Patients' perspectives on planned interventions tested in the Otago MASTER feasibility trial: an implementation-based process evaluation study.

BACKGROUND: Patients are key stakeholders of clinical research, and their perspectives are relevant for researchers when planning and conducting clinical trials. Numerous aspects of trial process can influence participants' experiences. Their experiences within a trial can impact retention rates. Poor treatment adherence may bias treatment effect estimates. One way to improve recruitment and adherence is to design trials that are aligned with patients' needs and preferences. This study reports a process evaluation of the Otago MASTER feasibility trial. OBJECTIVES: Our aims were to investigate the patients' perceptions of the trial interventions through individual interviews. METHODS: Twenty-five participants were recruited for the feasibility trial and were allocated to two groups: tailored or standardised exercise. Sixteen participants agreed to take part in individual semi-structured interviews. Interviews were transcribed verbatim, and all interviews were analysed thematically using an iterative approach. RESULTS: Our key findings suggest participants: (1) took part in the study to access healthcare services and contribute to research; (2) valued interventions received; (3) reported certain barriers and facilitators to participate in the trial; and (4) highlighted areas for improvement when designing the full trial. CONCLUSION: Participants volunteered to access healthcare and to contribute to research. Participants valued the personalised care, perceived that their engagement within the trial improved their self-management and self-efficacy behaviour, valued the time spent with clinicians, and the empathetic environment and education received. Facilitators and barriers will require careful consideration in the future as the barriers may impact reliability and validity of future trial results.

Different descending pathways mediate early and late portions of lower limb responses to transcranial magnetic stimulation.

Although recent studies in nonhuman primates have provided evidence that transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) activates cells within the reticular formation, it remains unclear whether descending brain stem projections contribute to the generation of TMS-induced motor evoked potentials (MEPs) in skeletal muscles. We compared MEPs in muscles with extensive direct corticomotoneuronal input (first dorsal interosseous) versus a prominent role in postural control (gastrocnemius) to determine whether the amplitudes of early and late MEPs were differentially modulated by cortical suppression. Suprathreshold TMS was applied with and without a preceding suprathreshold TMS pulse at two interstimulus intervals (50 and 80 ms). H reflexes in target muscles were also tested with and without TMS conditioning. Early and late gastrocnemius MEPs were differentially modulated by cortical inhibition, the amplitude of the early MEP being significantly reduced by cortical suppression and the late MEP facilitated. The amplitude of H reflexes in the gastrocnemius was reduced within the cortical silent period. Early MEPs in the first dorsal interosseous were also reduced during the silent period, but late MEPs were unaffected. Independent modulation of early and late MEPs in the gastrocnemius muscle supports the idea that the MEP is generated by multiple descending pathways. Suppression of the early MEP is consistent with transmission along the fast-conducting corticospinal tract, whereas facilitation of the late MEP suggests transmission along a corticofugal, potentially cortico-reticulospinal, pathway. Accordingly, differences in late MEP modulation between the first dorsal interosseous and gastrocnemius reflect an increased role of corticofugal pathways in the control of postural muscles.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Early and late portions of the response to transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) in a lower limb postural muscle are modulated independently by cortical suppression, late motor evoked potentials (MEPs) being facilitated during cortical inhibition. These results suggest a cortico-brain stem transmission pathway for late portions of the TMS-induced MEP.

Dosage of joint mobilization for the management of patients with rotator cuff-related shoulder pain: A scoping review.

BACKGROUND: Evidence supporting type and dosage of joint mobilizations and rationale for selecting joint mobilization dosage for patients with rotator cuff-related shoulder pain are limited. OBJECTIVES: This scoping review aimed to systematically map the type and dosage of joint mobilizations used in previous trials for managing patients with rotator cuff-related shoulder pain; and summarize the rationale for adopting a specific joint mobilization dosage. METHODS: We searched six databases. We included randomised controlled trials using joint mobilization for patients with rotator cuff-related shoulder pain. We extracted data regarding technique, treatment joint mobilization dosages and rationale for a specific dosage. RESULTS: We included 32 studies. Most studies did not or partially report technique (67%) and within-session dosage (64%) of passive joint mobilization. Overall treatment was fully reported in 95% of studies. The dosage used for passive joint mobilization was heterogeneous (ranging from grade I to grade V). Most studies (85%) did not or partially report technique of mobilization with movement (MWM), whereas within-session and overall treatment dosages were fully reported in more than 85% of studies. Three sets of 10 repetitions were commonly used within-session dosage for MWM. We found very limited information on the rationale for selecting dosage of joint mobilization. CONCLUSION: We found limited information about the dosage or the rationale for selecting joint mobilization, with a heterogeneous dosage being tested across trials. Our findings highlight the importance of detailed reporting for dosage and rationale for selecting a specific dosage of joint mobilization.

Mediators of the effects of exercise and manual therapy for people with knee and hip osteoarthritis: A secondary, exploratory analysis of the MOA trial.

Objective: To explore whether pain beliefs and functional strength mediate the treatment effect of manual therapy (MT) and exercise therapy (ET) on the Western Ontario and McMaster Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) composite scores and its subscales in individuals with hip and/or knee osteoarthritis in the MOA trial. Design: Secondary analysis of a randomised controlled trial that compared the incremental effects of supervised MT and ET in addition to usual care in patients with osteoarthritis of the hip or knee. 206 participants enrolled in the MOA trial were analysed. The primary outcome measure was the WOMAC composite score after 1 year. Results: Pain belief mediated the effect of MT (b: -10.7, 95 â€‹% CI: -22.3, -0.9), ET (b: -14.5 95%CI: -26.0, -4.4). Functional strength did not mediate the effect of MT, ET, or MT â€‹+ â€‹ET. Mediation sensitivity analyses suggest findings are likely to change if small confounding between those mediators and WOMAC composite score is present. Conclusions: We identified possible mediators of MT and ET. Future confirmatory studies could be designed to assess the mechanisms through which manual therapy and exercise cause improvements in pain and function scores in patients with hip or knee osteoarthritis.

Musculoskeletal chest pain prevalence in emergency department presentations: A retrospective case notes review.

OBJECTIVE: Musculoskeletal (MSK) causes of chest pain are considered common in emergency care, yet management is limited, reported outcomes are poor and prevalence data in New Zealand are lacking. The present study aims to estimate the prevalence of MSK chest pain in New Zealand EDs and describe the characteristics of MSK chest pain cases. METHODS: A retrospective chart review was conducted based on de-identified clinical notes extracted from four hospitals within the South Island of New Zealand from 3 months spanning 1 March to 31 May 2021. Individual cases were categorised to the single best-fitting cause of chest pain using systems-based categorisation, based primarily on the doctors' documented final impression. RESULTS: A total of 1344 cases were categorised in the present study. MSK chest pain had a prevalence of 15% (range 11-31%) of chest pain presentations across all study sites. This represented the second most common system responsible for chest pain, after the cardiovascular system. The mean age of MSK chest pain cases was 46.9 (standard deviation [SD] 19.1) years, compared to 55.5 (SD 19.7) years in all cases. Age and gender-specific data, data from rural hospitals and MSK sub-type data are presented. CONCLUSIONS: These data provide a conservative estimate of MSK chest pain prevalence in EDs within the South Island of New Zealand. The findings highlight MSK chest pain as common in emergency care, providing a basis and justification for further research to improve management and outcomes for people with MSK chest pain.

Test-retest reliability of movement-evoked pain and sensitivity to movement-evoked pain in patients with rotator cuff-related shoulder pain.

BACKGROUND: The number of researchers and clinicians using movement-evoked pain and sensitivity to movement-evoked pain to assess shoulder pain has increased. However, the intrarater test-retest reliability of movement-evoked pain and sensitivity to movement-evoked pain in people with rotator cuff-related shoulder pain (RCRSP) is still unknown. OBJECTIVE: We examined the intrarater test-retest reliability of movement-evoked pain and sensitivity to movement-evoked pain in participants with RCRSP. METHODS: Seventy-four participants with RCRSP performed five trials of active shoulder abduction to elicit pain under two experimental conditions: active shoulder abduction to the onset of pain and maximum range of motion (ROM). The primary outcome measures were pain intensity and ROM. Test-retest reliability of movement-evoked pain and sensitivity to movement-evoked pain was examined using intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC3,1) and minimal detectable change (MDC90). RESULTS: The reliability of movement-evoked pain under both experimental conditions was good to excellent (ICC: 0.81 to 0.95), while the reliability of sensitivity to movement-evoked pain was poor in both conditions (ICC≤0.45). The MDC90 for pain intensity was 1.6 and 1.8 during shoulder abduction to the onset of pain and maximum ROM, respectively. The MDC90 for ROM was 17.5° and 11.2° during shoulder abduction to the onset of pain and maximum ROM condition, respectively. CONCLUSION: This study confirms movement-evoked pain testing during active shoulder abduction to the onset of pain or maximum ROM condition is reliable to assess pain associated with movement in patients with RCRSP. The minimal detectable change score of movement-evoked pain can guide clinicians and researchers on how to interpret changes in these outcomes.

Knowledge and use of extrinsic feedback characteristics: A survey of current practice among Brazilian physical therapists.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to identify the knowledge about the different characteristics of and the use of extrinsic feedback (EF) by Brazilian physical therapists. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study, and we used an internet-based survey with questions about knowledge and application of extrinsic feedback in clinical practice. We analyzed the responses in relation to the best available evidence on motor control and learning. We recruited Brazilian registered physical therapists from different regions in Brazil. Participants' demographics and survey responses were analyzed using descriptive statistics. RESULTS: Two hundred and forty-six Brazilian physical therapists participated in the study. Most participants affirmed not knowing the definition of EF (55.69%), confirmed using some form of EF in their clinical practice (86.59%), and reported using it in 50% to 90% of their patients (26.42%). Brazilian physical therapists reported using mainly summary feedback (69.10%) with external focus of attention (63.41%). Participants reported using concurrent feedback (82.83%) and delivered it after every exercise repetition (63.82%). Most participants (43.09%) did not assess learning retention. Answers were similar regardless of education level or time from graduation. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this survey suggest that Brazilian physical therapists do not have sufficient knowledge about the different characteristics of EF; however, they do consider EF useful and use it for most of their patients. Brazilian physical therapists adopted adequate content characteristics of EF but not adequate use of timing characteristics of EF.

Causal mechanisms of a scapular stabilization intervention for patients with subacromial pain syndrome: a secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Causal mediation analysis is one way to bridge this gap by exploring the causal pathways of a given intervention. The aim of this study was to assess whether scapular motion, position, and periscapular muscle strength are mediators for pain and shoulder disability outcomes following a scapular stabilization intervention for patients with subacromial pain syndrome. METHODS: Sixty patients were randomized into two groups: scapular stabilization or periscapular strengthening exercises. The intervention consisted of three sessions per week for 8 weeks. The primary outcome measures were pain and disability and the following outcome measures were considered as potential mediators: scapular motion, scapular position, periscapular muscle strength, age, duration of symptoms, and side of the complaint. A model-based inference approach with bootstrap simulations was used to estimate the average causal mediation effect, average direct effect, and the average total effect from the data of a randomized clinical trial that evaluated the effect of adding scapular stabilization exercises to a scapulothoracic strengthening program in people with subacromial pain syndrome. RESULTS: The results demonstrated that none of the putative mediators were influenced by the intervention. However, muscle strength of serratus anterior, upper, middle, and lower trapezius muscles was associated with shoulder disability. CONCLUSION: Scapular kinematic and periscapular muscle strength did not mediate the effect of scapular stabilization exercises on shoulder pain or disability scores in subjects with subacromial pain syndrome. Muscle strength of serratus anterior, upper, middle and lower trapezius were associated with shoulder disability scores at 8-weeks follow-up.

Factors Influencing Runner's Choices of Footwear.

Until the mid-2000s, qualitative research has been virtually absent from running injury research. A handful of studies have been recently published regarding the attitudes and perceptions of runners and coaches toward injury development. Footwear is frequently perceived as a risk factor for running related injuries, but empeirical evidence fails to support such beliefs. The reasons why runners choose specific footwear warrants formal investigation to further understand the links between footwear and running related injuries. This study aimed to investigate the factors influencing runners choices of footwear. Interviews were conducted with 12 runners. Recordings from the interviews were transcribed verbatim and themes were developed using thematic analysis. Findings revealed 15 unique factors that influence runner's choices of footwear for running. These factors were grouped into three main themes: personal footwear characteristic preferences, other people and economic considerations. Runners largely gather information about their footwear choices from past experiences and people they trust and admire. They also emphasized the complexity of footwear choices due to availability and the constant changes preset within the footwear industry. This research adds to the growing body of knowledge to better understand the wider running injury system. Further studies are needed to establish how runners perceptions of their footwear impact injury rates and to develop effective injury prevention strategies.

Measurement Properties of the Patient-Specific Functional Scale and Its Current Uses: An Updated Systematic Review of 57 Studies Using COSMIN Guidelines.

OBJECTIVE: To systematically review measurement properties, including acceptability, feasibility, and interpretability, and current uses of the Patient-Specific Functional Scale (PSFS). DESIGN: Systematic review of a patient-reported outcome measure using the COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health status Measurement INstruments (COSMIN) guidelines. LITERATURE SEARCH: We searched 11 databases from January 2010 to July 2020 for articles on measurement properties or use of PSFS. STUDY SELECTION CRITERIA: Published primary articles without language restrictions. DATA SYNTHESIS: Two independent reviewers screened all records, extracted data, and performed risk of bias assessments using COSMIN guidelines. We qualitatively synthesized findings for each measurement property in musculoskeletal and nonmusculoskeletal conditions, and 2 reviewers independently performed Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation assessments. This study was preregistered with the Open Science Framework (https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/42UZT). RESULTS: Of the 985 articles screened, we included 57 articles on measurement properties and 255 articles on the use of PSFS. The PSFS had sufficient test-retest reliability in musculoskeletal (22 studies, 845 participants, low-to-moderate certainty) and nonmusculoskeletal conditions (6 studies, 197 participants, very low certainty), insufficient construct validity as a measure of physical function (21 studies, 2 945 participants, low-to-moderate certainty), and sufficient responsiveness (32 studies, 13 770 participants, moderate-to-high certainty). The standard error of measurement ranged from 0.35 to 1.5. The PSFS was used in 87 unique health conditions, some without prior evidence of validity. CONCLUSION: The PSFS is an easy-to-use, reliable, and responsive scale in numerous musculoskeletal conditions, but the construct validity of PSFS remains uncertain. Further study of the measurement properties of the PSFS in nonmusculoskeletal conditions is necessary before clinical use. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2022;52(5):262-275. Epub: 05 Feb 2022. doi:10.2519/jospt.2022.10727.

Association Between Knee Moments During Stair Navigation and Participant-Related Factors in Individuals With Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: A Cross-Sectional Study.

CONTEXT: Altered knee joint mechanics may be related to quadriceps muscle strength, time since surgery, and sex following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR). The aim of this study was to investigate the association between knee moments, with participant-related factors during stair navigation post-ACLR. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. METHODS: A total of 30 participants (14 women) with ACLR, on average 7.0 (SD 4.4) years postsurgery were tested during stair ascent and descent in a gait laboratory. Motion capture was conducted using a floor-embedded force plate and 11 infrared cameras. Quadriceps concentric and eccentric muscle strength was measured with an isokinetic dynamometer at 60°/s, and peak torques recorded. Multiple regression analyses were performed between external knee flexion and adduction moments, respectively, and quadriceps peak torque, sex, and time since ACLR. RESULTS: Higher concentric quadriceps strength and female sex accounted for 55.7% of the total variance for peak knee flexion moment during stair ascent (P < .001). None of the independent variables accounted for variance in knee adduction moment (P = .698). No significant associations were found for knee flexion and adduction moments during for stair descent. CONCLUSION: Higher quadriceps concentric strength and sex explains major variance in knee flexion moments during stair ascent. The strong association between muscle strength and external knee flexion moments during stair ascent indicate rehabilitation tailored for quadriceps may optimize knee mechanics, particularly for women.

Content validity of the Brief and Comprehensive ICF Core Sets for common disabling conditions in a developing country.

The International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) features associated tools, the Brief and Comprehensive ICF Core Sets. These are designed to be universally applicable, but have limited evidence of content validity (i.e. comprehensiveness and relevance) in low income, non-Western countries. In this cross-sectional study, we aimed to assess the content validity of the ICF Core Sets in Nepal. We interviewed 161 participants with stroke, spinal cord injury (SCI), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and musculoskeletal conditions and asked them to identify activities they had difficulty performing due to their health condition. We mapped 544 participant responses to the ICF and assessed if these ICF categories were represented in the respective ICF core sets. The Comprehensive Core Sets for stroke, COPD, SCI, and musculoskeletal conditions contained more items identified by participants than the respective Brief Core Sets (e.g., 89% vs. 26% in stroke). Among ICF categories that represented at least 5% of participants' responses, the Brief Core Sets covered 40%-71% of participants' responses whereas the Comprehensive Core Sets covered 67%-100% of responses. This is the first study to evaluate the content validity of the ICF Brief and Comprehensive core sets in Nepali individuals with stroke, SCI, MSK conditions, and COPD. The Comprehensive Core Sets for stroke, COPD, and SCI have adequate content validity for use in clinical practice and research in Nepal; the Brief Core Sets may not adequately meet local and individual needs unless supplemented with additional ICF categories.

Relationship between passive ankle dorsiflexion range, dynamic ankle dorsiflexion range and lower limb and trunk kinematics during the single-leg squat.

BACKGROUND: Limited passive ankle dorsiflexion range has been associated with increased knee valgus during functional tasks. Increased knee valgus is considered a contributing factor for musculoskeletal disorders in the lower limb. There is conflicting evidence supporting this association. The extent of passive ankle dorsiflexion range is associated with dynamic ankle dorsiflexion range and the way how these variables are related to lower limb or trunk kinematics is unclear. RESEARCH QUESTION: What is the association between passive ankle dorsiflexion range or dynamic ankle dorsiflexion range with shank, thigh, pelvis or trunk movements during the single-leg squat? METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study with a convenience sample. Thirty uninjured participants performed the single-leg squat with their dominant limb. Ankle, shank, thigh, pelvis and trunk 3D kinematics were recorded. Passive ankle dorsiflexion range was assessed through the weight-bearing lunge test and the dynamic ankle dorsiflexion range was defined as the ankle dorsiflexion range of motion in the sagittal plane during the single-leg squat. RESULTS: Greater passive ankle dorsiflexion range was associated with smaller thigh internal rotation (r= -0.38). Greater dynamic ankle dorsiflexion range was associated with smaller trunk flexion (r = 0.59) and pelvis anteversion (r= -0.47). Passive ankle dorsiflexion range and dynamic ankle dorsiflexion range were not associated. SIGNIFICANCE: Greater passive ankle dorsiflexion range seems to be associated with a better lower limb alignment during the single-leg squat, while dynamic ankle dorsiflexion range seems to reflect different lower limb and trunk kinematic strategies.

Low knee-related quality of life and persistent physical asymmetries in participants up to 10 years post-ACL reconstruction - A cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: To compare self-report and functional outcomes between participants with anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) with age and activity matched controls. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: University laboratory-based study. PARTICIPANTS: Twenty-five participants (30.8 ± 9.7 years; 13 women), two to ten years post anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction; 24 controls (31.0 ± 10 years, 13 women). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Knee Osteoarthritis and Injury Outcome Score (KOOS), Tegner, Marx Activity and Fear of Re-injury scales, and SF-12; isokinetic quadriceps and hamstring peak torque and single-leg hop distance. RESULTS: There were no between-groups differences for the Tegner and the Marx Activity Scales. The ACLR group had lower KOOS dimensions (p < 0.001), SF-12 Physical Component Scores (p = 0.008), and higher Fear of Reinjury Scores (<0.001) than the controls. No significant differences were found for physical performance measures between the ACLR and the control groups. Significant between-side differences for the ACLR group were evident for concentric quadriceps (p < 0.001) and concentric hamstring peak torque (p = 0.002), and hop distance (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Knee-specific symptoms and function, activity and quality of life were lower, and fear of re-injury was higher for participants with ACLR than controls. Side-to-side thigh muscle strength and hop distance deficits were evident for the ACLR group.

Development and assessment of a verbal response scale for the Patient-Specific Functional Scale (PSFS) in a low-literacy, non-western population.

PURPOSE: The Patient-Specific Functional Scale (PSFS) is a routinely used measure of physical function with a 0-10 response scale. We aimed to develop verbal response options for the PSFS, pre-test it for use in a multilingual, low-literacy country- Nepal, and compare preference and error rates between numeric and verbal scale. We hypothesized that a verbal scale would be preferred by respondents and yield fewer errors. METHOD: We interviewed 42 individuals with musculoskeletal, neurological, and cardiopulmonary conditions to understand how people describe varying levels of physical ability. Transcripts were thematically analyzed, and through consensus, we developed two sets of verbal responses for the PSFS. Next, we pre-tested the scales on an additional 119 respondents following which participants were asked to specify their preferred scale. Error rates were analyzed retrospectively using pre-specified criteria. RESULTS: Participants described their ability in terms of the quality (95%) and the quantity of task performance (88%). Although the verbal scales were preferred over the numeric scale (50% versus 12%), there was no significant difference in error rates between numeric (34%) and verbal scales (32% and 36%). Higher error rates were associated with greater age, fewer years of education, and inexperience with numeric scales. CONCLUSION: Despite a higher preference for verbal scale, 1 out of 3 patients made errors in using the PSFS, even with an interview format. The error rates were higher among participants with low literacy. The findings raise questions about the utility of PROMs in countries with low literacy rates.

Back pain attitudes questionnaire: Cross-cultural adaptation to brazilian-portuguese and measurement properties.

BACKGROUND: The Back Pain Attitudes Questionnaire (Back-PAQ) was developed to evaluate attitudes and beliefs of the general public, people with back pain, and healthcare professionals about the spine. OBJECTIVES: To translate and cross-culturally adapt the Back-PAQ (34-item and 10-item versions) into Brazilian-Portuguese (Back-PAQ-Br) and test its measurement properties in a Brazilian sample. METHODS: The cross-cultural adaptation and testing of the measurement properties followed the recommendations of international guidelines. Members of the general public, people with back pain, and healthcare professionals, for a total of 139 individuals, took part in the assessment of internal consistency, construct validity, and ceiling and floor effects. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and the Brazilian-Portuguese version of the Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia (TSK) were used to evaluate construct validity. Test-retest reproducibility was determined on 77 participants. Retest was performed a minimum of 1 week and a maximum of 2 weeks from the original test. RESULTS: There was very high agreement between translators (88.2%). The Back-PAQ-Br showed excellent internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha 0.92) and excellent reproducibility (ICC 0.94; SEM 5.14 points on a 136 point scale), with a smallest detectable change (90% confidence level) of 11.93 points. There was strong correlation between Back-PAQ-Br and TSK (r = -0.72) and very weak correlation between Back-PAQ-Br and HADS (r = -0.23 for both depression and anxiety domains). No ceiling/floor effects were observed. CONCLUSION: The translation process and cross-cultural adaptation had very high agreement between translators. The Back-PAQ-Br has excellent measurement properties that are similar to the properties of the original version.

Knee biomechanics while navigating steps in participants with anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction, between 2 and 10 years following surgery.

OBJECTIVE: To compare knee angles and moments between the injured and contralateral knee in participants with anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction, and compared with uninjured controls while navigating steps. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: University laboratory-based study. PARTICIPANTS: Twenty-five participants (30.8 ± 9.7 years; 13 women) with anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (2-10 years post-surgery), and 24 controls (31.0 ± 10 years, 13 women). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Three-dimensional motion analysis was used to record peak knee angles and external moments during step ascent and descent in three planes, along with spatiotemporal variables. RESULTS: During step ascent, the reconstructed knee exhibited significantly: (1) lower peak flexion angles compared to the controls (P = 0.005); (2) lower flexion moments (P < 0.001) compared to contralateral side and controls. No significant differences were found in the frontal and transverse planes between groups and sides. During step descent, no significant differences in angles and moments were found. CONCLUSIONS: Side-to-side asymmetries and lower knee flexion angles and external knee flexion moments were evident in participants with anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction and compared to controls. These findings suggest that incomplete recovery and compensatory or protective changes in neuromuscular control and joint function may persist 2-10 years post-surgery.

Is there an association between changes in pain or function with changes in scapular dyskinesis: A prospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the association between changes in pain or function with changes in scapular dyskinesis in participants with subacromial shoulder pain. METHOD: Forty-four participants with subacromial shoulder pain were assessed at baseline and 8 weeks later. The outcome measures included 'pain at rest' and 'pain during movement' using Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS), shoulder function using Patient Specific Functional Scale (PSFS), and observation of scapular movement pattern using the scapular dyskinesis test. Robust paired t-tests were used to compare scores between baseline and follow-up. Repeated measures correlation coefficient was used to assess the association between changes in pain or function with changes in scapular dyskinesis scores. RESULTS: A fair association was found between improvement in function and improvement in scapular dyskinesis (correlation coefficient = -0.4, 95% CI: -0.6 to -0.1). No associations were found between changes in 'pain at rest' (correlation coefficient = -0.1, 95% CI: -0.2 to 0.2) or 'pain during movement' (correlation coefficient = 0.28, 95% CI: 0.0 to 0.5) with changes in scapular dyskinesis. CONCLUSION: Our findings showed improvement in function is associated with improvement in scapular dyskinesis scores. Future studies should explore whether there is causal effect between improvement in scapular dyskinesis and function.

Effectiveness of a lumbopelvic monitor and feedback device to change postural behaviour: the ELF cluster randomised controlled trial.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this clustered, randomised controlled trial was to assess the effectiveness of a lumbopelvic postural feedback device for changing postural behaviour in a group of healthcare workers. We hypothesised that workers exposed to auditory postural feedback would reduce the number of times forward bending posture is adopted at work. METHODS: This was a participant and assessor blinded, randomised, sham-controlled trial with blocked cluster random allocation. We recruited healthcare workers from aged care institutions. Healthcare sites were randomly allocated to the feedback or sham group (SG). A postural monitoring and feedback device was used to monitor and record lumbopelvic forward bending posture, and provided audio feedback whenever the user sustained lumbopelvic forward bending posture that exceeded predefined thresholds. The primary outcome measure was postural behaviour (exceeding thresholds). We used a robust variant of repeated measures mixed-effect model for assessing within-group and between-group differences in postural behaviour. RESULTS: We recruited 19 sites, and 130 healthcare workers participated. There were no within-group changes on the number of times postural threshold was exceeded at 1-week follow-up (feedback group: -0.7, 95% CI -2.61 to 0.72; SG -0.3, -1.65 to 0.98), and no differences (0.05, 95% CI -1.83 to 1.94) between SG and feedback group. CONCLUSIONS: Findings from this trial indicate that audio feedback provided by a postural monitor device did not reduce the number of times healthcare workers exceeded the postural threshold. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ACTRN12616000449437.