Comparative Study of the effectiveness through transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) or microcurrent electrical nerve stimulation (MENS) of physiotherapeutic interventions in shoulder conditions

Comparative Study of Pain Relief in Two NonPharmacological Treatments inPatients with Partial Rotator Cuff Tears: A Randomized Trial.AbstractBackground:Pain induction is the primary characteristic of a rotator cuff tear whilemuscle weakne ss appears as a secondary feature, leading to further disability.Objectives:The study aimed to determine the effectiveness of physiotherapeuticinterventions through transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) ormicrocurrent electrical nerve stim ulation (MENS) in conjunction with kinesiotherapyin patients with partial thickness rotator cuff tear.Methods:This was a blinded randomized prospective study. The study recruited 42outpatients with partial rotator cuff tear under conservative treatment selected fromthe 401 General Military Hospital of Athens and the University General Hospital‘Attikon’ during 2015 2017. Patients were assessed for pain and disability using theSPADI (shoulder pain and disability index), a numerical rating scale (NRS) for pain,and the EuroQoL 5 questionnaire for the evaluation of the quality of life. The firstgroup received TENS and kinesiotherapy while the second group received MENS andkinesiotherapy. Three measurements were recorded. The first assessment wasperfo rmed during the initial patient visit; the second after completion of thephysiotherapeutic sessions, and the third one three months after the initialassessment. A follow up ultrasound scan was performed three months after thecompletion of the therapeuti c sessions to assess the anatomical healing of therotator cuff tear.Results:Results: Repeated measurements analysis indicated a significant improvement in Repeated measurements analysis indicated a significant improvement in pain scores, functionality, and patients’ quality of life (P value nt methods did not reveal any significant differences (P value > 0.05) despite the fact that the MENS was associated with a greater improvement in 0.05) despite the fact that the MENS was associated with a greater improvement in pain intensity and TENS with a greater improvement in functionality and quality of pain intensity and TENS with a greater improvement in functionality and quality of life.life.Conclusions:Conclusions: Using MUsing MENS and TENS appears to be equally effective in terms of pain ENS and TENS appears to be equally effective in terms of pain relief, functional improvement, and quality of life enhancement in patients.relief, functional improvement, and quality of life enhancement in patients.Συγκριτική αποτελεσματικότητα στον πόνο δύο μη φαρμακολογικών θεραπευτικών αγωγών (TENS ή MENS) σε ασθενείς με μερική ρήξη τενοντίου πετάλου. Μια τυχαιοποιημένη μελέτη.ΥΠΑΡΧΟΥΣΑ ΓΝΩΣΗ: Το κύριο χαρακτηριστικό μερικής ρήξης τενοντίου πετάλου είναι ο πόνος, ενώ η μυϊκή αδυναμία εμφανίζεται ως δευτερεύον χαρακτηριστικό, οδηγώντας σε περαιτέρω αναπηρία.ΣΚΟΠΟΣ: Διευκρίνισε την αποτελεσματικότητα της φυσιοθεραπευτικής παρέμβασης μέσω της Διαδερμικής Ηλεκτρικής Νευροδιέγερσης (TENS) ή της Διέγερσης με Μικρορεύματα (MENS) σε συνδυασμό με την Κινησιοθεραπεία σε ασθενείς με μερική ρήξη τενοντίου πετάλου .ΣΧΕΔΙΑΣΜΟΣ ΜΕΛΕΤΗΣ: Τυφλή τυχαιοποιημένη προοπτική μελέτη.ΠΡΟΣΔΙΟΡΙΣΜΟΣ: Περιελήφθησαν σαράντα δύο εξωτερικοί ασθενείς με μερική ρήξη στροφικού πετάλου που υποβάλλονταν σε συντηρητική θεραπεία, από το Γενικό Στρατιωτικό Νοσοκομείο Αθηνών 401 και το Πανεπιστημιακό Γενικό Νοσοκομείο «Αττικόν» κατά την περίοδο 2015-2017.ΜΕΘΟΔΟΙ: Οι ασθενείς αξιολογήθηκαν για πόνο και τα λειτουργικά ενοχλήματα χρησιμοποιώντας το ερωτηματολόγιο SPADI Pain and Disability, μαζί με μια κλίμακα βαθμολόγησης πόνου αριθμητικής κλίμακας (NRS) και το ερωτηματολόγιο EuroQoL-5 για την αξιολόγηση της ποιότητας ζωής. Στην πρώτη ομάδα εφαρμόστηκε MENS και κινησιοθεραπεία, ενώ η δεύτερη ομάδα ΤΕNS και κινησιοθεραπεία. Πραγματοποιήθηκαν τρεις μετρήσεις ως εξής: Η πρώτη αξιολόγηση πραγματοποιήθηκε κατά την πρώτη επίσκεψη ασθενούς. η δεύτερη μετά την ολοκλήρωση των φυσιοθεραπευτικών συνεδριών και η τρίτη, ένα τρίμηνο μετά την αρχική αξιολόγηση. Επανάληψη του υπερηχογραφήματος διεξήχθη τρεις μήνες μετά την ολοκλήρωση των θεραπευτικών συνεδριών προκειμένου να εκτιμηθεί η ανατομική εξέλιξη της ρήξης του στροφικού πετάλου.ΑΠΟΤΕΛΕΣΜΑΤΑ: Τα αποτελέσματα της ανάλυσης διακύμανσης επαναλαμβανόμενων μετρήσεων έδειξαν σημαντική βελτίωση στις βαθμολογίες πόνου, τη λειτουργικότητα και την ποιότητα ζωής των ασθενών (τιμές p 0,05), παρά το γεγονός ότι η ομάδα MENS είχε μεγαλύτερη βελτίωση στο επίπεδο πόνου, ενώ η ομάδα TENS σε αναπηρία και ποιότητα ζωής.ΣΥΜΠΕΡΑΣΜΑΤΑ: Η χρήση του MENS και του TENS φαίνεται να είναι εξίσου αποτελεσματική όσον αφορά την ανακούφιση από τον πόνο, τα λειτουργικά ενοχλήματα και τη βελτίωση της ποιότητας ζωής των ασθενών.Λέξεις-κλειδιά: πόνος; αναπηρία; μη φαρμακολογική θεραπεία;MENS; TENS; μερική ρήξη τενοντίου πετάλου

Σύγκριση της διαδερμικής ηλεκτρικής νευρικής διέγερσης (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, TENS) και των μικρορευμάτων (microcurrent electrical nerve stimulation, MENS) στη φυσικοθεραπευτική αντιμετώπιση παθήσεων του ώμου

ΥΠΑΡΧΟΥΣΑ ΓΝΩΣΗ: Το κύριο χαρακτηριστικό μερικής ρήξης τενοντίου πετάλου είναι ο πόνος, ενώ η μυϊκή αδυναμία εμφανίζεται ως δευτερεύον χαρακτηριστικό, οδηγώντας σε περαιτέρω αναπηρία. ΣΚΟΠΟΣ: Διευκρίνισε την αποτελεσματικότητα της φυσιοθεραπευτικής παρέμβασης μέσω της Διαδερμικής Ηλεκτρικής Νευροδιέγερσης (TENS) ή της Διέγερσης με Μικρορεύματα (MENS) σε συνδυασμό με την Κινησιοθεραπεία σε ασθενείς με μερική ρήξη τενοντίου πετάλου . ΣΧΕΔΙΑΣΜΟΣ ΜΕΛΕΤΗΣ: Τυφλή τυχαιοποιημένη προοπτική μελέτη. ΠΡΟΣΔΙΟΡΙΣΜΟΣ: Περιελήφθησαν σαράντα δύο εξωτερικοί ασθενείς με μερική ρήξη στροφικού πετάλου που υποβάλλονταν σε συντηρητική θεραπεία, από το Γενικό Στρατιωτικό Νοσοκομείο Αθηνών 401 και το Πανεπιστημιακό Γενικό Νοσοκομείο «Αττικόν» κατά την περίοδο 2015-2017. ΜΕΘΟΔΟΙ: Οι ασθενείς αξιολογήθηκαν για πόνο και τα λειτουργικά ενοχλήματα χρησιμοποιώντας το ερωτηματολόγιο SPADI Pain and Disability, μαζί με μια κλίμακα βαθμολόγησης πόνου αριθμητικής κλίμακας (NRS) και το ερωτηματολόγιο EuroQoL-5 για την αξιολόγηση της ποιότητας ζωής. Στην πρώτη ομάδα εφαρμόστηκε MENS και κινησιοθεραπεία, ενώ η δεύτερη ομάδα ΤΕNS και κινησιοθεραπεία. Πραγματοποιήθηκαν τρεις μετρήσεις ως εξής: Η πρώτη αξιολόγηση πραγματοποιήθηκε κατά την πρώτη επίσκεψη ασθενούς. η δεύτερη μετά την ολοκλήρωση των φυσιοθεραπευτικών συνεδριών και η τρίτη, ένα τρίμηνο μετά την αρχική αξιολόγηση. Επανάληψη του υπερηχογραφήματος διεξήχθη τρεις μήνες μετά την ολοκλήρωση των θεραπευτικών συνεδριών προκειμένου να εκτιμηθεί η ανατομική εξέλιξη της ρήξης του στροφικού πετάλου. ΑΠΟΤΕΛΕΣΜΑΤΑ: Τα αποτελέσματα της ανάλυσης διακύμανσης επαναλαμβανόμενων μετρήσεων έδειξαν σημαντική βελτίωση στις βαθμολογίες πόνου, τη λειτουργικότητα και την ποιότητα ζωής των ασθενών (τιμές p <0,001). Η σύγκριση των δύο διαφορετικών μεθόδων ηλεκτροθεραπείας δεν έδειξε σημαντικές διαφορές (p-τιμές> 0,05), παρά το γεγονός ότι η ομάδα MENS είχε μεγαλύτερη βελτίωση στο επίπεδο πόνου, ενώ η ομάδα TENS σε αναπηρία και ποιότητα ζωής. ΣΥΜΠΕΡΑΣΜΑΤΑ: Η χρήση του MENS και του TENS φαίνεται να είναι εξίσου αποτελεσματική όσον αφορά την ανακούφιση από τον πόνο, τα λειτουργικά ενοχλήματα και τη βελτίωση της ποιότητας ζωής των ασθενών.Background: Pain induction is the primary characteristic of a rotator cuff tear while muscle weakness appears as a secondary feature, leading to further disability. Objectives: The study aimed to determine the effectiveness of physiotherapeutic interventions through transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) or microcurrent electrical nerve stimulation (MENS) in conjunction with kinesiotherapy in patients with partial thickness rotator cuff tear. Methods:This was a blinded randomized prospective study. The study recruited 42 outpatients with partial rotator cuff tear under conservative treatmentselected from the 401 General Military Hospital of Athens and the University General Hospital ‘Attikon’ during 2015 -2017. Patients were assessed for pain and disability using the SPADI (shoulder pain and disability index), a numerical rating scale (NRS)for pain, and the EuroQoL-5 questionnaire for the evaluation of the quality of life. The first group received TENS and kinesiotherapy while the second group received MENS and kinesiotherapy. Three measurements were recorded. The first assessment was performed during the initial patient visit; the second after completion of the physiotherapeutic sessions, and the third one three months after the initial assessment. A follow-up ultrasound scan was performed three months after the completion of the therapeutic sessions to assess the anatomical healing of the rotator cuff tear. Results:Repeated measurements analysis indicated a significant improvement in pain scores, functionality, and patients’ quality of life (P value < 0.001). Comparison of the two treatment methods did not reveal any significant differences (P value > 0.05) despite the fact that the MENS was associated with a greater improvement in pain intensity and TENS with a greater improvement in functionality and quality of life. Conclusions:Using MENS and TENS appears to be equally effective in terms of pain relief, functional improvement, and quality of life enhancement in patients

The Effect of Physiotherapy Interventions in the Workplace through Active Micro-Break Activities for Employees with Standing and Sedentary Work

Workers worldwide experience a range of occupational musculoskeletal disorders that affect both the functionality of many parts of their body and their overall performance. Physiotherapists provide counseling and treatment programs during work. Recently, physiotherapy interventions have been introduced during work breaks. This study aimed to investigate the value of different types of workplace-based exercise programs administered during work breaks and compare them with counseling methods. Electronic searches were performed in relevant databases by keywords such as: workplace, musculoskeletal disorders, sedentary, standing, employees, micro-breaks, exercise interventions, and ergonomics. Initially, 706 articles were identified. An article sorting procedure was employed by two independent researchers, based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria set for this study, and after the removal of non-relevant articles (n = 391) or duplicates (n = 300), 15 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) remained for qualitative analysis. The methodological quality of the 13 RCTs was performed using the PEDro scale. No risk of bias evaluation was made. The findings suggested that active micro-breaks that contained various exercise programs including stretching, strengthening, torso stabilization, and ergonomic interventions were more beneficial than passive micro-breaks, reducing pain and the feeling of fatigue and increasing employees’ mood. It is concluded that micro-breaks are beneficial to employees with either orthostatic or sedentary work

Can Exercise Affect the Pain Characteristics in Patients with Fibromyalgia? A Randomized Controlled Trial

Exercise is often recommended for fibromyalgia. The aim of this study was to investigate the possible influence and change in the pain characteristics of fibromyalgia patients when breathing exercises were added to their exercise program. A total of 106 patients were included and randomly divided into two groups. Τhe first group of patients followed a program of active exercises up to the limits of pain, lasting 30 min with a repetition of two times a week. Patients of the second group followed the same program with the addition of diaphragmatic breaths when they reached the pain limit. The patients completed three questionnaires: the Fibromyalgia Rapid Screening Tool (FiRST), the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI), and the Pain Quality Assessment Scale (PQAS)—once at the beginning, once again after three weeks of exercise, and again 3 months since the beginning of the program. Independent t-tests for the mean total change scores in pain scales demonstrated that for the second group there was a greater improvement in all pain scales, except for the PQAS Deep Pain subscale (p = 0.38). In conclusion, both groups showed significant improvement in all characteristics of the pain scales; however, the improvement of the second group was significantly higher

Cross-Cultural Adaptation, Reliability, and Validity of the Greek Version of the Fremantle Shoulder Awareness Questionnaire (FreSHAQ-GR) in Patients with Chronic Shoulder Pain

Shoulder pain is one of the most common musculoskeletal pathologies. The association of shoulder pain with impaired proprioception and bodily self-awareness called for the cross-cultural adaptation of the Fremantle Shoulder Awareness Questionnaire (FreSHAQ) in Greek. The FreSHAQ is a relatively new self-assessment 9-item scale for impaired somatic awareness in patients with shoulder pain. The study included 100 participants (54 women) between 20 and 80 years old, with chronic shoulder pain (>3 months duration), able to comprehend and speak Greek, and recruited from three private physical therapy practices. The cross-cultural adaptation process was followed to develop the Greek version of the questionnaire (FreSHAQ-GR). Further testing for construct validity via exploratory factor analysis and correlational analysis with the Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI), the Quick Disabilities of Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (QuickDASH), the pain catastrophizing scale (PCS), a pain intensity visual analog scale (PI-VAS) in the last week, and the demographic characteristics followed. Test–retest reliability of the FreSHAQ-GR in a sub-sample of patients (n = 25) was tested upon repeated completion of the scale after a week and examined with the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC2,1), the standard error of the measurement (SEM), and the minimum detectable change (MDC) indices. The internal consistency of the scale was also assessed. The factor analysis revealed that the scale comprised one factor relevant to shoulder awareness but with fewer items (first 6 items) than the original FreSHAQ. Additionally, the FreSHAQ-GR (both versions) demonstrated statistically significant correlations (Spearman’s r) with participants’ age (r = −0.31/−0.29, p p p p p 2,1(95% CI) = 0.97/0.98 (0.91–0.99/0.94–0.99), and with a low error margin (SEM = 1.31/0.94 and MDC95% = 3.63/2.61). Therefore, the FreSHAQ-GR (6-item version) possesses very good measurement properties and can be administered to Greek-speaking patients with chronic shoulder pain

Carpometacarpal Dislocation of the Third to Fifth Fingers and an Associated Fracture of the Hamate in a Military Paratrooper

Multiple carpometacarpal dislocations with a simultaneous fracture of the hamate represent less than 1% of all injuries to the hand and wrist regions, with a scarcity of published cases. These injuries usually require a great force, and diagnosis can be missed or delayed because of the high likelihood of other severe concomitant injuries. We report a case of acute closed dislocation of the third through fifth carpometacarpal joints and an associated fracture of the hamate in a military paratrooper. The injury was caused by a wrong landing technique during parachuting. The patient was managed with primary surgical repair, and after a six-month follow-up, he has excellent functional results. The fact that both this clinical entity and the mechanism of injury are very unusual a high index of suspicion is needed, especially for orthopedic surgeons working in military hospitals. Additionally, given that there is a paucity of published cases and optional treatment is controversial, this study corroborates the superiority of surgical repair in a long-term basis

Abstracts of the 9th International Organisation of Physical Therapy in Mental Health Conference

This book contains the abstracts of the papers presented at the 9th International Organisation of Physical Therapy in Mental Health Conference, Organized by the International Organisation of Physical Therapy in Mental Health and Greek Scientific Section “Physiotherapy in Mental Health” of PanHellenic Physiotherapists’ Association, held on 4–6 May 2022. It is the biannual conference of the International Organization of Physical Therapy in Mental Health (IOPTMH), and we answered with success the question: Physiotherapy in mental health; what’s next? The highly qualified scientific program, the reputable presenters, and the venue altogether form a powerful motivation for both physiotherapists and other mental health professionals to attend this conference. Conference Title: 9th International Organisation of Physical Therapy in Mental Health ConferenceConference Theme: Physiotherapy in mental health; what’s next?Conference Date: 4–6 May 2022Conference Location: Crowne Plaza Athens - City Centre Hotel, 50, Michalakopoulou Str. GR 11528 AthensConference Organizer: International Organisation of Physical Therapy in Mental Health and Greek Scientific Section “Physiotherapy in Mental Health” of PanHellenic Physiotherapists’ AssociationConference Secretariat - Public Relations: Alpha Public Relations and Integrated Marketing S.A., 55, Pytheou Str. GR 11743 Athen