Comparative Effectiveness of Radial Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy and Ultrasound-Guided Local Corticosteroid Injection Treatment for Plantar Fasciitis.

Background: We compared the long-term clinical and ultrasonographic effects of radial extracorporeal shockwave therapy (rESWT) versus ultrasound-guided corticosteroid injection treatment in patients with plantar fasciitis unresponsive to conservative therapy.

Methods: Seventy-two patients with unilateral plantar fasciitis were randomized to receive either rESWT (three times once per week) (n = 36) or corticosteroid treatment (a single 1-mL dose of betamethasone sodium plus 0.5 mL of prilocaine under ultrasound guidance by injection into the plantar fascia) (n = 36).

Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy for Breast Cancer-Related Lymphedema: A Pilot Study.

Objective: To investigate the clinical effect of extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) in patients with secondary lymphedema after breast cancer treatment.

Design: Prospective clinical pilot study.

Setting: Education and research hospital.

Palmoplantar pustular psoriasis induced by adalimumab: a case report and literature review.

TNF-α inhibitors (anti-TNF-α) are agents increasingly used in the treatment of rheumatic diseases resistant to classical disease-modifying treatment and they provide significant improvement of disease activity. However, these agents have many cutaneous side effects including psoriasis. Numerous reports of the induction or worsening of psoriasis in patients treated with TNF antagonists indicate that this is not a rare phenomenon.

Respiratory muscle training improves cardiopulmonary function and exercise tolerance in subjects with subacute stroke: a randomized controlled trial.

Objective: To determine whether two types of exercise--breathing retraining (BRT) and inspiratory muscle training (IMT)--improve on cardiopulmonary functions and exercise tolerance in patients with stroke.

Design: A randomized controlled trial.

Setting: Education and research hospital.

Adult case of acrodysostosis with severe neurologic involvement.

Objective: Acrodysostosis is a rare syndrome characterized by peripheral dysostosis, nasal hypoplasia and frequently mental retardation. Only one adult case of acrodysostosis has been reported to have neurologic symptoms. We report one further adult case of acrodysostosis with severe neurologic findings including myelopathy and spastic paraparesis due to diffuse spinal stenosis and recurrent deep vein thrombosis possibly caused by neurologic deficits.

Low-frequency pulsed electromagnetic field therapy in fibromyalgia: a randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled clinical study.

Objective: To evaluate the clinical effectiveness of low-frequency pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) therapy for women with fibromyalgia (FM).

Methods: Fifty-six women with FM, aged 18 to 60 years, were randomly assigned to either PEMF or sham therapy. Both the PEMF group (n=28) and the sham group (n=28) participated in therapy, 30 minutes per session, twice a day for 3 weeks.

Influence of knee osteoarthritis on exercise capacity and quality of life in obese adults.

Objective: The objective was to determine whether knee osteoarthritis (OA) reduces exercise ambulatory capacity and impairs quality of life (QOL) in obese individuals.

Research Methods And Procedures: There were 56 subjects, with and without knee OA, who were obese. The subjects were evaluated with anthropometric measurements, a body composition assessment, maximal cardiopulmonary exercise test, 6-minute walk test (6-MWT), perceived exertion (RPE), self-reported disability [Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC)], and the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form 36 (SF-36).

The combined effects of controlled breathing techniques and ventilatory and upper extremity muscle exercise on cardiopulmonary responses in patients with spinal cord injury.

This study investigated the effects of controlled breathing techniques and ventilatory and upper extremity muscle exercise on cardiopulmonary and metabolic functions and exercise tolerance in patients with spinal cord injury (SCI). The design of the study was prospective and was a before-after trial. Twenty patients with SCI were included in the study.

The effect of pulsed electromagnetic fields in the treatment of cervical osteoarthritis: a randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled trial.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of electromagnetic field therapy (PEMF) on pain, range of motion (ROM) and functional status in patients with cervical osteoarthritis (COA). Thirty-four patients with COA were included in a randomized, double-blind study. PEMF was administrated to the whole body using a mat 1.

Cardiopulmonary and metabolic responses to maximum exercise and aerobic capacity in hemiplegic patients.

This study evaluated cardiopulmonary and metabolic responses to maximum exercise and aerobic capacity in hemiplegic patients and clarified the relationship between the resulting data and motor disability. Twenty patients with stroke and fifteen healthy controls were included in the study. Cardiopulmonary and metabolic responses to maximum exercise were investigated with an electronically braked arm crank ergometer.