Factors affecting women’s adherence with pelvic floor muscle exercises in a first pregnancy: a qualitative interview study

yesEvidence-based national guidelines recommend that women practise pelvic floor muscle exercises (PFMEs) during their first pregnancy in order to reduce the likelihood of becoming incontinent of urine. Adherence to these exercises during pregnancy is low, although little is known about the factors that influence some women to exercise during pregnancy while others do not. The aim of this study was to increase understanding of the motivating factors for, and barriers to, performing PFMEs during a first pregnancy using data gathered from four qualitative interviews. Analysis of the interview transcripts revealed four relevant themes: knowledge and understanding; experience of incontinence; attitude to incontinence; and cues to exercise. Having adequate knowledge of the PFMEs and the benefits of these exercises, knowing an incontinent woman of the same age and believing that the PFMEs would prevent incontinence, and having a regular cue to exercise prompted exercise adherence. Recommendations are made for practice and further research

Mirror Therapy for the Alleviation of Phantom Limb Pain Following Amputation: A literature review

Introduction: Phantom Limb pain (PLP) affects up to 85% of all patients following an amputation, causing debilitating effects on their quality of life. Mirror Therapy (MT) has been reported to have potential success for the alleviation of PLP. Current understanding of PLP and the efficacy of MT for its alleviation are still unclear, therefore guidelines for treatment protocols are lacking. This literature review assesses the current best evidence for using MT to alleviate PLP of patients with amputation. Method: The authors systematically searched the academic databases Medline, Amed, CINAHL and Google Scholar, using key search terms with inclusion and exclusion criteria to identify relevant articles on the use of MT in populations of patients suffering PLP after unilateral limb amputation. Findings: Seven primary papers were identified and appraised. All the articles reported significant PLP alleviation after using MT with a trend for achieving phantom limb movement (PLM) prior to pain relief. Conclusions: Mirror Therapy is a promising intervention for PLP. Regular MT sessions are required to maintain treatment effect. Causes of PLP and pathways to its alleviation may be multifactorial; therefore further well-conducted RCTs are required to identify best practice

Mirror Therapy for the Alleviation of Phantom Limb Pain Following Amputation: A literature review

Introduction: Phantom Limb pain (PLP) affects up to 85% of all patients following an amputation, causing debilitating effects on their quality of life. Mirror Therapy (MT) has been reported to have potential success for the alleviation of PLP. Current understanding of PLP and the efficacy of MT for its alleviation are still unclear, therefore guidelines for treatment protocols are lacking. This literature review assesses the current best evidence for using MT to alleviate PLP of patients with amputation. Method: The authors systematically searched the academic databases Medline, Amed, CINAHL and Google Scholar, using key search terms with inclusion and exclusion criteria to identify relevant articles on the use of MT in populations of patients suffering PLP after unilateral limb amputation. Findings: Seven primary papers were identified and appraised. All the articles reported significant PLP alleviation after using MT with a trend for achieving phantom limb movement (PLM) prior to pain relief. Conclusions: Mirror Therapy is a promising intervention for PLP. Regular MT sessions are required to maintain treatment effect. Causes of PLP and pathways to its alleviation may be multifactorial; therefore further well-conducted RCTs are required to identify best practice

Property rents in medieval English towns: Hull in the fourteenth century

This paper examines whether property rents varied within the medieval town of Hull. Scholars have been deterred from analysing medieval urban rents because of a belief that they were ‘fossilised’ from an early stage in town development, and therefore did not reflect economic forces that guided the later development of towns. Hull rents reported in the 1347 rental had been set only recently, however. Statistical analysis of these rents reveals the economic topography of the town and leads to a reconsideration of its economic development

What can we bring to the therapeutic relationship? A qualitative study of the beliefs and experiences of physiotherapists working with people with chronic pain

YesObjectives: To explore experienced physiotherapists’ attitudes, beliefs and experiences regarding their personal role in contributing to effective therapeutic relationships when working with people with chronic musculoskeletal pain. Design: Descriptive qualitative design using semi-structured interviews. Setting: Within physiotherapy departments in two National Health Service acute secondary care trusts in the North West of England. Participants: Six experienced physiotherapists working with people with chronic musculoskeletal pain. Data Analysis: Thematic coding analysis of transcribed interview recordings Main outcomes: Four overarching themes emerged from the data: Listening to the person; a caring understanding of the person’s situation; engaging the person and coming together; and moving forwards. Results: Participants emphasized the importance of building effective therapeutic relationships when working with people with chronic pain, seeking to create these by engaging with the person, to promote a strong collaborative partnership. Participants highlighted the themes of listening to the person’s story and showing a caring understanding of their situation through empathy and belief with validation. The final theme of moving forward emphasized how positive therapeutic relationships aid the rehabilitation process in enabling people to make positive changes in their lives. Conclusions: A clearer understanding of how physiotherapists engender positive therapeutic relationships has the potential to improve training and service development priorities for physiotherapists working in the area of chronic musculoskeletal pain. Future studies should seek to further define the core dimensions impacting therapeutic relationships, from the perspectives of both physiotherapists and people with chronic musculoskeletal pain.Health Education Yorkshire and the HumberThe full-text of this article will be released for public view at the end of the publisher embargo 6 months after publication