A functional exercise program improves pain and health related quality of life in patients with fibromyalgia: a randomized controlled trial.

Background/objective: Fibromyalgia is a non-inflammatory syndrome characterized by generalized muscle pain, with other symptoms. Numerous forms of physical training for this population have been studied through high-quality randomized clinical trials involving strength, flexibility, aerobic conditioning and multicomponent exercise interventions. This research evaluated the effectiveness of a functional exercise program at reducing pain, improving functional capacity, increasing muscle strength as well as improving flexibility, balance and quality of life in individuals with fibromyalgia.

Daytime Functional Usage Versus Night-Time Wearing: Identifying the Optimal Wearing Regimen for a Custom-Made Orthosis in the Treatment of Trapeziometacarpal Osteoarthritis.

Objective: To compare the functional (daytime) use to the nightly use of an orthosis for patients affected by trapeziometacarpal osteoarthritis (OA).

Design: Randomized, controlled single-blind trial.

Setting: The rheumatology outpatient clinic of the University.

Effectiveness of functional training versus resistance exercise in patients with psoriatic arthritis: randomized controlled trial.

Objective: This study aims to evaluate the effect of functional versus resistance exercise training on the functional capacity and quality of life of psoriatic arthritis patients.

Methods: Forty-one psoriatic arthritis patients (18 to 65 years old) were randomized into two groups: functional training group and resistance exercise group. The functional training group underwent functional exercises with elastic band and the functional training group underwent machine resistance exercise twice a week for 12 weeks.

Higher rates of ultrasound synovial hypertrophy, bone erosion and power doppler signal in asymptomatic Brazilian elderly versus young adults: a cross-sectional study.

To evaluate the prevalence of musculoskeletal ultrasonography (MSUS) abnormalities in asymptomatic elderly individuals. A cross-sectional controlled study was conducted and MSUS of 23 joints (wrist, metacarpophalangeal-MCP, proximal interphalangeal-PIP, elbow, glenohumeral, hip, knee, ankle, and metatarsophalangeal-MTP joints) was performed in healthy individuals aged 18-29 (young, n = 32) and 60-80 years-old (elderly, n = 32). Quantitative synovial hypertrophy (SH) was measured in mm and a semiquantitative scoring system (0-3) was used to grade SH, power doppler (PD) and bone erosion (BE).

Intra-articular triamcinolone hexacetonide injections in hands osteoarthritis ‒ A double-blinded randomized controlled trial with a one year follow-up.

Objective: to evaluate the effectiveness of triamcinolone Hexacetonide (TH) Intra-Articular Injection (IAI) in hand Interphalangeal Joints (IP) of Osteoarthritis (OA) patients to improve pain and joint swelling; improve function, goniometry, and grasping force, and assess IAI influence on radiographic evolution over 1-year.

Methods: A randomized, double-blind study. 60 patients who underwent IAI at the most symptomatic IP joint were randomly assigned to receive TH+Lidocaine (LD) (TH/LD group) or just LD (LD group).

Intra-articular injection with platelet-rich plasma compared to triamcinolone hexacetonide or saline solution in knee osteoarthritis: A double blinded randomized controlled trial with one year follow-up.

Objectives: To compare the effectiveness of intra-articular injection (IAI) of Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) with Triamcinolone Hexacetonide (TH) and Saline Solution (SS), in patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA).

Design: A randomized controlled trial, with blinded patients and assessor.

Setting: Outpatient rheumatology service.

Is There a Difference Between the Joint Ultrasounds of Healthy Women and Men? A Study With Small, Medium, and Large Joints.

To compare joint ultrasound measurements between the sexes in healthy volunteers. A cross-sectional study compared the joint ultrasound measurements between the sexes in healthy volunteers. Quantitative (synovial hypertrophy and perpendicular measurement in the largest synovial recess) and semiquantitative (synovial hypertrophy, power Doppler, and bone erosion; score 0-3) ultrasound measurements were performed.

Effects of a progressive resistance exercise program in patients with hand osteoarthritis: A randomized, controlled trial with a blinded assessor.

Objective: To assess the effectiveness of a progressive resistance strength program on pain, function and strength in hand osteoarthritis patients.

Design: Randomized controlled trial.

Settings: Outpatients, University Hospital.

Surgical treatment for lumbar spinal stenosis: a single-blinded randomized controlled trial.

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of surgery for the management of patients with symptomatic lumbar spinal stenosis.

Methods: Sixty-three patients with lumbar canal stenosis were randomized into two groups: the intervention group (IG) and control group (CG). IG patients underwent surgery and both groups participated in the same physical therapy program twice a week for a period of 12 weeks and were followed up at 1 year.

Strengthening exercises using swiss ball improve pain, health status, quality of life and muscle strength in patients with fibromyalgia: a randomized controlled trial.

The aim was to evaluate the effectiveness of strengthening exercises using the Swiss ball in patients with fibromyalgia through a randomized controlled trial with intention to treat analyses. A total of 60 patients with fibromyalgia met the inclusion criteria and were randomly allocated to either the Swiss ball exercise group (n=30) or a stretching group (n=30). All patients participated in 40-minute training sessions 3 times per week for 12 weeks.

Arabic translation, cross-cultural adaptation, and psychometric properties of the low back pain knowledge questionnaire.

Background: Low Back Pain Knowledge Questionnaire (LBP_KQ) was originally developed and validated for English speakers but not yet available for Arabic speakers.

Purpose: To translate, cross-culturally adapt, and test the psychometric properties of the Arabic version of the LBP_KQ.

Methods: Translation and cross-cultural adaptation were performed according to recommended guidelines.

The SPIKES protocol does not influence the tolerance or effectiveness of intra-articular corticosteroid injection in the knees of osteoarthritis patients: A prospective, controlled, randomized single-blinded trial.

Background: Patient user embracement involves behaviours of including and listening to the patient, appreciating their complaints, and identifying their needs, whether individual or collective. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of a user embracement protocol (SPIKES protocol) for patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA) immediately before intra-articular injection (IAI) relative to procedure tolerance and its effectiveness in the immediate, short and medium terms.

Methods: This was a randomized controlled trial.

Painless and painful synovitis have similar ultrasound and clinical outcomes: one-year cohort study in longstanding rheumatoid arthritis women patients.

Objectives: We aimed to compare the painless synovitis evolution with painful synovitis, based on bone erosion by ultrasonography over a year in women with longstanding rheumatoid arthritis. Ultrasound inflammatory measurements and radiographic, functional and clinical findings were also compared between groups at the end of the same follow-up.

Methods: A prospective cohort study was rolled out, involving 60 women with RA, divided into two groups: painless and painful, with 30 patients in each group.

Effectiveness of Nighttime Orthoses in Controlling Pain for Women With Hand Osteoarthritis: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Importance: Hand osteoarthritis is a musculoskeletal problem that is associated with hand pain, stiffness, functional limitation, decreased grip strength, and reduced quality of life.

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of nighttime orthoses on the second or third finger of the dominant hand in controlling pain in women with symptomatic osteoarthritis (OA) in the interphalangeal joint.

Design: Randomized controlled trial.

Time Effect of Intra-articular Injection With Triamcinolone Hexacetonide and Its Correlations: A Case-Control Prospective 12-Month Study.

Objective: The aim of the study was to assess the time effect of intra-articular injection with triamcinolone hexacetonide in rheumatic patients.

Design: A prospective case-control study with patients submitted to one intra-articular injection with triamcinolone hexacetonide. Patients were followed monthly (12 mos) for pain and swelling.

Effectiveness of customized insoles in patients with Morton's neuroma: a randomized, controlled, double-blind clinical trial.

Objective: To assess the effectiveness of customized insole in patients with Morton's neuroma.

Design: Double-blind randomized controlled trial with intent-to-treat analysis.

Setting: Outpatients, University Hospital.

Influence of isostretching on patients with chronic low back pain. A randomized controlled trial.

: This study investigated the influence of isostretching on patients with chronic low back pain. : It was a randomized, controlled trial with concealed allocation, intention-to-treat analysis, and blind assessment. Fifty-four patients with chronic low back pain were randomized to an experimental group and a control group.

Translation to Brazilian Portuguese, cultural adaptation and psychometric properties of 8-item ArthritisSelf-Efficacy Scale (ASES-8).

Background: Self-efficacy refers to one's belief in one's ability to organize, perform actions and face challenges in order to achieve goals and motivation. High self-efficacy improves disease coping and adherence to treatment among patients with rheumatoid arthritis. The objective of this study was to translate, culturally adapt and test the reproducibility of the 8-item Arthritis Self-Efficacy Scale (ASES-8) questionnaire for use in Brazil.

Ultrasound of entheses in ankylosing spondylitis patients: The importance of the calcaneal and quadriceps entheses for differentiating patients from healthy individuals.

Objectives: To compare the ultrasonographic findings of entheses in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients with those of healthy control individuals and to assess the ability of ultrasound (US) to identify aspects related to the disease.

Methods: A cross-sectional study involving 50 patients with AS and 30 healthy controls was performed. Clinical assessment included the use of a visual analog scale for pain, assessment of swelling of the enthesis, global assessments for patients and physician, use of a disease activity index, mobility and dysfunctional indices, erythrocyte sedimentation rate and clinical enthesitis index.

Comparison between intra-articular Botulinum toxin type A, corticosteroid, and saline in knee osteoarthritis: a randomized controlled trial.

Objective: To compare the effectiveness of intra-articular injection (IAI) with Botulinum toxin type A (BTA), triamcinolone hexacetonide (TH), and saline in primary knee osteoarthritis.

Design: A randomized controlled trial, with blinded patients and assessor.

Setting: Outpatient rheumatology service.

Gait in children and adolescents with idiopathic musculoskeletal pain.

Introduction: Musculoskeletal pain is a constant complaint in pediatric practice. The pain may be related to a number of organic diseases and / or be part of the amplified musculoskeletal pain syndromes. Idiopathic musculoskeletal pain (IMSP) is defined as the presence of intermittent pain in three or more body regions for at least three months, excluding organic diseases that could explain the symptoms.

Assessment of gesture behavior and knowledge on low back pain among nurses.

Background: Low back pain is particularly problematic among nursing professionals. Education is part of the rehabilitation process for low back pain and has been heavily studied. In parallel, gestural behaviors play an important role during the evaluation of the low back pain, especially while performing the activities of daily living.