Changes in co-contraction magnitude during functional tasks following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) is a common orthopedic surgery procedure whose incidence has increased over the past few decades. Nevertheless, it is believed that neuromuscular control remains altered from the early stages after ACLR to later years. Therefore, the aim of this study was to systematically evaluate the magnitude of co-contraction during functional tasks in subjects with unilateral ACLR. METHODS: A systematic review design was followed. The search strategy was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, EBSCO, PEDro, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science databases from inception to March 2024. The inclusion criteria involved studies using electromyography (EMG) data to calculate muscle pair activation via the co-contraction index (CCI) in ACLR individuals during functional tasks. The Preferred Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were followed, and study quality was evaluated using National Institutes of Health (NIH) Study Quality Assessment Tools. RESULTS: The search strategy found a total of 792 studies, of which 15 were included in this systematic review after reviewing the eligibility criteria. The magnitude of co-contraction was assessed in a total of 433 ACLR individuals and 206 controls during functional tasks such as hop, drop-land, step-up/step-down, and gait. Overall, approximately 79.6% of individuals who had undergone ACLR exhibited increased levels of co-contraction magnitude in the ACLR limb, while 8.5% showed low co-contraction levels. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of the review suggest that, during functional tasks, most individuals who have undergone ACLR exhibit changes of co-contraction magnitude in the involved limb.

The Precision and Safety of Ultrasound-Guided versus Palpation-Guided Needle Placement on the Plantar Fascia and Flexor Digitorum Brevis Interface: An Anatomical Study.

BACKGROUND: Evidence suggests the plantar fascia and its interphase with the flexor digitorum brevis muscle can play a relevant role in plantar heel pain. Needling interventions could offer an appropriate treatment strategy to addressing this interface. OBJECTIVE: We compared the accuracy and safety of ultrasound-guided versus palpation-guided procedures for the proper targeting of the interface between the plantar fascia and the flexor digitorum brevis with a solid needle. METHODS: A crossover cadaveric study was conducted. Five experienced therapists performed a series of 20 needle insertions each (n = 100 in total, 10 landmark-guided and 10 ultrasound-guided) on 10 anatomical samples. The therapists were instructed to accurately place the needle on the interface between the plantar fascia and the flexor digitorum brevis muscle. The distance of the tip of the needle to the identified target (accuracy), the surrounding sensitive structures targeted (safety), the time needed for the procedure, the number of needle passes, and the needle length outside the skin were assessed. RESULTS: The ultrasound-guided technique was associated with a significantly higher accuracy (p < 0.001) but without differences in safety (p = 0.249) as compared to the palpation-guided procedure. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that ultrasound-guided insertion exhibits greater accuracy but not greater safety than palpation-guided insertion when targeting the interface between the plantar fascia and the flexor digitorum brevis.

Precision and Safety of Ultrasound-Guided versus Palpation-Guided Needle Placement on the Patellar Tendon: A Cadaveric Study.

For decades, needling interventions have been performed based on manual palpation and anatomic knowledge. The increasing use of real-time ultrasonography in clinical practice has improved the accuracy and safety of needling techniques. Although currently ultrasound-guided procedures are routinely used for patellar tendon pathology, e.g., during percutaneous electrolysis, the accuracy of these procedures is still unknown. This study used a cadaveric model to compare and evaluate both the accuracy and safety of ultrasound-guided and palpation-guided needling techniques for the patellar tendon. A total of five physical therapists performed a series of 20 needle insertion task each (n = 100), 10 insertions based on manual palpation (n = 50) and 10 insertions guided with ultrasound (n = 50) to place a needle along the interface between the patellar tendon and Hoffa's fat pad. All procedures were performed on cryopreserved knee specimens. Distance to the targeted tissue, time of the procedure, accurate rate of insertions, number of passes, and unintentional punctured structures between both applications (with and without ultrasound guiding) were compared. The results revealed higher accuracy (100% vs. 80%), a lower distance from needle to the targeted tissue (0.25 ± 0.65 vs. 2.5 ± 1.9 mm), longer surface of contact with the needle (15.5 ± 6.65 vs. 4.7 ± 7.5 mm), and a lower frequency of patellar tendon puncture (16% vs. 52%, p < 0.001) with the ultrasound-guided procedure as opposed to palpation-guided one. Nevertheless, the ultrasound-guided procedure took longer (54.8 ± 26.8 vs. 23.75 ± 15.4 s) and required more passes (2.55 ± 1.9 vs. 1.5 ± 0.95) to be conducted than the palpation-guided procedure (all, p < 0.001). According to these findings, the accuracy of invasive procedures applied on the patellar tendon is higher when conducted with ultrasound guidance than when conducted just on manual palpation or anatomical landmark. These results suggest that ultrasound could improve the clinical application of invasive procedures at the fat-patellar tendon interface. Due to the anatomical features of the targeted tissue, some procedures require this precision, so the use of ultrasound is recommended.

Sensitization-associated and neuropathic-associated symptoms in patients with unilateral lateral elbow tendinopathy: an exploratory study.

OBJECTIVES: We evaluate the presence of sensitization-associated symptoms and neuropathic pain features and identify if there is an association between these symptoms and pressure pain sensitivity, pain, and related-disability in lateral elbow tendinopathy. METHODS: Thirty-seven (43% women, age: 45.5 ± 9.5 years) patients with lateral elbow tendinopathy completed: demographic (i.e. age, height, and weight); clinical (i.e. pain history, pain intensity, and Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand); and psychophysical (i.e. pressure pain thresholds at the elbow, cervical spine, hand, and leg) outcomes, and the Central Sensitization Inventory and Self-administered Leeds Assessment of Neuropathic Symptoms and Signs questionnaires. Step-wise multiple linear regression models were performed to identify predictors of sensitization- or neuropathic-associated symptoms. RESULTS: Six (16%) patients exhibited sensitization-associated symptoms (mean: 46.5, SD: 6.1), whereas 13 (35%) patients showed neuropathic-associated symptoms (mean: 13.5; SD: 1.4). Sensitization-associated symptoms were positively associated with neuropathic-associated symptoms (r = 0.538, P = .001) and negatively associated with pressure pain thresholds at the leg (r = -0.378, P = .021). Neuropathic-associated symptoms were positively associated with related-disability (r = 0.479, P = .003) and negatively associated with pressure pain threshold at the elbow (r = -0.394, P = .017). Stepwise regression analyses revealed that neuropathic-like symptoms explained 26.8% of the variance of sensitization symptoms (r2: 0.268), whereas pressure pain threshold at the elbow explained an additional 6.6% to neuropathic-like symptoms (r2: 0.334). CONCLUSION: This explorative study identified sensitization- and neuropathic-associated symptoms in 16% and 35% of the people with lateral elbow tendinopathy. Sensitization- and neuropathic-associated symptoms were associated. Pressure pain sensitivity at the elbow (peripheral sensitization) was associated with neuropathic -associated symptoms.

Pressure Pain Hypersensitivity and Ultrasound Changes in the Radial Nerve in Patients with Unilateral Lateral Epicondylalgia: A Case-Control Study.

Some authors have proposed the potential role of the radial nerve in lateral epicondylalgia. The aims of this study were to investigate the presence of pressure pain hyperalgesia and nerve swelling (increased cross-sectional area) assessed with ultrasound imaging on the radial nerve in people with lateral epicondylalgia, and to investigate if an association exists between pressure pain sensitivity and cross-sectional area. A total of 37 patients with lateral epicondylalgia (43% women, age: 45.5 ± 9.5 years) and 37 age- and sex-matched pain-free controls were recruited for participation. Pressure pain thresholds (PPTs) were assessed bilaterally on the radial nerve at the spiral groove, the arcade of Frohse, and the anatomic snuffbox in a blinded design. Further, the cross-sectional area of the radial nerve at the spiral groove and antecubital fossa was also assessed. The results demonstrated lower PPTs on the radial nerve of the affected side in individuals with lateral epicondylalgia as compared with the unaffected side (p < 0.01) and with both sides in healthy controls (p < 0.001). Additionally, the cross-sectional area of the radial nerve on the affected side in patients was higher compared with the unaffected side (p < 0.01) and both sides in healthy controls (p < 0.001). The cross-sectional area of the radial nerve at the spiral groove was negatively associated with PPTs over the radial nerve at the spiral groove (r = -0.496, p = 0.002) and positively associated with function (r = 0.325, p = 0.045). Our findings revealed generalized pressure pain hyperalgesia and also nerve swelling of the radial nerve in people with lateral epicondylalgia, suggesting the presence of a widespread sensitization of nerve tissues in this population. The radial nerve could represent a potential peripheral drive to initial and maintain altered pain processing in lateral epicondylalgia.

Precision of Ultrasound-Guided versus Anatomical Palpation-Guided Needle Placement of the Ulnar Nerve at the Cubital Tunnel: A Cadaveric Study.

Percutaneous electrical stimulation has been performed for years with only the assistance of anatomical landmarks. The development of real-time ultrasonography guidance has improved the precision and safety of these percutaneous interventions. Despite ultrasound-guided and palpation-guided procedures being performed routinely for targeting nerve tissues in the upper extremity, the precision and safety of these techniques are unknown. The aim of this cadaveric study was to determine and compare the precision and safety of ultrasound-guided versus palpation-guided needling procedure with and without the handpiece of the ulnar nerve on a cadaveric model. Five physical therapists performed a series of 20 needle insertion tasks each (n = 100), 10 palpation-guided (n = 50) and 10 ultrasound-guided (n = 50) on cryopreserved specimens. The purpose of the procedure was to place the needle in proximity to the ulnar nerve at the cubital tunnel. The distance to target, time performance, accurate rate, number of passes, and unintentional puncture of surrounding structures were compared. The ultrasound-guided procedure was associated with higher accuracy (66% vs. 96%), lower distance from needle to the target (0.48 ± 1.37 vs. 2.01 ± 2.41 mm), and a lower frequency of perineurium puncture (0% vs. 20%) when compared with the palpation-guided procedure. However, the ultrasound-guided procedure required more time (38.33 ± 23.19 vs. 24.57 ± 17.84 s) than the palpation-guided procedure (all, p < 0.001). Our results support the assumption that ultrasound guidance improves the accuracy of needling procedures on the ulnar nerve at the cubital tunnel when compared with palpation guidance.

Morphological Changes of the Suboccipital Musculature in Women with Myofascial Temporomandibular Pain: A Case-Control Study.

Temporomandibular disorder (TMD) is an umbrella term including pain problems involving the cranio-cervical region. It has been suggested that patients with TMD also exhibit cervical spine disturbances. Evidence suggests the presence of morphological changes in the deep cervical muscles in individuals with headaches. The objective of this study was to compare the morphology of the suboccipital muscles between women with TMD and healthy controls. An observational, cross-sectional case-control study was conducted. An ultrasound examination of the suboccipital musculature (rectus capitis posterior minor, rectus capitis posterior major, oblique capitis superior, oblique capitis inferior) was conducted in 20 women with myofascial TMD and 20 matched controls. The cross-sectional area (CSA), perimeter, depth, width, and length of each muscle were calculated by a blinded assessor. The results revealed that women with myofascial TMD pain exhibited bilaterally reduced thickness, CSA, and perimeter in all the suboccipital muscles when compared with healthy women. The width and depth of the suboccipital musculature were similar between women with myofascial TMD and pain-free controls. This study found morphological changes in the suboccipital muscles in women with myofascial TMD pain. These changes can be related to muscle atrophy and are similar to those previously found in women with headaches. Future studies are required to investigate the clinical relevance of these findings by determining if the specific treatment of these muscles could help clinically patients with myofascial TMD.

Accuracy of Ultrasound-Guided Needle Placement on the L5 Lumbar Nerve Root: A Cadaveric Study.

OBJECTIVES: The aims of the study are to analyze and describe the accuracy of an ultrasound-guided approach to target the L5 root in cadaveric specimens and evaluate whether gender differences exist. DESIGN: A cross-anatomical study on 40 cadaver L5 nerve roots was performed. A needle was introduced until contacting the L5 nerve root using ultrasound guidance. After that, specimens were frozen and studied by a cross-anatomical view to see the needle's path. The angulation, length, distance from the vertebral spine, the relevant ultrasound anatomical references, and the accuracy of the procedure were evaluated. RESULTS: The needle tip reached the L5 root at a 72.5% rate. The mean angulation degrees of the needle relative to the skin surface were 75.53 ± 10.17 degrees, the length of the needle inserted was 5.83 ± 0.82 cm, and the distance from the vertebral spine to the point of entry of the needle was 5.39 ± 1.44 cm. CONCLUSIONS: An ultrasound-guided technique can potentially be an accurate technique to perform invasive procedures on the L5 root. There were statistically significant differences between males and females in the length of the needle introduced. If the L5 root is not clearly visualized, ultrasound will not be the technique of choice.

Ultrasound-guided percutaneous electrical nerve stimulation versus surgery for women with unilateral carpal tunnel syndrome: A randomized parallel-group trial.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this clinical trial was to compare the outcomes of the application of ultrasound-guided percutaneous nerve stimulation (PENS) targeting the median nerve versus surgery for improving pain and function in women with CTS. METHODS: In this randomized parallel-group trial (ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04246216), 70 women with CTS were randomly allocated to either PENS (n = 35) or surgery (n = 35) group. Hand pain intensity (mean pain and the worst pain experienced) was the primary outcome. Functional status and symptoms severity (Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire, BCTQ) and self-perceived improvement (Global Rating of Change, GROC) were the secondary outcomes. Outcomes were assessed at baseline and 1, 3, 6 and 12 months after each intervention. Analysis was performed with intention to treat with mixed ANCOVAs adjusted for baseline outcomes. RESULTS: Analyses showed an adjusted advantage for PENS at 1 (Δ -2.0, 95% CI -2.9 to -1.1) and 3 (Δ -1.4, 95% CI -2.3 to -0.5) months for mean pain, at 1 (Δ -2.2, 95% CI -3.3 to -1.1), 3 (Δ -1.75, 95% CI -2.9 to -0.6) and 6 (Δ -1.7, 95% CI -2.8 to -0.6) months in the worst pain intensity, and at 1 (Δ -0.95, 95% CI -1.1 to -0.8), 3 (Δ -0.55, 95% CI -0.8 to -0.3) and 6 (Δ -0.4, 95% CI -0.6 to -0.8) months in function. Both groups exhibited similar changes in symptom severity. Both groups reported similar improvement at 12 months in all outcomes. Symptoms and function improved in both groups, with PENS leading to better short-term outcomes than surgery. CONCLUSION: This clinical trial confirms that PENS applied with current understanding of pain mechanisms in CTS is as useful as surgery in women with CTS without denervation. The potential placebo effect of both interventions should not be ignored. SIGNIFICANCE: The application of percutaneous nerve stimulation was more effective at short-term, but similar effective at mid and long-term, than surgery in women with carpal tunnel syndrome.

Multidimensional evaluation of the pain profile as prognostic factor in individuals with hip or knee osteoarthritis receiving total joint replacement: protocol of a 2-year longitudinal prognostic cohort study.

INTRODUCTION: Knee and hip osteoarthritis are two highly prevalent musculoskeletal pain conditions. Unsuccessful rates after hip/knee replacement range from 10% to 20%. Subjects with sensitisation manifestations are vulnerable to worse clinical outcomes. Most studies have analysed outcomes up to 1 year after surgery. The aim of this 2-year longitudinal study will be to evaluate sensory-related, psychological and psychophysical pain sensitisation manifestations and a potential epigenetic biomarker as prognostic clinical outcomes for the development of chronic postoperative pain after knee or hip replacement. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: A prospective longitudinal study with a 2-year follow-up period will be conducted. The prognostic variables will include pain, function, related-disability, anxiety, depression, quality of life, sensitisation-associated symptoms, kinesiophobia, neuropathic pain and catastrophising, and expectative of the intervention will be assessed before surgery. We will also evaluate the presence of the Val158Met polymorphism as a possible epigenetic marker. Clinical outcomes including pain, related-disability and self-perceived satisfaction, sensitisation-associated symptoms and neuropathic pain will be assessed 3, 6, 12, 18 and 24 months after surgery. These variables will be used to construct three prediction models: (1) pain and function, (2) sensitisation-associated symptomatology and (3) neuropathic pain features classifying those patients in responders and non-responders. Data from knee or hip osteoarthritis will be analysed separately. Statistical analyses will be conducted with logistic regressions. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The study has been approved by the Ethics Committee of both institutions involved (Hospital Universitario Fundación Alcorcón (HUFA) 19-141 and Universidad Rey Juan Carlos (URJC) 0312201917319). Participants will sign the written informed consent before their inclusion. Study results will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications and presentations at scientific meetings.

Application of Percutaneous Needle Electrolysis Does Not Elicit Temperature Changes: An In Vitro Cadaveric Study.

Percutaneous needle electrolysis (PNE) consists of the ultrasound-guided application of a galvanic electrical current through a solid filament needle. One proposed therapeutic mechanism for this intervention is a potential thermal effect. The aim of this study was to investigate if the application of PNE induces changes in temperature in different cadaveric musculoskeletal tissues. A repeated measure experimental cadaveric study was designed with 10 cryopreserved knees (5 men, 5 women). Sterile stainless-steel needles of 40 mm length and 0.30 mm caliber were used in this study. An ultrasound-guided needling puncture was performed in the targeted tissue (patellar tendon, infra-patellar fat, and vastus medialis muscle). Additionally, the tip of the needle was placed next to the thermometer sensor at the minimum possible distance without direct contact with it. The temperature differences before and after different applications were measured. The applications were: three applications for 3 s of 3 mA of intensity (3:3:3) when the tendon was the targeted tissue, three applications for 3 s of 1.5 mA of intensity (1.5:3:3) when the fat or muscle was the targeted tissue, and 24 s of 1 mA of intensity (1:24:1) in all tissues. No statistically significant Group*Time interactions were found in any tissue (tendon: F = 0.571, p = 0.459, ŋ2 = 0.03; fat pad: F = 0.093; p = 0.764, ŋ2 = 0.01; muscle: F = 0.681; p = 0.420, ŋ2 = 0.04). Overall, no changes in temperature were observed between both applications in the tendon (3:3:3 vs. 1:24:1) and fat/muscle (1.5:3:3 vs. 1:24:1) tissues. The application of two different percutaneous needle electrolysis protocols did not produce appreciable thermal changes in the tendon, fat, and muscle tissues of human cadavers. The results from the current cadaver study support that a thermal effect should not be considered as a mechanism of clinical action regardless of the targeted human tissue when applying percutaneous needle electrolysis since no changes in temperature after its application were observed.

A Closer Look at Localized and Distant Pressure Pain Hypersensitivity in People With Lower Extremity Overuse Soft-Tissue Painful Conditions: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

OBJECTIVE: The nociceptive pain processing of soft-tissue overuse conditions is under debate because no consensus currently exists. The purpose of this meta-analysis was to compare pressure pain thresholds (PPTs) in symptomatic and distant pain-free areas in 2 groups: participants with symptomatic lower extremity overuse soft-tissue conditions and controls who were pain free. METHODS: Five databases were searched from inception to December 1, 2021, for case-control studies comparing PPTs between individuals presenting with symptomatic lower extremity tendinopathy/overuse injury and controls who were pain free. Data extraction included population, diagnosis, sample size, outcome, type of algometer, and results. The methodological quality (Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale) and evidence level (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation) were assessed. Meta-analyses of symptomatic, segmental related, and distant pain-free areas were compared. RESULTS: After screening 730 titles and abstracts, a total of 19 studies evaluating lower extremity overuse conditions (Achilles or patellar tendinopathy, greater trochanteric pain syndrome, plantar fasciitis, and iliotibial band syndrome) were included. The methodological quality ranged from fair (32%) to good (68%). Participants with lower extremity overuse injury had lower PPTs in both the painful and nonpainful areas, mirrored test-site, compared with controls (affected side: mean difference [MD] = -262.92 kPa, 95% CI = 323.78 to -202.05 kPa; nonaffected side: MD = -216.47 kPa, 95% CI = -304.99 to -127.95 kPa). Furthermore, people with plantar fasciitis showed reduced PPTs in the affected and nonaffected sides at segmental-related (MD = -176.39 kPa, 95% CI = -306.11 to -46.68 kPa) and distant pain-free (MD = -97.27 kPa, 95% CI = 133.21 to -61.33 kPa) areas compared with controls. CONCLUSION: Low- to moderate-quality evidence suggests a reduction of PPTs at the symptomatic area and a contralateral/mirror side in lower extremity tendinopathies and overuse conditions compared with pain-free controls, particularly in plantar fasciitis and greater trochanteric pain syndrome. Participants with plantar fasciitis showed a reduction of PPTs on the affected and non-affected sides at a segmental-related area (very low-quality evidence) and at a remote asymptomatic area (moderate-quality evidence). IMPACT: Some overuse peripheral pain conditions may be more associated with pressure pain sensitivity than others. Accordingly, examination and identification of conditions more peripherally, centrally, or mixed mediated could potentially lead to more specific and different treatment strategies.

Psychometric Properties of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) in Previously Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) virus is associated with psychological/emotional disturbances. This study aimed to assess internal consistency, reliability, and construct validity of the Hospital Anxiety and Depressive Scale (HADS), as a patient-reported outcome measure (PROM) for evaluating emotional consequences of SARS-CoV-2 in hospitalized COVID-19 survivors with long COVID. The LONG-COVID-EXP-CM is a multicenter cohort study including patients hospitalized by COVID-19 during the first wave of the pandemic in five hospitals in Madrid. A total of 1969 (age: 61 ± 16 years, 46.5% women) COVID-19 survivors experiencing post-COVID symptoms a mean of 8.4 ± 1.5 months after hospital discharge completed HADS. Internal consistency (Cronbach α), reliability (item-internal consistency, item-discriminant validity), construct validity (confirmatory factor analysis), and floor effect and ceiling effect were calculated. The mean time for fulfilling HADS was 65 ± 12 s. A ceiling effect ranging from 1.99% to 13.74% and a floor effect ranging from 43.05% to 77.77% was observed. Based on the item-scale correlation coefficients, the Cronbach's alpha values reflecting the internal consistency reliability were 0.890 for the anxiety scale (HADS-A) and 0.856 for the depressive scale (HADS-D) The correlation coefficient between HADS-A and HADS-D scores was excellent (r: 0.878). The confirmatory factor analysis revealed that five out of the seven fitness indexes were excellent: CFI = 0.969, NNFI = 0.963; TLI = 0.963; AGFI = 0.951; GFI = 0.972), supporting good construct validity. In conclusion, this study indicates that both anxiety and depressive symptoms scales of HADS had overall good psychometric properties to be used for assessing psychological and emotional stress in COVID-19 survivors with long COVID.

Effects of Ultrasound-Guided Nerve Stimulation Targeting Peripheral Nerve Tissue on Pain and Function: A Scoping Review.

This paper assesses the effects of percutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (PENS) on pain- and function-related outcomes by means of a scoping review of studies with single cases, case-series, quasi-experimental, and randomized or non-randomized trial designs. We consulted the PubMed, MEDLINE and EMBASE databases. Data were extracted by two reviewers. The methodological quality of studies was assessed using the Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) scale for experimental studies and the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) tool for case reports or cases series. Mapping of the results included: (1), description of included studies; (2), summary of results; and, (3), identification of gaps in the existing literature. Eighteen articles (five randomized controlled trials, one trial protocol, nine case series and three case reports) were included. The methodological quality of the papers was moderate to high. The conditions included in the studies were heterogeneous: chronic low back pain, lower limb pain after lumbar surgery, chronic post-amputation pain, rotator cuff repair, foot surgery, knee arthroplasty, knee pain, brachial plexus injury, elbow pain and ankle instability. In addition, one study included a healthy athletic population. Interventions were also highly heterogeneous in terms of sessions, electrical current parameters, or time of treatment. Most studies observed positive effects of PENS targeting nerve tissue against the control group; however, due to the heterogeneity in the populations, interventions, and follow-up periods, pooling analyses were not possible. Based on the available literature, PENS interventions targeting peripheral nerves might be considered as a potential therapeutic strategy for improving pain-related and functional outcomes. Nevertheless, further research considering important methodological quality issues (e.g., inclusion of control groups, larger sample sizes and comparatives between electric current parameters) are needed prior to recommending its use in clinical practice.

Do Short-Term Effects Predict Long-Term Improvements in Women Who Receive Manual Therapy or Surgery for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome? A Bayesian Network Analysis of a Randomized Clinical Trial.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to develop a data-driven Bayesian network approach to understand the potential multivariate pathways of the effect of manual physical therapy in women with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). METHODS: Data from a randomized clinical trial (n = 104) were analyzed comparing manual therapy including desensitization maneuvers of the central nervous system versus surgery in women with CTS. All variables included in the original trial were included in a Bayesian network to explore its multivariate relationship. The model was used to quantify the direct and indirect pathways of the effect of physical therapy and surgery on short-term, mid-term, and long-term changes in the clinical variables of pain, related function, and symptom severity. RESULTS: Manual physical therapy improved function in women with CTS (between-groups difference: 0.09; 95% CI = 0.07 to 0.11). The Bayesian network showed that early improvements (at 1 month) in function and symptom severity led to long-term (at 12 months) changes in related disability both directly and via complex pathways involving baseline pain intensity and depression levels. Additionally, women with moderate CTS had 0.14-point (95% CI = 0.11 to 0.17 point) poorer function at 12 months than those with mild CTS and 0.12-point (95% CI = 0.09 to 0.15 point) poorer function at 12 months than those with severe CTS. CONCLUSION: Current findings suggest that short-term benefits in function and symptom severity observed after manual therapy/surgery were associated with long-term improvements in function, but mechanisms driving these effects interact with depression levels and severity as assessed using electromyography. Nevertheless, it should be noted that between-group differences depending on severity determined using electromyography were small, and the clinical relevance is elusive. Further data-driven analyses involving a broad range of biopsychosocial variables are recommended to fully understand the pathways underpinning CTS treatment effects. IMPACT: Short-term effects of physical manual therapy seem to be clinically relevant for obtaining long-term effects in women with CTS.

Ultrasound-guided percutaneous electrical stimulation for a patient with cubital tunnel syndrome: a case report with a one-year follow-up.

OBJECTIVE: Patients with ulnar neuropathy usually experience sensory disturbances, weakness, and decreased function; however, optimal treatment approaches for this condition are not conclusive. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 48-year-old male with cubital tunnel syndrome was previously managed with a multimodal approach including splinting, neural mobilizations, and exercises with no change in symptoms. Approximately 1 year after the initial onset, he received three sessions of ultrasound-guided percutaneous electrical stimulation (PENS) and self-neural glides as a home program. OUTCOMES: After PENS intervention, the patient experienced a dramatic improvement in function and symptoms as measured by the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand Outcome Measure (DASH) and self-reported version of the Leeds Assessment of Neuropathic Symptoms and Signs (S-LANSS) pain scale as outcomes. These improvements were maintained after 1, 3, 6, and 12 months. The patient also experienced self-perceived improvement in his condition as measured by the Global Rating of Change (GROC) at each follow-up. CONCLUSION: A patient with ulnar nerve entrapment at the elbow did not respond to a multimodal conservative care for the previous year. Once the patient was treated with ultrasound-guided PENS targeting the ulnar nerve, full functional recovery and resolution of symptoms were documented. Future clinical studies should examine the effects of PENS in managing neural entrapment syndromes on a statistically powered sample of patients.

The importance of the local twitch response during needling interventions in spinal pain associated with myofascial trigger points: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the clinical effects of needling interventions eliciting local twitch responses (LTRs) versus needling without eliciting LTRs when applied to muscle trigger points (TrPs) associated with spinal pain of musculoskeletal origin. DATABASES AND DATA TREATMENT: Electronic databases were searched for randomized or non-randomized clinical trials where one group received needling intervention where LTRs were elicited and was compared with another group receiving the same intervention without elicitation of LTRs in spinal pain disorders associated with TrPs. Outcomes included pain intensity, pain-related disability, and pressure pain thresholds. The risk of bias (RoB) was assessed using the Cochrane risk of bias tool or ROBINS-I tool, methodological quality was assessed with the PEDro score, and quality of evidence was evaluated using the GRADE approach. RESULTS: Six trials were included. The application of a needling intervention eliciting LTRs was associated with a significant reduction in pain intensity immediately after treatment (mean difference (MD): -2.03 points, 95% confidence interval (CI): -3.77 to -0.29; standardized MD (SMD): -1.35, 95% CI: -2.32 to -0.38, p = 0.02) when compared to the same needling intervention without elicitation of LTRs. No effect at short-term follow-up (MD: -0.20 points, 95% CI: -1.46 to 1.06, p = 0.75) was observed. No significant differences based on elicitation or non-elicitation of LTRs were found in related disability (SMD: -0.05, 95% CI: -0.41 to 0.30, p = 0.77) or pressure pain thresholds (MD: 23.39 kPa, 95% CI: -13.68 to 60.47, p = 0.22). DISCUSSION: Low-level evidence suggests an immediate effect of obtaining LTRs during needling interventions on pain intensity, with no significant effects on related disability or pressure pain sensitivity in spinal pain disorders associated with muscle TrPs. REGISTRATION NUMBER: OSF Registry-https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/5ZX9N.

Understanding the Psychophysiological Mechanisms Related to Widespread Pressure Pain Hyperalgesia Underpinning Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: A Network Analysis Approach.

OBJECTIVE: Current evidence suggests that carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) involves widespread pressure pain sensitivity as a manifestion of central sensitization. This study aimed to quantify mechanisms driving widespread pressure pain hyperalgesia in CTS by using network analysis. DESIGN: Cross-sectional. SETTING: Urban hospital. SUBJECTS: Women with CTS (n=120) who participated in a previous randomized clinical trial. METHODS: Pain intensity, related function, symptom severity, depressive levels, and pressure pain threshold (PPTs) over the median, radial, and ulnar nerves, as well as the cervical spine, the carpal tunnel, and the tibialis anterior, were collected. Network analysis was used to quantify the adjusted correlations between the modeled variables and to determine the centrality indices of each variable (i.e., the degree of connection with other symptoms in the network). RESULTS: The estimated network showed several local associations between clinical variables and the psychophysical outcomes separately. The edges with the strongest weights were those between the PPT over the median nerve and the PPT over the radial nerve (P=0.34), between function and depressive levels (P=0.30), and between the PPT over the carpal tunnel and the PPT over the tibialis anterior (P=0.29 ). The most central variables were PPT over the tibialis anterior (the highest Strength centrality) and PPT over the carpal tunnel (the highest Closeness and Betweenness centrality). CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study to apply network analysis to understand the multivariate mechanisms of individuals with CTS. Our findings support a model in which clinical symptoms, depression, and widespread pressure pain sensitivity are connected, albeit within separate clusters. The clinical implications of the present findings, such as the development of treatments targeting these mechanisms, are also discussed.

Evidence of Bilateral Localized, but Not Widespread, Pressure Pain Hypersensitivity in Patients With Upper Extremity Tendinopathy/Overuse Injury: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

OBJECTIVE: The presence of altered nociceptive pain processing in patients with upper extremity tendinopathy/overuse injury is conflicting. Our aim was to compare pressure pain thresholds (PPTs) in symptomatic and distant pain-free areas between patients with upper extremity tendinopathy/overuse injury and controls. METHODS: Five databases were searched from inception to October 15, 2020. The authors selected case-control studies comparing PPTs between individuals with upper extremity tendinopathy/overuse injury and pain-free controls. Data were extracted for population, diagnosis, sample size, outcome, and type of algometer. Results were extracted by 3 reviewers. The methodological quality/risk of bias (Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale) and evidence level (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation approach) were assessed. Meta-analyses of symptomatic, segment-related, and distant pain-free areas were compared. RESULTS: The search identified 807 publications with 19 studies (6 shoulder, 13 elbow) eligible for inclusion. The methodological quality ranged from fair (48%) to good (37%). Patients exhibited lower bilateral PPTs than controls at the symptomatic area (affected side: MD = -175.89 kPa [95% CI = -220.30 to -131.48 kPa]; nonaffected side: MD = -104.50 kPa [95% CI = -142.72 to -66.28 kPa]) and the segment-related area (affected side: MD = -150.63 kPa [95% CI = -212.05 to -89.21 kPa]; nonaffected side: MD = -170.34 kPa [95% CI = - 248.43 to -92.25]) than controls. No significant differences in PPTs over distant pain-free areas were observed. CONCLUSION: Low to moderate quality evidence suggests bilateral hypersensitivity to pressure pain at the symptomatic and contralateral/mirror areas in patients with upper extremity tendinopathies/overuse injury. Moderate quality of evidence supports bilateral pressure pain sensitivity in the segment-related area (neck) in lateral epicondylalgia, but not in subacromial impingement syndrome. No evidence of widespread pressure pain hyperalgesia was reported. IMPACT: Early identification of people with altered pain modulation could guide clinicians in treatment strategies. This review shows that there is a complex interplay between peripheral and central pain mechanisms in upper extremity tendinopathies/overuse injuries and that there likely are different subgroups of patients with upper extremity conditions.