Is there 'trustworthy' evidence for using manual therapy to treat patients with shoulder dysfunction?: A systematic review.

The primary objective of this review was to create a 'trustworthy,' living systematic review and meta-analysis for the application of manual therapy interventions in treating patients with shoulder dysfunction. Included studies were English-language randomized controlled trials published between 1/1/2010 and 8/3/2023, with searches performed in: PubMed, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), CINHAL, ProQuest Nursing & Allied Health, EBSCO Medline, and PEDro. The population of focus included adults 18 years and older with musculoskeletal impairments related to shoulder dysfunction. Our primary outcomes included pain and region-specific outcome measures. We excluded trials, including participants having shoulder dysfunction resulting from surgery, radicular pain, instability/dislocation, fracture, lymphedema, and radiation. Our screening methodology was based upon a previously published 'trustworthy' systematic review protocol. This included the application of our PICOTS criteria in addition to screening for prospective clinical trial registration and following of prospective intent, as well as assessment of PEDro scores, risk-of-bias ratings, GRADE scoring, and examination of confidence in estimated effects. Twenty-six randomized controlled trials met our PICOTS criteria; however, only 15 of these were registered. Only three were registered prospectively. Two of these did not have discussions and conclusions that aligned with their primary outcome. The remaining single study was found to have a high risk-of-bias, meaning the remainder of the protocol could not be employed and that no randomized controlled trials could undergo further assessment or meta-analysis. The results of this systematic review indicate there are no 'trustworthy' randomized controlled trials examining the effectiveness of manual therapy interventions for the treatment of patients with shoulder dysfunction, as defined by the prospectively established methodology. Therefore, these findings signal that creating a 'trustworthy,' living systematic review on this clinically relevant topic is not yet possible due to a lack of 'trustworthy' randomized controlled trials.

Does manual therapy meaningfully change quantitative sensory testing and patient reported outcome measures in patients with musculoskeletal impairments related to the spine?: A 'trustworthy' systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVES: To perform a 'trustworthy' systematic review (SR) with meta-analysis on the potential mechanisms of manual therapy used to treat spinal impairments. DESIGN: SR with meta-analysis. LITERATURE SEARCH: Articles published between January 2010 and October 2022 from CENTRAL, CINAHL, MEDLINE, PubMed, ProQuest, and PEDro. METHODS: This SR included English-language randomized clinical trials (RCTs) involving manual therapy to treat spinal impairments in adults. The primary outcome was pressure pain thresholds (PPTs). To synthesize RCTs with high confidence in estimated effects using the GRADE, RCTs with questionable prospective, external, and internal validity, and high risk of bias (RoB) were excluded. RESULTS: Following title and abstract screening, 89 full-text RCTs were reviewed. Twenty-two studies included the criteria of interest. Sixteen were not prospectively registered, two contained discussion/conclusions judged to be inconsistent with the registry, and one was rated as having a high RoB. Three studies met the inclusion criteria; heterogeneous interventions and locations for PPT testing prevented synthesis into practice recommendations. The two studies with high confidence in estimated effects had small effect sizes, and one study had confidence intervals that crossed zero for the outcome measures of interest. DISCUSSION: Standardized PPT testing, as a potential measure of centrally mediated pain, could provide clues regarding the mechanisms of manual therapy or help identify/refine research questions. CONCLUSION: High-quality RCTs could not be synthesized into strong conclusions secondary to the dissimilarity in research designs. Future research regarding quantitative sensory testing should develop RCTs with high confidence in estimated effects that can be translated into strong recommendations.

Manual therapy for non-radicular cervical spine related impairments: establishing a 'Trustworthy' living systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVES: To establish a 'trustworthy' living systematic review (SR) with a meta-analysis of manual therapy for treating non-radicular cervical impairments. DESIGN: SR with meta-analysis. LITERATURE SEARCH: Articles published between January 2010 and September 2022 were included from: Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL); CINAHL; MEDLINE; PubMed; PEDro, and ProQuest Nursing and Allied Health. METHODS: This SR included English-language randomized clinical trials (RCTs) of manual therapy involving adults used to treat non-radicular cervical impairments. The primary outcomes were pain and region-specific outcome measures. Cervicogenic headaches and whiplash were excluded to improve homogeneity. Two reviewers independently assessed RCTs. The prospective plan was to synthesize results with high confidence in estimated effects using GRADE. RESULTS: Thirty-five RCTs were screened for registration status. Twenty-eight were not registered or registered prospectively. In 5 studies, the discussion and conclusion did not match the registry, or this could not be determined. One study did not meet the external validity criterion, and another was rated as having a high risk of bias. One study met the inclusion and exclusion criteria, so practice recommendations could not be made. The remaining study did not identify any clinically meaningful group differences. DISCUSSION: Only one prospectively registered RCT met this SR's strict, high-quality standards. The single identified paper provides initial high-quality evidence on this topic. CONCLUSION: This SR establishes a foundation of trustworthiness and can be used to generate research agendas to determine the potential clinical utility of manual therapy directed at the cervical spine for non-radicular cervical complaints.

Evaluation and management of temporomandibular disorders. Part 1: an orthopedic physical therapy update on examination and clinical reasoning.

Temporomandibular (TM) disorders afflict many people globally and, despite the presence of existing peer-reviewed material that assists conservative orthopedic providers, recent advances in knowledge indicate that updated resources are required for students, clinicians, and educators. This two-part series builds off previously published material to present newer supplementary information that can be useful during the evaluation and management processes. Content in Part 1 of this series includes a discussion about the factors that have been shown to contribute to TM disorders, an updated perspective of relevant pain science, a discussion of self-report outcome measures, and various different topics related to the examination of patients with TM disorders. Part 2 addresses information related to the temporomandibular joint disc, joint hypermobility, oral splints, and clinical reasoning. In combination with other available publications, this two-part series provides clinicians an opportunity to improve their delivery of effective and efficient clinical services for people diagnosed with TM disorders.

Protocol for the development of a 'trustworthy' living systematic review and meta analyses of manual therapy interventions to treat neuromusculoskeletal impairments.

BACKGROUND: Preprocessed research resources are believed to be highly 'trustworthy' when translating research to clinical practice. However, the overall 'trustworthiness' is unknown if this evidence contains randomized clinical trials (RCTs) where prospective has not been/cannot be verified, has low confidence in estimated effects, and if they are not up to date. OBJECTIVES: This protocol will be used to create a baseline benchmark for a series of trustworthy living systematic reviews (SRs) regarding manual therapy interventions. METHODS: Data will originate from RCTs related to manual therapy neuromusculoskeletal interventions, indexed in 6 search engines in English from 1 January 2010, to the present. Two blinded reviewers will identify the RCTs and extract data using Covidence. The data will be synthesized based on consensus and analyzed using the Cochrane collaboration's Review Manager. EXPECTED OUTCOMES: It is expected that there will be a shortage of RCTs with at least a moderate confidence in estimated effects that will allow for strong practice recommendations. DISCUSSION: Identifying evidence that can be translated into strong practice recommendations is essential to identify beneficial and harmful interventions, decrease practice variability, and identify neuromusculoskeletal manual therapy interventions that require further disciplined methodological focus.

Is the quality of systematic reviews influenced by prospective registration: a methods review of systematic musculoskeletal physical therapy reviews.

INTRODUCTION: It is unknown if verified prospective registration of systematic reviews (SRs) and the randomized clinical trials (RCTs) that they use affect an SR's methodological quality on A MeaSurement Tool to Assess Systematic Reviews 2 (AMSTAR 2). METHODS: Data originated from interventional SRs published in International Society of Physiotherapy Journals Editors (ISPJE) member journals, indexed in MEDLINE, between 1 January 2018 and 18 August 2021. Blinded reviewers identified the SRs and extracted the data for the variables of interest for the SRs and the RCTs. RESULTS: Two of 14 ISPJE member journals required prospective SR registration. Twenty SRs were identified, and 169 unique, retrievable RCTs were included within those SRs. One (5.0%) of the 20 SRs and 15 of the 169 (8.9%) RCTs were prospectively registered and published consistent with this intent. Nineteen (95.0%) of the 20 identified SRs was categorized as 'critically low' on the AMSTAR 2. DISCUSSION: SRs and the RCTs identified within them were infrequently prospectively registered, prospectively verifiable, or prospectively verified based on the established research record. CONCLUSIONS: Ensuring that SRs and RCTs have fidelity with the research record from conception to publication may help rule out low-value interventions, decrease variability in physical therapy practice, and solidify evidence-based physical therapy practice.

Evaluation and management of temporomandibular disorders. Part 2: an orthopaedic physical therapy update on examination and clinical reasoning.

Temporomandibular (TM) disorders afflict many people globally and, despite the presence of existing peer-reviewed material that assists conservative orthopedic providers, recent advances in knowledge indicate that updated resources are required for students, clinicians, and educators. This two-part series builds off previously published material to present newer supplementary information that can be useful during the evaluation and management processes. Content in Part 1 of this series includes a discussion about the factors that have been shown to contribute to TM disorders, an updated perspective of relevant pain science, a discussion of self-report outcome measures, and various different topics related to the examination of patients with TM disorders. Part 2 addresses information related to the temporomandibular joint disc, joint hypermobility, oral splints, and clinical reasoning. In combination with other available publications, this two-part series provides clinicians an opportunity to improve their delivery of effective and efficient clinical services for people diagnosed with TM disorders.

Do Prospective Intent and Established Metrics Correlate with Journal Impact Factor in Musculoskeletal Physical Therapy Trials?: A Secondary Analysis of A Methodological Review.

OBJECTIVES: To determine if there are any statistically significant associations between: 1) randomized clinical trials (RCTs) investigating physical therapy musculoskeletal interventions, 2) journal impact factor (JIF), 3) frequency of RCT citation, 4) whether prospective intent was identifiable, and 5) the Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) scores. METHODS: MEDLINE indexed RCTs addressing musculoskeletal interventions published between January 2016 and July 2020 in physical therapy journals were included. Two blinded reviewers identified the RCTs and extracted the variables of interest. RESULTS: With a familywise alpha adjustment, there was no statistically significant correlation between JIF and number of citations (rho = 0.187; p = 0.0280). Statistically significant weak positive correlations were identified between the JIF and prospectively registered RCTs (rho = 0.240; p = 0.0046), JIF and PEDro scores (rho = 0.250; p = 0.0031), and PEDro scores and prospectively registered RCTs (rho = 0.335; p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: The findings of this study suggest that JIF and PEDro scores may not be accurate measures of RCT quality. Failing to ensure that published RCTs followed their prospective intent and using bibliometrics that fail to accurately measure what they propose appears to create untrustworthy preprocessed resources for practicing physical therapists during the evidence-based practice process. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 1a.

The Unknown Prevalence of Postrandomization Bias in 15 Physical Therapy Journals: A Methods Review.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence of prospective clinical trial registration and postrandomization bias in published musculoskeletal physical therapy randomized clinical trials (RCTs). DESIGN: A methods review. LITERATURE SEARCH: Articles indexed in MEDLINE and published between January 2016 and July 2020 were included. STUDY SELECTION CRITERIA: Two independent blinded reviewers identified the RCTs using Covidence. We included RCTs related to musculoskeletal interventions that were published in International Society of Physiotherapy Journal Editors member journals. DATA SYNTHESIS: Data were extracted independently for the variables of interest from the identified RCTs by 2 blinded reviewers. The data were presented descriptively or in frequency tables. RESULTS: One hundred thirty-eight RCTs were identified. One third of RCTs were consistent with their prospectively registered intent (49/138); consistency with prospectively registered intent could not be determined for two thirds (89/138) of the RCTs. Four RCTs (8%)reported inconsistent results with the primary aims and 7 (14%) with the outcomes from the prospective clinical trial registry, despite high methodological quality (Physiotherapy Evidence Database [PEDro] scale score). Differences between prospectively registered and non-prospectively registered RCTs for PEDro scale scores had a medium effect size (r = 0.30). Two of 15 journals followed their clinical trial registration policy 100% of the time; in 1 journal, the published RCTs were consistent with the clinical trial registration. CONCLUSION: Postrandomization bias in musculoskeletal physical therapy RCTs could not be ruled out, due to the lack of prospective clinical trial registration and detailed data analysis plans. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2021;51(11):542-550. Epub 21 Sep 2021. doi:10.2519/jospt.2021.10491.

The role of sleep dysfunction in temporomandibular onset and progression: A systematic review and meta-analyses.

BACKGROUND: Painful temporomandibular (TM) disorders result in 4.3 billion dollars spent annually in the United States. The complex interplay of physiological processes in persistent pain and dysfunctional sleep has been established. Recently, dysfunctional sleep has been identified as a potential pathway to the onset of painful TM disorder. OBJECTIVES: The aims were to (1) identify self-report outcome measures (SROMs) of sleep quality that are clinimetrically sound in patients with painful TM disorders and (2) determine whether sleep dysfunction has any diagnostic or prognostic value for this population. METHODS: A systematic search following PRISMA guidelines was run in six databases: CINAHL, Dental, PsychALL, PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science. Any study involving minors was excluded. Risks of biases were examined in all studies. Diagnostic pooled findings were reported. RESULTS: Of the identified articles (n = 681), 18 were included in this systematic review (n = 1 clinimetric studies, n = 11 diagnostic studies, n = 6 prognostic studies). Nine different assessment tools were used; only the Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) has been validated in patients with painful TM disorders. Overall, sleep dysfunction was diagnostic for painful TM disorders. The pooled relative risk of sleep dysfunction was 1.71 (95% CI 1.30. 2.26). When PSQI scores were greater than 5/21, the unadjusted hazard ratio for development of painful TM disorders was reported to be 2.1. CONCLUSION: At present, the only SROM that has diagnostic and prognostic value in evaluating and managing patients with painful TM disorders is the PSQI.

Large variability found in musculoskeletal physiotherapy scope of practice throughout WCPT and IFOMPT affiliated countries: An international survey.

BACKGROUND: Advanced practice physiotherapy (APP) rights are part of the evolution of the Physical Therapy profession. To date, no study has investigated musculoskeletal APP rights within the World Confederation for Physical Therapy (WCPT). OBJECTIVE: To investigate musculoskeletal APP rights for physical therapists worldwide and examine the relationship between level of education (entry and post-professional) and direct access for countries that are vs. are not members of the International Federation of Orthopaedic Manipulative Physical Therapists (IFOMPT). DESIGN: Cross-sectional study with descriptive and exploratory online surveys. METHODS: An electronic survey-based descriptive and exploratory investigation was conducted. We assessed variability between WCPT member organizations descriptively and the strength of the relationships among the number and types of APP rights with: (1) country affiliation to IFOMPT; (2) entry-level professional degree; (3) post-professional training; and (4) direct access. RESULTS: Some countries reported having the right to practice all 20 APP rights while others reported no APP rights. Countries with IFOMPT member organization countries displayed fair correlation (rs = .48, p < .03) between entry-level physical therapy degrees and number of APP rights. IFOMPT member organization countries were less likely to require post-professional training for direct access and manipulation. CONCLUSION: APP rights for countries with direct access were significantly higher than for countries without direct access. IFOMPT member organizations demonstrated higher APP rights prevalence and were less likely to require post-professional training to obtain the right to direct access and perform manipulation.

The status of temporomandibular and cervical spine education in post-professional physical therapy training programs recognized by Member Organizations of IFOMPT: an investigation of didactic and clinical education.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this investigation was to establish an international baseline of the quantity of physical therapist education on temporomandibular disorders (TMD) during post-professional Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy (OMPT) education. METHODS: An electronically distributed survey was sent to programs and data analyzed for trends, including a comparison of TMD and cervical spine disorders education. Current data were compared to pre-existing data from the United States. RESULTS: For the current data-set, the Mann-Whitney U test demonstrated statistical significance when comparing TMD and cervical spine disorders education for both the hours of didactic training provided (p < 0.0001) and the number of patients seen during clinical training (p < 0.006). When comparing the United States and international data, statistically significant greater exposure was reported for both didactic (p < 0.0001) and clinical education (p < 0.006) of TMD topics in the United States but not for didactic (p = 0.23) or clinical education (p = 0.15) of cervical spine topics. DISCUSSION: These data again indicate a lack of uniformity between post-professional training programs in OMPT with respect to TMD education. There is, however, consistency in that most programs provided more training on cervical spine disorders than TMD. Based on these findings, further investigations are appropriate to determine if TMD education is adequate during post-professional OMPT education.

The status of temporomandibular and cervical spine education in credentialed orthopedic manual physical therapy fellowship programs: a comparison of didactic and clinical education exposure.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this investigation was to establish a baseline of physical therapist education on temporomandibular disorders (TMD)-related topics during credentialed orthopedic manual physical therapy fellowship training and compare it to cervical spine disorders education. METHOD: An online survey was distributed electronically to each fellowship program credentialed by the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) and recognized by the Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapists (AAOMPT). Data were analyzed to compare overall exposure to TMD educational content, including a direct comparison of TMD and cervical spine disorders education. RESULTS: The response rate was 79%. Thirteen programs (87%) reported providing both didactic and clinical training on both TMD and cervical spine disorders. Didactic education for cervical spine disorders ranged from 16-20 hours to over 25 hours, whereas TMD hours ranged from 0 to 6-10 hours. Clinical education for cervical spine disorders ranged from 11-15 hours to over 25 hours, whereas TMD hours ranged from 0 to 6-10 hours. The number of hours of exposure during didactic training and the number of patients exposed to during clinical training were significantly different when comparing TMD to cervical spine disorders exposure (P<0.0001). DISCUSSION: The data indicate a lack of uniformity between credentialed fellowship programs in orthopedic manual physical therapy with respect to the extent to which programs expose trainees to evaluation and management of TMD. There is consistency in that all programs provided more training on cervical spine disorders than TMD. Despite a high level of clinical specialization, fellows-in-training receive minimal TMD education.

Temporomandibular disorders. Part 1: anatomy and examination/diagnosis.

Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) are a heterogeneous group of diagnoses affecting the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and surrounding tissues. A variety of methods for evaluating and managing TMD have been proposed within the physical therapy profession but these sources are not peer-reviewed and lack updates from scientific literature. The dental profession has provided peer-reviewed sources that lack thoroughness with respect to the neuromusculoskeletal techniques utilized by physical therapists. The subsequent void creates the need for a thorough, research informed, and peer-reviewed source regarding TMD evaluation and management for physical therapists. This paper is the first part in a two-part series that seeks to fill the current void by providing a brief but comprehensive outline for clinicians seeking to provide services for patients with TMD. Part one focuses on anatomy and pathology, arthro- and osteokinematics, epidemiology, history taking, and physical examination as they relate to TMD. An appreciation of the anatomical and mechanical features associated with the TMJ can serve as a foundation for understanding a patient's clinical presentation. Performance of a thorough patient history and clinical examination can guide the clinician toward an improved diagnostic process.

Temporomandibular disorders. Part 2: conservative management.

Appropriate management of temporomandibular disorders (TMD) requires an understanding of the underlying dysfunction associated with the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and surrounding structures. A comprehensive examination process, as described in part 1 of this series, can reveal underlying clinical findings that assist in the delivery of comprehensive physical therapy services for patients with TMD. Part 2 of this series focuses on management strategies for TMD. Physical therapy is the preferred conservative management approach for TMD. Physical therapists are professionally well-positioned to step into the void and provide clinical services for patients with TMD. Clinicians should utilize examination findings to design rehabilitation programs that focus on addressing patient-specific impairments. Potentially appropriate plan of care components include joint and soft tissue mobilization, trigger point dry needling, friction massage, therapeutic exercise, patient education, modalities, and outside referral. Management options should address both symptom reduction and oral function. Satisfactory results can often be achieved when management focuses on patient-specific clinical variables.