Measurement proprieties of the CROM instrument for assessing head posture, neck retraction and protraction.

BACKGROUND: The CROM instrument is widely used clinically and in research to measure neck range of motion. However, its measurement proprieties during the assessment of protraction and retraction movements were not examined so far. OBJECTIVE: To analyse the intra- and inter-rater reliability, the concurrent validity of the CROM for measuring head posture, retraction and protraction in healthy subjects. METHODS: Thirty-three asymptomatic subjects were recruited and assigned in a random order to one of two raters. After a 10-min break, they were examined by a second rater (Assessment 1). After a 30-min break, both raters repeated the examination (Assessment 2). The examination consisted of measuring the head posture, maximum head protraction and maximum retraction. Each movement was repeated 3 times and measured simultaneously with the CROM and with a 3D capture system laboratory. RESULTS: The intra-rater reliability of the CROM was excellent for both raters for head posture and all head movements (ICC>0.9, 95% CI: 0.82-0.99, p < 0.01). The inter-rater reliability was excellent for head posture (ICC>0.95, 95% CI: 0.92-0.98, p < 0.01) and good-to-excellent for all movements at both time-points (ICC = 0.73-0.98, 95%CI: 0.45-0.99, p < 0.01). The validity analysis showed moderate-to-strong correlation between instruments for the head posture and head movements [(r) = -0.47 to -0.78), 95% CI: 0.99 to -0.24, p < 0.01]. CONCLUSION: The CROM instrument has good-to-excellent reliability and adequate validity for measuring cervical position and displacement in the sagittal plane.

Prescription of therapeutic exercise in migraine, an evidence-based clinical practice guideline.

The main objective of this clinical practice guideline is to provide a series of recommendations for healthcare and exercise professionals, such as neurologists, physical therapists, and exercise physiologists, regarding exercise prescription for patients with migraine.This guideline was developed following the methodology and procedures recommended in the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation (AGREE). The quality of evidence and strength of recommendations were evaluated with the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN). A systematic literature review was performed and an established appraisal process was employed to rate the quality of relevant scientific research (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation methodology).The evaluation of the current evidence, the elaboration of the grades of recommendation, and their validation show a B grade of recommendation for aerobic exercise, moderate-continuous aerobic exercise, yoga, and exercise and lifestyle recommendations for the improvement of symptoms, disability, and quality of life in patients with migraine. Relaxation techniques, high-intensity interval training, low-intensity continuous aerobic exercise, exercise and relaxation techniques, Tai Chi, and resistance exercise obtained a C grade of recommendation for the improvement of migraine symptoms and disability.

Effectiveness of online teaching during the COVID-19 pandemic on practical manual therapy skills of undergraduate physiotherapy students.

OBJECTIVES: This study includes two separate parts: the objective for part A was to evaluate the practical manual therapy skills of undergraduate physiotherapy students who had learned manual therapy techniques either online or in classroom depending on the phases of the pandemic. The objective for part B was to evaluate in a randomized prospective design the effectiveness of video-based versus traditional teaching of a manual therapy technique. DESIGN: Cross-sectional cohort study (part A) and randomized controlled trial (part B). SETTING: University of Luebeck, undergraduate physiotherapy students in years 1-3. METHOD: In part A, physiotherapy students who had learned manual therapy either online (during the pandemic) or in classroom (prior to and after the lock down periods of the pandemic) were videotaped while performing two manual techniques on the knee joint and on the lumbar spine. Recordings were analyzed independently by two blinded raters according to a 10-item list of criteria. Inter-rater reliability was assessed using Cohen's kappa for each item. Performance across cohorts was analyzed using analysis of variance. In part B, students were randomized to learn a new technique on the cervical spine either from a lecturer or from the same lecturer on a video recording (independent variable). Practical performance of the technique was analyzed by two raters blinded to group allocation according to a 10-item list of criteria (dependent variable). Results were analyzed statistically by using ANCOVA with year of study as a covariate. RESULTS: Sixty-three and 56 students participated in part A and part B of the study, respectively. The inter-rater reliability for video analyses for both parts of the study was moderate (k = 0.402 to 0.441). In part A, there was no statistically significant difference across years of study for the practical performance of the technique on the back F(2,59) = 2.271; p = 0.112 or the knee joint F(2,59) = 3.028; p = 0.056. In part B, performance was significantly better when learned from a lecturer and practiced on a peer than when learned from a video and practiced on a rescue dummy (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Practical skill performance can be acquired from videos but immediate skill reproduction is significantly better when the technique is presented by a lecturer in classroom and practiced on peer students.

Effectiveness of Physical Therapy in Orthognathic Surgery Patients: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Orthognathic surgery (OS) can present many complications that affect patients' rehabilitation. However, there have been no systematic reviews that assessed the effectiveness of physiotherapy interventions in the postsurgical rehabilitation of OS patients. The aim of this systematic review was to analyze the effectiveness of physiotherapy after OS. The inclusion criteria were randomized clinical trials (RCTs) of patients who underwent OS and who received therapeutic interventions that included any physiotherapy modality. Temporomandibular joint disorders were excluded. After the filtering process, five RCTs were selected from the 1152 initially obtained (two had acceptable methodological quality; three had insufficient methodological quality). The results obtained showed that the effects of the physiotherapy interventions studied in this systematic review on the variables of range of motion, pain, edema and masticatory muscle strength were limited. Only laser therapy and LED showed a moderate level of evidence in the postoperative neurosensory rehabilitation of the inferior alveolar nerve compared with a placebo LED intervention.

Flexion-rotation test and C0-C2 axial rotation test. Are they equally reliable for novice clinicians?

OBJECTIVE: To analyse the inter- and intra-examiner reliability for the neck flexion-rotation test and the C0-C2 axial rotation test when applied in asymptomatic subjects by two novice physiotherapists. DESIGN: Repeated measures reliability study design. The study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of [X], in compliance with the Declaration of Helsinki (CSEULS-PI: 004/2020). METHODS: 32 asymptomatic adults were included, recruited by convenience sampling. Two sessions were scheduled for each subject, with an intersession break of 30 min. Two inexperienced raters blinded to their own previous and peer results performed three movements to both sides using the flexion-rotation test and the C0-C2 axial rotation test in randomised order of rater, test and direction. A third researcher collected the data measured by inertial sensors and displayed to the Pro Motion Capture software. RESULTS: Both raters showed good-excellent intra-examiner reliability (ICC(2,3) ranging from 0.88 to 0.94) and moderate to good inter-examiner reliability (ICC(2,3) ranging from 0.58 to 0.86) to measure the rotation ROM with the FRT. The C0-C2 axial rotation test resulted in poor to moderate intra-examiner reliability (ICC(2,3) ranging from 0.33 to 0.74) and poor inter-examiner reliability using (ICC(2,3) ranging from 0.16 to 0.37). CONCLUSION: Although performed by novice raters, the FRT showed good to excellent intra and inter-examiner reliability. Results for the C0-C2 axial rotation test were less reliable. We suggest that novice physiotherapists use the FRT instead of the C0-C2 axial rotation test in order to determine C1-C2 dysfunction.

Psychophysical testing in chronic migraine and chronic tension type headache: An observational study.

BACKGROUND: Clinical presentation is the key to the diagnosis of patients with migraine and tension-type headache, but features may overlap when both become chronic. Psychophysical parameters may distinguish both conditions. We aimed to compare psychophysical aspects of patients with chronic migraine, chronic tension-type headache and headache-free controls, and to determine whether these can predict headache frequency. METHODS: An examiner blinded to the diagnosis assessed 100 participants (chronic migraine (n = 38), chronic tension-type headache (n = 31) and controls (n = 31)). Assessed variables included painful area, pressure pain thresholds, temporal summation, cervical range of motion, neck posture, headache and neck impact, quality of life, and kinesiophobia. Comparison between groups was performed with one-way ANOVA and multiple linear regression was used to assess the headache frequency predictors. RESULTS: We found differences of both headache groups compared to controls (p < 0.01), but not between headache groups. Neck disability was a significant predictor of headache frequency for chronic tension-type headache (adjusted R2 = 0.14; ß = 0.43; p = 0.03) and chronic migraine (adjusted R2 = 0.18; ß = 0.51; p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Chronic tension-type headache and chronic migraine showed similar psychophysical results, but were significantly worse when compared to controls. The psychophysical examination did not discriminate between headache types. The variable best explaining headache frequency for both headache types was neck disability.

Inter, intra-examiner reliability and validity of inertial sensors to measure the active cervical range of motion in patients with primary headache.

We analyzed the inter- and intra-examiner reliability of Werium inertial sensors and the cervical range of motion (CROM) instrument for the measurement of active CROM (AcROM) in patients with primary headache. Another objective is to analyze the validity of the inertial sensors (Werium). The literature has reported symptomatology features in patients diagnosed with primary headache similar to that of patients with cervicogenic headache. The International Classification of Headache (ICHD-III) established the presence of reduced AcROM as a diagnostic criterion for cervicogenic headache. Several instruments are used for this measurement, with limitations in their applicability in daily clinical practice. A prospective longitudinal repeated measures study was conducted to assess the intra- and inter-rater reliability and validity of Werium inertial sensors in 20 adults with chronic primary headache. For the inter-rater analysis, the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) values were above 0.75 for all movements, indicating a good level of reliability. For the intra-rater results, the ICC values obtained by the Werium inertial sensors for all cervical movements were good for rater A (ICC >0.80) and rater B (ICC >0.84). For the validity, the ICCs obtained by the Werium inertial sensors compared with the CROM instrument for all cervical movements were moderate for both raters (ICC > 0.70, respectively). Values obtained in the standard error of measurement, minimum detectable change at 90% and limits of agreement also indicated good agreement. Werium inertial sensors have shown good to excellent reliability results, both intra- and inter-examiner (ICC > 0.75). Likewise, when the sensors were compared with another validated instrument (CROM device) they obtained high reliability results (ICC > 0.70). These results plus its relatively low price and ease of use allow us to recommend it in daily clinical practice to measure AcROM in patients with chronic primary headache.

Cluster headache, beyond the pain: a comparative cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the presence of allodynia, pain catastrophizing, and the impact of headaches on patients with cluster headache (CH) and healthy individuals. Our second aim was to analyze the relationship between catastrophism, psychological comorbidities, and the impact in CH. METHODS: We designed this cross-sectional study to compare various factors among 47 patients diagnosed with CH and 40 healthy controls, and then focus on catastrophism, anxiety, depression, and impact in the CH group. RESULTS: There were statistically significant differences between CH and the asymptomatic group in Allodynia Symptom Checklist (ASC) (p < 0.001), Pain Catastrophizing Scale (p < 0.001), and HIT-6 (p < 0.001) scores. We found a correlation among ASC, PCS, anxiety-depression, EuroQoL, and HIT-6 for the CH group. In this group, we observed a strong positive correlation between PCS and anxiety (rho = 0.69; p < 0.001), PCS and depression (rho = 0.62; p < 0.001) and depression and EuroQoL (rho = - 0.68; p < 0.001). The regression model showed that the combination of anxiety and HIT-6 was a significant predictor of PCS (adjusted R2 = 0.52). DISCUSSION: Our findings reveal significant differences regarding allodynia, pain catastrophism, and impact in CH group compared with controls. We found a significant relationship between psychological comorbidity, pain catastrophism, and quality of life in CH patients. Anxiety and HIT-6 were a predictor (adjusted R2 = 52%) of pain catastrophism. Screening for these comorbidities should be implemented through a multidisciplinary approach.

Chronic Primary Headache Subjects Have Greater Forward Head Posture than Asymptomatic and Episodic Primary Headache Sufferers: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To summarize the cervical physical examination characteristics in subjects with chronic primary headache and compare those with a healthy population and a population with episodic primary headache. DESIGN: Systematic review and meta-analysis. SUBJECTS: Humans ≥18 years old. At least one of the study groups should be constituted by subjects diagnosed with one of the chronic primary headache subtypes according to the International Classification of Headache Disorders, 3rd Edition. COMPARISON: Neck physical examination outcomes of subjects with chronic primary headache compared with a healthy population or subjects with episodic primary headache. OUTCOMES: Forward head posture (FHP), cervical range of movement, motor control, neck muscle activity, and reproduction and resolution of symptoms. METHODS: Two reviewers assessed independently the MEDLINE, EMBASE, WOS, MEDES, PEDro, and CINAHL databases to select observational studies. First, both implemented an agreement for a search strategy. Then, they screened independently for duplicates, titles, abstracts, and full-text information. A meta-analysis was conducted to compare measures between groups. RESULTS: Twelve studies (N = 1,083) with moderate quality (mean ± SD = 7.75 ± 1.48 on the Newcastle Ottawa Scale) were selected for the qualitative analysis. The meta-analysis showed that patients with chronic primary headache presented greater forward head posture than asymptomatic participants (N = 275, Hg = 0.68, 95% CI = 0.25-1.1, Z = 3.14, P < 0.01) and patients with episodic primary headache (N = 268, Hg = 0.39, 95% CI = 0.13-0.65, Z = 2.98, P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: There is moderate to strong evidence that patients with chronic primary headache present greater FHP than asymptomatic individuals and moderate evidence that patients with chronic primary headache present greater forward head posture than those with episodic primary headache.

Temporomandibular disorders: improving outcomes using a multidisciplinary approach.

Patients with temporomandibular disorders (TMD) can become very complex. This article aims to highlight the importance of the multimodal and multidisciplinary approach in this type of patients to improve clinical outcomes. At present we have innumerable techniques and tools to approach this type of patients from a biopsychosocial model where active and adaptive type treatments are fundamental. There are various health professions that have competence in the treatment of TMD, however, although in the most complex cases should be treated simultaneously, still too many patients receive unique treatments and only from one point of view. This review exposes the treatments available from a clinical-scientific perspective and also emphasizes the importance of working in specialized units with those professionals who have competencies on the different conditions that may occur.

Efectividad de los programas de inmersión virtual en los pacientes con enfermedad de Parkinson. Revisión sistemática / Effectiveness of virtual immersion programmes in patients with Parkinson’s disease. A systematic review

Introducción. La enfermedad de Parkinson (EP) es la segunda enfermedad neurodegenerativa más frecuente. La tecnología de realidad virtual (RV) ha adquirido una gran relevancia en la rehabilitación en pacientes de origen neurológico. El objetivo es analizar la efectividad terapéutica de la RV en pacientes con EP en variables motoras, calidad de vida y cognición. Pacientes y métodos. La búsqueda de artículos se realizó utilizando bases de datos electrónicas: Medline, EMBASE, PEDro, CINAHL y Cochrane. Los criterios de inclusión fueron estudios clínicos aleatorizados (ECA) en pacientes con EP donde al menos una intervención terapéutica estuviera basada en programas de RV. Se seleccionaron cuatro ECA con calidad metodológica buena. La concordancia entre los evaluadores fue moderada-alta. En los cuatro ECA se realizó inmersión de RV como principal tratamiento. Resultados. Dos de los ECA revelaron que la RV es superior frente al tratamiento de fisioterapia convencional para la mejora del equilibrio. Dos de los ECA revelaron que la RV no es superior frente al tratamiento convencional en la mejora del equilibrio. Existe evidencia contradictoria de que los programas para la mejora del equilibrio basados en RV son más eficaces que los basados en fisioterapia convencional. Las variables no motoras medidas en los diferentes ECA no se vieron mejoradas en los grupos tratados con RV frente a los tratados con fisioterapia convencional. Conclusiones. No se ha podido demostrar que la efectividad terapéutica de los sistemas de RV sea superior a los programas de fisioterapia convencional en pacientes con EP en variables motoras y psicosociales (AU)

Introduction. Parkinson disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disease. Virtual reality (VR) is being used in rehabilitation of neurological patients. To analyze the VR systems' therapeutically effectiveness through PD diagnosed subjects with variables of motor, quality of life and cognition. Patients and methods. Electronics database were used to look for articles: Medline, EMBASE, PEDro, CINAHL and Cochrane. The inclusion criteria were: randomized control trial (RCT) performed in PD with at least one VR variable included in the therapeutically treatment and diagnosed PD subjects. Four RCT were chosen showing all good methodology quality. Concordance between evaluators was moderate-high. VR was the main treatment in all of them. Results. VR was more effective in balance improvement in PD subjects than conventional physiotherapy in two RCT. VR was not more effective in balance improvement in PD subjects than conventional physiotherapy in two RCT. Contradictory evidences where showed between the effectiveness of the VR programs versus conventional programs in the effectiveness of balance treatment with PD subjects. Non-motor variables improvement was not greater in subjects with VR treatments versus the ones with conventional physiotherapy in the four RCT. Conclusions. The treatments with VR cannot be assumed as more effectives than conventional physiotherapy through PD subjects in motor and psychosocial variables (AU)

[Education for patients with fibromyalgia. A systematic review of randomised clinical trials]. / Educacion al paciente con fibromialgia. Revision sistematica de ensayos clinicos aleatorizados.

AIM: To analyse the effectiveness of education about pain, quality of life and functionality in patients with fibromyalgia. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The search for articles was carried out in electronic databases. Eligibility criteria were: controlled randomised clinical trials (RCT), published in English and Spanish, that had been conducted on patients with fibromyalgia, in which the therapeutic procedure was based on patient education. Two independent reviewers analysed the methodological quality using the PEDro scale. RESULTS: Five RCT were selected, of which four offered good methodological quality. In three of the studies, patient education, in combination with another intervention based on therapeutic exercise, improved the outcomes in the variables assessing pain and quality of life as compared with the same procedures performed separately. Moreover, an RCT with a high quality methodology showed that patient education activated inhibitory neural pathways capable of lowering the level of pain. The quantitative analysis yields strong-moderate evidence that patient education, in combination with other therapeutic exercise procedures, offers positive results in the variables pain, quality of life and functionality. CONCLUSIONS: Patient education in itself has not proved to be effective for pain, quality of life or functionality in patients with fibromyalgia. There is strong evidence, however, of the effectiveness of combining patient education with exercise and active strategies for coping with pain, quality of life and functionality in the short, medium and long term in patients with fibromyalgia.

TITLE: Educacion al paciente con fibromialgia. Revision sistematica de ensayos clinicos aleatorizados.Objetivo. Analizar la efectividad de la educacion al paciente con fibromialgia sobre el dolor, calidad de vida y funcionalidad. Sujetos y metodos. La busqueda de articulos se realizo utilizando bases de datos electronicas. Los criterios de inclusion fueron: estudios clinicos aleatorizados y controlados (ECA), realizados en pacientes con fibromialgia, donde la intervencion terapeutica se basara en la educacion al paciente, y publicados en ingles y castellano. Dos revisores independientes analizaron la calidad metodologica utilizando la escala PEDro. Resultados. Se seleccionaron cinco ECA, de los cuales cuatro presentaron una calidad metodologica buena. En tres de los estudios, la educacion al paciente, en combinacion con otra intervencion basada en ejercicio terapeutico, mejoro los resultados en las variables que evaluaron el dolor y la calidad de vida en comparacion con las mismas intervenciones realizadas por separado. Ademas, un ECA de buena calidad metodologica mostro que la educacion al paciente activo vias neurales inhibitorias descendentes del dolor. El analisis cualitativo muestra evidencia fuerte-moderada acerca de que la educacion al paciente, en combinacion con otras intervenciones de ejercicio terapeutico, ofrece resultados positivos en las variables de dolor, calidad de vida y funcionalidad. Conclusiones. La educacion al paciente por si sola no ha mostrado ser efectiva sobre el dolor, la calidad de vida ni la funcionalidad en pacientes con fibromialgia. Existe evidencia fuerte de la efectividad de la combinacion de educacion al paciente con ejercicio y estrategias activas de afrontamiento sobre el dolor, la calidad de vida y la funcionalidad a corto, medio y largo plazo en pacientes con fibromialgia.

Educación al paciente con fibromialgia. Revisión sistemática de ensayos clínicos aleatorizados / Education for patients with fibromyalgia. A systematic review of randomised clinical trials

Objetivo. Analizar la efectividad de la educación al paciente con fibromialgia sobre el dolor, calidad de vida y funcionalidad. Sujetos y métodos. La búsqueda de artículos se realizó utilizando bases de datos electrónicas. Los criterios de inclusión fueron: estudios clínicos aleatorizados y controlados (ECA), realizados en pacientes con fibromialgia, donde la intervención terapéutica se basara en la educación al paciente, y publicados en inglés y castellano. Dos revisores independientes analizaron la calidad metodológica utilizando la escala PEDro. Resultados. Se seleccionaron cinco ECA, de los cuales cuatro presentaron una calidad metodológica buena. En tres de los estudios, la educación al paciente, en combinación con otra intervención basada en ejercicio terapéutico, mejoró los resultados en las variables que evaluaron el dolor y la calidad de vida en comparación con las mismas intervenciones realizadas por separado. Además, un ECA de buena calidad metodológica mostró que la educación al paciente activó vías neurales inhibitorias descendentes del dolor. El análisis cualitativo muestra evidencia fuerte-moderada acerca de que la educación al paciente, en combinación con otras intervenciones de ejercicio terapéutico, ofrece resultados positivos en las variables de dolor, calidad de vida y funcionalidad. Conclusiones. La educación al paciente por sí sola no ha mostrado ser efectiva sobre el dolor, la calidad de vida ni la funcionalidad en pacientes con fibromialgia. Existe evidencia fuerte de la efectividad de la combinación de educación al paciente con ejercicio y estrategias activas de afrontamiento sobre el dolor, la calidad de vida y la funcionalidad a corto, medio y largo plazo en pacientes con fibromialgia (AU)

Aim. To analyse the effectiveness of education about pain, quality of life and functionality in patients with fibromyalgia. Subjects and methods. The search for articles was carried out in electronic databases. Eligibility criteria were: controlled randomised clinical trials (RCT), published in English and Spanish, that had been conducted on patients with fibromyalgia, in which the therapeutic procedure was based on patient education. Two independent reviewers analysed the methodological quality using the PEDro scale. Results. Five RCT were selected, of which four offered good methodological quality. In three of the studies, patient education, in combination with another intervention based on therapeutic exercise, improved the outcomes in the variables assessing pain and quality of life as compared with the same procedures performed separately. Moreover, an RCT with a high quality methodology showed that patient education activated inhibitory neural pathways capable of lowering the level of pain. The quantitative analysis yields strong-moderate evidence that patient education, in combination with other therapeutic exercise procedures, offers positive results in the variables pain, quality of life and functionality. Conclusions. Patient education in itself has not proved to be effective for pain, quality of life or functionality in patients with fibromyalgia. There is strong evidence, however, of the effectiveness of combining patient education with exercise and active strategies for coping with pain, quality of life and functionality in the short, medium and long term in patients with fibromialgia (AU)