in 53 (75%) of group A2 patients. Rapid virological response, low baseline HCV RNA levels, elevated alanine aminotransferase levels and low fibrosis score, were the strongest covariates associated with SVR, independent of HCV genotype. No baseline characteristic was associated with relapse. CONCLUSION: In HCV patients with genotype 2 or 3, 12-week combination therapy is as efficacious as 24-week therapy and several independent covariates were predictive of SVR. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Trial number ISRCTN29259563.