Comparative Effectiveness of Manual Therapy Interventions on Pain and Pressure Pain Threshold in Patients With Myofascial Trigger Points: A Network Meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVES: Myofascial trigger points (MTPs) are one of the most important causes of musculoskeletal pain. Evidence has suggested a positive effect of manual therapy in the treatment of MTPs. However, a comprehensive review comparing the effect of different manual therapy techniques are lacking. Thus, we conducted a network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials to determine the type of manual therapy technique that has the greatest positive influence in patients with MTPs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and Scopus databases were searched to identify direct and indirect evidence comparing the effectiveness of different types of manual therapy interventions on pain intensity and pressure pain threshold (PPT) in patients with MTPs. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane RoB2 tool. A pairwise meta-analysis for direct and indirect comparisons between intervention and control/nonintervention groups was carried out. RESULTS: A total of 37 studies were eligible for analysis. Combined interventions had the highest effect size for pain (-1.40; 95% CI, -2.34, -0.47), and the highest probability to be the best intervention and the highest Surface Under the Cumulative Ranking (64.7% and 87.9%, respectively). Afferent reduction techniques, understood as the interventions aimed to restore muscle spindles helping to dictate sarcomere length and tone in MTPs, had the highest effect size for PPT (0.93; 95% CI, 0.47, 1.39), and the highest probability to be the best intervention and the highest Surface Under the Cumulative Ranking (34.7% and 71.2%, respectively). The results were consistent in sensitivity analyses, with minimal inconsistencies between direct and indirect results. DISCUSSION: Manual therapy interventions should be considered an effective strategy for pain and PPT in patients with MTPs. The results suggest that among the different manual therapy modalities, combined and afferent reduction techniques are the most effective for pain and PPT, respectively.

Effect of Manual Therapy Interventions on Range of Motion Among Individuals with Myofascial Trigger Points: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Patients with myofascial trigger points (MTPs) frequently manifest restricted range of motion (ROM) during physical evaluation. Multiple manual therapy interventions have been developed for the treatment of MTPs, but their effect on ROM has not been clarified through a systematic review and meta-analysis. Thus, this systematic review aimed to assess the effect of manual therapy interventions on ROM among individuals with MTPs. METHODS: A systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane, Scopus, and Clinical Trials.gov. Articles analyzing the effect of manual therapy interventions on ROM were included. The risk of bias was assessed with the Cochrane Risk of Bias (RoB) 2 tool. The DerSimonian-Laird method was used to compute the pooled effect size (ES) and its 95% confidence interval (95% CI) for ROM. RESULTS: A total of 13 randomized controlled trials were included in this systematic review and meta-analysis. The pooled ES for ROM was 0.52 (95% CI: 0.42-0.63). The pooled ES for ROM evaluated in centimeters was 0.36 (95% CI: 0.14-0.59), and the pooled ES for ROM evaluated in degrees was 0.57 (95% CI: 0.47-0.68). CONCLUSION: Manual therapy interventions may be an effective approach for improving ROM among individuals with MTPs.

Effectiveness of Pilates and Yoga to improve bone density in adult women: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: The ageing population brings about the appearance of age-related health disorders, such as osteoporosis or osteopenia. These disorders are associated with fragility fractures. The impact is greater among postmenopausal women due to an acceleration of bone mineral density (BMD) loss. OBJECTIVE: To estimate the effectiveness of Pilates or Yoga on BMD in adult women. METHODS: Five electronics databases were searched up to April 2021. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs), non-RCTs and pre-post studies were included. The main outcome was BMD. Risk of bias was evaluated using the Cochrane risk of bias tool. A random effects model was used to pool data from primary studies. Subgroup analyses based on the type of exercise were conducted. RESULTS: Eleven studies including 591 participants aged between 45 and 78 years were included. The mean length of the interventions ranged from 12 to 32 weeks, and two studies were performed for a period of at least one year. The pooled effect size for the effect of the intervention (Pilates/Yoga) vs the control group was 0.07 (95% Confidence interval [CI]: -0.05 to 0.19; I2 = 0.0%), and 0.10 (95% CI: 0.01 to 0.18; I2 = 18.4%) for the secondary analysis of the pre-post intervention. CONCLUSIONS: Despite of the non-significant results, the BMD maintenance in the postmenopausal population, when BMD detrimental is expected, could be understood as a positive result added to the beneficial impact of Pilates-Yoga in multiple fracture risk factors, including but not limited to, strength and balance.

The Short-term Effect of Graded Motor Imagery on the Affective Components of Pain in Subjects with Chronic Shoulder Pain Syndrome: Open-Label Single-Arm Prospective Study.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the short-term effect of graded motor imagery (GMI) on the affective components of pain and range of motion in subjects with chronic shoulder pain syndrome. DESIGN: Open-label single-arm prospective study. SETTING: The Physical Therapy Laboratory, Universidad de las Americas. SUBJECTS: One hundred seven patients with chronic shoulder pain syndrome. METHODS: The subjects received a six-week GMI program based on laterality training, imagined movements, and mirror therapy. We assessed pain intensity using a visual analog scale (VAS), fear of movement was assessed using the Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia (TSK), and catastrophizing was assessed using the Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS). The patient's flexion active range of motion (AROM) was also recorded. RESULTS: At the end of treatment, the VAS showed a decrease of 4.2 cm (P < 0.001, Cohen's d = 3.3), TSK showed a decrease of 17.0 points (P < 0.001, Cohen's d = 2.8), catastrophizing showed a decrease of 19.2 points (P < 0.001, Cohen's d = 3.2), and shoulder flexion AROM showed an increment of 30.3º (P < 0.000, Cohen's d = 1.6). CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that a short-term GMI program improves the affective components of pain and shoulder flexion AROM in patients with chronic shoulder pain syndrome.

Effectiveness of a multicomponent treatment versus conventional treatment in patients with fibromyalgia: Study protocol.

BACKGROUND: Fibromyalgia (FM) is a chronic pain syndrome characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain and multiple symptoms. It is a common clinical condition whose etiology is unclear. Currently, there is no gold standard treatment for FM. Management of this condition is therefore aimed at reducing symptoms and maintaining the individual's ability to function optimally. Based on the principal symptoms and characteristics of individuals with FM, we hypothesized that the implementation of a multicomponent treatment (with physical exercise, cognitive behavioral therapy adding to a graded motor imagery program, and therapeutic neuroscience education) would be more effective than conventional treatment in women with FM. This paper describes the rationale and methods of study intended to test the effectiveness of multicomponent treatment versus conventional treatment in patients with FM. METHOD/DESIGN: Fifty-six female individuals between 18 and 65 years of age, who were referred to the physical therapy department of the Rehabilitar Center in Chile, will be randomized into two treatment arms. The intervention group will receive a multicomponent treatment program for duration of 12 weeks. The control group will receive a conventional treatment for this condition for 12 weeks. The primary outcome measure will be the pain intensity score, measured by the numeric pain rating scale (NPRS), and the secondary outcomes will be the FM Impact Questionnaire (FIQ), and affective components of pain, such as catastrophizing using the Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS), fear of movement using the Tampa Scale Kinesiophobia (TSK), and sleep quality as measured by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). DISCUSSION: This paper reports the design of a randomized clinical trial aimed at assessing the effectiveness of the multicomponent treatment versus conventional treatment in women with FM. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Brazilian registry of clinical trials UTN number U1111-1232-0862. Registered 22 April 2019.

Rationale and methods of a randomised cross-over cluster trial to assess the effectiveness of MOVI-KIDS on preventing obesity in pre-schoolers.

BACKGROUND: Childhood obesity has become an alarming worldwide increasing public health problem. The earlier adiposity rebound occurs, the greater the risk of becoming obese during puberty and adolescence. It has been speculated about the potential influence of vigorous physical activity on modifying the age of onset of adiposity rebound. Moreover, studies aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of physical activity interventions programs on reducing adiposity and other cardiovascular risk factors in children younger than 6 years are scarce. This paper describes the rationale and methods of a study aimed to test the effectiveness of a two-years multidimensional pre-school intervention on preventing obesity and improving physical fitness during the adiposity rebound period. METHODS/DESIGN: Twenty-one schools from the provinces of Cuenca and Ciudad Real, Spain, were randomised to an intervention and a control arm. In the first academic year, children in third grade of pre-school and first grade of primary school in the intervention group received the physical activity intervention (MOVI-KIDS). After an academic year schools were crossed over to the alternative arm. According to the socio-ecological model, the intervention included children, their parents and teachers, and the school environment where MOVI-KIDS was conducted. MOVI-KIDS consisted of: i) three-h/week sessions of recreational non-competitive physical activity in after-school time; ii) educational materials to parents and teachers about physical activity benefits and sedentary lifestyle risks; and iii) modifications in the playground to promote physical activity during recess. Baseline and post-intervention outcomes are going to be measured in both arms three times, at the beginning and at the end of first academic year, and at the end of the second academic year. Primary outcomes included body mass index, waist circumference, triceps skinfold thickness, percentage of both body fat and fat-free mass, and blood pressure. Secondary end points were physical activity, fitness, and carotid intima-media thickness. DISCUSSION: This paper reports the design of a randomised cross-over cluster trial aimed at assessing the effectiveness of the multidimensional physical activity intervention (MOVI-KIDS) during two years in pre-school children. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinical trials.gov: NCT01971840 . (Date of registration: Initial Release: 10/07/2013; Record Verification: 23/10/2013).