Effect of respiratory rehabilitation on quality of life in individuals with post-COVID-19 symptoms: A randomised controlled trial.

Background: Inspiratory and expiratory muscle training (RMT) has been shown to have beneficial effects in individuals with long-term post-COVID-19 symptoms.

Objective: To assess the effects of adding RMT to an aerobic exercise (AE) training program for health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and exercise tolerance in individuals with long-term post-COVID-19 symptoms, and to evaluate the effects on physical and lung function, and psychological status.

Methods: 64 individuals with long-term post-COVID-19 symptoms of fatigue and dyspnoea were randomly assigned to AE+RMT or AE+RMT groups for an 8-wk intervention (AE: 50min/day, 2 times/wk; RMT: 40min/day, 3 times/wk).

Prediction Model for Sciatic Nerve Procedures: A Cross-Sectional Study.

We aimed to create a predictive model to estimate sciatic nerve depth using anthropometric and demographic data to enhance safety and precession in needle-based interventions. Setting: The study was conducted at Universidad Europea de Madrid, Spain. A Cross-sectional observational study was carried out between January and April 2024.

Psychometric properties of the Spanish Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory in people with heart diseases.

Background: Fatigue is one of the most limiting symptoms in individuals with heart disease (HD). However, valid and reliable instruments for assessing fatigue in clinical practice still need to be improved.

Objective: To assess the dimensional structure of the self-reported Spanish Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory (MFI) and analyze its psychometric properties in individuals with HD.

Testing the Safety of Piriformis Dry Needling Interventions: An Observational Study Evaluating the Predictive Value of Anthropometric and Demographic Factors.

: The dry needling of the piriformis muscle (especially in the medial region) is a challenging procedure since there is a high risk of accidentally puncturing the sciatic nerve. This study aimed to explain the variance of the deep limit of the piriformis based on anthropometric and demographic predictors potentially associated with it by exploring if clinicians can select the optimal needle length needed accurately to avoid accidental punctures of the sciatic nerve during palpation-guided dry needling interventions. : An observational study was conducted that included fifty-six patients with piriformis muscle syndrome.

MyofAPPcial: Construct validity of a novel technological aid for improving clinical reasoning in the management of myofascial pain syndrome.

Background: Physiotherapists encounter challenges in diagnosing myofascial trigger points (MTrPs), which are crucial for managing myofascial pain but difficult due to their complex referred pain patterns. We aimed to assess if an interactive software (MyofAPPcial) can enhance the ability of physical therapists specialized in musculoskeletal disorders (as clinicians and as researchers and educators) to identify referred pain patterns associated with specific MTrPs and to explore their opinion about incorporating this technology regularly into their professional setting.

Methods: After developing the app, a descriptive cross-sectional survey study was conducted.

Effects of a web application based on multimedia animations to support therapeutic exercise for rotator cuff-related shoulder pain: protocol for an open-label randomised controlled trial.

Introduction: Rotator cuff-related shoulder pain (RCRSP) is the most common cause of shoulder pain. Currently, exercise is proposed as the first-line treatment for patients suffering from RCRSP. However, adherence to therapeutic exercise programmes can be poor in the long term in a home setting.

Effects of Respiratory Muscle Training on Functional Ability, Pain-Related Outcomes, and Respiratory Function in Individuals with Low Back Pain: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

: The aim of this meta-analysis was to determine the effects of respiratory muscle training (RMT) on functional ability, pain-related outcomes, and respiratory function in individuals with sub-acute and chronic low back pain (LBP). : The study selection was as follows: (participants) adult individuals with >4 weeks of LBP; (intervention) RMT; (comparison) any comparison RMT (inspiratory or expiratory or mixed) versus control; (outcomes) postural control, lumbar disability, pain-related outcomes, pain-related fear-avoidance beliefs, respiratory muscle function, and pulmonary function; and (study design) randomized controlled trials. : 11 studies were included in the meta-analysis showing that RMT produces a statistically significant increase in postural control (mean difference (MD) = 21.

Cervical Multifidus Stiffness Assessment in Individuals with and without Unilateral Chronic Neck Pain: An Inter-Examiner Reliability Study.

This study aimed to evaluate the inter-examiner reliability of shear wave elastography (SWE) for measuring cervical multifidus (CM) muscle stiffness in asymptomatic controls and patients with chronic neck pain. A longitudinal observational study was conducted to assess the diagnostic accuracy of a procedure. SWE images, following a detailed procedure previously tested, were acquired by two examiners (one novice and one experienced) to calculate the shear wave speed (SWS) and Young's modulus.

Shear wave elastography for assessing the anterior scalene elasticity in patients with neck pain.

Purpose: Shear-wave elastography (SWE) provides quantitative and absolute metrics for analyzing the elasticity of soft tissues. Despite the anterior scalene muscle (AS) is a key structure in patients with neck pain and nerve compressive syndromes, the majority of SWE studies only included asymptomatic subjects. This study aimed to analyze the Young's modulus and shear wave speed test-retest reliability in a sample of patients with neck pain symptoms to characterize the AS stiffness.

Effects of Low-Load Blood Flow Restriction Training on Muscle Anabolism Biomarkers and Thrombotic Biomarkers Compared with Traditional Training in Healthy Adults Older Than 60 Years: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

The aim of this meta-analysis was to determine the effects of low-load blood flow restriction training (LL-BFRT) on muscle anabolism and thrombotic biomarkers compared with the effects of traditional LL training and to analyse the changes in these biomarkers in the short and medium term (acute/immediate and after at least 4 weeks of the training programme, respectively). A search was conducted in the following electronic databases from inception to 1 March 2024: MEDLINE, CENTRAL, Web of Science, PEDro, Science Direct, CINHAL, and Scopus. A total of 13 randomized controlled trials were included, with a total of 256 healthy older adults (mean (min-max) age 68 (62-71) years, 44.

Supervised Telerehabilitation and Home-Based Respiratory Muscle Training for Post-COVID-19 Condition Symptoms: A Nested Qualitative Study Exploring the Perspectives of Participants in a Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to describe the experiences of individuals with post-coronavirus 19 (COVID-19) condition symptoms who underwent a supervised telerehabilitation and home-based respiratory muscle training (TSHB-RMT) program.

Methods: A qualitative descriptive study was conducted. Participants were recruited using purposeful sampling.

Educational, Exercise, and Occupational Therapy-Based Telerehabilitation Program Versus "Wait-and-See" for Improving Self-perceived Exertion in Patients With Post-COVID Fatigue and Dyspnea: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Objective: The aim of the study was to compare the effectiveness of a telerehabilitation exercise program versus "wait-and-see" on physical exertion, quality of life, dyspnea severity, heart rate, and oxygen saturation in patients with post-COVID fatigue and dyspnea.

Design: Sixty-four patients were enrolled in this randomized clinical trial. A telerehabilitation program based on patient education, physical activity, airway clearing, and breathing exercise interventions was conducted.

The Added Value of Face-to-Face Supervision to a Therapeutic Exercise-Based App in the Management of Patients with Chronic Low Back Pain: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Low back pain (LBP) is a significant global health challenge due to its high prevalence, and chronicity and recurrence rates, with projections suggesting an increase in the next years due to population growth and aging. The chronic and recurrent nature of LBP, responsible for a significant percentage of years lived with disability, underscores the need for effective management strategies, including self-management strategies advocated by current guidelines, to empower patients and potentially improve healthcare efficiency and clinical outcomes. Therefore, the aim of this study was to analyze the added value of face-to-face visits in patients with chronic LBP undergoing a self-management program based on therapeutic exercises on pain intensity, disability, quality of life and treatment adherence and satisfaction.

Reliability of Panoramic Ultrasound in Assessing Rectus Femoris Size, Shape, and Brightness: An Inter-Examiner Study.

Extended field-of-view ultrasound (US) imaging, also known as panoramic US, represents a technical advance that allows for complete visualization of large musculoskeletal structures, which are often limited in conventional 2D US images. Currently, there is no evidence examining whether the experience of examiners influences muscle shape deformations that may arise during the glide of the transducer in panoramic US acquisition. As no studies using panoramic US have analyzed whether two examiners with differing levels of experience might obtain varying scores in size, shape, or brightness during the US assessment of the rectus femoris muscle, our aim was to analyze the inter-examiner reliability of panoramic US imaging acquisition in determining muscle size, shape, and brightness between two examiners.

Association between Gray-Scale Ultrasound Imaging and Serological Creatine Kinase for Quantifying Exercise-Induced Muscle Damage: An Observational Study.

Limited evidence has verified if ultrasound imaging (US) can detect post-exercise muscle damage based on size, shape, and brightness metrics. This study aimed to analyze the correlation between creatine kinase (CK) concentration and (as a biomarker of muscle damage) changes in US gray-scale metrics after an exercise-induced muscle damage protocol. An observational study was conducted at a private university lab located in Madrid.

Clinical Presentation Differences Among Four Subtypes of Femoroacetabular Impingement: A Case-Control Study.

Objective: The aims of this study were to assess the psychological, functional, and physical differences between patients with femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) syndrome and individuals who were asymptomatic (controls) to analyze clinical differences among 4 subtypes of FAI (cam type, cam type with labral tear, pincer type, and pincer type with labral tear), to calculate the correlations among the variables described, and to identify risk factors contributing to the hip function variance.

Methods: A case-control study was conducted at a hospital rehabilitation unit with a cohort of individuals who were asymptomatic (controls) and a cohort of patients with FAI. Sociodemographic characteristics, pain intensity, psychological health status, hip range of motion (RoM), hip isometric strength, and hip function were assessed.

Immediate effects of percutaneous electrical nerve stimulation in patients with lateral elbow pain.

Introduction: Ultrasound guided-percutaneous electrical nerve stimulation appears to be effective in the treatment of chronic musculoskeletal pain.

Objective: To investigate the immediate effects of one session of percutaneous electrical nerve stimulation on the radial nerve in patients with lateral elbow pain.

Methods: A randomized clinical trial was conducted.

Aerobic Exercise and Neuropathic Pain: Insights from Animal Models and Implications for Human Therapy.

This narrative review explores the complex relationship between aerobic exercise (AE) and neuropathic pain (NP), particularly focusing on peripheral neuropathies of mechanical origin. Pain, a multifaceted phenomenon, significantly impacts functionality and distress. The International Association for the Study of Pain's definition highlights pain's biopsychosocial nature, emphasizing the importance of patient articulation.

Effects of Respiratory Muscle Training on Exercise Capacity, Quality of Life, and Respiratory and Pulmonary Function in People With Ischemic Heart Disease: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Objective: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the effects of respiratory muscle training (RMT) on functional exercise capacity, health-related quality of life (HRQoL), respiratory muscle function, and pulmonary function in individuals with ischemic heart disease (IHD).

Methods: The MEDLINE, Web of Science, Scopus, PEDro, CINAHL, Science Direct, and CENTRAL electronic databases were searched in January 2023. Randomized controlled trials published in English, Spanish, or Portuguese that were conducted to determine the effect of RMT versus passive control and/or sham RMT on the target variables in individuals with IHD, irrespective of age or sex were included.

A novel mobile phone and tablet application for automatized calculation of pain extent.

Background: Pain drawings (PDs) are used for assessing pain extent as a complementary outcome to other pain measurements, consisting of shading a body chart template to report the location and extent of pain. However, the accuracy and reliability of digital PDs remain controversial due to the heterogeneity of methods used. This study aimed to develop an easy-to-use application for assessing its diagnostic accuracy in comparison with the classic paper-and-pencil method.

Reproducibility of Anterior Scalene Stiffness Measurement with Shear Wave Elastography: An Inter-Examiner Reliability Study.

Purpose: Although previous studies have highlighted the clinical relevance of the anterior scalene muscle (AS) in patients with neck pain or nerve compressive syndromes, evidence reporting the diagnostic accuracy of shear wave elastography (SWE) for assessing the AS stiffness properties is lacking. This study aimed to analyze the SWE inter-examiner reliability for calculating the Young's modulus and shear wave speed of the AS muscle in asymptomatic subjects.

Materials And Methods: Using a linear transducer, ultrasound images of the antero-lateral neck region at the C7 level were acquired in 35 healthy volunteers by one experienced examiner and one novice examiner.

Psychometric Properties and Clinical Usefulness of the Spanish Version of the Toe Walking Tool.

Background: The Toe Walking Tool (TWT) was developed in Australia as a valid and reliable screening tool for children who toe-walk. However, psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the TWT have not been studied. The aim of this study was to assess psychometric properties and clinical usefulness of the Spanish version of the TWT.