Um estudo randomizado controlado sobre a eficácia da diatermia de ondas longas na dor, incapacidade e amplitude de movimento em pacientes com dor cervical / A randomized controlled trial on the efficacy of longwave diathermy on pain, disability and range of motion in the patients with neck pain

INTRODUÇÃO: A cervicalgia é uma importante causa de incapacidade em todo o mundo, causada por várias condições como doenças de base, anormalidades mecânicas e neuropáticas. A Diatermia por Ondas Longas (LWD) é uma modalidade de aquecimento terapêutico usada para tratar muitas condições musculoesqueléticas. OBJETIVO: Avaliar a eficácia da LWD na dor, incapacidade e amplitude de movimento (ADM) na dor no pescoço. MÉTODOS E MATERIAIS: O estudo foi conduzido após aprovação ética da universidade e registro em registro de ensaio clínico (PTY/2022/155 e CTRI/2022/06/043033). 30 pacientes com cervicalgia de 20-60 anos foram alocados aleatoriamente em dois grupos. O grupo controle (n=15) realizou exercícios domiciliares simples, enquanto no grupo experimental (n=15) a diatermia de ondas longas também foi administrada juntamente com exercícios domiciliares, 3 vezes/semana por 2 semanas. As medidas de resultado, como a escala visual analógica (EVA), índice de incapacidade do pescoço (IIP) e amplitude de movimento do pescoço, foram avaliadas na linha de base, no final de 2 semanas (pós-tratamento) e após um acompanhamento de 2 semanas. RESULTADOS E CONCLUSÃO: Houve melhora significativa da dor, incapacidade e ADM pós-intervenção no grupo controle e no grupo experimental. Além disso, houve diferença significativa na dor após o acompanhamento em ambos os grupos. A comparação entre os grupos sugeriu que houve uma diferença significativa para EVA, IIPe ADM de extensão do pescoço (p<0,05), mas não para ADM em outras direções. Portanto, pode-se concluir que a LWD é uma intervenção terapêutica eficaz para melhorar a dor, a incapacidade do pescoço e a amplitude de movimento do pescoço, juntamente com exercícios de pescoço em pacientes com dor no pescoço.

INTRODUCTION: Neck pain is a significant cause of disability worldwide, caused by various conditions like underlying diseases, mechanical and neuropathic abnormalities. Longwave Diathermy (LWD) is a therapeutic heating modality used to treat many musculoskeletal conditions. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of LWD on pain, disability, and range of motion (ROM) in neck pain. METHODS AND MATERIALS: The study was conducted after ethical approval from the university and registration in clinical trial registry (PTY/2022/155 & CTRI/2022/06/043033). Thirty patients with neck pain of 20-60 years were randomly allocated into two groups. The control group (n=15) performed simple home-based exercises, while in the experimental group (n=15) longwave diathermy was also given along with home exercises, 3 times/week for 2 weeks. The outcome measures like the Visual analogue scale (VAS), neck disability index (NDI), and Neck range of motion were assessed at baseline, at the end of 2 weeks (post-treatment), and after a followup of 2 weeks. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: There was a significant improvement in pain, disability, and ROM post-intervention in the control group and experimental group. Additionally, there was a significant difference in pain after follow-up in both groups. The between-group comparison suggested that there was a significant difference for VAS, NDI, and neck extension ROM (p<0.05) but not for ROM in other directions. Therefore, it can be concluded that LWD is an effective therapeutic intervention for improving pain, neck disability, and neck range of motion along with neck exercises in patients with neck pain.

Can your eye glasses lead to future neck pain and disability? Relation of eyeglasses with neck muscle endurance and posture

Background: Use of spectacles is common for people having vision problems. Unifocal and bifocal are usually the commonly used lenses for vision correction. The aim of the present study was to compare the effect of type of lenses in eyeglasses on the neck muscles endurance and neck posture.Methods: A sample of 132 subjects were recruited and divided in three groups according to use of unifocal, bifocal or no glasses. Normal healthy subjects using eyeglasses for a minimum of 2 years and as per selection criteria were assessed for their deep neck flexor endurance (DNF) and craniovertebral angle (CVA).Results: Females had less DNF endurance than males in all groups. DNF endurance was also least reported in subjects using bifocal lenses followed by unifocal and no glasses. These results were similar for both males and females. Bifocal group also had least CVA amongst both sexes.Conclusions: Use of bifocal lenses reduces the DNF endurance and leads to forward head posture over time. These two factors are commonly associated with development of neck pain and disability. Assessment for the type of lens in eyeglasses should be added in diagnosing musculoskeletal problems in neck. Appropriate neck exercises, corrective postures and advise for correct eyeglasses at an early stage could maintain DNF endurance and therefore, prevent faulty neck postures and associated pain. This small check could be a big step towards reducing the financial and psychological burden on the patient and an affordable and less invasive public health solution to neck related problems.