Clinimetric analysis of the numeric pain rating scale, patient-rated tennis elbow evaluation, and tennis elbow function scale in patients with lateral elbow tendinopathy.

Background: Currently, there is conflicting clinimetric data on the patient-rated tennis elbow evaluation (PRTEE) and a paucity of evidence regarding the reliability, validity, and responsiveness of the numeric pain rating scale (NPRS), and tennis elbow function scale (TEFS) in patients with lateral elbow tendinopathy.

Objective: Perform a comprehensive clinimetric analysis of the NPRS, PRTEE, and TEFS in a sample of patients ( = 143) with lateral elbow tendinopathy.

Methods: Establish the reliability, construct validity, responsiveness, meaningful clinically important difference (MCID), and minimal detectable change (MDC) values for the NPRS, PRTEE, and TEFS at the 3-month follow-up.

Comment on "Which Portion of Physiotherapy Treatments' Effect Is Not Attributable to the Specific Effects in People With Musculoskeletal Pain? A Meta-analysis of Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trials" by Ezzatvar et al.

Letter to the Editor-in-Chief in response to JOSPT article "Which Portion of Physiotherapy Treatments' Effect Is Not Attributable to the Specific Effects in People With Musculoskeletal Pain? A Meta-analysis of Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trials" by Ezzatvar et al .

Recognition of a patient with neck autonomic dysfunction: findings from a rare case report of harlequin syndrome in direct access physiotherapy.

Background: Harlequin syndrome is a rare autonomic condition consisting of unilateral facial flushing and sweating induced by heat, emotion or physical activity. The affected side presents anhidrosis and midline facial pallor due to denervation of the sympathetic fibers.

Case Description: This case describes a patient who reported right-side redness of the face associated with hyperhidrosis during physical activity.

Percutaneous tendon dry needling and thrust manipulation as an adjunct to multimodal physical therapy in patients with lateral elbow tendinopathy: A multicenter randomized clinical trial.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of adding electrical dry needling and thrust manipulation into a multimodal program of exercise, mobilization, and ultrasound in patients with lateral elbow tendinopathy.

Design: Randomized, single-blinded, multicenter, parallel-group trial.

Setting: Thirteen outpatient physical therapy clinics in nine different US states.

Spinal manipulation and electrical dry needling as an adjunct to conventional physical therapy in patients with lumbar spinal stenosis: a multi-center randomized clinical trial.

Background Context: Nonoperative management of lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) includes activity modification, medication, injections, and physical therapy. Conventional physical therapy includes a multimodal approach of exercise, manual therapy, and electro-thermal modalities. There is a paucity of evidence supporting the use of spinal manipulation and dry needling as an adjunct to conventional physical therapy in patients with LSS.

Periosteal Dry Needling for Carpometacarpal Osteoarthritis: A Prospective Case Series.

Background: Carpometacarpal (CMC) osteoarthritis (OA) of the thumb is a painful condition that affects over 15% of individuals above the age of 30 and up to 30% of post-menopausal women. Dry needling (DN) has been found to reduce pain and disability in a variety of neuromusculoskeletal conditions; however, DN in the management of CMC OA has not been well studied.

Methods: Consecutive patients with clinical and radiographic evidence of CMC OA were treated with DN.

Physiotherapy Screening for Referral of a Patient with Patent Foramen Ovale Presenting with Neck Pain as Primary Complaint: A Case Report.

Neck pain is a common musculoskeletal disorder encountered by physiotherapists. However, it may be the early manifestation of more alarming conditions, such as cardiovascular diseases mimicking musculoskeletal pain. Patent foramen ovale (PFO) is a congenital heart defect consisting of a small opening between the right and the left atrium.

Cardiac autonomic neuropathy and physical therapy: A case report.

Cardiac autonomic neuropathy (CAN) is a complication of diabetes mellitus, which imposes significant functional limitations and at times, sudden death. In an evolving healthcare landscape, physical therapists are assuming greater clinical responsibility and thus must be aware of this potential complication and tailor the plan of care appropriately. The purpose of this case report is to highlight the need for increased awareness of CAN among physical therapists in order to improve screening, diagnosis, and treatment.

Assessing cardiovascular parameters and risk factors in physical therapy practice: findings from a cross-sectional national survey and implication for clinical practice.

Background: Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death and comorbidity worldwide. High blood pressure and resting heart rate are risk factors (or vital signs) critical to cardiovascular health, patient safety, and medical management. Physiotherapists play a fundamental role in risk factor identification, early diagnosis, and subsequent management of cardiovascular disease.

Patient Concerns and Beliefs Related to Audible Popping Sound and the Effectiveness of Manipulation: Findings From an Online Survey.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess whether beliefs about the origin of the popping sound and the effects of thrust manipulation (TM) were in agreement with current scientific evidence and whether a practitioner's explanation could influence patient beliefs of theoretical mechanisms.

Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted in Italy from January 7, 2019 to April 20, 2019. The questionnaire was sent to 900 Italian adults through online recruitment, including people with and without a history of manipulation, such as given by physiotherapists, chiropractors, osteopaths, and manual medicine physicians to manage musculoskeletal disorders.

Dry needling and upper cervical spinal manipulation in patients with temporomandibular disorder: A multi-center randomized clinical trial.

Objective: To compare the effects of dry needling and upper cervical spinal manipulation with interocclusal splint therapy, diclofenac, and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) mobilization in patients with temporomandibular disorder (TMD).

Methods: One hundred-twenty patients with TMD were randomized to receive six treatment sessions of dry needling plus upper cervical spinal manipulation (n = 62) or interocclusal splint therapy, diclofenac, and joint mobilization to the TMJ (n = 58).

Results: Patients receiving dry needling and upper cervical spinal manipulation experienced significantly greater reductions in jaw pain intensity over the last 7 days (VAS: F = 23.

Physical therapy treatment of a pediatric patient with symptoms consistent with a spinal cord injury without radiographic abnormality: A retrospective case report.

Background: A spinal cord injury without radiographic abnormality (SCIWORA) is a relatively uncommon event that occurs in children following cervical trauma primarily due to sports-related injuries or physical abuse.

Case Description: This case report describes an 11-year-old wrestler that developed signs and symptoms consistent with a SCIWORA following neck trauma during competition. Despite all diagnostic tests being inconclusive, the patient demonstrated increased cervical, thoracic, and lumbar paraspinal tone along with pain, loss of sensation, loss of mobility, and weakness of the lower extremities.

Dry needling strategies for musculoskeletal conditions: Do the number of needles and needle retention time matter? A narrative literature review.

Acupuncture and dry needling are both minimally invasive procedures that use thin, filiform needles without injectate for the management of a variety of neuromusculoskeletal pain conditions. While the theoretical constructs underlying the use of acupuncture and dry needling are unique, both appear to have the ability to elicit biochemical, biomechanical, endocrinological and neurovascular changes associated with reductions in pain and disability. However, optimal treatment dosage has yet to be determined, and there is a lack of consistency in the literature on the number of needles that should be inserted and the needle retention time.

Conservative management in an elderly woman with proximal humeral head fracture and massive rotator cuff tear who refused surgery: A case report.

Background: Proximal humerus fractures (PHFs) account for between 4% and 10% of all fractures in the elderly people and osteoporosis is frequently related to PHF. Furthermore, rotator cuff (RC) tears are also extremely common, affecting at least 10% of people aged over 60 in the United States. Among shoulder pathologies, the periarticular soft tissue disorders, including the RC, this is considered to be the most common.

Spinal manipulation and perineural electrical dry needling in patients with cervicogenic headache: a multicenter randomized clinical trial.

Background Context: Spinal manipulation, spinal mobilization, and exercise are commonly used in individuals with cervicogenic headache (CH). Dry needling is being increasingly used in the management of CH. However, questions remain about the effectiveness of these therapies and how they compare to each other.

Dry needling as a novel intervention for cervicogenic somatosensory tinnitus: a case study.

Tinnitus is defined as conscious perception of sound in the absence of a corresponding external stimulus. A condition that affects 10 - 15% of the adult population, tinnitus may be caused by an interaction between the somatosensory and auditory system, more formally known as somatosensory tinnitus. Cervicogenic somatosensory tinnitus is a subgroup of somatosensory tinnitus involving anatomical structures and physiological mechanisms associated with the cervical spine.

Spinal Manipulation and Electrical Dry Needling in Patients With Subacromial Pain Syndrome: A Multicenter Randomized Clinical Trial.

Objectives: To compare the effects of spinal thrust manipulation and electrical dry needling (TMEDN group) to those of nonthrust peripheral joint/soft tissue mobilization, exercise, and interferential current (NTMEX group) on pain and disability in patients with subacromial pain syndrome (SAPS).

Design: Randomized, single-blinded, multicenter parallel-group trial.

Methods: Patients with SAPS were randomized into the TMEDN group (n = 73) or the NTMEX group (n = 72).

Unilateral and Multiple Cavitation Sounds During Lumbosacral Spinal Manipulation.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine from which side of the spine the popping sound (PS) emanates during side-lying, rotatory high-velocity low-amplitude (HVLA) thrust manipulation directed to the L5-S1 articulation using a time-frequency analysis. Secondary aims were to calculate the average number of PSs, the duration of lumbar thrust manipulation, and the duration of a single PS.

Methods: Thirty-four asymptomatic participants received 2 lumbar HVLA thrust manipulations targeting the right and left L5-S1 articulations.

Immediate and Short-term Effects of Thoracic Spine Manipulation in Patients With Cervical Radiculopathy: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Thoracic spine thrust manipulation has been shown to improve patient-rated outcomes for individuals with neck pain. However, there is limited evidence of its effectiveness in patients with cervical radiculopathy.

Objectives: To compare the immediate and short-term effects of thoracic manipulation to those of a sham thoracic manipulation in patients with cervical radiculopathy.

Electrical dry needling as an adjunct to exercise, manual therapy and ultrasound for plantar fasciitis: A multi-center randomized clinical trial.

Study Design: Randomized, single-blinded, multi-center, parallel-group trial.

Objectives: To compare the effects of adding electrical dry needling into a program of manual therapy, exercise and ultrasound on pain, function and related-disability in individuals with plantar fasciitis (PF).

Background: The isolated application of electrical dry needling, manual therapy, exercise, and ultrasound has been found to be effective for PF.

The use of dry needling as a diagnostic tool and clinical treatment for cervicogenic dizziness: a narrative review & case series.

Study Design: Narrative Review & Case Series.

Background: No "gold standard" test presently exists to confirm a diagnosis of cervicogenic dizziness, a condition whereby the neuromusculoskeletal tissues of the cervical spine are thought to contribute to imbalance and dizziness. Clusters of tests are presently recommended to provoke signs and symptoms of the condition.