Expose or protect? A randomized controlled trial of exposure in vivo vs pain-contingent treatment as usual in patients with complex regional pain syndrome type 1.

Complex regional pain syndrome type I (CRPS-I) highly affects patients' ability to perform daily life activities. Pain-related fear might be a key target to reduce disability in chronic pain. Current treatments aiming at reducing pain show little improvements on pain and disability, whereas novel exposure-based treatments targeting pain-related fears have shown to be promising.

Can the length of hospital stay after total hip arthroplasty be predicted by preoperative physical function characteristics?

Objective: The aim of the present study was to identify independent preoperative hip function characteristics sensitive for preoperative intervention that are predictive of an extended length of hospital stay (LOS) after primary total hip arthroplasty (THA).

Design: This is a longitudinal cohort study. A retrospective chart analysis was conducted on prospectively collected data of patients (158) who underwent unilateral primary elective cemented THA in a 4-yr period.

Bilateral changes in forearm oxygen consumption at rest and after exercise in patients with unilateral repetitive strain injury: a case-control study.

Study Design: Case-control study.

Objectives: To investigate whether oxygen consumption and blood flow at rest and after exercise are lower in the affected arm of patients with repetitive strain injury (RSI) compared to controls, and lower in the healthy nonaffected forearm within patients with unilateral RSI.

Background: RSI is considered an upper extremity overuse injury.

Different mechanisms for the short-term effects of real versus sham transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) in patients with chronic pain: a pilot study.

Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) has existed since the early 1970s. However, randomized placebo controlled studies show inconclusive results in the treatment of chronic pain. These results could be explained by assuming that TENS elicits a placebo response.

The long-term outcome of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation in the treatment for patients with chronic pain: a randomized, placebo-controlled trial.

Background: Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) is an easy to use analgesic intervention. However, long-term randomized placebo-controlled studies with treatment periods of more than 3 months have not been executed to date. The aim of our study is to explore the long-term (1 year) time course of the treatment effects of TENS compared to placebo (sham TENS).

Frequency and location of synkineses in patients with peripheral facial nerve paresis.

Background: Synkinesis is an involuntary movement accompanying a voluntary one. These unintentional movements are caused by an undifferentiated regeneration of the facial nerve that occurs after being compressed or partially damaged. Synkinesis can affect eating, drinking, and speaking and can be socially distressing because of facial asymmetry and disruption of intended emotional expressions.

No impaired hemoglobin oxygenation in forearm muscles of patients with chronic CRPS-1.

Objectives: Physiotherapy is considered an important treatment option in patients with upper limb complex regional pain syndrome type-1 (CRPS-1). In case of chronic CRPS-1, exercise therapy of the affected limb forms an important part of the physiotherapeutic program. We investigated whether muscle loading in chronic CRPS-1 patients is associated with impairments in muscle circulation of the forearm of the affected limb.

Predicting outcome of TENS in chronic pain: a prospective, randomized, placebo controlled trial.

Unlabelled: Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) is an easy to use non-invasive analgesic intervention applied for diverse pain states. However, effects in man are still inconclusive, especially for chronic pain. Therefore, to explore the factors predicting result of TENS treatment in chronic pain we conducted a prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled trial (n=163), comparing high frequency TENS (n=81) with sham TENS (n=82).

Outcome of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation in chronic pain: short-term results of a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial.

The aim of this study was to test the efficacy of shortterm transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) treatment in chronic pain with respect to pain intensity and patients' satisfaction with treatment results. We therefore performed a randomised controlled trial comparing TENS and sham TENS. Patients, researchers and therapists were blinded for treatment allocation.

Forearm blood flow and oxygen consumption in patients with bilateral repetitive strain injury measured by near-infrared spectroscopy.

Despite the social impact of repetitive strain injury (RSI), little is known about its pathophysiological mechanism. The main objective of this study was to assess the local muscle oxygenation (mVO2) and blood flow (mBF) of the forearm in individuals with RSI during isometric contractions of the forearm. We employed the non-invasive optical technique near-infrared spectroscopy to assess forearm VO2 and BF.