Background and objectives: Osteoarthritis (OA) is among the most common degenerative diseases that induce pain, stiffness and reduced functionality. Various physiotherapy techniques and methods have been used for the treatment of OA, including soft tissue techniques, therapeutic exercises, and manual techniques. The primary aim of this systemic review was to evaluate the short-and long-term efficacy of manual therapy (MT) in patients with knee OA in terms of decreasing pain and improving knee range of motion (ROM) and functionality. Materials and Methods: A computerised search on the PubMed, PEDro and CENTRAL databases was performed to identify controlled randomised clinical trials (RCTs) that focused on MT applications in patients with knee OA. The keywords used were ‘knee OA’, ‘knee arthritis’, ‘MT’, ‘mobilisation’, ‘ROM’ and ‘WOMAC’. Results: Six RCTs and randomised crossover studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in the final analysis. The available studies indicated that MT can induce a short-term reduction in pain and an increase in knee ROM and functionality in patients with knee OA. Conclusions: MT techniques can contribute positively to the treatment of patients with knee OA by reducing pain and increasing functionality. Further research is needed to strengthen these findings by comparing the efficacy of MT with those of other therapeutic techniques and methods, both in the short and long terms.
Patients with nonspecific chronic neck pain (NSCNP) exhibit respiratory dysfunction. This systematic review aimed to analyze randomized controlled trials (RCTs) investigating the effect of spinal and/or diaphragmatic and/or specific stabilization exercise manual therapy and/or respiratory exercises on musculoskeletal and respiratory diagnostic outcomes in patients with NSCNP. A systematic search and selection of RCTs was performed in three scientific databases (Pubmed, Scopus, and Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro)) and one search engine (Google Scholar) from inception to April 2022. Relevant studies published in the English language were extracted, evaluated, and independently rated for methodological quality (PEDro scale). The quality of the evidence was assessed with the GRADE approach. Out of 1089 studies collected in total, 1073 were excluded (i.e., did not meet the inclusion criteria or were duplicates). Sixteen RCTs were finally included, rated on 5.62/10 (PEDro score) on average for methodological quality. Overall, there was sparse evidence that spinal and/or diaphragmatic manual therapy and/or trunk stabilization exercises and/or respiratory exercises significantly improved pain, disability, and respiratory outcomes in patients with NSCNP immediately post-treatment. However, the clinical heterogeneity between studies was significant, and the level of certainty of the evidence was low to very low. More, high-quality RCTs are required, contributing to the holistic diagnostic monitoring and management of patients with NSCNP.
Purpose: The purpose of the current literature review is to present the Whiplash Associated-Disorders through diagnosis, scales, physical examination and to identify the most suitable physiotherapy management of these conditions. The long-term effectiveness of physiotherapy interventions is also examined.
Methods: Sixteen randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and seven case-control and cohort studies related to chronic WAD fulfilled the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The design, diagnosis, population, methodology, results, methodological quality and physiotherapy management were examined. The PEDro Scale and the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale were used for the examination of the methodological quality.
Results: The methodological quality of the studies used, were high. Significantly important on minimizing the symptoms of chronic WAD were the combination of Exercise therapy & Advice both at 6 and 12 months follow up. Other interventions such as Exercise therapy, Interdisciplinary approach and Multimodal physiotherapy treatment, Spinal Manual therapy and Advice were not equally effective in the long-term.
Conclusion: The most suitable intervention for the physiotherapy management of chronic WAD, with long-term effectiveness was the combination of Exercise & Advice, which was established with various outcome measures, such as NDI, VAS, NRI and SF-36. On the contrary, Exercise therapy, Interdisciplinary approach and Multimodal physiotherapy treatment, Spinal Manual therapy and Advice were not that effective on minimizing the symptoms of chronic WAD in the long-term.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.