The efficacy of Kinesio taping on lymphedema following head and neck cancer therapy: a randomized, double blind, sham-controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: The aim was to investigate the effectiveness of Kinesio taping for lymphedema following head and neck cancer therapy and its effect on patient compliance and quality of life. METHODS: A total of 66 patients with lymphedema following head and neck cancer therapy were randomly allocated to the therapeutic Kinesio taping group (n = 33) and the sham Kinesio taping group (n = 33). All participants received manual lymphatic drainage, Kinesio taping, and home exercises for the first four weeks, and only home exercises for the second four weeks. The tape measurements, a scale of external lymphedema, a scale of the internal lymphedema, and quality of life were evaluated in both groups. The perceived discomfort consisting of limitation of daily living activities, pain, tightness, stiffness, and heaviness were also recorded. RESULTS: When the group x time effect was evaluated, it was observed that external lymphedema was significantly reduced in both groups according to neck and face composite measurements (p < .001). However, in these measurements, a significant difference was found between the groups in favor of the KT group (p = .001, p = .032, respectively). At the end of the study, there was no significant difference in terms of internal lymphedema in both groups (p = .860). The quality of life parameters such as global health status and swallowing were significantly better in the Kinesio taping group (p < .001). There was no significant difference in the parameters of perceived discomfort between the two groups (p = .282, p = .225, p = .090, p = .155, p = .183, respectively). CONCLUSION: Kinesio taping is effective in tape measurements and positively affects the quality of life in lymphedema following head and neck cancer therapy.

A randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial of phonophoresis for the treatment of chronic neck pain.

The aim of this trial was to investigate and compare the effects of phonophoresis (PP), placebo PP and exercise therapies on pain, disability, sleep quality, and depression in the patients with chronic neck pain (CNP). This is a randomized, single-blind, placebo-controlled study. A total of 61 patients with definite CNP were included in this study. The patients were randomized into three groups. Group 1 (n = 21) received PP with capsaicin treatment and exercises. Group 2 (n = 20) received placebo PP with capsaicin and exercises. Group 3 (n = 20) was given only exercises. All of the programs were performed 3 days a week, for 6 weeks. The pain (visual analog scale), disability (the neck pain disability index), depression (Beck Depression Inventory scores), and sleep quality (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index) of all participants were evaluated. Measurements were taken before and after treatment. All of the groups showed statistically significant improvements in pain, disability, sleep quality, and depression. While there was no difference between groups regarding depression and sleep quality, intergroup comparison showed significant differences in pain and disability among three groups. These differences were statistically significant in group 1 and 2 compared to group 3, and also in group 1 compared to group 2. We observed that PP treatment was effective in the treatment for patients with CNP. A combination of PP with exercises can be used to obtain optimal clinical results.

Is phonophoresis effective in the treatment of chronic low back pain? A single-blind randomized controlled trial.

The aim of this trial is to investigate and compare the effects of phonophoresis (PP) and ultrasound (US) therapy on pain, disability, trunk muscle strength, walking performance, spinal mobility, quality of life (QOL), and depression in the patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP). A total of 60 patients with definite CLBP were included in this study. The patients were randomized into three groups. Group 1 (n = 20) was accepted as the control group and was given only exercises. Group 2 (n = 20) received US treatment and exercises. Group 3 (n = 20) received PP and exercises. All of the programs were performed 3 days a week, for 6 weeks. The pain (visual analog scale, VAS), disability (Oswestry Disability Questionnaire, ODQ and pain disability index, PDI), walking performance (6 min walking test, 6MWT), depression (Beck Depression Inventory scores, BDI), and QOL (Short Form 36, SF-36) of all participants were evaluated. The trunk muscle strength was measured with a handheld dynamometer. All of the groups showed statistically significant improvements in pain, disability, muscle strength, endurance, 6MWT, mobility, QOL, and depression. The intergroup comparison showed significant differences in VAS pain, 6MWT, and EMS, among three groups. These differences were statistically significant in groups 2 and 3 compared with the group 1. The intergroup comparison showed significant difference in pain, physical function, and energy subgroups of SF-36. The differences were statistically in group 3 compared with group 1 and 2. We observed that US and PP treatments were effective in the treatment of patients with CLBP but PP was not found to be superior over ultrasound therapy.

Effectiveness of microwave diathermy on pain, functional capacity, muscle strength, quality of life, and depression in patients with subacromial impingement syndrome: a randomized placebo-controlled clinical study.

The aim of this clinical trial was to evaluate the effectiveness of therapeutic MD on pain, functional capacity, muscle strength, quality of life, and depression in patients with subacromial impingement syndrome (SIS). A total of 40 inpatient subjects with definite SIS were included in this study. These patients were sequentially randomized into 2 groups. Group 1 (n = 20) received therapeutic MD. Group 2 (n = 20) was served as control group and received sham MD. Superficial heat and exercise program were given to both groups. Both of the programs were performed 5 times weekly for 3 weeks. Patients were assessed before treatment (BT), after treatment (AT), and at a 1-month follow-up (F). Outcome measures included visual analogue scale, goniometry, Shoulder Pain and Disability Index, Shoulder Disability Questionnaire, shoulder isokinetic muscle testing, handgrip strength, Short Form 36, and Beck Depression Index. The patients with SIS in each group had significant improvements in pain, shoulder ROM, disability, shoulder muscles and grip strength, quality of life, and depression AT and F when compared with their initial status (P < 0.05). There was no statistically significant difference between the groups according to all the parameters regarding the change scores between AT-BT test and F-BT test (P > 0.05). A 2,450-MHz MD regimen showed no beneficial effects in patients with SIS, so the superficial heat and exercise program, as it is efficient, may be preferable for the treatment of SIS, alone.