Cryotherapy associated with tailored land-based exercises for knee osteoarthritis: a protocol for a double-blind sham-controlled randomised trial.

INTRODUCTION: There is an unmet need to develop tailored therapeutic exercise protocols applying different treatment parameters and modalities for individuals with knee osteoarthritis (KOA). Cryotherapy is widely used in rehabilitation as an adjunct treatment due to its effects on pain and the inflammatory process. However, disagreement between KOA guidelines remains with respect to its recommendation status. The aim of this study is to verify the complementary effects of cryotherapy when associated with a tailored therapeutic exercise protocol for patients with KOA. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This study is a sham-controlled randomised trial with concealed allocation and intention-to-treat analysis. Assessments will be performed at baseline and immediately following the intervention period. To check for residual effects of the applied interventions, 3-month and 6-month follow-up assessments will be performed. Participants will be community members living with KOA divided into three groups: (1) the experimental group that will receive a tailored therapeutic exercise protocol followed by a cryotherapy session of 20 min; (2) the sham control group that will receive the same regimen as the first group, but with sham packs filled with dry sand and (3) the active treatment control group that will receive only the therapeutic exercise protocol. The primary outcome will be pain intensity according to a Visual Analogue Scale. Secondary outcomes will be the Western Ontario & McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index; the Short-Form Health Survey 36; the 30-s Chair Stand Test; the Stair Climb test; and the 40-m fast-paced walk test. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The trial was approved by the Institutional Ethics Committee of Federal University of São Carlos, São Paulo, Brazil. Registration approval number: CAAE: 65966617.9.0000.5504. The results will be published in peer-reviewed journals. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT03360500.

Shoulder abduction torque steadiness is preserved in subacromial impingement syndrome.

This study compared peak torque and torque steadiness during isometric abduction in subjects with subacromial impingement syndrome (SIS) and those with no upper limb disorders. The SIS group consisted of 27 subjects (33.48 +/- 9.94 years) with unilateral SIS. The control group consisted of 23 healthy and active subjects (32.26 +/- 9.04 years). Peak torque and torque steadiness were measured during isometric abduction (80 masculine in the scapular plane) of the shoulder. Standard deviation, coefficient of variation, stability time, median frequency, and relative power were measured from the steadiness trials. There were neither significant interactions between group and side (P > 0.05), nor were there significant main effects of group and side (P > 0.05) for all variables analyzed. The results of this study showed that steadiness is preserved by SIS during isometric abduction of the shoulder.