Current Issue: March 2013

In this issue -

The March 2013 issue contains a systematic review, two randomised trials, three observational studies, and our first trial protocol. These papers span a range of clinical areas of physiotherapy practice.

The systematic review examines trials that had investigated whether progressive resistance exercise improves strength and measures of physical performance in people with Parkinson’s disease. This review of four studies meeting rigorous criteria clearly shows that progressive resistance exercise improves strength in people with mild to moderate Parkinson’s disease. Improvements also occur in walking capacity and sit-to-stand time. However, the improvement in strength does not carry over to significant benefits in all measures of physical performance. The authors find that current evidence suggests that progressive resistance training should be implemented in Parkinson’s disease rehabilitation, particularly when the aim is to improve walking capacity.
The first randomised trial investigates whether a set of FIFA-devised exercises helps reduce the costs of soccer injuries. The authors conclude that while the overall number of injuries is not reduced, injury costs are markedly reduced – probably due to a reduction in the proportion of knee injuries, which tend to be more expensive to rehabilitate. The second randomised trial examines people with carpometacarpal osteoarthritis of the thumb. The main finding – that radial nerve mobilisation to the affected hand reduces pressure pain sensitivity in the contralateral hand –suggests bilateral hypoalgesic effects of the intervention.

The first observational study looks at the clinical course of a new episode of non-specific neck pain in people who are treated with multimodal physical therapies in a primary care setting. The authors find that people typically have high pain scores that improve rapidly after commencing treatment.

The second observational study involves ambulant patients admitted for inpatient rehabilitation for a lower limb orthopaedic condition. The universally low levels of activity of these patients do not meet current physical activity guidelines for older adults.

The final observational study reports the accuracy of physiotherapists’ estimation of how long stroke survivors spend in physiotherapy sessions and the amount of time they are engaged in physical activity during physiotherapy sessions. The investigators found that therapists estimate the amount of time stroke survivors are active during therapy sessions inaccurately.

The inaugural trial protocol provides details of a randomised trial comparing two Kinesio Taping approaches in patients with chronic non-specific low back pain.


Mark Elkins
Editor