Validation of the manual inclinometer and flexicurve for the measurement of thoracic kyphosis

This is the Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis Group in Physiotherapy Theory and Practice on 7 November 2017, available online at:https://doi.org/10.1080/09593985.2017.1394411. The Accepted Manuscript version is under embargo until 7 November 2018.Introduction: Physiotherapists commonly use the manual inclinometer and Flexicurve for the clinical measurement of thoracic spinal posture. The aim of this study is to examine the concurrent validity of the Flexicurve and manual inclinometer in relation to the radiographic Cobb angle for the measurement of thoracic kyphosis. Methods: Eleven subjects (seven males, four females) underwent a sagittal plane spinal radiograph. Immediately following the radiograph, a physiotherapist measured thoracic kyphosis using the Flexicurve and manual inclinometer before the subjects moved from position. Cobb angles were subsequently measured from the radiographs by an independent examiner. Results: A strong correlation was demonstrated between both the Cobb angle and the Flexicurve angle (r = 0.96) and the Cobb angle and the manual inclinometer angle (r = 0.86). On observation of the Bland–Altman plots, the inclinometer showed good agreement with the Cobb angle (mean difference 4.8 ° ± 8.9 °). However, the Flexicurve angle was systematically smaller than the Cobb angle (mean difference 20.3 ° ± 6.1 °), which reduces its validity. Conclusion: The manual inclinometer is recommended as a valid instrument for measuring thoracic kyphosis, with good agreement with the gold standard. While the Flexicurve is highly correlated to the gold standard, they have poor agreement. Therefore, physiotherapists should take caution when interpreting its results.Peer reviewedFinal Accepted Versio

Is thoracic spine posture associated with shoulder pain, range of motion and function? A systematic review

This document is the Accepted Manuscript version of the following article: Eva Barrett, Mary O'Keeffe, Kieran O'Sullivan, Jeremy Lewis, and Karen McCreesh, 'Is thoracic spine posture associated with shoulder pain, range of motion and function?: A systematic review', Manual Therapy, Vol. 26: 38-46, December 2016, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.math.2016.07.008. This Manuscript version is made available under the terms of the CC Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives License CC BY NC-NC 4.0 ( http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ ), which permits non-commercial re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited, and is not altered, transformed, or built upon in any way.IntroductionExcessive thoracic kyphosis is considered a predisposing factor for shoulder pain, though there is uncertainty about the nature of the relationship between shoulder pain and thoracic spine posture. The aim of this systematic review was to investigate the relationship between thoracic kyphosis and shoulder pain, shoulder range of motion (ROM) and function.MethodsTwo reviewers independently searched eight electronic databases and identified relevant studies by applying eligibility criteria. Sources of bias were assessed independently by two reviewers using a previously validated tool (Ijaz et al., 2013). Data were synthesised using a level of evidence approach (van Tulder et al., 2003).ResultsTen studies were included. Four studies were rated as low risk of bias, three at moderate risk of bias and three at high risk of bias. There is a moderate level of evidence of no significant difference in thoracic kyphosis between groups with and without shoulder pain. One study at high risk of bias demonstrated significantly greater thoracic kyphosis in people with shoulder pain (p < 0.05). There is a strong level of evidence that maximum shoulder ROM is greater in erect postures compared to slouched postures (p < 0.001), in people with and without shoulder pain.ConclusionsThoracic kyphosis may not be an important contributor to the development of shoulder pain. While there is evidence that reducing thoracic kyphosis facilitates greater shoulder ROM, this is based on single-session studies whose long-term clinical relevance is unclear. Higher quality research is warranted to fully explore the role of thoracic posture in shoulder pain.Peer reviewedFinal Accepted Versio

The impact of COVID-19 control measures on social contacts and transmission in Kenyan informal settlements.

BACKGROUND: Many low- and middle-income countries have implemented control measures against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, it is not clear to what extent these measures explain the low numbers of recorded COVID-19 cases and deaths in Africa. One of the main aims of control measures is to reduce respiratory pathogen transmission through direct contact with others. In this study, we collect contact data from residents of informal settlements around Nairobi, Kenya, to assess if control measures have changed contact patterns, and estimate the impact of changes on the basic reproduction number (R0). METHODS: We conducted a social contact survey with 213 residents of five informal settlements around Nairobi in early May 2020, 4 weeks after the Kenyan government introduced enhanced physical distancing measures and a curfew between 7 pm and 5 am. Respondents were asked to report all direct physical and non-physical contacts made the previous day, alongside a questionnaire asking about the social and economic impact of COVID-19 and control measures. We examined contact patterns by demographic factors, including socioeconomic status. We described the impact of COVID-19 and control measures on income and food security. We compared contact patterns during control measures to patterns from non-pandemic periods to estimate the change in R0. RESULTS: We estimate that control measures reduced physical contacts by 62% and non-physical contacts by either 63% or 67%, depending on the pre-COVID-19 comparison matrix used. Masks were worn by at least one person in 92% of contacts. Respondents in the poorest socioeconomic quintile reported 1.5 times more contacts than those in the richest. Eighty-six percent of respondents reported a total or partial loss of income due to COVID-19, and 74% reported eating less or skipping meals due to having too little money for food. CONCLUSION: COVID-19 control measures have had a large impact on direct contacts and therefore transmission, but have also caused considerable economic and food insecurity. Reductions in R0 are consistent with the comparatively low epidemic growth in Kenya and other sub-Saharan African countries that implemented similar, early control measures. However, negative and inequitable impacts on economic and food security may mean control measures are not sustainable in the longer term

Effect of antipronation foot orthosis geometry on compression of heel and arch soft tissues

This study aimed to understand how systematic changes in arch height and two designs of heel wedging affect soft issues under the foot. Soft tissue thickness under the heel and navicular was measured using ultrasound. Heel pad thickness was measured while subjects were standing on a flat surface and also while they were standing on an orthosis with 4 and 8 degree extrinsic wedges and 4 and 8 mm intrinsic wedges (n = 27). Arch soft tissue thickness was measured when subjects were standing and when standing on an orthosis with -6 mm, standard, and +6 mm increments in arch height (n = 25). Extrinsic and intrinsic heel wedges significantly increased soft tissue thickness under the heel compared with no orthosis. The 4 and 8 degree extrinsic wedges increased tissue thickness by 28.3% and 27.6%, respectively, while the 4 and 8 mm intrinsic wedges increased thickness by 23.0% and 14.6%, respectively. Orthotic arch height significantly affected arch soft tissue thickness. Compared with the no orthosis condition, the 6 mm, standard, and +6 mm arch heights decreased arch tissue thickness by 9.1%, 10.2%, and 11.8%, respectively. This study demonstrates that change in orthotic geometry creates different plantar soft tissue responses that we expect to affect transmission of force to underlying foot bones

65 Immediate response of the Supraspinatus Tendon to Loading in Rotator Cuff Tendinopathy.

Karen McCreesh, Alan Donnelly, and Jeremy Lewis, '65 Immediate Response Of The Supraspinatus Tendon To Loading In Roator Cuff Tendinopathy', British Journal of Sports Medicine, Vol. 48 (Sup. 2): A42-A43, September 2014, available online at: http://bjsm.bmj.com/content/48/Suppl_2/A42.info. © 2014, Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited.Loading leads to multiple changes in tendon morphological and mechanical properties, which can be altered in tendinopathy. Reductions in tendon thickness are generally reported after loading in lower limb tendons, with some studies suggesting a reduced response in painful tendons. However, no such studies exist for the rotator cuff (RC) tendons. Therefore, the aim of this research was to examine the short-term effect of loading on thickness of the supraspinatus tendon (SsT) and acromiohumeral distance (AHD) in people with and without RC tendinopathy