In loco provision of physical therapy services to military firefighters involved in Brumadinho dam disaster.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the impact of in loco physical therapy interventions on military firefighters involved in search and rescue operations following the collapse of the Brumadinho dam, in Minas Gerais. To describe the clinical and demographic profile of military firefighters receiving physical therapy care. METHODS: Physical therapy assessment and care protocols were designed. Protocols were based on manual physical therapy approaches, and aimed primarily to alleviate musculoskeletal pain. Physical therapists involved were duly trained prior to interventions to level technical skills. Physical therapy was provided upon request (i.e., military workers sought the service after work shift completion). RESULTS: A total of 318 military firefighters, most of whom were males (92.5%) mean age 32.9 years, received physical therapy care (575 sessions spread out over 48 days). In this sample, 43.4% of military workers had a history of musculoskeletal complaints. Military workers seeking physical therapy after completion of their work shifts reported mean pain intensity of 5.4 in a numerical scale. Spinal pain was reported in 61.7% of cases, followed by generalized muscle and myofascial pain (16.7%), lower and upper limb pain (14.4% and 6.8%, respectively). At the end of sessions, mean pain intensity reported dropped down to 1.3. Differences were statistically significant (non-parametric Wilcoxon test; p=0.001). CONCLUSION: The unprecedented physical therapy intervention described had a positive impact on relief of musculoskeletal pain among military firefighters involved in search and rescue operations during the Brumadinho dam disaster, and seen at the end of their work shifts.

In loco provision of physical therapy services to military firefighters involved in Brumadinho dam disaster

ABSTRACT Objective To investigate the impact of in loco physical therapy interventions on military firefighters involved in search and rescue operations following the collapse of the Brumadinho dam, in Minas Gerais. To describe the clinical and demographic profile of military firefighters receiving physical therapy care. Methods Physical therapy assessment and care protocols were designed. Protocols were based on manual physical therapy approaches, and aimed primarily to alleviate musculoskeletal pain. Physical therapists involved were duly trained prior to interventions to level technical skills. Physical therapy was provided upon request (i.e., military workers sought the service after work shift completion). Results A total of 318 military firefighters, most of whom were males (92.5%) mean age 32.9 years, received physical therapy care (575 sessions spread out over 48 days). In this sample, 43.4% of military workers had a history of musculoskeletal complaints. Military workers seeking physical therapy after completion of their work shifts reported mean pain intensity of 5.4 in a numerical scale. Spinal pain was reported in 61.7% of cases, followed by generalized muscle and myofascial pain (16.7%), lower and upper limb pain (14.4% and 6.8%, respectively). At the end of sessions, mean pain intensity reported dropped down to 1.3. Differences were statistically significant (non-parametric Wilcoxon test; p=0.001). Conclusion The unprecedented physical therapy intervention described had a positive impact on relief of musculoskeletal pain among military firefighters involved in search and rescue operations during the Brumadinho dam disaster, and seen at the end of their work shifts.

Estimulação elétrica nervosa transcutânea no pós-operatório de cirurgia torácica ou abdominal / Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation in thoracic or abdominal postoperative conditions

O objetivo deste trabalho é avaliar os efeitos da estimulação elétrica nervosa transcutãnea (TENS) durante o pós-operatório de cirurgia torácica ou abdominal. Foram pesquisados ensaios clínicos aleatórios nas bases de dados Medline, Lilacs e PEDro. Estudos placebo-controlados que utilizaram TENS para cirurgias torácicas ou abdominais, e que analisaram variáveis de dor ou função foram incluídos. Dois revisores avaliaram a qualidade dos estudos e realizaram a extração dos dados de forma independente. Foram selecionados seis artigos envolvendo 618 participantes. Uma análise qualitativa dos resultados demonstrou haver evidência moderada de que a TENS reduz significativamente o consumo de analgésicos, sem alterar os níveis de dor em repouso. Há evidência conflitante em relação aos efeitos da TENS na dor durante as atividades físicas e na função respiratória. Somente um estudo analisou o efeito da TENS na capacidade de marcha, demonstrando alguns resultados positivos. TENS demonstrou eficácia específica em relação à variável do estudo. Não há evidências suficientes para recomendar ou rejeitar o uso da TENS para a recuperação funcional no pós-operatório de cirurgia torácica ou abdominal. A utilização de parâmetros distintos, selecionados de forma aleatória e não justificada, impossibilitou determinar quais são os mais eficazes para a obtenção dos benefícios desejados