Tendinopathy is a common but difficult condition to manage in the orthopedic and sports settings. Despite strong evidence supporting exercise and load-management, a substantial proportion of individuals with the condition do not achieve a satisfactory long-term outcome. Tendinopathy can be associated with a number of impairments, including mobility deficits, muscle performance impairments, pain, and possible altered central pain processing - all of which are indications for manual therapy.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: The purpose of this review is to identify the role of joint mobilization for individuals with Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS).
Methods: A systematic search of 5 electronic databases (PubMed, CINAHL, Scopus, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and SPORTDiscus) was performed to identify eligible full-text randomized clinical trials related to the clinical question. Joint mobilization had to be included in one arm of the randomized clinical trials to be included.
Background: Abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) are found in 1-12% of older males. Low back pain (LBP) is prevalent with incidence increasing with age and can respond to manual therapy (MT). To date, the safety of the application of MT for LBP in the presence of a known AAA has not been reported.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjectives: Plantar heel pain is common and can be severely disabling. Unfortunately, a gap in the literature exists regarding the optimal intervention for this painful condition. Consequently, a systematic review of the current literature regarding manual therapy for the treatment of plantar heel pain was performed.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFUnlabelled: Chronic Achilles tendinopathy (AT) is an overuse condition seen among runners. Eccentric exercise can decrease pain and improve function for those with chronic degenerative tendon changes; however, some individuals have continued pain requiring additional intervention. While joint mobilization and manipulation has not been studied in the management in Achilles tendinopathy, other chronic tendon dysfunction, such as lateral epicondylalgia, has responded well to manual therapy (MT).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInt J Sports Phys Ther
February 2017
Background & Purpose: Insertional Achilles tendinopathy (IAT) can be a challenging condition to manage conservatively. Eccentric exercise is commonly used in the management of chronic tendinopathy; however, it may not be as helpful for insertional tendon problems as compared to mid-portion dysfunction. While current evidence describing the physical therapy management of IAT is developing, gaps still exist in descriptions of best practice.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFTo determine whether learning curves can be observed with deliberate practice when the goal is to apply a consistent rate of force at 5 N/second during pressure pain threshold (PPT) testing in healthy volunteers. In this prospective study, 17 clinician participants completed PPT targeted rate-of-application testing with healthy volunteers using three different feedback paradigms. The resultant performances of ramp rate during 36 trials were plotted on a graph and examined to determine whether learning curves were observed.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Orthop Sports Phys Ther
December 2015
The patient was a 60-year-old woman, with long-standing balance deficits due to multiple sclerosis, referred to physical therapy by her primary care physician secondary to increasing fall frequency. Following evaluation, the physical therapist escorted the patient to her primary care physician's office, where a computed tomography scan was immediately performed, revealing a comminuted C2 articular pillar fracture.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPatients with Morton's neuroma are rarely referred to physical therapy. This case reports the resolution of pain, increase in local pressure pain thresholds, and improvement of scores on the Lower Extremity Functional Scale and Foot and Ankle Ability Measure following a course of joint based manual therapy for a patient who had failed standard conservative medical treatment.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective And Importance: Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) encompass a variety of dysfunction of the maxillofacial region. A strong relationship between TMD and cervical spine pain exists, and widespread hyperalgesia is common in TMD. This case describes the management and reduction in regional hyperalgesia in a patient with chronic TMD.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInt J Sports Phys Ther
December 2014
Background And Purpose: Proximal humeral fractures are relatively uncommon injuries. While previous research has led to effective clinical and diagnostic evaluation and treatment of proximal fractures, less is currently known regarding the typical evaluation and treatment of midshaft humeral fractures. The purpose of this case is to describe the clinical reasoning and utilization of diagnostic imaging in the physical therapy management of a midshaft humeral fracture, sustained during the course of rehabilitation of a proximal humerus fracture.
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