Effect of extracorporeal shock wave therapy and ultrasound-guided percutaneous lavage in reducing the pain of rotator cuff calcific tendinopathy; an updated systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) and ultrasound-guided percutaneous lavage (UGPL or barbotage) are among those used to treat the pain of rotator cuff calcific tendinopathy (RCCT). This meta-analysis was done to review the effect ESWT and UGPL in reducing the pain of RCCT. Methods: A comprehensive search was done based on the PRISMA. PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Cochrane Library and Google Scholar were reviewed for articles published by Feb 1, 2024, on ESWT vs. UGPL. The main keywords searched are as follows: "rotator cuff calcific tendinopathy", "tendinitis", " ESWT", " ultrasound-guided percutaneous lavage", " RCCT ″, " UGPL", " extracorporeal shock wave therapy" and titles or abstracts may contain one or a mix of these elements. This study was registered at PROSPERO with code" CRD42022385068". STATA version 13 was applied to analyze. Results: In general, 779 patients from 22 studies were analyzed. The mean age was 51.85 ± 3.41 years. The patients were referred after 18.69 months of suffering from tendinopathy symptoms. Right-sided and supraspinatus locations were affected more. ESWT has been effective in a decrease of calcium deposit (-1.70 SMD after 1 week for ESWT, -0.96 SMD after 12 weeks for ESWT and -1.20 SMD after 12 weeks UPGL). ESWT has been effective in decreasing VAS by -4.32 SMD after 1 week while UPGL showed -0.23 SMD reductions in VAS After 1 week but in time >1 week, UPGL showed better effect by more reduction in VAS. ESWT has been effective in an increase of CMS by 1.60 SMD after 4-6 weeks, by 1.79 SMD after 12 weeks, by 2.44 SMD after 24 weeks, and 2.53 SMD after 48 weeks. Conclusion: Based on the results, ultrasound-guided lavage is more effective in reducing pain than ESWT, and this effect becomes more evident in the long term. In terms of CMS score, over time, the efficiency of ESWT becomes more visible. In long-term follow-up, UPGL had a better effect on the calcium deposit reduction.

Efficacy of supervised self-reduction vs. physician-assisted techniques for anterior shoulder dislocations: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Reduction manipulation using self-reduction procedures such as Stimson, Milch, and Boss-Holtzach should be easy and effective and also require less force, pain medication, and outside assistance. This technique should not cause damage to arteries, nerves, or shoulder joint components. Self-reduction is straightforward and can be done in clinics, making it ideal for people who suffer from shoulder joint dislocation frequently. The goal of this study is to compare the effectiveness of supervised self-reduction procedures vs. physician-assisted treatments in the treatment of anterior shoulder dislocations. METHOD: We conducted a comprehensive search on PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane up to March 22, 2023, using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) checklist. Relevant articles were reviewed, with a focus on studies comparing supervised self-reduction techniques to physician-assisted techniques in cases of anterior shoulder dislocation. RESULTS: Four papers in all were included in the meta-analysis. One prospective trial, one case-control study, one randomized clinical trial, and one retrospective trial made up these studies. The studies involved 283 patients in the physician-assisted group and 180 patients in the supervised self-reduction group. They were carried out in four European countries: Italy, Germany, Portugal, and Spain. The success rate of supervised self-reduction techniques was significantly higher, with an odds ratio of 2.71 (95% CI 1.25-5.58, p-value = 0.01). Based on the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) score, the physician-assisted group reported significantly higher maximum pain, with a mean difference of 1.98 (95% CI 1.24-2.72, p-value < 0.01). The self-reduction approaches exhibit shorter reduction time in comparison to physician-assisted groups. In addition, the self-reduction groups do not document any complications. Based on the GRADE system, the level of assurance in the evidence was high. CONCLUSION: Supervised self-reduction techniques outperform in terms of success rate and reduction-related maximum pain. These techniques could be used as an effective first-line treatment for anterior shoulder dislocation, potentially reducing the need for analgesics and emergency room visits.

The epidemiology of neck and low back pain in Iran: a national and sub-national analysis from 1990 to 2019.

Background: Neck pain (NP) is a condition influenced by multiple factors. It places a significant burden on individuals suffering from NP and on social and economic systems. On a global scale, low back pain (LBP) stands out as a significant contributor to years lost to disability, and this burden is on the rise due to population growth and aging. Methods: The Global Burden of Disease database was used to collect data on the prevalence, incidence, and years lived with disability (YLD) of NP and LBP between 1990 and 2019. Various factors, including age group, gender, Iran, and its 31 provinces, were used to classify the data. Results: Iran accounted for 0.86 million incident cases of NP in 2019, with age-standardized incident rate per 100 000 population of 934.1. Tehran has the maximum age-standardized prevalence, incidence, and YLD. Iran accounted for the age-standardized incidence rate for LBP per 100 000 population of 3492.9, and it reduced to -8.35% from 1990. Mazandaran exhibits the highest levels of prevalence, incidence, and YLD for LBP in 2019. In Iran, the point prevalence of NP in 2019 was higher in females and increased with age up to 50-54 years for females and 70-74 years for males. However, there is only a slight difference between females and males in Iran regarding LBP prevalence. Conclusions: In this study, the authors report the prevalence, incidence, YLD, and age-standardized rates for NP and LBP in the world's general population and Iran's population based on its sub-nations in 1990 and 2019.

Effects of whole-body vibration on chronic ankle instability: a systematic review.

Background and objective: Chronic ankle instability (CAI) is one of the most common sports injuries, and whole-body vibration (WBV) training has been used lately as a potential rehabilitation modality for these patients. The authors conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess whether WBV training positively affects patients with CAI. Materials and methods: The authors systematically searched four databases, including MEDLINE (PubMed), Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, for randomized and non-randomized trials evaluating the effects of WBV on individuals with CAI. The authors used Cochrane RoB2 to assess the risk of bias in randomized trials. A meta-analysis was conducted if three or more studies measured the same outcome. Effect estimates were pooled using a random-effects model. Results: Results were retrieved from seven articles encompassing 288 participants who had CAI. The reach distance of the Star Excursion Balance Test (SEBT) was regarded as the study's main finding. The authors saw a significant training effect on certain planes of motion on dynamic balance. The findings showed that the post-intervention measurements in the WBV group compared to control groups showed improvements in the posterolateral, posteromedial, and medial directions, respectively. There were also promising results on improvements in muscle activity, strength, and proprioception sense measurements with a great diversity in the reported parameters. Conclusion: The authors observed a significant WBV training effect on dynamic balance over posterolateral, posteromedial, and medial reach distances. These findings suggest future studies on the effects of WBV on muscle activity, strength, and proprioception in addition to dynamic and static balance.

Efficacy of trigger point dry needling on pain and function of the hip joint: a systematic review of randomized clinical trials.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to assess the evidence for the impact of dry needling (DN) on hip pain and function. METHODS: Medline/PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science and Cochrane CENTRAL databases were searched systematically through June 2022 for randomized clinical trials (RCTs) investigating the impact of DN on hip pain and function. Version 2 of the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool for randomized trials (RoB 2) was used to assess risk of bias. Descriptive analysis was conducted to explain the outcomes and adverse events of DN in hip joint diseases. Meta-analysis was not feasible due to significant heterogeneity. RESULTS: A total of seven eligible studies (including 273 patients) were included out of 2152 screened records. Five studies were in participants with hip osteoarthritis (OA; n = 3), greater trochanteric pain syndrome (GTPS; n = 1) or piriformis syndrome (n = 1); the other two studies were conducted in healthy athletes (n = 2). Two articles assessed changes in participants' short-term visual analog scale (VAS) scores (<1 week), one of which showed that DN significantly reduced pain (P < 0.05). One-week VAS scores were analyzed in three studies, all of which demonstrated reduced scores following DN (P < 0.05). Hip range of motion (ROM) and muscle force were also improved following DN. No serious side effects were reported. CONCLUSION: DN may be safe and effective at relieving hip pain and improving hip function. DN performs significantly better than several different types of control intervention (including sham DN, no treatment, corticosteroid injections and laser). Strong evidence (high degree of certainty around the results) is lacking, and future studies should ideally use longer follow-up periods and larger sample sizes. REVIEW REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42022297845 (PROSPERO).

Modeling of cerebellar transcranial electrical stimulation effects on hand tremor in Parkinson's disease.

Introduction: Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder with different motor and neurocognitive symptoms. Tremor is a well-known symptom of this disease. Increasing evidence suggested that the cerebellum may substantially contribute to tremors as a clinical symptom of PD. However, the theoretical foundations behind these observations are not yet fully understood. Methods: In this study, a computational model is proposed to consider the role of the cerebellum and to show the effectiveness of cerebellar transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) on the rest tremor in participants with PD. The proposed model consists of the cortex, cerebellum, spinal circuit-muscular system (SC-MS), and basal ganglia blocks as the most critical parts of the brain, which are involved in generating rest tremors. The cortex, cerebellum, and SC-MS blocks were modeled using Van der Pol oscillators that interacted through synchronization procedures. Basal ganglia are considered as a regulator of the coupling weights defined between oscillators. In order to evaluate the global behavior of the model, we applied tACS on the cerebellum of fifteen PD patients for 15 min at each patient's peak frequency of their rest tremors. A tri-axial accelerometer recorded rest tremors before, during, and after the tACS. Results and Discussion: The simulation of the model provides a suggestion for the possible role of the cerebellum on rest tremors and how cerebellar tACS can affect these tremors. Results of human experiments also showed that the online and offline effects of cerebellar tACS could lead to the reduction of rest tremors significantly by about %76 and %68, respectively. Our findings suggest that the cerebellar tACS could serve as a reliable, therapeutic technique to suppress the PD tremor.

Dry Needling for Arthrogenic Muscle Inhibition of Quadriceps Femoris in Patients after Reconstruction of Anterior Cruciate Ligament: a Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: : Dry needling (DN) is recommended as a therapeutic modality for various neuromusculoskeletal disorders. No study has been performed on the impact of DN on arthrogenic muscle inhibition (AMI) after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR). This study protocol is aimed to investigate the impacts of DN on AMI of quadriceps femoris, corticomotor, and spinal reflex excitability in patients with ACLR. Methods: : A double-blind, between-subject, randomized, controlled trial will be conducted to measure changes in AMI after DN. Twenty-four subjects with ACLR will be recruited to receive a DN or a sham DN, providing that they met the inclusion criteria. Three sessions of DN on the quadriceps femoris will be applied during a one-week period. The primary outcome measures are the active motor threshold, motor evoked potential, and Hmax - Mmax ratio. The secondary outcomes are the International Knee Documentation Committee subjective knee form questionnaire score and maximum quadriceps isometric torque. Data will be collected at baseline, immediately after the first session, after the third session, and at the one-month follow-up visit. Discussion: : The results of this study will provide preliminary evidence regarding the effects of DN on AMI of quadriceps femoris in patients with ACLR.

Design and ergonomic evaluation of a new adapted endoscope holder to reduce muscle pressure and discomfort during endoscopy.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic surgeons who regularly perform endoscopy are more likely to develop musculoskeletal disorders than other internal medicine specialists, a difference that attributed to repetitive movements, poor postures, and sub-optimal equipment design. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to design, build, and evaluate an endoscope holder for reducing the static load applied by the weight of the endoscope, in order to reduce musculoskeletal disorders risk factors in the surgeon's hand, shoulder and back issues regions. METHODS: A new endoscope holder was designed according to ergonomic design principles. The designed holder was evaluated by surface electromyography (sEMG) and discomfort assessment including 15 laparoscopic surgeons. The results were analyzed with centrality statistics and compared with the independent t-test using SPSS version 22. RESULTS: The evaluation of the new endoscope holder shows a statistical significant decrease in the average electrical activity of biceps brachii, triceps brachii, lateral deltoid, T9 Thoracic erector spinae, L4 Lumbar erector spinae, and external oblique after using the holder (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The results shows that using the new endoscope holder is associated with a lower level of discomfort, as well as a lower induced muscle activity. The results also highlight the need to upgrade the holder to offer rotability in all directions (perpendicular to the ground) which will be included in the next design.

Ultrasound-Guided Injection of Dextrose Versus Corticosteroid in Chronic Plantar Fasciitis Management: A Randomized, Double-Blind Clinical Trial.

DESIGN: Chronic plantar fasciitis (PF) is a common cause of chronic heel pain, with different conventional treatment options. In this randomized clinical trial, the effect of ultrasound-guided injection of dextrose versus corticosteroid in chronic PF was evaluated and compared. METHODS: A total of 44 patients suffering from chronic PF who visited the physical medicine and rehabilitation clinic were enrolled in the study. Two table-randomized groups were formed. They received an ultrasonography-guided, single injection of either 40 mg methylprednisolone or 20% dextrose. Numeric Rating Scale (NRS), Foot and Ankle Ability Measure questionnaire with 2 subscales, Activities of Daily Living (FAAM-A) and Sports (FAAM-S), along with ultrasonographic parameters were evaluated before and at 2 and 12 weeks after the injection. Results. A total of 40 participants completed the study. Both interventions significantly improved pain and function at 2 and 12 weeks postinjection. After 2 weeks, compared with the dextrose prolotherapy, the corticosteroid group had significantly lower daytime and morning NRS scores (2.55 vs 4.1, P = .012, and 2.75 vs 4.65, P = .004), higher FAAM-S (66.84 vs 54.19; P = .047), and lower plantar fascia thickness at insertion and 1 cm distal to the insertion zone (3.89 vs 4.29 mm, P = .004, and 3.13 vs 3.48 mm, P = .002), whereas FAAM-A was similar in both groups (P = .219). After 12 weeks, all study variables were statistically similar between corticosteroid and dextrose prolotherapy groups. No injection-related side effects were recorded in either group. CONCLUSION: Both methods are effective. Compared with dextrose prolotherapy, our results show that corticosteroid injection may have superior therapeutic effects early after injection, accompanied by a similar outcome at 12 weeks postinjection. LEVELS OF EVIDENCE: Level II.

Validity and reliability of the Persian version of self-administered foot evaluation questionnaire (SAFE-Q) in people with foot orthopedic problems.

INTRODUCTION: Foot problems are one of the main causes of seeing a doctor. According to the World Health Organization's definition of health, the healthcare system must consider patients' quality of life as an important entity. In this regard, many tools have been developed to evaluate patients' opinions about their health status. The purpose of the present study is to evaluate the validity and reliability of the Persian version of the Foot Self-Assessment Questionnaire (SAFE-Q) in patients with foot orthopedic problems. METHOD: 215 people aged 17-60 years with orthopedic foot problems were included in this cross-sectional study. The Spearman correlation coefficient of SAFE-Q questionnaires versus Foot Function Index (FFI) questionnaire was evaluated for the convergent validity. Forty-three people randomly completed SAFE-Q again one week later. Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and Cronbach's alpha was calculated to evaluate the test-retest reliability and internal consistency of the SAFE-Q, respectively. RESULTS: A strong relationship was found between the SAFE-Q total score and other scales with FFI questionnaire (r = 0.52 to 0.87). ICC test-retest reliability and Cronbach's alpha were 0.981 and 0.98 for SAFE-Q, respectively. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that the Persian version of the SAFE-Q questionnaire has acceptable validity and reliability and can be used to assess the health status and quality of life of Persian speakers with orthopedic foot problems.

Ultrasound-guided 5% dextrose prolotherapy versus corticosteroid injection in carpal tunnel syndrome: a randomized, controlled clinical trial.

Aim: The main assessment of this study is to analyze the efficiency of ultrasound-guided dextrose prolotherapy against corticosteroid injections for the treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome. Materials & methods: A total of 54 patients with carpal tunnel syndrome were included. Patients who were assigned into the prolotherapy group were injected with 5cc 5% dextrose water under ultrasound guidance. Patients in the corticosteroid group received ultrasound-guided 1 ml triamcinolone 40 mg/ml injection. Results: The inter-group analysis revealed that dextrose prolotherapy has a similar efficacy as corticosteroid for improving pain intensity, functional limitation in daily life, electrophysiologic parameters and ultrasonographic outcomes. No remarkable difference was found between the two treatments until 3 months of follow-up. Conclusion: Dextrose 5% has similar efficacy as triamcinolone for improving pain intensity, functional limitation in daily life, electrophysiologic parameters and ultrasonographic outcomes.

Comparison of the Effect of Ultrasound-Guided Injection of Botulinum Toxin Type A and Corticosteroid in the Treatment of Chronic Plantar Fasciitis: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to compare the efficacy of ultrasound-guided injection of botulinum toxin type A with corticosteroid in patients with chronic plantar fasciitis (PF). DESIGN: This randomized controlled trial was conducted on 35 patients with chronic plantar fasciitis. Participants were randomly allocated into two groups: one group received methylprednisolone in to the plantar fascia ( n = 18) and the other group received botulinum toxin type A injection into the flexor digitorum brevis and quadratus plantae ( n = 17). All injections were performed under ultrasound guidance. Patients were evaluated using the Visual Analog Scale, Foot and Ankle Ability Measures, and plantar fascia thickness before the intervention, 3 wks, 12 wks, and 6 mos after the treatment. RESULTS: In both groups, patients' pain and function improved significantly up to 3 wks after injection. In the botulinum toxin type A group, morning Visual Analog Scale improved significantly at 12 wks after intervention and the improvement was sustained for another 3 mos. In the botulinum toxin type A group, Foot and Ankle Ability Measures-sports subscale improved in all evaluated points, whereas in the corticosteroid group, the improvement was significant only when comparing follow-ups values to baseline. CONCLUSIONS: Both ultrasound-guided botulinum toxin type A and corticosteroid injection were effective in the treatment of plantar fasciitis. Our study showed that the effects of botulinum toxin type A injection last longer than those of steroid injection.

Comparison of Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy and Blind Steroid Injection in Patients With Coccydynia: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

OBJECTIVE: Extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) emerged recently for the treatment of musculoskeletal conditions owing to its regenerative and anti-inflammatory effects. In this study, the aim was to compare the efficacies of ESWT and steroid injection in patients with coccydynia. DESIGN: Thirty-four patients with coccydynia were randomized into two groups. In the ESWT group, patients received radial shockwave for three weekly sessions. The second treatment group received an injection of steroid in the tip of the coccyx or sacrococcygeal junction. Outcome measures were visual analog scale, Short-Form Health Survey, and Dallas Pain Questionnaire. Visual analog scale was measured at baseline and 1 wk, 1 mo, 2 mos, and 6 mos after the intervention. Short-Form Health Survey and Dallas Pain Questionnaire were assessed before and 1 mo after treatment. RESULTS: The visual analog scale score was significantly decreased in all follow-ups in both groups. There was also a significant decrease between 1 wk and three other posttreatment visits in the ESWT treatment group. Time and group interaction effect was significant on the visual analog scale (F2.64, 84.63 = 2.95, P = 0.043), in favor of ESWT. Concerning the Short-Form Health Survey and Dallas Pain Questionnaire, only some dimensions improved. CONCLUSIONS: ESWT is an effective intervention in patients with coccydynia and had more long-lasting efficacy than steroid in terms of pain relief over 6 mos of observation.

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) versus transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) in the management of patients with fibromyalgia: A randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to compare the effects of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on pain and quality of life in patients with fibromyalgia. METHODS: Thirty participants were randomized into two groups of 15 patients, to receive 3 sessions of either high-frequency (10 Hz) rTMS or 2 mA, 20 min anodal transcranial direct current stimulation over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) over 1 week. Pain was assessed using a Visual Analog Scale (VAS) before treatment, immediately after treatment, 6 and 12 weeks later. Quality of life was evaluated using the Revised Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQR) and psychiatric symptoms were measured using the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21 Item (DASS-21) before treatment, and 6 and 12 weeks after treatment. RESULTS: For the VAS there was a significant time-group interaction, showing that the behavior of two groups differed regarding changes of VAS in favor of the RTMS group (df = 1.73, F = 4.80, p = <0.016). Time-group interaction effect on DASS-21 and FIQR was not significant. 66.6% of patients in rTMS group and 26.6% of patients in tDCS group experienced at least a 30% reduction of VAS from baseline to last follow-up (p = 0.028). DISCUSSION: With the methodology used in this study, both rTMS and tDCS were safe modalities and three sessions of rTMS over DLPFC had greater and longer lasting analgesic effects compared to tDCS in patients with FM. However, considering the limitations of this study, further studies are needed to explore the most effective modality.

The Effect of a Persian Medicine Massage (Dalk and Ghamz) on Neck Pain and Disability in Nonspecific Chronic Neck Pain.

BACKGROUND: This study was conducted to investigate the effect of Dalk and Ghamz on pain and disability in patients with nonspecific chronic neck pain. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This study was conducted on 37 patients with nonspecific chronic neck pain. Dalk and Ghamz massage were performed once a week for four sessions and the neck pain was evaluated by visual analog scale (VAS). In addition, the neck disability index (NDI) was used to assess the disability related to neck disorder. Data were analyzed with the SPSS software. RESULTS: Among 37 patients, 85.5% were female and 13.5% were male. A significant decrease in VAS score was observed during the study (F = 57.77, p < 0.001). The NDI score decreased from 27.27 ± 5.83 to 19.08 ± 7.71 (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Dalk and Ghamz massage in patients with nonspecific neck pain could reduce pain and disability.

Comparison of Ultrasound-Guided Local Ozone (O2-O3) Injection Versus Corticosteroid Injection in Patients With Mild to Moderate Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: Recently, ozone injection has been used to treat various musculoskeletal diseases. This study was performed to compare ultrasound-guided corticosteroid versus ozone injections in the treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome. DESIGN: Forty patients with mild to moderate carpal tunnel syndrome were enrolled and randomly placed in one of the two groups of receiving a corticosteroid or ozone injection under ultrasound guidance. To determine the effectiveness of both injection techniques and compare their outcomes, visual analog scale and scores of Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire, as well as ultrasound and electrodiagnostic criteria, were followed at 0, 6, and 12 wks after the injection. RESULTS: Both groups showed improvement in visual analog scale and Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire at week 6, and this improvement continued until the 12th week after the injections. However, electrodiagnostic values of sensory nerve action potentials and compound motor action potentials latency, and ultrasound carpal tunnel syndrome criteria showed significant improvement only among the subjects in the corticosteroid group at 6 and 12 wks after the injection (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Ozone might be as effective as corticosteroid injection in reducing pain and improving the function. Objective improvements in electrodiagnostic and ultrasound criteria of carpal tunnel syndrome were shown only among patients after corticosteroid injection.

Randomized clinical trial comparing of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) in knee osteoarthritis.

BACKGROUND: Due to the limitations of pharmacological and surgical management of knee osteoarthritis (OA), several non-pharmacologic approaches including transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) have been introduced, with promising results. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to investigate and compare the therapeutic effects of TENS and tDCS for the treatment of patients with knee OA. METHODS: In this double-blinded randomized controlled trial, a total of 40 adult patients with knee OA were randomly allocated to either the TENS or the tDCS group. Patients in either group received 6 sessions of the TENS or tDCS for 2 weeks. Knee strengthening exercises were performed twice daily for the entire treatment period. Patients were evaluated using the visual analogue scale (VAS) and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities (WOMAC). RESULTS: Significant improvement was observed in all outcomes in both TENS and tDCS groups at each follow up compared to baseline although the early improvement (first follow-up) in the WOMAC index was not significant in the TENS group. Based on the within-subject analysis, the behavior of two treatment groups did not differ regarding the changes in the course of the VAS, WOMAC score and its subscales, i.e. stiffness, pain and function (p = 0.263, 0.051, 0.198, 0.075, and 0.146, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Based on the results of this study, the effect of tDCS and TENS was not significantly different on pain and function of patients with knee OA.

Reliability and Validity of the Persian Version of the Mini-Balance Evaluation Systems Test in Patients with Stroke.

BACKGROUND: Stroke can cause balance disorders, which often lead to falls and fall-related injuries. The Mini-Balance Evaluation Systems Test (Mini-BESTest) is a balance test that has been recently translated into Persian. The reliability and validity of the Persian version of Mini-BESTest have not been assessed in patients with stroke. OBJECTIVES: To assess the reliability and validity of the Persian version of the Mini-BESTest in patients with stroke. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was designed. Thirty patients with stroke participated in this study. Patients were tested using the Mini-BESTest according to the Persian instructions, and two raters independently rated each patient's performance. Each patient was matched with a healthy adult in the terms of age and gender. Healthy subjects were also tested for discriminative validity. RESULTS: There was excellent correlation between two raters on the Persian version of the Mini-BESTest total scores (rPearson = 0.98, P < 0.001) and its sections (rPearson > 0.9). There was a significant difference between stroke patients and healthy subjects confirming the discriminative validity of the Persian version of the Mini-BESTest (19.4 ± 5.4 vs. 24.8 ± 2.3, P < 0.001). LIMITATIONS: We only assessed stroke patients, and the results may not be generalized to other patients with balance deficits. CONCLUSIONS: The Persian version of the Mini-BESTest is a reliable and valid tool for balance evaluation of stroke patients.

Therapeutic ultrasound for chronic low back pain.

BACKGROUND: This is an update of a Cochrane Review published in 2014. Chronic non-specific low back pain (LBP) has become one of the main causes of disability in the adult population around the world. Although therapeutic ultrasound is not recommended in recent clinical guidelines, it is frequently used by physiotherapists in the treatment of chronic LBP. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this review was to determine the effectiveness of therapeutic ultrasound in the management of chronic non-specific LBP. A secondary objective was to determine the most effective dosage and intensity of therapeutic ultrasound for chronic LBP. SEARCH METHODS: We performed electronic searches in CENTRAL, MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, PEDro, Index to Chiropractic Literature, and two trials registers to 7 January 2020. We checked the reference lists of eligible studies and relevant systematic reviews and performed forward citation searching. SELECTION CRITERIA: We included randomised controlled trials (RCTs) on therapeutic ultrasound for chronic non-specific LBP. We compared ultrasound (either alone or in combination with another treatment) with placebo or other interventions for chronic LBP. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two review authors independently assessed the risk of bias of each trial and extracted the data. We performed a meta-analysis when sufficient clinical and statistical homogeneity existed. We determined the certainty of the evidence for each comparison using the GRADE approach. MAIN RESULTS: We included 10 RCTs involving a total of 1025 participants with chronic LBP. The included studies were carried out in secondary care settings in Turkey, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Croatia, the UK, and the USA, and most applied therapeutic ultrasound in addition to another treatment, for six to 18 treatment sessions. The risk of bias was unclear in most studies. Eight studies (80%) had unclear or high risk of selection bias; no studies blinded care providers to the intervention; and only five studies (50%) blinded participants. There was a risk of selective reporting in eight studies (80%), and no studies adequately assessed compliance with the intervention. There was very low-certainty evidence (downgraded for imprecision, inconsistency, and limitations in design) of little to no difference between therapeutic ultrasound and placebo for short-term pain improvement (mean difference (MD) -7.12, 95% confidence interval (CI) -17.99 to 3.75; n = 121, 3 RCTs; 0-to-100-point visual analogue scale (VAS)). There was also moderate-certainty evidence (downgraded for imprecision) of little to no difference in the number of participants achieving a 30% reduction in pain in the short term (risk ratio 1.08, 95% CI 0.81 to 1.44; n = 225, 1 RCT). There was low-certainty evidence (downgraded for imprecision and limitations in design) that therapeutic ultrasound has a small effect on back-specific function compared with placebo in the short term (standardised mean difference -0.29, 95% CI -0.51 to -0.07 (MD -1.07, 95% CI -1.89 to -0.26; Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire); n = 325; 4 RCTs), but this effect does not appear to be clinically important. There was moderate-certainty evidence (downgraded for imprecision) of little to no difference between therapeutic ultrasound and placebo on well-being (MD -2.71, 95% CI -9.85 to 4.44; n = 267, 2 RCTs; general health subscale of the 36-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36)). Two studies (n = 486) reported on overall improvement and satisfaction between groups, and both reported little to no difference between groups (low-certainty evidence, downgraded for serious imprecision). One study (n = 225) reported on adverse events and did not identify any adverse events related to the intervention (low-certainty evidence, downgraded for serious imprecision). No study reported on disability for this comparison. We do not know whether therapeutic ultrasound in addition to exercise results in better outcomes than exercise alone because the certainty of the evidence for all outcomes was very low (downgraded for imprecision and serious limitations in design). The estimate effect for pain was in favour of the ultrasound plus exercise group (MD -21.1, 95% CI -27.6 to -14.5; n = 70, 2 RCTs; 0-to-100-point VAS) at short term. Regarding back-specific function (MD - 0.41, 95% CI -3.14 to 2.32; n = 79, 2 RCTs; Oswestry Disability Questionnaire) and well-being (MD -2.50, 95% CI -9.53 to 4.53; n = 79, 2 RCTs; general health subscale of the SF-36), there was little to no difference between groups at short term. No studies reported on the number of participants achieving a 30% reduction in pain, patient satisfaction, disability, or adverse events for this comparison. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: The evidence from this systematic review is uncertain regarding the effect of therapeutic ultrasound on pain in individuals with chronic non-specific LBP. Whilst there is some evidence that therapeutic ultrasound may have a small effect on improving low back function in the short term compared to placebo, the certainty of evidence is very low. The true effect is likely to be substantially different. There are few high-quality randomised trials, and the available trials were very small. The current evidence does not support the use of therapeutic ultrasound in the management of chronic LBP.

Ultrasound-Guided Corticosteroid Injection in Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: Comparison Between Radial and Ulnar Approaches.

PURPOSE: To compare two common approaches for ultrasonography (US)-guided injection. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Sixty patients with mild-to-moderate CTS were included in this double-blind randomized controlled trial (RCT). They received a single shot of corticosteroid injection through either the US-guided in-plane approach: radial or ulnar side. Participants were evaluated using Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire (BCTQ) and visual analogue scale (VAS) for pain, as well as electrodiagnosis (EDX) and US parameters before the intervention, and within 12 weeks of follow-up. RESULTS: In both groups, all outcomes, except for the electrodiagnostic measures, significantly improved within the follow-up. Pain-VAS and both subscales of BCTQ questionnaire, as our main subjective outcomes, revealed dramatic improvement, with the largest amount of changes in VAS (70%; comparing to baseline value), and about 37% for both of BQSS and BQFS scales, all indicating superiority of radial to ulnar in-plane approach. During the first follow-up, we did not detect any remarkable preference between the groups in either subjective or electrodiagnostic variables. However, there was a significant difference at next follow-up time-points in terms of VAS for pain and BQFS favoring radial approach (Table 3). Furthermore, US-measured parameters including nerve-circumference and CSA improved only in the radial in-plane group. CONCLUSION: The current data proved that radial in-plane approach for CTS injection could be at least as effective as the more common ulnar in-plane method. Even the pain-relief effect was longer for the radial in-plane approach. Also, patients' functional status and objective variables all revealed better outcomes via the new approach.