Capacitive resistive monopolar radiofrequency at 448 kHz plus exercising versus exercising alone for subacromial pain: A sham-controlled randomized clinical trial.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effectiveness of thermal and sub-thermal capacitive-resistive monopolar radiofrequency at 448 kHz plus exercising compared to sham radiofrequency plus exercising on pain, functionality, and quality of life in patients with subacromial pain. DESIGN: Randomized, controlled, parallel, double-blind, three-arm clinical trial. SETTING: Hospital and Primary Care. SUBJECTS: Eighty-one participants with subacromial pain in three intervention groups. INTERVENTIONS: Three interventions with capacitive-resistive radiofrequency (thermal, sub-thermal, and sham) over 9 sessions (3 per week) plus an exercising protocol identical for all groups over 15 sessions (5 per week). OUTCOME MEASURES: Visual analogue scale and pressure pain threshold for pain, Shoulder Pain and Disability Index and Quick-Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand for functionality, and quality of life via the European Quality of Life-Five Dimensions were assessed at baseline, immediately posttreatment, and 1 month and 3 months post-intervention. RESULTS: No between-group differences were found in the pain visual analogue scale (F = 1.0; P = 0.37), Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (F = 1.0; P = 0.36), European Quality of Life-Five Dimensions (F = 0.76; P = 0.47), and pressure pain (F = 0.14; P = 0.86) outcomes, with a statistical power < 0.30 for all comparisons. Between-group differences were found in the Quick-Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (F = 3.4; P < 0.038), with an improvement of -14.1 points (confidence interval at 95% (95% CI) -28.1 to -0.1) in the thermal versus the sham group at 1 month follow-up. The mobility dimension of European Quality of Life-Five Dimensions improved in a greater proportion of participants in the thermal group (22.2% thermal, 7.4% sub-thermal, and 0.0% sham; P = 0.02). CONCLUSION: Adding thermal radiofrequency to exercising can further improve slightly functionality and mobility in people with subacromial pain in the short term, but not pain perception. Future studies with larger sample sizes are warranted to increase statistical power.

[Relationship between low back pain and screen time among schoolchildren.] / Relación entre el dolor lumbar y el tiempo de pantallas entre los escolares.

OBJECTIVE: Low back pain in childhood and adolescence is considered a predictor of low back pain in adulthood. Sedentary lifestyle is associated with low back pain. This study evaluated the relationship between low back pain and screen time in adolescents 10 to 15 years. METHODS: Cross-sectional study involving schoolchildren 10 and 15 years from school centers of the urban area in Talavera de la Reina. Chi-square test was used to analyze the relationship between low back pain and time spent watching. A logistic regression adjusted for confounding variables was performed and represented by the Odds Ratio. Statistical significance was considered for p<0.05. RESULTS: A total of 1,278 surveys were completed. 31% of schoolchildren reported low back pain in the last 3 months. Statistically significant differences were observed between low back pain with respect to sex and sleep time. Moreover, differences were noticed in the proportion of school-children who report low back pain during the week and use screens more than 2 hours compared to those who report using screens less than 2 hours. These differences were not observed on weekends. CONCLUSIONS: Although adolescents spend more time in front of screens on weekends, the proportion of adolescents who report low back pain is higher during the week.

OBJETIVO: La presencia de dolor lumbar en la niñez y en la adolescencia se considera un predictor de padecer lumbalgia en la edad adulta. Existe evidencia que relaciona el sedentarismo de manera independiente con el dolor lumbar. El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar la relación existente entre el dolor lumbar y el tiempo de uso de pantallas en adolescentes de 10 a 15 años. METODOS: Estudio transversal donde participaron escolares de entre 10 y 15 años de los centros educativos de la zona urbana de Talavera de la Reina. Para analizar la relación entre el dolor lumbar y el tiempo dedicado a la pantalla se utilizó la prueba de Chi-cuadrado. Se realizó una regresión logística ajustada por las posibles variables de confusión y representada por la Odds Ratio. Se consideró significación estadística si p<0,05. RESULTADOS: Un total de 1.278 encuestas fueron completadas. El 31% de los escolares referían dolor lumbar en los últimos 3 meses. Existen diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre el dolor lumbar con respecto al sexo y al número de horas de sueño. Existen diferencias en la proporción de escolares que refieren dolor lumbar entre semana y utilizan pantallas más de 2 horas en comparación a los que refieren el uso de pantallas menos de 2 horas. Estas diferencias no se observaron los fines de semana. CONCLUSIONES: Aunque los adolescentes pasan más tiempo delante de las pantallas los fines de semana, la proporción de adolescentes que refieren dolor lumbar es superior entre semana.