Physical therapy for acute and sub-acute low back pain: A systematic review and expert consensus.

OBJECTIVE: To review the effectiveness of different physical therapies for acute and sub-acute low back pain supported by evidence, and create clinical recommendations and expert consensus for physiotherapists on clinical prescriptions. DATA SOURCES: A systematic search was conducted in PubMed and the Cochrane Library for studies published within the previous 15 years. REVIEW METHODS: Systematic review and meta-analysis, randomized controlled trials assessing patients with acute and sub-acute low back pain were included. Two reviewers independently screened relevant studies using the same inclusion criteria. The Physiotherapy Evidence Database and the Assessment of Multiple Systematic Reviews tool were used to grade the quality assessment of randomized controlled trials and systematic reviews, respectively. The final recommendation grades were based on the consensus discussion results of the Delphi of 22 international experts. RESULTS: Twenty-one systematic reviews and 21 randomized controlled trials were included. Spinal manipulative therapy and low-level laser therapy are recommended for acute low back pain. Core stability exercise/motor control, spinal manipulative therapy, and massage can be used to treat sub-acute low back pain. CONCLUSIONS: The consensus statements provided medical staff with appliable recommendations of physical therapy for acute and sub-acute low back pain. This consensus statement will require regular updates after 5-10 years.

Effects of acupuncture or similar needling therapy on pain, proprioception, balance, and self-reported function in individuals with chronic ankle instability: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Acupuncture or similar needling therapy has long been used to improve well-being, but its effectiveness in management of chronic ankle instability (CAI) is unclear. To investigate the efficacy of acupuncture or similar needling therapy on pain, proprioception, balance, and self-reported function in individuals with CAI. METHODS: Nine databases (PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, EBSCO, PEDro, CNKI, WanFang, and CQVIP) were systematically searched from inception to April 2023. This study included randomized controlled trials involving acupuncture or similar needling therapy as an intervention for individuals with CAI. Data were extracted independently by two assessors using a standardized form. Literature quality and risk bias were assessed by using the PEDro scale. RESULTS: Twelve trials (n = 571) were found, of which the final meta-analysis was conducted with eight. Different studies employ varying treatments, including specific needle types, techniques, and therapeutic frameworks. Compared to control without acupuncture or similar needling therapy, acupuncture or similar needling intervention resulted in improved pain (WMD 1.33, 95 % CI 0.14-2.52, I²=90 %, p = 0.03), proprioception (active joint position sense, WMD 1.71, 95 % CI 0.95-2.48, I²=0 %, p < 0.0001), balance (SMD 0.54, 95 % CI 0.03-1.04, I²=46 %, p = 0.04), and self-reported function (Cumberland Ankle Instability Tool (WMD 2.92, 95 % CI 0.94-4.90, I²=78 %, p = 0.004); American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (WMD 9.36, 95 % CI 6.57-12.15, I²=0 %, p < 0.001); Foot and Ankle Ability Measure: activities of daily living (WMD 5.09, 95 % CI 1.74-8.44, I²=0 %, p = 0.003)) for individuals with CAI. CONCLUSIONS: The available evidence suggests that acupuncture or similar needling therapy may improve pain, proprioception, balance, and self-reported function in individuals with CAI, but more trials are needed to verify these findings. Furthermore, various needles and techniques using in different studies have resulted in methodologic limitations that should be addressed in the future.

Kinesiology tape length and ankle inversion proprioception at step-down landing in individuals with chronic ankle instability.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the effect of different lengths of kinesiology tape (KT) on ankle inversion proprioceptive performance in individuals with or without chronic ankle instability (CAI). DESIGN: A repeated measures study. METHODS: Fifteen participants with unilateral CAI and fifteen participants with no CAI volunteered. The Ankle Inversion Discrimination Apparatus for Landing (AIDAL) was used to measure ankle proprioceptive acuity. All participants were tested under four KT conditions: no tape (baseline), short tape length (only foot and ankle complex involved), mid length (below the knee) and long length (above the knee) taping. After the baseline test, participants underwent the 3 different taping tests in a random order. RESULTS: Repeated measures ANOVA indicated that, compared to those without CAI, individuals with CAI performed significantly worse across the 4 different conditions (F = 8.196, p = 0.008). There was a significant KT main effect (F = 7.489, p < 0.001) and a significant linear effect (F = 17.083, p < 0.001), suggesting that KT significantly improved ankle proprioceptive performance in landing, and with longer tape length there was greater proprioceptive enhancement. Post-hoc analysis showed that for the CAI group, both mid length (p = 0.013, 95%CI = -0.063, -0.009) and long length (p = 0.010, 95%CI = -0.067, -0.011) taping can significantly improve ankle proprioceptive performance compared to no tape, whereas for the non-CAI group, ankle proprioceptive acuity was significantly improved only with long length taping (p = 0.007, 95%CI = -0.080, -0.015). CONCLUSIONS: KT can be used to improve ankle inversion proprioceptive performance during landing in both individuals with and without CAI and increasing tape length may achieve greater proprioceptive improvement.

Does treatment duration of manual therapy influence functional outcomes for individuals with chronic ankle instability: A systematic review with meta-analysis?

QUESTION: Can manual therapy improve functional outcomes for individuals with chronic ankle instability? DESIGN: Systematic review with meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. PARTICIPANTS: Individuals with chronic ankle instability. INTERVENTION: Manual therapy is defined as an intervention that involves joint mobilization, and mobilization with movement. OUTCOME MEASURE: The primary outcome is patient reported function (PRF) questionnaires scores, the secondary outcomes are ankle dorsiflexion range of motion (DFROM) and balance control. RESULTS: Four studies were included (n = 208, mean age = 24.4) in the meta-analysis, with moderate to high quality on the PEDro scale (range 6-8). For patient reported function (PRF) questionnaires, two studies reported significant improvement after six-session manual therapy measured by foot and ankle ability measures sport subscale (FAAMS) and Cumberland ankle instability tool (CAIT), respectively. For DFROM, one session manual therapy had no significant effect on the weight-bearing lunge test (WBLT) (3 studies, n = 147, SMD = 1.24 (95%CI -0.87 to 3.36), I2 = 96%) or non-weight-bearing inclinometer test (2 studies, n = 47, MD = 3.41° (95%CI -0.26 to 7.09),I2 = 43%), while six-sessions manual therapy showed, a significantly positive effect on WBLT(2 studies, n = 80, SMD = 2.39, (95% CI 0.55, to 4.23), I2 = 93%). For the SEBT, one-session manual therapy had no significant effect on overall star excursion balance test (SEBT) score (3 studies, n = 137,MD = 2.05,95%CI (-0.96,5.05), I2 = 75%), while qualitative analysis of 2 included studies showed significant improvement both on the SEBT score and single limb balance test (SLBT). CONCLUSIONS: Six sessions rather than one session of manual therapy improves ankle functional performance for individuals with CAI. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: PROSPERO CRD42017054715.