Functional results and feasibility of a teleprehabilitation program in patients who are candidates for elective colorectal cancer surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic.

AIM: To assess the value of a prehabilitation program adapted to the current COVID-19 pandemic using a teleprehabilitation modality in a public Latin American hospital. METHODS: The medical records of candidates for elective colorectal cancer surgery (CRC) and who completed a teleprehabiltation program were analyzed. Sociodemographic, clinical, and functional variables were analyzed, such as cardiorespiratory capacity with the sit-to-stand test (STST), independence in activities of daily living with the Barthel index, balance with the five-times STST (FSTST) and fatigue with Brief Inventory Fatigue (BFI). The feasibility of the program was analyzed in terms of recruitment, retention, user satisfaction, and reporting of adverse events. RESULTS: Of 107 people recruited, 57 completed the program (54%, 68.78 ± 12.36 years). There was a significant difference in the BFI, FSTST, and STS 1-min scores after the intervention (p < .01), with an effect size (Cliff's delta) that varied between -.13 and .21. There were no differences in the Barthel index score. In relation to the viability of the program, 99% of patients referred for surgery could be recruited into the program, with 53% retention. Regarding user satisfaction with the program, seven items (77.7%) were rated as "very satisfied," and two items (22.3%) as "satisfied." No adverse events were recorded. CONCLUSION: The structured prehabilitation program adapted to teleprehabilitation for CRC candidates for surgery was effective in optimizing functional results prior to surgery and was feasible to implement in a public hospital with limited resources during the COVID-19 pandemic.

A scoping review of tendon transfer surgeries and postsurgical physical therapy interventions in individuals with massive rotator cuff tears.

OBJECTIVE: To identify tendon transfer surgeries and postsurgical physical therapy interventions in people with massive rotator cuff (RC) tears. METHODS: The literature search was conducted in the MEDLINE, Science Direct, Scopus, Web of Science, and PEDro databases from inception to September 2022. Studies with patients diagnosed with massive RC tears undergoing tendon transfers that reported physical therapy interventions after surgery were included. Two reviewers pooled the data into ad hoc summary tables with the following information: authors, year, study characteristics (sample size, tendon transfer surgical used, approach type, preoperative risk, deficit addressed, additional surgical interventions), and physical therapy interventions (early stage, intermediate stage, and advanced stage). RESULTS: Forty-four articles (59.0% case series) were included, with a total sample of 1213 participants. The most frequently used surgery was the isolated tendon transfer of the latissimus dorsi (49.1%). Most of the studies reported three main stages of physical therapy interventions after tendon transfer surgery: early stage (lasting 5-6 weeks), intermediate stage (started at 7-12 weeks), and advanced stage (started at 12 weeks). Physical therapy interventions included passive, active-assisted, resisted therapeutic exercise, and hydrotherapy. CONCLUSIONS: The evidence regarding physical therapy interventions after RC tendon transfer surgery is limited to the number and duration of the stages and general characteristics without specifying the type and dose of the interventions. Future research with high methodological quality should integrate more detailed rehabilitation protocols to better guide therapeutic decisions after RC transfer surgery.

Dosage matters: Uncovering the optimal duration of pain neuroscience education to improve psychosocial variables in chronic musculoskeletal pain. A systematic review and meta-analysis with moderator analysis.

The aim was to examine the moderator effect of duration of PNE (total minutes) on changes in psychosocial variables after treatment in people with chronic musculoskeletal pain. PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, Scopus and CINHAL databases were systematically searched from inception to 6 February 2023. A mixed-effects meta-regression was performed to determine the moderator effect of PNE duration. Twenty-three studies involving 2352 patients were included. Meta-analysis revealed a statistically significant effect in favour of PNE on pain neurophysiology knowledge, anxiety symptoms, catastrophizing and kinesiophobia. The total duration of PNE ranged from 40 to 720 min. A linear relationship was observed between longer duration of PNE (total minutes) and changes of psychosocial variables. In addition, a dose of 100, 200 and 400 min of PNE was estimated to exceed the minimum clinically important difference described in the literature for kinesiophobia (mean difference = -8.53 points), anxiety symptoms (mean difference = -1.88 points) and catastrophizing (mean difference = -7.17 points). Clinicians should provide a more tailored PNE to address psychosocial variables.

Implementation of a teleprehabilitation program for oncosurgical patients during the COVID-19 pandemic: perspectives and user satisfaction.

INTRODUCTION: Many rehabilitation services in the face of the COVID-19 health emergency have had to adapt face-to-face interventions with remote care through teleprehabilitation. We aim to describe the implementation of a teleprehabilitation program during the COVID-19 pandemic for patients who are candidates for elective cancer surgery in a low-income Chilean public hospital. Secondarily, describe the perspectives and satisfaction of patients with the program. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Correspond to a descriptive and retrospective pre-habilitation telemedicine intervention study. Implementation was measured in terms of, recruitment rate, retention, dropouts, and occurrence of adverse events. User perspectives and satisfaction were evaluated through a survey composed of nine items on a Likert scale with five response options. Descriptive analyses were considered with mean, standard deviation, minimum, maximum, as well as absolute and relative frequency. For patients' perspectives on the program, a qualitative analysis was considered to describe them. The most relevant domains were identified in a text box to illustrate the results. RESULTS: One hundred fifty-five patients were referred to the teleprehabilitation program, with 99.3% recruitment, a retention rate of 46.7%, and no adverse events reported. In relation to user satisfaction, in general, patients showed good satisfaction with the teleprehabilitation program except items related to "access to the teleprehabilitation program connection" and "number of sessions." Thirty-three patients reported their perspectives on the intervention, represented in 12 domains. CONCLUSION: It is possible to implement a teleprehabilitation program for oncosurgical patients in the context of preoperative care during the COVID-19 pandemic, with good user satisfaction. Likewise, this study provides guidance for other health institutions that wish to implement a teleprehabilitation program.

Effectiveness of a Therapeutic Exercise Program to Improve the Symptoms of Peripheral Neuropathy during Chemotherapy: Systematic Review of Randomized Clinical Trials.

BACKGROUND: Therapeutic exercise has an important role to manage chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy symptoms. However, there is little evidence of its effectiveness. OBJECTIVE: To synthesize the evidence regarding therapeutic exercise during chemotherapy to improve peripheral neuropathy symptoms. DATABASES: PubMed, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, PEDro, ScienceDirect, Scopus, Web of Science and BIREME. METHODOLOGY: Randomized clinical trials were included. GRADE was used to synthesize evidence and an inverse variance model for meta-analysis. RESULTS: Up to May 2022, 2172 references were analyzed and 14 studies that evaluated 1094 participants were included. The exercises were highly effective in improving pain threshold and moderately effective in improving peripheral neuropathy symptoms at the 8-week follow-up and the 4-24 weeks. Furthermore, the evidence was low in improving thermal threshold, tactile and vibratory sensitivity. CONCLUSION: Therapeutic exercise generates a significant reduction in peripheral neuropathy symptoms in patients in short- and long-term follow-up with a moderate level of evidence quality.

Exercise modulates the immune system in cardiorespiratory disease patients: Implications for clinical practice during the COVID-19 pandemic.

BACKGROUND: Patients with cardiorespiratory problems often suffer from systemic inflammation. Stress due to the disease and continuous inflammation can undermine the success of the rehabilitation program. OBJECTIVE: This review has been undertaken primarily to understand the effectiveness of exercise training on the immune system in individuals undergoing cardiorespiratory rehabilitation and its implications for further management during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: Assessors analyzed related studies identified in the MEDLINE, PROQUEST, PUBMED, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, EMBASE, Google Scholar, Physiotherapy Evidence, and Science Direct databases. The studies were divided into groups focused on the effect of exercise on blood leukocytes, the anti-inflammatory effect, and the role of nutrition and exercise in resolving inflammation. RESULTS: Twenty-eight studies were included in this review. The number of studies included in each section was as follows: the effects of exercise training on leukocytes in cardiorespiratory conditions (n = 8), anti-inflammatory effect (n = 6), and the role of nutrition and exercise in resolving inflammation (n = 14). The bias risk assessment showed poor internal validity; most included studies were assigned no and unclear descriptors. CONCLUSIONS: Substantive evidence is presented that emphasizes the role of moderate-intensity exercise in boosting the immune system in patients with cardiorespiratory diseases. Exercise has anti-inflammatory effects that are vital for overall well-being and resolving longstanding inflammation. Individuals with an active lifestyle had a better pathogen immune response than more sedentary individuals. Our findings highlight the current need to investigate the long-term effects of cardiorespiratory rehabilitation programs.

Validation of the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy/Gynecologic Oncology Group Neurotoxicity Questionnaire for the Latin American Population.

Background: Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy is a common adverse effect of chemotherapeutic treatment and is associated with decreased quality of life. The aim of this study was to evaluate the validity and reliability of the neurotoxicity subscale of the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy/Gynecologic Oncology Group-Neurotoxicity (FACT/GOG-Ntx) for the Chilean population. Methods: A cross-sectional study in which 101 participants with haematologic, colorectal, breast, gastric, gynaecological, and other types of cancer completed the FACT/GOG-Ntx. Content validity (n = 14 health professionals evaluated the subscale in four categories: test-retest reliability (n = 20 patients), dimensionality, internal consistency, and concurrent validity and discriminant validity. In all analyses, p < 0.05 was considered significant. Results: There was an agreement among the evaluators for all categories of the subscale (Kendall's coefficient, W = 0.4, p < 0.01) and moderate to high intrarater reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.7-0.9). Of the 11 original items that make up the subscale, none was eliminated. The factor analysis generated four factors that represented 72.2% of the total variance. Cronbach's α was 0.8 for the 11 items. Women showed greater compromise in emotional well-being and neurotoxicity symptoms compared with men, and age was directly correlated with the questions 'I have difficulty hearing' (r = 0.2, p = 0.019) and 'I feel a noise or buzzing in my ears' (r = 0.2, p = 0.03). Conclusion: The Chilean version of the FACT/GOG-Ntx neurotoxicity subscale is a valid and reliable scale for evaluating neurotoxicity symptoms in adult cancer survivors in Latin America. The scales also adequately distinguish between sex-based well-being among the afflicted population.

Effectiveness of Resistance Training on Fatigue in Patients Undergoing Cancer Treatment: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Clinical Trials.

Objective: To assess the effectiveness of the resistance training to improve fatigue levels in people with cancer who are enrolled in adjuvant and/or neoadjuvant treatment. Methods: MEDLINE, Web of Science, Embase, SPORTDiscus, LILACS, CENTRAL, and CINAHL databases were searched from May to December 7, 2021. Randomized clinical trials (RCT) that evaluate the effects of resistance training on fatigue levels in people undergoing cancer treatment were included. The PEDro scale was considered to assess methodological quality of studies, and the evidence was summarized through the GRADE system. The standardized average differences, effect size, and inverse variance model for meta-analysis were calculated. Results: Fifteen RCT for qualitative synthesis and thirteen for meta-analysis were selected. A moderate to high level of evidence of resistance training was identified to improve fatigue in people undergoing cancer treatment. Meta-analysis showed a significant reduction in fatigue (SMD = -0.31, CI 95% = -0.58, -0.12, P = 0.001) after 10 to 35 sessions of resistance training. Conclusion: The 10 to 35 sessions of resistance training are effective in reducing fatigue level in cancer patients who are undergoing cancer treatment and have a moderate level of quality evidence.

Signs of Central Hypersensitivity, Stress, and Anxiety following Treatment for Breast Cancer: A Case Control Study.

BACKGROUND: With treatment for breast cancer, women treated may present significant sensory abnormalities in the upper extremity. However, there are no conclusive studies that have evaluated pressure pain thresholds (PPT) in the shoulder of postoperated women for breast cancer. The aim of this study was to compare PPT in the shoulder, stress, anxiety, depression symptoms, and quality of sleep among postoperated women for breast cancer (PO group) and asymptomatic women of shoulder pain (control group). METHODS: 40 women participated (n = 20, PO group, age: average ± standard deviation, 49.2 ± 8.3 years; body mass index (BMI): 27.5 ± 3.0 kg/cm2; surgery time: 22.2 ± 34.4 months; n = 20, control group, 46.9 ± 8.1 years; BMI: 26.8 ± 3.5 kg/cm2). The PPT was evaluated with a digital algometer at 32 points in the shoulder region and one control point in the tibialis anterior. Stress, anxiety, and depression were evaluated with the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale 21 (DASS-21) and the quality of sleep by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. RESULTS: Significant differences were observed over 1.5 kgf/cm2 in 33 points evaluated (p < 0.01) with a small to high effect size (Cliff's delta range = 0.16; 0.92) and higher levels of anxiety and stress in the PO group (anxiety: median [first; third quartile], 5[3; 12.5]; stress: 9.7 ± 4.7 (7.8; 11.8)) in comparison with the control group (anxiety: 2.5[1; 4.8]; stress: 6.7 ± 3.31 (5.2; 8.3), (p < 0.05)). No significant differences were found between the groups in depression and sleep quality (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Postoperated women for breast cancer present hyperalgesia in the shoulder anterior and posterior region, low PPT in the tibialis anterior, and higher levels of stress and anxiety compared to the control group.

Efficacy of single versus multiple exposure by electromagnetic modalities on gram-negative and positive bacterial strains in an in-vitro model.

OBJECTIVES: The primary purpose of the recent experiment was to scrutinize the dissimilarity between single and multiple exposures by electrotherapeutic modalities to determine the development of Gram-positive and Gram negative bacteria spectrum. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Bacterial strains employed in this study were Gram-negative bacteria such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, and Klebsiella pneumonae and Gram-positive bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus saprophyticus and Streptococcus pyogenes. Fluence for Low level laser therapy (LLLT) (810 nm) was 40 J/cm2 for 80 s, for microwave (MWD) a dosage of 100-Watt with duration of 5 min and for magnetic field therapy (MT) duration of 30 min with 100% intensity was used. RESULTS: Repeated Measures of analysis of variances (RANOVA) for within-subject effects was used to detect a global significant change within the means at dissimilar time points. The experiments of within-subjects revealed a significant difference within groups, df of (3, 40), F value of 39.38 and a p value less than 0.001, representing a significant variation between the three groups between pre and post exposures. There was a significant variation between single exposure and multiple exposures in the experimental sample's pre-post between the four groups with df (1, 40) f value of 2943.69 and p value less than 0.001. Scanning and Transmission electron microscopy images were also taken into account to determine the extent of damage caused to the bacterial cells surface topography in Gram negative and Gram positive spectrums. CONCLUSION: The study demonstrated that single high exposure with the LLLT appears to have the most emphatic effect followed by exposure by MWD and MT.

Linguistic Validation and Cross-Cultural Adaptation of the Post-COVID-19 Functional Status Scale for the Chilean Population.

BACKGROUND: Patients with COVID-19 can present functional status and disability alterations in the medium- and long-term. On the international level, a multicentered study is being carried out to validate the Post-COVID-19 Functional Status scale for different nations, thus allowing visualizing the needs for a multidisciplinary approach and planning intervention plans. The objective of this study was to perform a linguistic validation and cross-cultural adaptation of the Post-COVID-19 Functional Status scale for people infected with COVID-19 for the Chilean population. METHODS: A cross-sectional study of scale validation was carried out. The study was performed in two phases: (1) forward-translation, reverse-translation and (2) apparent cross-validity adaptation. For the apparent validity analysis, 29 individuals who had been hospitalized in Hospital del Salvador with a COVID-19 infection diagnosis and at the time of the interview were in their homes participated. RESULTS: In phase 1 forward-translation, an item required semantical changes. The reverse-translation versions were similar, and the most relevant doubts were resolved in a consensus meeting. In phase 2, the pilot study confirmed adequate understanding and scale applicability. CONCLUSIONS: Using a systematic and rigorous methodology allowed obtaining a Spanish version of the Post-COVID-19 Functional Status scale for Chile, which is conceptually and linguistically equivalent to the original instrument and adequate to assess the functional status of people infected with COVID-19.

Effectiveness of early rehabilitation on range of motion, muscle strength and arm function after breast cancer surgery: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials.

OBJECTIVE: The objective was to evaluate the effectiveness of early rehabilitation on arm range of motion (ROM), strength and function after breast cancer surgery (BCS). Data sources: PubMed, MEDLINE, Bireme, Embase, LILACS and CINAHL databases were searched. METHODS: Two independent reviewers selected randomized controlled trials evaluating women who underwent early rehabilitation to restore arm ROM, strength or function after BCS. Cochrane Collaboration recommendations and Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were followed. Methodological quality was assessed by the PEDro scale. The International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health was considered to analyze results. Effect size (ES) was calculated for clinical relevance interpretation of the outcomes of interest, and the evidence was summarized through the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) system. RESULTS: Up to June 2019, a total of 1658 references were identified and 15 studies were included. Twelve of them presented adequate methodological quality. A total of 1710 patients were evaluated. Few studies performed the simultaneous assessment of variables related to body structure and function and patient-reported outcomes. A moderate level of evidence was synthesized regarding the effectiveness of ROM exercises for improving arm flexion, abduction and external rotation (ES: 0.45-2.5). A low level of evidence was synthesized regarding the effectiveness of isolated strengthening exercises for patient-reported arm function. ROM exercises associated with muscle strengthening exhibited a moderate level of evidence for improving shoulder flexion (ES: 1.4-2.4). CONCLUSION: Both ROM and strengthening exercises associated with ROM exercises improved shoulder flexion, abduction and external rotation ROM after BCS. Shoulder abduction and external rotation showed less recovery, irrespective of the intervention applied.

Three-dimensional scapular kinematics, shoulder outcome measures and quality of life following treatment for breast cancer - A case control study.

BACKGROUND: There are no conclusive results concerning changes in scapular kinematics associated with upper limb dysfunctions after breast cancer surgery. OBJECTIVE: To compare the three-dimensional (3-D) scapular kinematics during elevation of the arm between women after breast cancer surgery and controls. Shoulder range of motion (ROM), muscle strength, pain intensity, upper limb function, and quality of life were also assessed. METHODS: Forty-two women were assigned to two groups (surgery group, n = 21; control group, n = 21). 3-D scapular kinematics was collected during elevation of the arm in the scapular plane. ROM was assessed using a digital inclinometer, muscle strength using a manual dynamometer, pain with the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), upper limb function with the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) questionnaire and quality of life with the 36-item Short-Form Health Survey (SF36). RESULTS: The surgery group presented decreased scapular upward rotation at 120° of arm elevation in the scapular plane (p < .05; d = -0.88), decreased shoulder external rotation ROM and strength of shoulder abduction and external rotation when the affected side was compared to the non-affected side and control group. Moreover, the surgery group also reported higher pain, increased upper limb disability and poorer quality of life compared with healthy controls. CONCLUSION: Scapular upward rotation seems to be decreased at 120° of arm elevation in women following breast cancer surgery. In addition, shoulder external rotation ROM, abduction strength, external rotation strength, function, and quality of life are also impaired in these women. They also experienced pain during the studied movements.

Effects of a 16-week hydrotherapy program on three-dimensional scapular motion and pain of women with fibromyalgia: A single-arm study.

BACKGROUND: Although hydrotherapy is widely used to treat women with fibromyalgia, no studies have investigated the effects of this intervention on scapular kinematics in this population. This study verified the effectiveness of a hydrotherapy program on scapular kinematics, pain and quality of life in women with fibromyalgia. METHODS: Twenty women completed the study and performed three evaluations before treatment (to establish a baseline), and two other evaluations (after 8 and 16weeks of hydrotherapy) at the end of treatment. Three-dimensional kinematics of the scapula was evaluated during arm elevation in two different planes with the Flock of Birds® system. Patients also answered quality of life and Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaires and had pain assessed with a digital algometer. Treatment consisted of 2 weekly hydrotherapy sessions, lasting 45min each, for 16weeks. Data were analyzed with a two-way ANOVA (for kinematics results) and one-way ANOVA (for the other variables). Effect size was assessed with Cohen's d coefficient for all quantitative variables. RESULTS: Although an important improvement was achieved in terms of pain and quality of life (P<0.05, effect sizes varied from -1.93 to 1.61 depending on the variable), scapular kinematics did not change after treatment (P>0.05, effect sizes from -0.40 to 0.46 for all kinematic variables). INTERPRETATION: The proposed program of hydrotherapy was effective to improve quality of life, pain intensity and fibromyalgia impact in women with fibromyalgia. However, scapular kinematics did not change after the period of treatment. Although symptoms improved after the treatment, the lack of changes in scapular kinematics may indicate these women have an adaptive movement pattern due to their chronic painful condition.

Immediate Effects of Mobilization With Movement vs Sham Technique on Range of Motion, Strength, and Function in Patients With Shoulder Impingement Syndrome: Randomized Clinical Trial.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to compare the immediate effects of mobilization with movement (MWM) with sham technique on range of motion (ROM), muscle strength, and function in patients with shoulder impingement syndrome. METHODS: A randomized clinical study was performed. Participants (mean age ± standard deviation, 31 ± 8 years; 56% women) were divided into 2 groups: group 1 (n = 14), which received the MWM technique in the first 4 sessions and the sham technique in the last 4 sessions; and group 2 (n = 13), which was treated with the opposite order of treatment conditions described for group 1. Shoulder ROM, isometric peak force assessed with a handheld dynamometer, and function as determined through the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand and Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI) questionnaires were collected at preintervention, interchange, and postintervention moments. RESULTS: Two-way analysis of variance revealed no significant group-by-time interaction for any outcome but did reveal a main time effect for shoulder external rotation (P = .04) and abduction (P = .01) ROM, Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (P < .01), SPADI Pain (P < .01), SPADI Function (P < .01), and SPADI Total (P < .01). Only abduction movement and SPADI Pain overcame the clinical relevance threshold. The isometric peak force tests revealed no effects. CONCLUSION: The MWM technique was no more effective than a sham intervention in improving shoulder ROM during external rotation and abduction, pain, and function in patients with shoulder impingement syndrome.

Motion of the shoulder complex in individuals with isolated acromioclavicular osteoarthritis and associated with rotator cuff dysfunction: part 2 - muscle activity.

This study aimed to compare muscle activity in individuals with isolated acromioclavicular osteoarthritis (ACO), ACO associated with rotator cuff disease (ACO+RCD), and controls. Seventy-four participants (23 isolated ACO, 25 ACO+RCD, 26 controls) took part in this study. Disability was assessed with the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) questionnaire. Muscle activity of the upper trapezius (UT), lower trapezius (LT), serratus anterior (SA), and anterior deltoid (AD) was collected during arm elevation in the sagittal and scapular planes. Pain during motion was assessed with the numerical pain rating scale. Analysis of the DASH, pain and kinematics were reported in part 1 of this study. For each muscle, separate 2-way linear mixed-model ANOVAs were performed to compare groups. ACO+RCD group had more UT and AD activity than the the isolated ACO and control other groups, more AD activity than the isolated ACO group during the ascending phase, and more AD activity than the ACO and control groups during the descending phase in both planes. Isolated ACO group had less SA activity than the control group only in the sagittal plane. Alterations in shoulder muscle activity are present in individuals with isolated ACO and with ACO+RCD and should be considered in rehabilitation.

Motion of the shoulder complex in individuals with isolated acromioclavicular osteoarthritis and associated with rotator cuff dysfunction: part 1 - Three-dimensional shoulder kinematics.

This study described the three-dimensional shoulder motion during the arm elevation in individuals with isolated acromioclavicular osteoarthritis (ACO) and ACO associated with rotator cuff disease (RCD), as compared to controls. Seventy-four participants (ACO=23, ACO+RCD=25, Controls=26) took part of this study. Disability was assessed with the DASH, three-dimensional kinematics were collected during arm elevation in the sagittal and scapular planes, and pain was assessed with the 11-point numeric pain rating scale. For each kinematic variable and demographic variables, separate linear mixed-model 2-way ANOVAs were performed to compare groups. Both ACO groups had higher DASH and pain scores. At the scapulothoracic joint, the isolated ACO group had greater internal rotation than control, and the ACO+RCD group had greater upward rotation than both other groups. At the sternoclavicular joint, both groups with ACO had less retraction, and the isolated ACO group had less elevation and posterior rotation. At the acromioclavicular joint, the isolated ACO group had greater upward rotation, and both ACO groups had greater posterior tilting. Patients with ACO had altered shoulder kinematics, which may represent compensatory responses to reduce pain and facilitate arm motion during arm elevation and lowering.

Three-dimensional scapular motion during arm elevation is altered in women with fibromyalgia.

BACKGROUND: The core feature of fibromyalgia is pain, which may play a role in various mechanisms that might lead to alterations in shoulder kinematics. Alterations in muscle activity and presence of tender points in the shoulder girdle have already been described in this population; however there is lack of evidence on three-dimensional scapular motion in women with fibromyalgia. METHODS: Forty women with fibromyalgia and 25 healthy women (control group) matched in terms of age, weight and height, took part in this study. Three-dimensional scapular kinematics of the dominant arm were collected during elevation and lowering of the arm in the sagittal and scapular planes. Pain was evaluated by the Visual Analogue Scale and the Numerical Pain Rating Scale. Group comparisons were performed with one-way ANOVA for pain and two-way ANOVA for the kinematic variables (scapular internal/external rotation, upward/downward rotation and anterior/posterior tilt), with group and humeral elevation angle as categorical factors. Significance level was set at P<0.05. FINDINGS: Fibromyalgia women presented higher pain scores (P<0.001) than the control group. Fibromyalgia women also presented greater scapular upward rotation (P<0.001, both planes) and greater scapular posterior tilt (P<0.001, both planes) than the control group. INTERPRETATION: Women with fibromyalgia present greater scapular upward rotation and posterior tilt in the resting position and during arm elevation and lowering of the arm in sagittal and scapular planes. These alterations may be a compensatory mechanism to reduce pain during arm movement.