Efficacy and adverse effects of intravenous lignocaine therapy in fibromyalgia syndrome

BACKGROUND: To investigate the effects of intravenous lignocaine infusions (IV lignocaine) in fibromyalgia. METHODS: Prospective study of the adverse effects of IV lignocaine in 106 patients with fibromyalgia; retrospective questionnaire study of the efficacy of IV lignocaine in 50 patients with fibromyalgia. RESULTS: Prospective study: Two major (pulmonary oedema and supraventricular tachycardia) and 42 minor side-effects were reported. None had long-term sequelae. The commonest was hypotension (17 cases). Retrospective study: Pain and a range of psychosocial measures (on single 11-point scales) improved significantly after treatment. There was no effect of the treatment on work status. The average duration of pain relief after the 6-day course of treatment was 11.5 ± 6.5 weeks. CONCLUSIONS: Intravenous lignocaine appears to be both safe and of benefit in improving pain and quality of life for patients with fibromyalgia. This needs to be confirmed in prospective randomised controlled trials

Influence of the quality implementation of a physical education curriculum on the physical development and physical fitness of children

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>This study was constructed as a comparison group pre-test/post-test quasi-experiment to assess the effect of the implementation of the PE curriculum by specialist PE teachers on children's physical development and physical fitness.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>146 classes from 66 Slovenian primary schools were assigned to quasi-test (71) and quasi-control (75) groups. Data from the SLOFIT database was used to compare the differences in physical fitness and development between groups of children whose PE lessons were delivered by specialist PE teachers from the second grade onwards (quasi-test, n = 950) or by generalist teachers in all first three grades (quasi-control, n = 994). The Linear Mixed Model was used to test the influence of specialist PE teachers' teaching.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The quasi-control group showed significantly lower improvement of physical fitness by -0.07 z-score units (95% CI -0.12 to 0.02) compared to the quasi-test group. A significant difference of -0.20 (-0.27 to -0.13) was observed in explosive strength, and of -0.15 (-0.23 to -0.08) in running speed, and in flexibility by -0.22 (-0.29 to -0.14). No significant differences in physical development were observed.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Specialist PE teachers were more successful than generalist teachers in achieving greater improvement of children's physical fitness, but no differences were observed in physical development of quasi-test and quasi-control group.</p

Injury rates and injury risk factors among federal bureau of investigation new agent trainees

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>A one-year prospective examination of injury rates and injury risk factors was conducted in Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) new agent training.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Injury incidents were obtained from medical records and injury compensation forms. Potential injury risk factors were acquired from a lifestyle questionnaire and existing data at the FBI Academy.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A total of 426 men and 105 women participated in the project. Thirty-five percent of men and 42% of women experienced one or more injuries during training. The injury incidence rate was 2.5 and 3.2 injuries/1,000 person-days for men and women, respectively (risk ratio (women/men) = 1.3, 95% confidence interval = 0.9-1.7). The activities most commonly associated with injuries (% of total) were defensive tactics training (58%), physical fitness training (20%), physical fitness testing (5%), and firearms training (3%). Among the men, higher injury risk was associated with older age, slower 300-meter sprint time, slower 1.5-mile run time, lower total points on the physical fitness test (PFT), lower self-rated physical activity, lower frequency of aerobic exercise, a prior upper or lower limb injury, and prior foot or knee pain that limited activity. Among the women higher injury risk was associated with slower 300-meter sprint time, slower 1.5-mile run time, lower total points on the PFT, and prior back pain that limited activity.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The results of this investigation supported those of a previous retrospective investigation emphasizing that lower fitness and self-reported pain limiting activity were associated with higher injury risk among FBI new agents.</p

Efeitos do condicionamento físico sobre pacientes com fibromialgia Efectos del condicionamiento físico en pacientes con fibromialgia Effects of physical conditioning over patients with fibromyalgia

INTRODUÇÃO: Fibromialgia é uma síndrome crônica, caracterizada por dor músculo-esquelética generalizada. A possibilidade de atenuação dos sintomas com a atividade física abriu novas perspectivas para o tratamento desta doença. OBJETIVO: Avaliar o efeito de um programa de condicionamento físico sobre a capacidade funcional, dor e qualidade de vida de pacientes com fibromialgia. MÉTODOS: Adotado o desenho de coorte para avaliar 18 mulheres, média de 46,4 &plusmn; 5,8 anos de idade, com a síndrome em média de 10,6 &plusmn; 5,7 anos, submetidas a um ano de condicionamento físico supervisionado, predominantemente aeróbio. No início do estudo e trimestralmente foram realizados: teste de esforço cardiopulmonar para determinação da capacidade funcional; avaliação da intensidade de dor empregando a escala analógica visual; contagem dos pontos dolorosos e determinação do limiar de dor à pressão com o uso do algômetro de pressão; aplicação do questionário de qualidade de vida Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) traduzido e adaptado para a população brasileira. RESULTADOS: A capacidade funcional melhorou a partir do terceiro mês (p < 0,05), o limiar de dor aumentou a partir do sexto mês (p < 0,05), houve diminuição da dor pós-esforço (p < 0,05) e do número de pontos sensíveis (p < 0,05) no nono mês. A intensidade de dor diminuiu no 12º mês (p < 0,05). Com exceção do item "estado geral de saúde" (p > 0,05), os demais domínios do questionário de qualidade de vida melhoraram em diferentes períodos do estudo (p < 0,05). CONCLUSÃO: As pacientes com fibromialgia submetidas ao programa de condicionamento físico supervisionado apresentaram melhora da capacidade funcional, da dor e da qualidade de vida.<br>INTRODUCCIÓN: La fibromialgia es un síndrome crónico, caracterizado por dolor músculo-esquelético generalizado. La posibilidad de atenuación de los síntomas con la actividad física abrió nuevas perspectivas para el tratamiento de esta enfermedad. OBJETIVO: Evaluar el efecto de un programa de condicionamiento físico sobre la capacidad funcional, dolor y calidad de vida de pacientes con fibromialgia. MÉTODOS: Adoptado el método de aglomeración para evaluar 18 mujeres, con edad media de 46,4 &plusmn; 5,8 años, con el síndrome en media hace 10,6 &plusmn; 5,7 años, sometidas a un ano de condicionamiento físico supervisado, predominantemente aeróbico. Al iniciar el estudio y trimestralmente, fueron realizados: test de esfuerzo cardiopulmonar para determinar la capacidad funcional; evaluación de la intensidad de dolor empleando la escala analógica visual; contaje de puntos dolorosos y determinación del límite del dolor a la presión con el uso del algómetro de presión; aplicación de cuestionario de calidad de vida "Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey" (SF-36) traducido y adaptado para la población brasileña. RESULTADOS: La capacidad funcional mejoró a partir del tercer mes (p < 0,05), la resistencia al dolor aumentó a partir del sexto mes (p < 0,05), hubo disminución de dolor pos esfuerzo (p < 0,05) y el número de puntos sensibles (p < 0,05) al noveno mes. La intensidad de dolor disminuyó al décimo segundo mes (p < 0,05). Con excepción del ítem "estado general de salud" (p > 0,05), los demás dominios del cuestionario de calidad de vida mejoraron en diferentes periodos del estudio (p < 0,05). CONCLUSIÓN: Las pacientes con fibromialgia sometidas al programa de condicionamiento físico supervisado presentaron mejora de la capacidad funcional, dolor y calidad de vida.<br>INTRODUCTION: Fibromyalgia is a chronic syndrome characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain. Possible symptom attenuation with physical exercise has opened new perspective for treatment. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess the effects of a program of physical exercises (SPPE) on the functional ability, perceived pain and life quality of patients with fibromyalgia. METHODS: A cohort of eighteen female fibromyalgia patients, mean age 46,4 &plusmn; 5,8 years, having the syndrome for 10,6 &plusmn; 5,7 years, were studied along one year of supervised program of predominantly aerobic physical exercises. Patients underwent baseline and quarterly exercise stress tests (EST) to evaluate work capacity; clinical examinations to determine pain intensity through visual analogue scale; tender points count and pain threshold assessment by pressure algometer; as well as interviews using the "Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey" (SF-36) questionnaire. RESULTS: Work capacity improved from the third month (p < 0,05); pain threshold increased from the sixth month (p < 0,05); post-exertion pain improved (p < 0,05) and number of tender points decreased (p < 0,05) in the ninth month. Pain intensity decreased in the twelfth month (p < 0,05). Except for the "general health perceptions" domain (p > 0,05), all the remaining issues of the SF-36 improved at different periods of the study (p < 0,05). CONCLUSION: Work capacity, pain and life quality of female fibromyalgia patients improved over a 12-month program of supervised physical exercise