Diagnostic accuracy of history taking and physical examination for assessing anterior cruciate ligament lesions of the knee in primary care.

Objective: To assess the diagnostic accuracy of history taking and physical examination for assessing anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) lesions in primary care.

Design: Cross-sectional diagnostic study.

Setting: Primary care.

[Conservative treatment of hip and knee osteoarthritis: a systematic, step-by-step treatment strategy].

In the Netherlands the current, conservative management of osteoarthritis of the hip and knee is heterogeneous and suboptimal. Existing guidelines only provide indications for certain interventions, but they do not provide recommendations about the sequence of these treatments. A step-by-step treatment strategy has now been developed in addition to the guidelines.

Sickness absence in patients with arm, neck and shoulder complaints presenting in physical therapy practice: 6 months follow-up.

Objective: To describe sickness absence in patients with arm, neck and/or shoulder complaints and to evaluate determinants of sickness absence during 6 months follow-up.

Methods: A prospective cohort study in physical therapy practice with follow-up measurements at 3 and 6 months. The main outcome measure was the occurrence of sickness absence due to arm, neck and shoulder complaints during 6 months follow-up.

The effects of Tai Chi on fall prevention, fear of falling and balance in older people: a meta-analysis.

Objective: Tai Chi (TC) is an exercise training that is becoming increasingly popular as an intervention for single fall prevention. This meta-analysis was performed to evaluate the efficacy of TC on fall rate, fear of falling and balance in older people.

Methods: Randomized controlled trials published between 1988 and January 2009 were included.

Serum C reactive protein levels and genetic variation in the CRP gene are not associated with the prevalence, incidence or progression of osteoarthritis independent of body mass index.

Objective: To study the relationship between serum C reactive protein (CRP) levels, genetic variation in the CRP gene and the prevalence, incidence and progression of radiographic osteoarthritis (ROA) in the Rotterdam Study-I (RS-I). A systematic review of studies assessing the relationship between osteoarthritis (OA) and CRP levels was also performed.

Methods: The association between CRP levels and genetic variation in the CRP gene and ROA was examined in 861 patients with hand OA, 718 with knee OA, 349 with hip OA and 2806 controls in the RS-I using one-way analysis of covariance and logistic regression, respectively.

Determinants of the intention for using a lumbar support among home care workers with recurrent low back pain.

In most effectiveness studies on lumbar supports for patients with low back pain, insufficient data are reported about adherence. In a secondary preventive RCT, we found beneficial effects and a good adherence among home care workers with low back pain. To target the use of lumbar supports on those patients who can benefit optimally from usage, we need to know why people are adherent.

Psychosocial factors predicted nonrecovery in both specific and nonspecific diagnoses at arm, neck, and shoulder.

Objectives: To evaluate the differences in predictors of nonrecovery between patients with a specific diagnosis at arm, neck, and/or shoulder, vs. patients with a nonspecific diagnosis in general practice at 6 months after the first consultation.

Study Design And Setting: New consulters with nontraumatic arm, neck, or shoulder complaints entered the cohort.

Childhood abdominal pain in primary care: design and patient selection of the HONEUR abdominal pain cohort.

Background: Abdominal pain in children is a common complaint presented to the GP. However, the prognosis and prognostic factors of childhood abdominal pain are almost exclusively studied in referred children. This cohort study aims at describing prognosis and prognostic factors of childhood abdominal pain in primary care.

Medial knee osteoarthritis treated by insoles or braces: a randomized trial.

Background: There is controversial evidence regarding whether foot orthoses or knee braces improve pain and function or correct malalignment in selected patients with osteoarthritis (OA) of the medial knee compartment. However, insoles are safe and less costly than knee bracing if they relieve pain or improve function.

Questions/purposes: We therefore asked whether laterally wedged insoles or valgus braces would reduce pain, enhance functional scores, and correct varus malalignment comparable to knee braces.

A statistical model of shape and density of the proximal femur in relation to radiological and clinical OA of the hip.

Objective: Common radiological measures of osteoarthritis (OA) relate poorly to symptoms as experienced by patients. We created a statistical model of shape and density to see if Dual Energy X-ray (DXA) images of the hip contain symptom-related information that is not captured by common radiological measures.

Methods: DXA images of the hip were made in a prospective study of patients that met the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria for hip OA.

OARSI recommendations for the management of hip and knee osteoarthritis: part III: Changes in evidence following systematic cumulative update of research published through January 2009.

Objective: To update evidence for available therapies in the treatment of hip and knee osteoarthritis (OA) and to examine whether research evidence has changed from 31 January 2006 to 31 January 2009.

Methods: A systematic literature search was undertaken using MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, AMED, Science Citation Index and the Cochrane Library. The quality of studies was assessed.

The association between lumbar disc degeneration and low back pain: the influence of age, gender, and individual radiographic features.

Study Design: Cross-sectional open population based study (nested in a prospective cohort study).

Objective: To explore the association of the different individual radiographic features, including osteophytes and disc space narrowing, with self-reported low back pain (LBP). Different definitions of lumbar disc degeneration with self-reported LBP and disability were considered in a large open population sample.

Pain severity and catastrophising modify treatment success in neck pain patients in primary care.

The objective of this study was to evaluate whether clinical factors at baseline in patients with non-specific neck pain are related to recovery after treatment with manual therapy versus physiotherapy. Participating physiotherapists recruited new consulters with complaints of the neck and/or upper extremity. For this study we selected patients from this cohort with non-specific neck complaints.

Outcome of knee injuries in general practice: 1-year follow-up.

Background: Knee injuries may lead to pain and to functional limitations in the activities of daily living. Patients with knee injuries are frequently seen in general practice; however, the outcome and management in these patients is not known.

Aim: To assess the outcome and management of knee injuries at 12 months' follow-up in general practice.

Platelet-rich plasma injection for chronic Achilles tendinopathy: a randomized controlled trial.

Context: Tendon disorders comprise 30% to 50% of all activity-related injuries; chronic degenerative tendon disorders (tendinopathy) occur frequently and are difficult to treat. Tendon regeneration might be improved by injecting platelet-rich plasma (PRP), an increasingly used treatment for releasing growth factors into the degenerative tendon.

Objective: To examine whether a PRP injection would improve outcome in chronic midportion Achilles tendinopathy.

Effectiveness of diclofenac versus acetaminophen in primary care patients with knee osteoarthritis: [NTR1485], DIPA-trial: design of a randomized clinical trial.

Background: Osteoarthritis is the most frequent chronic joint disease which causes pain and disability of especially hip and knee. According to international guidelines and the Dutch general practitioners guidelines for non-traumatic knee symptoms, acetaminophen should be the pain medication of first choice for osteoarthritis. However, of all prescribed pain medication in general practice, 90% consists of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs compared to 10% of acetaminophen.

Mind the MIC: large variation among populations and methods.

Objective: There is no consensus on the best method to determine the minimal important change (MIC) of patient-reported outcomes. Recent publications recommend the use of multiple methods. Our aim was to assess whether different methods lead to consistent values for the MIC.

MRI follow-up of conservatively treated meniscal knee lesions in general practice.

Objective: To evaluate meniscal status change on follow-up MRI after 1 year, prognostic factors and association with clinical outcome in patients with conservatively treated knee injury.

Methods: We analysed 403 meniscal horns in 101 conservatively treated patients (59 male; mean age 40 years) in general practice who underwent initial knee MRI within 5 weeks of trauma. We performed ordinal logistic regression analysis to analyse prognostic factors for meniscal change on follow-up MRI after 1 year, and we assessed the association with clinical outcome.

Supervised exercise therapy versus usual care for patellofemoral pain syndrome: an open label randomised controlled trial.

Objective: To assess the effectiveness of supervised exercise therapy compared with usual care with respect to recovery, pain, and function in patients with patellofemoral pain syndrome.

Design: Open label randomised controlled trial.

Setting: General practice and sport physician practice.

Management decisions in nontraumatic complaints of arm, neck, and shoulder in general practice.

Unlabelled: OBJECTIVE We wanted to evaluate associations between diagnosis and characteristics of the patient, complaint, and general practitioner (GP), as well as 6 common management decisions, in patients with nontraumatic arm, neck, and shoulder complaints at the time of the first consultation with their physician.

Methods: We undertook an observational cohort study set in 21 Dutch general practices, including 682 patients with nontraumatic complaints of arm, neck, and shoulder. The outcome measure was application (yes/no) of a specific management option: watchful waiting, additional diagnostic tests, prescription of medication, corticosteroid injection, referral for physiotherapy, and referral for medical specialist care.

Cost-utility of exercise therapy in adolescents and young adults suffering from the patellofemoral pain syndrome.

The objective of this paper was to determine the cost effectiveness of exercise therapy (intervention group) compared with "usual care" (control group) in adolescents and young adults with the patellofemoral pain syndrome in primary care. This multicenter prospective randomized clinical trial with cost-utility analysis was conducted at 38 general practices and three sport medical advice centers in the Netherlands for 2007. A total of 131 patients were included.

No clear association between female hormonal aspects and osteoarthritis of the hand, hip and knee: a systematic review.

Objective: Incidence of OA rises steeply in women of age >50 years; the climacteric period for women. The simultaneous occurrence of these events suggests an association between OA and changes in female hormonal aspects. This systematic review studies the assumed association between OA and aspects concerning the fertile period (duration, endogenous hormones, age at menarche/menopause) and the menopause [menopausal status, years since menopause (YSM) and surgical menopause].

WITHDRAWN: Ergonomic and physiotherapeutic interventions for treating work-related complaints of the arm, neck or shoulder in adults.

Background: Conservative interventions such as physiotherapy and ergonomic adjustments (such as keyboard adjustments or ergonomic advice) play a major role in the treatment of most work-related complaints of the arm, neck or shoulder (CANS).

Objectives: This systematic review aims to determine whether conservative interventions have a significant impact on outcomes for work-related CANS in adults.

Search Strategy: We searched the Cochrane Bone, Joint and Muscle Trauma Group Specialised Register (March 2005) and Cochrane Rehabilitation and Related Therapies Field Specialised Register (March 2005), the Cochrane Controlled Trials Register (The Cochrane Library, Issue 1, 2005), PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, AMED and reference lists of articles.

Some benefit from physiotherapy intervention in the subgroup of patients with severe ankle sprain as determined by the ankle function score: a randomised trial.

Questions: Do patients with a severe ankle injury (baseline ankle function score < or = 40) do worse in the short-term than patients with a mild injury (score > 40)? Does physiotherapy intervention have more effect on patients with a severe injury compared with a mild injury in the short- or long-term? Is self-reported recovery related to ankle function score over time?

Design: Subgroup analysis of a randomised trial.

Participants: 102 adults with an acute lateral ankle sprain.

Intervention: The experimental group received physiotherapist-supervised exercises in addition to conventional intervention.