Do physical therapists follow evidence-based guidelines when managing musculoskeletal conditions? Systematic review.

OBJECTIVES: Physicians often refer patients with musculoskeletal conditions to physical therapy. However, it is unclear to what extent physical therapists' treatment choices align with the evidence. The aim of this systematic review was to determine what percentage of physical therapy treatment choices for musculoskeletal conditions agree with management recommendations in evidence-based guidelines and systematic reviews. DESIGN: Systematic review. SETTING: We performed searches in Medline, Embase, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Allied and Complementary Medicine, Scopus and Web of Science combining terms synonymous with 'practice patterns' and 'physical therapy' from the earliest record to April 2018. PARTICIPANTS: Studies that quantified physical therapy treatment choices for musculoskeletal conditions through surveys of physical therapists, audits of clinical notes and other methods (eg, audits of billing codes, clinical observation) were eligible for inclusion. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOMES: Using medians and IQRs, we summarised the percentage of physical therapists who chose treatments that were recommended, not recommended and had no recommendation, and summarised the percentage of physical therapy treatments provided for various musculoskeletal conditions within the categories of recommended, not recommended and no recommendation. Results were stratified by condition and how treatment choices were assessed (surveys of physical therapists vs audits of clinical notes). RESULTS: We included 94 studies. For musculoskeletal conditions, the median percentage of physical therapists who chose recommended treatments was 54% (n=23 studies; surveys completed by physical therapists) and the median percentage of patients that received recommended physical therapy-delivered treatments was 63% (n=8 studies; audits of clinical notes). For treatments not recommended, these percentages were 43% (n=37; surveys) and 27% (n=20; audits). For treatments with no recommendation, these percentages were 81% (n=37; surveys) and 45% (n=31; audits). CONCLUSIONS: Many physical therapists seem not to follow evidence-based guidelines when managing musculoskeletal conditions. There is considerable scope to increase use of recommended treatments and reduce use of treatments that are not recommended. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42018094979.

Discord Between Approaches to Spinal and Extremity Disorders: Is It Logical?

Rapid advances in the basic, clinical, and behavioral sciences are molding developments in conservative management of musculoskeletal disorders. Curiously, there seems to be discord developing between approaches to the assessment and management of patients, depending on whether they present with an extremity or spinal disorder. This viewpoint will comment on examples of differences emerging in some current practices. The aim is not to present a scientific treatise about underpinning sciences and evidence-based practice or to comment on what is correct or incorrect. Rather, the aim is to stimulate thought on the seeming discord in clinical practice, with respect to both the clinical evaluation of, as well as management approaches to, extremity and spinal disorders. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2016;46(11):938-941. doi:10.2519/jospt.2016.0610.

Chiropractic care of children from birth to adolescence and classification of reported conditions: an internet cross-sectional survey of 956 European chiropractors.

OBJECTIVE: Few studies have addressed the practice of chiropractic care of children in Europe. No systematic classification of conditions currently exists in chiropractic pediatrics. The objective of this study was to investigate characteristics of clinical chiropractic practice, including the age of pediatric patients, the number of reports of negative side effects (NSEs), the opinions of doctors of chiropractic on treatment options by patient age groups, the conditions seen and the number of treatment sessions delivered by conditions and by patient age. METHODS: An Internet cross-sectional survey was conducted in 20 European countries with 4109 doctors of chiropractic invited to reply. The 19 national associations belonging to the European Chiropractic Union and the Danish Chiropractic Association were asked to participate. Respondents were asked to self-report characteristics of their practices. RESULTS: Of the 956 (23.3%) participating chiropractors, 921 reported 19821 pediatric patients per month. Children represented 8.1% of chiropractors' total patient load over the last year. A total of 557 (534 mild, 23 moderate, and 0 severe) negative (adverse) side effects were reported for an estimated incidence of 0.23%. On the given treatment statements, chiropractors reported varying agreement and disagreement rates based on patient age. The 8309 answers on conditions were grouped into skeletal (57.0%), neurologic (23.7%), gastrointestinal (12.4%), infection (3.5%), genitourinary (1.5%), immune (1.4%), and miscellaneous conditions (0.5%). The number of treatment sessions delivered varied according to the condition and the patient age. CONCLUSION: This study showed that European chiropractors are active in the care of pediatric patients. Reported conditions were mainly skeletal and neurologic complaints. In this survey, no severe NSEs were reported, and mild NSEs were infrequent.

A comparison of empirical ranking methods of frequency and severity ratings of clinical presentations.

This study compares five methods of ranking Likert ratings on frequency and severity scales. Data were drawn from an international online survey conducted as part of a practice analysis with 91 diplomates of the American Chiropractic Board of Radiology. A total of 129 clinical presentations had been rated on two scales. The frequency scale specifies how often each condition is seen in practice from 1 (never) to 5 (daily). The severity scale indicates how severe each condition is to the patient from 1 (no risk) to 5 (severe risk). These ratings were used in five methods of ranking to identify the 10 most important conditions reported by chiropractic radiologists. The similarity of ranks across the five methods was then analyzed with Spearman's rank correlations. The results of the study indicate that the Rasch model provides the most precise results about the importance of conditions seen in practice.

New approach to the diagnosis and classification of chronic foot and ankle disorders: identifying motor control and movement impairments.

The prevalence of foot and ankle (F&A) disorders is high. While chronic and recurrent F&A disorders are broadly documented in the literature, their underlying mechanisms have not been well defined. Currently, patho-anatomical, biomechanical and signs and symptoms (Si&Sy) models are widely used to diagnose and classify musculoskeletal F&A disorders. Within a multi-factorial bio-psychosocial framework, these models have limitations in identifying the underlying mechanisms that maintain chronic pain and disability. Therefore, a new approach to the diagnosis and classification of chronic F&A disorders is suggested in this Masterclass. This new approach is based on identifying the underlying mechanisms of the F&A disorder. This Masterclass aims to define and describe patterns of directional motor control and movement impairment of the F&A region based on the principal author's clinical observations. Such definition and description should lead to improved identification of consistent patterns. The basis of directional motor control and movement impairment patterns is proposed. As an example, one motor control and one movement impairment pattern is described in more detail. This Masterclass can be regarded as a prerequisite for future validation studies investigating the clinical applicability of adapting and implementing this novel classification system.

Temporomandibular disorders: A position paper of the International College of Cranio-Mandibular Orthopedics (ICCMO).

PURPOSE: Two principal schools of thought regarding the etiology and optimal treatment of temporomandibular disorders exist; one physical/functional, the other biopsychosocial. This position paper establishes the scientific basis for the physical/functional. THE ICCMO POSITION: Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) comprise a group of musculoskeletal disorders, affecting alterations in the structure and/or function of the temporomandibular joints (TMJ), masticatory muscles, dentition and supporting structures. The initial TMD diagnosis is based on history, clinical examination and imaging, if indicated. Diagnosis is greatly enhanced with physiologic measurement devices, providing objective measurements of the functional status of the masticatory system: TMJs, muscles and dental occlusion. The American Alliance of TMD organizations represent thousands of clinicians involved in the treatment of TMD. The ten basic principles of the Alliance include the following statement: Dental occlusion may have a significant role in TMD; as a cause, precipitant and/or perpetuating factor. Therefore, it can be stated that the overwhelming majority of dentists treating TMD believe dental occlusion plays a major role in predisposition, precipitation and perpetuation. While our membership believes that occlusal treatments most frequently resolve TMD, it is recognized that TMD can be multi faceted and may exist with co-morbid physical or emotional factors that may require therapy by appropriate providers. The International College of Cranio-Mandibular Orthopedics (ICCMO), composed of academic and clinical dentists, believes that TMD has a primary physical/functional basis. Initial conservative and reversible TMD treatment employing a therapeutic neuromuscular orthosis that incorporates relaxed, healthy masticatory muscle function and a stable occlusion is most often successful. This is accomplished using objective measurement technologies and ultra low frequency transcutaneous electrical neural stimulation (TENS). CONCLUSION: Extensive literature substantiates the scientific validity of the physical/functional basis of TMD, efficacy of measurement devices and TENS and their use as aids in diagnosis and in establishing a therapeutic neuromuscular dental occlusion. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: A scientifically valid basis for TMD diagnosis and treatment is presented aiding in therapy.

La tomografía computarizada musculoesquelética en el catálogo de prestaciones radiológicas de la SERAM / No disponible

No disponible

Clinical indicators of 'nociceptive', 'peripheral neuropathic' and 'central' mechanisms of musculoskeletal pain. A Delphi survey of expert clinicians.

The clinical criteria by which clinicians determine mechanisms-based classifications of pain are not known. The aim of this study was to generate expert consensus-derived lists of clinical criteria suggestive of a clinical dominance of 'nociceptive', 'peripheral neuropathic' and 'central' mechanisms of musculoskeletal pain. A web-based 3 round Delphi survey method was employed as an expert consensus building technique. One hundred and three clinical experts (31 Pain consultants, 72 musculoskeletal physiotherapists) were surveyed. Participants were asked to suggest clinical indicators of three separate categories of pain mechanisms (Round 1), then rate (Round 2) and re-rate their level of agreement/disagreement (Round 3) with those clinical indicators. Consensus was defined by a >or=80% level of agreement. Sixty-two (Response rate, 60%), 60 (58%) and 59 (57%) respondents replied to Rounds 1, 2 and 3 respectively. Twelve 'nociceptive', 14 'peripheral neuropathic' and 17 'central' clinical indicators reached consensus. These expert consensus-derived lists of clinical indicators of 'nociceptive', 'peripheral neuropathic' and 'central' mechanisms of musculoskeletal pain provide some indication of the criteria upon which clinicians may base such mechanistic classifications. Further empirical testing is required in order to evaluate the discriminative validity of these clinical criteria in particular and of mechanisms-based approaches in general.

Towards an outcome documentation in manual medicine: a first proposal of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) intervention categories for manual medicine based on a Delphi survey.

AIM: The International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) provides a useful framework for the comprehensive description of the patients' functional health. The aim of this study was to identify the ICF categories that represent the patients' problems treated by manual medicine practitioners in order to facilitate its application in manual medicine. This selection of ICF categories could be used for assessment, treatment documentation and quality management in manual medicine practice. METHODS: Swiss manual medicine experts were asked about the patients' problems commonly treated by manual medicine practitioners in a three-round survey using the Delphi technique. Responses were linked to the ICF. RESULTS: Forty-eight manual medicine experts gave a total of 808 responses that were linked to 225 different ICF categories; 106 ICF categories which reached an agreement of at least 50% among the participants in the final Delphi-round were included in the set of ICF Intervention Categories for Manual Medicine; 42 (40%) of the categories are assigned to the ICF component body functions, 36 (34%) represent the ICF component body structures and 28 (26%) the ICF component activities and participation. CONCLUSION: A first proposal of ICF Intervention Categories for Manual Medicine was defined and needs to be validated in further studies.

A model of movement dysfunction provides a classification system guiding diagnosis and therapeutic care in spinal pain and related musculoskeletal syndromes: a paradigm shift-Part 1.

An integrative functional model largely based upon clinical observation and analysis of the more common features of neuromusculoskeletal-dysfunction encountered in clinical practice is presented as a working hypothesis in Part 1. This endeavours to incorporate contemporary knowledge and practice. The enlightened work of Professor Vladimir Janda has undoubtedly been seminal in the development of this model; however a further evolution of his work is elaborated on in this paper. Thinkers from the human potential movement as well as the scientific community have provided further valuable insights to assist our understanding of function. A related simple classification system of two main clinical subgroups with back pain and related disorders is offered in Part 2. These are based upon the most usual dysfunctional postural and movement strategies. Further distillation provides a number of dysfunction syndromes which will have predictable consequences. This is not a mathematical, computer generated or theoretical biomechanical model. This model describes 'what it is' that we see in our patients, and endeavours to be an overview of the movement related causes of back pain. It provides a clinically useful and practical framework to assist the practitioner in diagnosis and to better understand the development and perpetuation of most spinal pain and related disorders. In so doing, more rational, functional and effective manual and exercise therapy interventions can ensue.

Literature syntheses for the Council on Chiropractic Guidelines and Practice Parameters: methodology.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this project was to initiate an iterative process for systematic review of the literature involving a broad spectrum of individuals with experience across multiple domains (clinicians, educators, clinical scientists, and politically active) within the chiropractic profession. METHODS: The Scientific Commission of the Council on Chiropractic Guidelines and Practice Parameters (CCGPP) was charged with developing literature syntheses, organized by anatomical region, to evaluate and report on the evidence-based values for chiropractic care. Content and process-experienced team leaders were selected to manage 8 domains based on regional disorders: low back and related lower extremity conditions; neck pain, headache, and related upper extremity conditions; costovertebral and thoracic conditions; upper extremity disorders; lower extremity disorders; nonmusculoskeletal disorders; and subluxation. Team efforts in review, rating, and reporting of literature synthesis were guided, as best possible, by the widely accepted Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation process. The main features included (1) review by a panel of experts; (2) detailed topic selection based on literature of most common conditions and procedures; (3) structured instruments for rating the quality of and results from the literature; (4) formal consensus process to adjudicate differences in professional opinion; and (5) wide stakeholder review by patients, professionals, policymakers, and third-party payers. As part of the CCGPP process, preliminary drafts of these articles were posted on the CCGPP Web site www.ccgpp.org (2006-2008) to allow for an open process and the broadest possible mechanism for stakeholder input. RESULTS: Reports on findings from this process are being published. The reports from each domain summarize methodological challenges and their unique content. CONCLUSIONS: Although all literature in health care is challenged by complex methodological issues that limit how the information may be generalized, the preponderance of evidence in any of the domains can be informative to the clinician as well as give guidance to new scientific efforts to improve the quality of care.

Patient satisfaction of primary care for musculoskeletal diseases: a comparison between Neural Therapy and conventional medicine.

BACKGROUND: The main objective of this study was to assess and compare patient satisfaction with Neural Therapy (NT) and conventional medicine (COM) in primary care for musculoskeletal diseases. METHODS: A cross-sectional study in primary care for musculoskeletal disorders covering 77 conventional primary care providers and 18 physicians certified in NT with 241 and 164 patients respectively. Patients and physicians documented consultations and patients completed questionnaires at a one-month follow-up. Physicians documented duration and severity of symptoms, diagnosis, and procedures. The main outcomes in the evaluation of patients were: fulfillment of expectations, perceived treatment effects, and patient satisfaction. RESULTS: The most frequent diagnoses belonged to the group of dorsopathies (39% in COM, 46% in NT). We found significant differences between NT and COM with regard to patient evaluations. NT patients documented better fulfilment of treatment expectations and higher overall treatment satisfaction. More patients in NT reported positive side effects and less frequent negative effects than patients in COM. Also, significant differences between NT and COM patients were seen in the quality of the patient-physician interaction (relation and communication, medical care, information and support, continuity and cooperation, facilities availability, and accessibility), where NT patients showed higher satisfaction. Differences were also found with regard to the physicians' management of disease, with fewer work incapacity attestations issued and longer consultation times in NT. CONCLUSION: Our findings show a significantly higher treatment and care-related patient satisfaction with primary care for musculoskeletal diseases provided by physicians practising Neural Therapy.

[DRGs of musculoskeletal diseases: consequences for orthopaedics and accident surgery]. / DRGs der muskuloskelettalen Erkrankungen: Konsequenzen für die Orthopädie und Unfallchirurgie.

The introduction of the new prospective payment system for inpatient care entails considerable changes for hospitals in Germany. The Australian Refined Diagnosis Related Groups (AR-DRGs), which form the basis for the German system, give the chance to estimate the consequences and implications for the specialty of orthopaedic surgery in Germany. Our study aims at highlighting the most important musculoskeletal diagnoses and to provide an initial economic forecast for them. The comparison with Australian data gives hints for operative and conservative-rehabilitative orthopaedic departments in respect to potentials and focal points for the development of novel patient management tools. The success of orthopaedic departments will depend in the future much more than now on organisational and management issues.

A new symmetry-based scoring method for posture assessment: evaluation of the effect of insoles with mineral derivatives.

BACKGROUND: There is a need for a validated rapid procedure for the evaluation of posture, defined as lateral balance/imbalance at the pelvic, shoulder, and neck levels. This would enable clinicians to determine the importance of symmetry in the pathophysiology of musculoskeletal disorders and to assess the efficacy of devices and treatments claiming to normalize or improve posture. In this investigation, the efficacy of such a device, a set of insoles with a hypothesized proprioceptive-like action, was evaluated through use of the described procedure. OBJECTIVES: To develop a new scoring system to evaluate body posture on the basis of symmetry and to use this scoring system to investigate the efficacy of insoles containing a combination of mineral derivatives designed to balance posture through a neurophysiological effect. METHODS: The posture score was based on the evaluation of 4 postural parameters: pelvic and shoulder lateral balance/imbalance, static shoulder rotation, and amplitude of head rotation. In the placebo-controlled study, 32 patients were tested in a double-blind fashion, either with placebo insoles or with insoles containing mineral derivatives. The same study was repeated in unblind conditions in 137 patients selected from 2 chiropractic clinics in an open-label protocol. STUDY DESIGNS: A crossover placebo-controlled, double-blind study and a multicenter, large-scale, open-label study in patients selected from chiropractic clinics. RESULTS: A basal postural evaluation in 137 patients revealed that no patient had a perfect symmetry-ie, a perfectly or nearly perfectly balanced posture. The insoles with mineral derivatives induced a highly significant and similar improvement in the postural score in both the crossover double-blind study (32 patients; 56.7% improvement) and the open-label study (137 patients; 60.7% improvement, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: All patients tested and selected in chiropractic clinics exhibited asymmetries and postural imbalances according to the newly developed scoring method, and this method was successful in assessing the efficacy of insoles exerting a profound and immediate postural effect through a hypothesized neurophysiological mode of action.

Summary of ICD-9-CM Coordination and Maintenance Committee meeting.

The ICD-9-CM Coordination and Maintenance Committee, cosponsored by the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) and the Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA), recently met in Baltimore, MD. Donna Pickett, RRA (NCHS), and Patricia Brooks, RRA (HCFA), cochaired the meeting. Proposed modifications to ICD-9-CM were presented and are summarized below. Unless otherwise indicated, the audience generally supported the proposed changes.

[Simple and valid ICD9-/10- and IKPM coding using an electronic data-assisted coding system "do it"--experiences after one years use]. / Einfache und valide ICD9-/-10- und IKPM-Kodierung mit Hilfe des EDV-gestützten Verschlüsselungssystems "do it"--Erfahrungen nach einjähriger Anwendung.

UNLABELLED: Question by introducing "Fallpauschalen" and "Sonderentgelte" in German health system the coding of diagnoses and therapies gains a new momentum. Therefore, a new computer based coding-system for ICD- and ICPM- digits is presented. The physician gets enabled for simple and valid classification within his documentation routine. METHODS: Development of a hierarchic menue system, whose first part represents the anatomic region. The second part is reserved for the most common diagnosis rsp. therapies within its special anatomic region. By further sub-menues all other ICD numbers in the orthopedic and traumatologic field may be coded (selection related by frequency). This coding-system has been in clinical use since jan. 1st. 1995. RESULTS: Control of the efficiency of this coding-systems by 1316 patients with 1551 operations within one year. By using ICD-10, the representation of orthopedic-traumatologic diagnosis inhanced by factor 1.8 versus ICD-9. According to ICPM, 3560 therapies were coded, making it 2-3 actions per operation. "Fallpauschalen" were found in 21.9%, in 27.7% there were "Sonderentgelte". Within one year the coding error rate was reduced from 25% to 5%. CONCLUSIONS: Because of its easy handling the coding system "do it" represents a good alternative to conventional coding rsp. clear text analysis.