BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Auriculotherapy is widely used to relieve painful conditions, therefore, allowing systematic reviews on the subject. However, they did not propose a unified bank of points of possible choice, their possible combinations or described the location of such points, thus making it the objective of this study. CONTENTS: The systematic review of revisions methodology (Overview) was chosen to achieve the proposed goal. The quality of such material was ascertained by the tool Assessment of Multiple Systematic Reviews, and the databases consulted were PEDro database, Pubmed, Scielo, and LILACS. The keywords and boolean index applied were: auriculotherapy AND pain; ear acupuncture AND pain, ear acupressure AND pain; auricular therapy and pain; auricular medicine AND pain. A total of 242 studies were found, but only six were systematic reviews in humans involving pain and auriculotherapy alone (without association with another technique). The methodological quality of the studies was high (8-10/11 Assessment of Multiple Systematic Reviews). There is variability in the neurophysiological explanation of action, many possible disorders that can be approached with auriculotherapy (acute, chronic, trauma, pre-and postoperative pain among others). Auriculotherapy showed to be promising in the remission of the pain, adjunct to the conventional treatment, low risk, cost, and easy administration. CONCLUSION: There are several ways of justifying its neurophysiological effects, and the most used points were ShenMen, the corresponding somatotopic region and the cavum conchae region (vagal stimulation). Auriculotherapy meets the needs of Auriculotherapy: neurophysiology, points to choose, indications and results on musculoskeletal pain conditions: a systematic review of reviews Auriculoterapia: neurofisiologia, pontos de escolha, indicações e resultados em condições dolorosas musculoesqueléticas: revisão sistemática de revisões

| Kinesio taping is being increasingly used under several conditions; however, its hypoalgesic effect and mechanism of action do not show scientific results. Therefore, the aims of this study were to describe the principles of the method and mainly to analyze the results of clinical trials with control groups, related to pain with Kinesio taping. The PubMed, SciELO, Lilacs, Scirus and Academic Google databases were consulted, using the keywords: Kinesio Taping and Kinesio Tape, either associated or not to pain. Ten clinical trials related to pain and Kinesio taping were selected, assessed by using the PEDro scale, and its results were analyzed. Kinesio taping provided higher, similar or lower pain reduction than in other groups (control, placebo or technique). The application continues to use the principles of Kenzo Kase, the gate control theory being the most described so far to justify the hypoalgesic effect; and the effects were only found in short-term (24 hours to 1 week). Pain relief provided by Kinesio taping was similar or slightly superior to other interventions, not representing a reason for it to be the main treatment of choice. However, it can be considered an adjunct or complementary technique.Keywords | Physical Therapy Specialty; Physical Therapy Modalities; Rehabilitation. RESUMO | O

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Dysmenorrhea is described as pain or weight in the hypogastrium and can radiate to the lumbar region or to the thighs. The use of the vector interferential current (CIV) is based on two sinusoidal currents of medium frequency, modulated at low frequency, and can reach deep tissues in a pleasant way. Despite widespread use of this current under various conditions, there are few studies on its use in primary dysmenorrhea associated with low back pain. The aim of this study was to evaluate the analgesic effect of the Tetrapolar Interferential Current on primary dysmenorrhea associated with low back pain. The study consisted of 20 volunteers, divided into 2 groups: Placebo Group (GP) and Group Treatment (GT), with treatment for 3 days in two menstrual cycles. The variables analyzed were the McGill Pain Questionnaire at the beginning of the first intervention and on the last day after the procedure, and the Visual Analog Pain Scale, applied before and after each therapy. It was observed that for the McGill questionnaire there was reduction only for the treated group, for the Pain scale there were  differences again between groups and between evaluations, and the size of the effect showed favorable results in the treated group. The interferential current in the quadrilateral form was shown to be effective in reducing pain in young patients with primary dysmenorrhea.Keywords: Visual Analog Scale. Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation. Medição da Dor. Pain Measurement.ResumoA dismenorreia é descrita como dor ou peso no hipogástrio, podendo irradiar-se para a região lombar ou até as coxas. O uso da corrente interferencial vetorial (CIV) baseia-se em duas correntes sinusoidais de média frequência, moduladas em baixa frequência, podendo atingir tecidos profundos de forma agradável. Apesar de amplo uso desta corrente em várias condições, há poucos estudos sobre seu uso na dismenorreia primária associada à dor lombar. O objetivo do estudo foi avaliar o efeito analgésico da Corrente Interferencial tetrapolar na dismenorreia primária associada à dor lombar. Este estudo foi composto por 20 voluntárias, divididas em 2 grupos: Grupo Placebo (GP) e Grupo Tratamento (GT), com tratamento por 3 dias em dois ciclos menstruais. As variáveis analisadas foram o Questionário de Dor de McGill no início da primeira intervenção e no último dia após o procedimento, e a Escala Analógica Visual de Dor, aplicada antes e após cada terapia. Observou-se que para a o questionário de McGill houve reduç o apenas para o grupo tratado, para a escala de Dor houve diferenças novamente entre grupos e entre avaliações, sendo que o tamanho do efeito mostrou resultados favoráveis ao grupo tratado. A corrente interferencial na forma tetrapolar mostrou-se efetiva na redução do quadro de dor em jovens com dismenorreia primária.Palavras-chave: Escala Visual Analógica. Estimulação Elétrica Nervosa Transcutânea. Medição da Dor.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Gua-sha is a Traditional Chinese Medicine technique, which consists of scraping the skin with a smooth and rounded edges object until the appearance of petechiae. Used domestically in Asia, it is described as capable of promoting the improvement of several conditions (e. g. respiratory, digestive, fever, and insomnia), such as painful conditions. However, there is a shortage of systematic reviews in this respect in Western literature, so this study aimed to analyze the common use of Gua-sha and the methodological quality of the studies. CONTENTS: The PEDro, Pubmed, Scielo and LILACS Databases were consulted, searching for clinical trials with the following keywords and Boolean index: Gua-sha AND pain; Scraping therapy AND pain (English, Portuguese and Spanish). Thirty-two articles were pre-selected, but only six met the inclusion criteria (clinical trial, pain as one of the evaluation criteria, musculoskeletal pain). The disorders reported were related to the spine, with a mostly superior response or similar to the control group, being investigated in the short term (7-21 days). The studies methodological quality were considered moderate according to the PEDro scale. CONCLUSION: Gua-sha is a simple, inexpensive alternative with short-term effects for the treatment of conditions involving the spine and surrounding areas, such as a single intervention or in combination. Its practice is already well referenced but requires studies of high methodological quality and analysis of its effects also in the appendicular skeleton.

INTRODUÇÃO: A corrente interferencial é uma modalidade bastante utilizada, porém, apresenta como fator limitante a quantidade de acomodações, o que é comum em eletroestimulação. Apesar de possuir alguns recursos que visam reduzir a adaptação fisiológica, não é totalmente eficaz; neste sentido, pode haver diferenças devido à técnica de uso. Assim, o presente estudo pretendeu analisar se há diferenças na adaptação para as formas bipolar ou tetrapolar em indivíduos com dor lombar crônica não específica. MÉTODOS: ensaio clínico cruzado, composto por 15 voluntárias com dor lombar crônica não específica, as quais receberam terapia bipolar ou tetrapolar em semanas subsequentes. Foi explicado sobre a adaptação à corrente e o que deveria avisar quando ocorresse, e, desta forma, foi computado o número de vezes em que o fenômeno ocorreu, o tempo necessário até ocorrer a primeira adaptação, a intensidade inicial da corrente utilizada e o quanto aumentou-se após a primeira adaptação. RESULTADOS: para nenhuma das variáveis analisadas, foi observada diferença significativa entre as duas técnicas (p>0,05). CONCLUSÃO: as técnicas analisadas não mostraram diferenças na adaptação em mulheres jovens com dor lombar não específica.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Because foot reflexology is commonly associated with other interventions, its benefits are difficult to establish. In addition, systematic reviews have been carried out many years ago, analyzing unspecific parameters and with controversial results. Thus, the objectives of this study were: to analyze the results of randomized controlled trials with a control group in painful conditions, using foot reflexology as a single intervention; describe the proposed application and methodological quality of the studies (PEDro scale). CONTENTS: The PEDro, Pubmed, Scielo and LILACS data bases were consulted, searching for clinical trials with the following keywords and Boolean index: Foot Reflexology AND pain; reflexology foot massage AND pain (English, Portuguese and Spanish). These keywords should have been present in the title or summary of the article for inclusion, directing to pain and moving away from other variables. 95 studies were found, 17 were selected and most of the results were favorable. The usual application varies from 2-30 minutes of stimulation on each foot, varying between massaging in general or using the somatotopic map stimulating the solar plexus, pain correspondence zone and accessory points related to the diagnosis. In short, the studies showed moderate to good methodological quality according to the PEDro scale. CONCLUSION: Foot reflexology has shown promise for pain relief as an isolated therapy in neuromusculoskeletal cases in hospital and outpatient settings. The hope is that studies of excellent methodological quality can support this statement in the near future.

Objetivo: Analisar quais formas de avaliações são utilizadas, como aplicar e quais foram os resultados dos ensaios clínicos com grupo controle referente àutilização de Isostretching. Métodos: Foram consultadas as bases de dados do Pubmed, Scielo, Periodicos da Capes, Scirus, Google acadêmico, resultando em 11 ensaios clínicos com grupo controle que foram analisados por meio da escala Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro). Avaliação: Está diretamente relacionada com a afecção de qual técnica é aplicada e seu objetivo, não havendo forma específica de teste ou escala que possam avaliá-la em todas as condições. Aplicação: Envolve os princípios de contração isométrica sustentada dos músculos do assoalho pélvico e quadril, expiração prolongada com freno labial e autocrescimento. O tempo de cada sessão é aproximadamente 30-60 minutos, aplicada de 2-3 vezes por semana. Resultados: Apontam efeitos semelhantes ao grupo controle ou superiores a eles, com aplicação mais descrita em casos de lombalgia e alteração da complascência da caixa torácica. Conclusão: A maioria dos estudos não compara o Isostretching a um grupo controle, dificultando a análise dos benefícios proporcionada isoladamente pela aplicação desta técnica. Mesmo assim, para os estudos analisados, pode-se observar resultados melhores ou pelo menos iguais aos dos grupos controle.Palavras-chave: dor lombar, postura, fisioterapia, reabilitação.