The effectiveness of an upper extremity neuromuscular training program on the shoulder function of military members with a rotator cuff tendinopathy : a pilot randomized controlled trial

INTRODUCTION: La tendinopathie de la coiffe des rotateurs (TCR) entraine au quotidien des douleurs et faiblesses musculaires et une diminution du contrôle moteur à l'épaule. OBJECTIFS: Les objectifs de cette étude étaient i) d'effectuer une revue de littérature pour identifier les méthodes de quantification de la proprioception de l'épaule utilisées en laboratoire et en clinique et d’en présenter les qualités métrologiques, ii) d'évaluer l'efficacité d’un programme d’entrainement neuro-musculaire en comparant son efficacité à réduire la douleur à l’épaule et en améliorer la fonction à celle obtenue par des soins usuels de physiothérapie. MÉTHODES: i) Une revue de 5 bases de données a été conduite d’octobre 2015 à juillet 2016 pour documenter les propriétés métrologiques de protocoles d’évaluation de la proprioception à l'épaule. Les études incluses ont été évaluées à l'aide de l’outil de contrôle QualSyst et de l'échelle COSMIN à 4 points. ii) Trente-trois soldats en service actif au sein des Forces armées canadiennes ont été assignés au hasard à 1) programme standardisé supervisé d’entrainement neuromusculaire et contrôle moteur (Exp) ou à 2) soins usuels de physiothérapie (Ctl). Les variables principales étaient les symptômes, la capacité fonctionnelle et les limitations physiques évalués avec le questionnaire Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) et la variable secondaire était l'indice Western Ontario Rotator Cuff (WORC). Toutes les variables ont été mesurées au départ (T0) et à 6 (T6) et 12 (T12) semaines après l'intervention. La comparaison des effets des interventions a été évaluée à l'aide d’une analyse per protocole (APP), analyse intention-traitement (AIT) et avec une analyse de variance à mesures répétées à 2 voies. RÉSULTATS: i) Vingt et une études (n = 407 participants, 553 épaules) ont été retenues. Les études analysées confirment d'excellents scores méthodologiques avec l’outil QualSyst (88,1 ± 9,9%) et de bons scores avec le COSMIN pour la fidélité (71,1%) et un score de qualité modérée à faible (50%) pour la validité de critère. Les coefficients de corrélation intraclasse (CCI) pondérés pour la fidélité intraévaluateur étaient les plus élevés pour le sens du positionnement articulaire passif et la kinesthésie soit 0,92 ± 0,07 (n = 214) et 0,92 ± 0,04 (n = 74), respectivement. Le mouvement et l'outil les plus fidèles sont la rotation interne à 90 ° d'abduction (CCI = 0,88 ± 0,01 (n = 53)) et le dynamomètre (CCI = 0,92 ± 0,88 (n = 225)). Aucune étude n’a rapporté d’indices de sensibilité au changement. ii) Aucune interaction significative (p ≥ 0,101) de groupe × temps (p ≥ 0,101) n'a été démontrée. Par contre, nous avons observé un effet de temps significatif (p <0,001) pour le questionnaire DASH et l'indice WORC. CONCLUSION: Ces données préliminaires suggèrent que les deux approches proposées conduisent à des améliorations comparables. L'utilisation d'une intervention de groupe axée sur l'exercice a le potentiel d'être aussi efficace qu'une approche un à un plus exigeante en terme de temps de traitement. Ces résultats permettront de fournir aux cliniciens des lignes directrices pour la mesure de la proprioception à l'épaule et l’utilisation d’une approche novatrice de traitement en groupe pour la TCR. Mots clés : Épaule, tendinopathie, contrôle moteur, proprioception, programme d'exercices, soins en physiothérapieINTRODUCTION: The shoulder is the most mobile joint of the body which means that it heavily relies of an important level of neuromuscular control at all times. A rotator cuff (RC) complex provides stability to the shoulder and often times falls victim to injury, which can produce functional limitations during activities of daily living and work tasks. Individuals affected by an RC tendinopathy often have neuromuscular and proprioceptive deficits. OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this study are to (i) conduct a systematic review to identify methods of quantifying shoulder proprioception in a laboratory and clinical setting and to present the associated psychometric properties. (ii) To evaluate the effectiveness of a novel neuromuscular training program for the upper extremities versus one-on-one physiotherapy care (manual therapy, range of motion exercises, strengthening) for the reduction of shoulder pain and improvement in function with soldiers affected by an RC tendinopathy. METHODS: (i) A review of five databases was conducted from conception to July 2016 to identify studies that reported at least one psychometric property of a shoulder proprioception protocol. The included studies were evaluated using the QualSyst checklist and the 4-point COSMIN scale. (ii) Thirty-three military personnel with the Canadian Armed Forces were randomly assigned to one of the following interventions: 1) Upper Extremity Neuromuscular Training Program; (2) usual physiotherapy care. The main outcomes included symptoms and functional capacity assessed using the Disability of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) questionnaire. A secondary outcome included the Western Ontario Rotator Cuff (WORC) Index. Outcome measures were evaluated at baseline (T0) and 6 (T6) and 12 (T12) weeks post-intervention. The effects of the interventions were evaluated using repeated 2-way variance measures (ANOVAs) for a per-protocol analysis and intention-to-treat. RESULTS: i) Twenty-one studies were included, resulting in 407 participants and 553 evaluated shoulders (n). The weighed intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) for intra-rater reliability were highest for passive joint position sense and kinesthesia, ICC = 0.92 ± 0.07 (n = 214) and ICC = 0.92 ± 0.04 (n = 74), respectively. The most reliable direction of movement and equipment used were internal rotation at 90° abduction, ICC = 0.88 ± 0.01 (n = 53), and the dynamometer, ICC = 0.92 ± 0.88 (N = 225). ii) No significant group (p ≥ 0.1) or group × time interactions (p ≥ 0.1) were found; though a statistically significant time effect (p < 0.001) was established for the DASH questionnaire and WORC Index. Our preliminary data suggests a marginally better improvement with the control group with all outcomes over 12 weeks. CONCLUSION: The evaluation of shoulder proprioception is most reliable when using a passive protocol with an isokinetic dynamometer for internal rotation at 90° shoulder abduction. The preliminary results of our pilot RCT suggest that both groups statistically improved with a time effect, but that the usual care group further demonstrated clinically significant gains. The results of this study will provide clinicians with potential guidelines for measuring shoulder proprioception in a clinical setting, as well as an innovative approach to group therapy that is potentially less costly and equally as effective as conventional one-on-one physiotherapy. Key words (4-6) : Shoulder, tendinopathy, motor control, proprioception, exercise program, physiotherapy car

L-selectin is essential for delivery of activated CD8+ T cells to virus-infected organs for protective immunity

Cytotoxic CD8+ T lymphocytes play a critical role in the host response to infection by viruses. The ability to secrete cytotoxic chemicals and cytokines is considered pivotal for eliminating virus. Of equal importance is how effector CD8+ T cells home to virus-infected tissues. L-selectin has not been considered important for effector T cell homing, because levels are low on activated T cells. We report here that, although L-selectin expression is downregulated following T cell priming in lymph nodes, L-selectin is re-expressed on activated CD8+ T cells entering the bloodstream, and recruitment of activated CD8+ T cells from the bloodstream into virus-infected tissues is L-selectin dependent. Furthermore, L-selectin on effector CD8+ T cells confers protective immunity to two evolutionally distinct viruses, vaccinia and influenza, which infect mucosal and visceral organs, respectively. These results connect homing and a function of virus-specific CD8+ T cells to a single molecule, L-selectin

31st Annual Meeting and Associated Programs of the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC 2016) : part two

Background The immunological escape of tumors represents one of the main ob- stacles to the treatment of malignancies. The blockade of PD-1 or CTLA-4 receptors represented a milestone in the history of immunotherapy. However, immune checkpoint inhibitors seem to be effective in specific cohorts of patients. It has been proposed that their efficacy relies on the presence of an immunological response. Thus, we hypothesized that disruption of the PD-L1/PD-1 axis would synergize with our oncolytic vaccine platform PeptiCRAd. Methods We used murine B16OVA in vivo tumor models and flow cytometry analysis to investigate the immunological background. Results First, we found that high-burden B16OVA tumors were refractory to combination immunotherapy. However, with a more aggressive schedule, tumors with a lower burden were more susceptible to the combination of PeptiCRAd and PD-L1 blockade. The therapy signifi- cantly increased the median survival of mice (Fig. 7). Interestingly, the reduced growth of contralaterally injected B16F10 cells sug- gested the presence of a long lasting immunological memory also against non-targeted antigens. Concerning the functional state of tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), we found that all the immune therapies would enhance the percentage of activated (PD-1pos TIM- 3neg) T lymphocytes and reduce the amount of exhausted (PD-1pos TIM-3pos) cells compared to placebo. As expected, we found that PeptiCRAd monotherapy could increase the number of antigen spe- cific CD8+ T cells compared to other treatments. However, only the combination with PD-L1 blockade could significantly increase the ra- tio between activated and exhausted pentamer positive cells (p= 0.0058), suggesting that by disrupting the PD-1/PD-L1 axis we could decrease the amount of dysfunctional antigen specific T cells. We ob- served that the anatomical location deeply influenced the state of CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes. In fact, TIM-3 expression was in- creased by 2 fold on TILs compared to splenic and lymphoid T cells. In the CD8+ compartment, the expression of PD-1 on the surface seemed to be restricted to the tumor micro-environment, while CD4 + T cells had a high expression of PD-1 also in lymphoid organs. Interestingly, we found that the levels of PD-1 were significantly higher on CD8+ T cells than on CD4+ T cells into the tumor micro- environment (p < 0.0001). Conclusions In conclusion, we demonstrated that the efficacy of immune check- point inhibitors might be strongly enhanced by their combination with cancer vaccines. PeptiCRAd was able to increase the number of antigen-specific T cells and PD-L1 blockade prevented their exhaus- tion, resulting in long-lasting immunological memory and increased median survival

Western ideals and global realities : physiotherapists' views on factors that play a role in ethical decision-making : an international qualitative analysis

BackgroundThere is a lack of knowledge about factors that play a role in ethical decision-making of physiotherapists internationally. The purpose of this study was to explore, describe and map factors in ethical decision-making of physiotherapists from around the globe.MethodsA descriptive research design and constructivist research paradigm was applied. Elements of both a coding reliability thematic analysis and a reflexive thematic analysis method were used deductively and inductively to analyse the content of responses to an optional open question in an internationally distributed online survey with 559 participants from 72 countries through several steps and cycles.ResultsA spectrum of 43 factors was identified within 200 individual responses, allocated to five themes: individual factors (19 factors); relational factors (6 factors); organisational factors (6 factors); situational factors (6 factors); and societal factors (6 factors). The importance of context on organisational, situational and societal levels, interrelatedness of physiotherapists, individual characteristics and situatedness of patients/clients and physiotherapists, as well as aspects and features of the patient/client-physiotherapist relationship became apparent throughout analysis.ConclusionsTo meet the emerging requirements for ethical physiotherapy practice, we advocate that both physiotherapy students and practicing physiotherapists internationally need to be trained as moral agents in integrated manners. Based on the results of this study we conclude that such training should embrace professionalism, professional values, ethical codes, ethical theories and ethical decision-making frameworks that acknowledge interrelatedness, epistemology and situatedness, self-reflective and communicative techniques, critical thinking, social/societal determinants of health, social responsibility, cultural competence and self-care techniques

Views of physiotherapists on factors that play a role in ethical decision-making: an international online survey study

Abstract Background There is a lack of knowledge about the ways physiotherapists around the world learn about professional code of ethics and ethical decision-making frameworks. The profession has a gap in the understanding about physiotherapists’ views on factors that play a role in ethical decision-making and whether these views differ between World Physiotherapy regions. Methods An online survey study in English was conducted from October 2018 to October 2019. Participants included 559 physiotherapists located in 72 countries. The self-designed survey questionnaire contained 13 items asking about demographic information and means of learning about ethical codes and decision-making frameworks. A further 30 items were presented which included statements underpinned with individual, organisational, situational and societal factors influencing ethical decision-making. Participants were asked to express their level of agreement or disagreement using a 5-point-Likert-scale. Results Participants’ highest rated responses endorsed that the professional role of physiotherapists is linked to social expectations of ethical behaviour and that ethical decision-making requires more skills than simply following a code of ethics. A recognisable organisational ethical culture was rated as supporting good ethical decisions. Comparing responses by World Physiotherapy regions showed significant differences in factors such as culture, religion, emotions, organisational values, significant others, consequences of professional misconduct and professional obligations. Entry level education was not perceived to provide a solid base for ethical decision-making in every World Physiotherapy region. Participants reported multiple sources for learning about a professional code of ethics and ethical decision-making frameworks. What’s more, the number of sources differed between World Physiotherapy regions. Conclusions Multiple factors play a role in physiotherapists’ ethical decision-making internationally. Physiotherapists’ ethical knowledge is informed by, and acquired from, several learning sources, which differ in both quality and quantity amongst World Physiotherapy regions. Easily accessible knowledge and education about professional codes of ethics and ethical decision-making can foster continuing professional development for physiotherapists. The establishment of constructive ethical cultures in workplaces can improve ethical decision-making, and should acknowledge the influence of individual, organisational, situational and societal factors. The establishment of collaborative learning environments can support knowledge translation which acknowledges practice-based methods of knowing and learning

Western ideals and global realities – physiotherapists’ views on factors that play a role in ethical decision-making: an international qualitative analysis

There is a lack of knowledge about factors that play a role in ethical decision-making of physiotherapists internationally. The purpose of this study was to explore, describe and map factors in ethical decision-making of physiotherapists from around the globe. A descriptive research design and constructivist research paradigm was applied. Elements of both a coding reliability thematic analysis and a reflexive thematic analysis method were used deductively and inductively to analyse the content of responses to an optional open question in an internationally distributed online survey with 559 participants from 72 countries through several steps and cycles. A spectrum of 43 factors was identified within 200 individual responses, allocated to five themes: individual factors (19 factors); relational factors (6 factors); organisational factors (6 factors); situational factors (6 factors); and societal factors (6 factors). The importance of context on organisational, situational and societal levels, interrelatedness of physiotherapists, individual characteristics and situatedness of patients/clients and physiotherapists, as well as aspects and features of the patient/client-physiotherapist relationship became apparent throughout analysis. To meet the emerging requirements for ethical physiotherapy practice, we advocate that both physiotherapy students and practicing physiotherapists internationally need to be trained as moral agents in integrated manners. Based on the results of this study we conclude that such training should embrace professionalism, professional values, ethical codes, ethical theories and ethical decision-making frameworks that acknowledge interrelatedness, epistemology and situatedness, self-reflective and communicative techniques, critical thinking, social/societal determinants of health, social responsibility, cultural competence and self-care techniques.</p

Proprioception : how is it affected by shoulder pain? A systematic review

Introduction: Proprioception encompasses the submodalities of joint position sense (JPS), kinesthesia, sense of force, and velocity. Owing to the vast mobility of the shoulder, it heavily relies on an intact sense of proprioception. Moreover, shoulder injuries are associated with a decreased sense of proprioception. What remains unclear is how shoulder proprioception is affected by pain and competing nociceptive senses. Purpose of the Study: To summarize the literature evaluating the relationship between pain and shoulder proprioception. Methods: A literature review was conducted from inception until 22 October 2018, using electronic databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, EBSCO, CINAHL, and Embase). Retrieved citations were screened for eligibility, and methodological quality was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS). Results: Eleven studies were included (n = 447 participants with shoulder pain, n = 20 with experimentally induced pain [EIP]/n = 600 painful shoulders and n = 20 [EIP]). The mean methodological quality of the studies was good (76%). Five studies investigated active JPS, four investigated passive JPS, six investigated kinesthesia, sense of force was measured in one study, and no study investigated sense of velocity. There is moderate evidence for impaired kinesthesia and low evidence for reduced sense of force among painful shoulders. Conflicting evidence is seen for the other proprioceptive submodalities. Conclusion: The overall impact of pain on shoulder JPS remains unclear, while moderate evidence for an affected sense of kinesthesia is possible. There is low evidence for an impaired sense of force among painful shoulders. Standardization between studies is lacking, limiting the range of our conclusions. Further investigation is required into well-controlled and pain-induced studies to better understand the influence of pain on shoulder proprioception

Role of active joint position sense on the upper extremity functional performance tests in college volleyball players

Background It has been well established that proprioception plays a decisive role in shoulder stability and sport performance. Notwithstanding, there is a lack of clear association between active joint position sense (AJPS) and the performance of upper-extremity functional performance tests. The aim of this study was to determine whether the AJPS of the shoulder complex is associated with the performance of college volleyball players with the following functional tests: Y-Balance Test-Upper Quarter (YBT-UQ), Closed Kinetic Chain Upper-Extremity Stability Test (CKCUEST), and Seated Medicine Ball Throw (SMBT). The secondary aim was to investigate whether the magnitude of the proprioception error through the AJPS had the ability to act as a predictor for functional test scores. Methods Cross-sectional study with a convenience sampling. Healthy college volleyball players (≥12 h of training/week), 30 males and 22 females, between 18 and 26 years of age were included. AJPS of the shoulder (90° of flexion (90°Flex), 90° of internal rotation at 90° of abduction (90°IR/ABD), 90° of external rotation at 90° of abduction (90°ER/ABD)) and three upper-extremity functional performance tests (YBT-UQ, CKCUEST and SMBT) were assessed. A Pearson’s test and a stepwise multiple linear regression analysis were used to determine possible associations and relationships between outcome measures, respectively. Results The analysis revealed that AJPS at 90°IR/ABD and 90°ER/ABD were the only proprioceptive variables with an association to the YBT-UQ and SMBT. Despite these relationships, only the AJPS at 90°IR/ABD was associated with the performance of the YBT-UQ in; superolateral direction (β = −0.7; 95% CI [−1.3 to 0.1]; p = 0.025); inferolateral direction (β = −1.5; 95% CI [−2.1 to −0.8]; p = 0.001); and composite score (β = −0.8; 95% CI [−1.3 to −0.3]; p = 0.002). From these, AJPS at 90°IR/ABD mainly explained the variability of YBT-UQ (inferolateral direction) performance (R2 = 0.32; %R2 = 0.32). Our findings allow for a possible expanded role for proprioception as a contributing factor in upper limb motor control during functional movements. Further research is required to explore and distinguish the associations between proprioception, motor control and sport performance involving the upper limbs