The effectiveness of psychologically-informed physiotherapy for people with neck pain and the mediating role of illness perceptions: a replicated single-case experimental design study.

Purpose: (1) To evaluate the effectiveness of personalised psychologically-informed physiotherapy in people with neck pain; (2) To explore the mediating role of changes in illness perceptions.

Method: In this replicated single-case study, 14 patients with non-specific neck pain at risk for chronicity received a personalised intervention addressing unhelpful illness perceptions and dysfunctional movement behaviour, according to principles of cognitive functional therapy. Outcomes included the mediating role of illness perceptions on overall effect, function, pain intensity and self-efficacy.

Exercise into Pain in Chronic Rotator Cuff-Related Shoulder Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial with 6-Month Follow-Up.

Purpose: Exercise therapy is the first-line treatment in rotator cuff-related shoulder pain (RCRSP), and diverse types of exercise seem effective. However, it is not still clear if painful exercise should be allowed or avoided during exercises. The objective of this study was to investigate if exercise into pain is more effective than no pain in RCRSP.

Does having an external focus in immersive virtual reality increase range of motion in people with neck pain?

Background: When instructing exercises to improve Range of Motion (ROM), clinicians often create an internal focus of attention, while motor performance may improve more when using an external focus.

Objectives: Using Virtual Reality (VR), we investigated the effect of tasks with an internal and external focus on maximal ROM in people with neck pain and explored whether this effect was associated with fear of movement.

Method: In this cross-over experimental design study, the cervical ROM of 54 participants was measured while performing a target-seeking exercise in a VR-environment (external focus task) and during three maximal rotation and flexion-extension movements with the VR-headset on, without signal (internal focus task).

Online Exercise Programs for Chronic Nonspecific Neck Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial Reveals Comparable Effects of Global, Local, and Combined Approaches.

Objective: Specific neck exercises are recommended in the rehabilitation of chronic nonspecific neck pain (CNNP). They are unfortunately often accompanied by acute pain flare-ups. Global exercises might be a beneficial addition, as they activate endogenous analgesia without overloading painful structures.

Illness perceptions in people with chronic and disabling non-specific neck pain seeking primary healthcare: a qualitative study.

Background: Illness perceptions can affect the way people with musculoskeletal pain emotionally and behaviorally cope with their health condition. Understanding patients illness perceptions may help facilitate patient-centered care. The purpose of this study was to explore illness perceptions and the origin of those perceptions in people with chronic disabling non-specific neck pain seeking primary care.

Comparing physical therapy students' attitudes and beliefs regarding chronic low back pain and knee osteoarthritis: an international multi-institutional comparison between 2013 and 2020 academic years.

Background: In 2013, physical therapy students demonstrated low guideline-adherent recommendations regarding chronic low back pain (CLBP) for spinal pathology, activity, and work.

Objectives: To assess the differences in physical therapy students' attitudes, beliefs, and adherence to guideline recommendations regarding CLBP and knee osteoarthritis between 2013 and 2020.

Methods: In 2013 and 2020, second and fourth-year physical therapy students were recruited from 6 Belgian and 2 Dutch institutions.

Nociceptive, neuropathic, or nociplastic low back pain? The low back pain phenotyping (BACPAP) consortium's international and multidisciplinary consensus recommendations.

The potential to classify low back pain as being characterised by dominant nociceptive, neuropathic, or nociplastic mechanisms is a clinically relevant issue. Preliminary evidence suggests that these low back pain phenotypes might respond differently to treatments; however, more research must be done before making specific recommendations. Accordingly, the low back pain phenotyping (BACPAP) consortium was established as a group of 36 clinicians and researchers from 13 countries (five continents) and 29 institutions, to apply a modified Nominal Group Technique methodology to develop international and multidisciplinary consensus recommendations to provide guidance for identifying the dominant pain phenotype in patients with low back pain, and potentially adapt pain management strategies.

Exercise-Induced Hypoalgesia in Patients with Chronic Whiplash-Associated Disorders: Differences between Subgroups Based on the Central Sensitization Inventory.

Background: Physical exercise is an important element in the rehabilitation of chronic whiplash-associated disorders, with the physiological process underlying pain reduction called exercise-induced hypoalgesia. In chronic whiplash-associated disorders, exercise-induced hypoalgesia appears impaired, and the research suggests a relationship with symptoms of dysfunctional nociceptive processing, such as central sensitization. This study improves our understanding of exercise-induced hypoalgesia in chronic whiplash-associated disorders by examining the differences between the extent of exercise-induced hypoalgesia in subgroups based on scores on the central sensitization inventory (CSI).

Physical therapists' perspectives of patient values and their place in clinical practice: a qualitative study.

Background: In physical therapy practice patients and therapists exchange their perspectives on musculoskeletal health problems and their meaning for both of them. However, literature indicates that physical therapists find it difficult to enquire about the patients' values during clinical encounters.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to gain deeper insight into the perspectives of physical therapists about patient values.

Exercise into pain in chronic rotator cuff related shoulder pain: a prospective single-group feasibility study.

Objectives: This study evaluated the feasibility of exercising into pain in rotator cuff related shoulder pain (RCRSP), data collection procedures, feedback from physiotherapists and patients, and clinically important changes in patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs).

Design: Unblinded non-randomised single-group study.

Setting: Physiotherapy clinic in Belgium.

Unravelling Impaired Hypoalgesia at Rest and in Response to Exercise in Patients with Chronic Whiplash-Associated Disorders: Effects of a Single Administration of Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor versus Selective Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitor.

(1) Background: Noradrenaline and serotonin have modulatory roles in pain signaling and in exercise-induced hypoalgesia. Patients with chronic whiplash-associated disorders often show impaired exercise-induced hypoalgesia. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the isolated effect of activating serotonergic or noradrenergic descending pathways on hypoalgesia at rest and in response to exercise in patients with chronic WAD by using respectively a single dose of a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) and a selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (NRI).

Visual feedback manipulation in virtual reality to influence pain-free range of motion. Are people with non-specific neck pain who are fearful of movement more susceptible?

Background: Movement-evoked pain may have a protective or learned component, influenced by visual cues which suggest that the person is moving towards a position that may be perceived as threatening. We investigated whether visual feedback manipulation in virtual reality (VR) had a different effect on cervical pain-free range of motion (ROM) in people with fear of movement.

Method: In this cross-sectional study, seventy-five people with non-specific neck pain (i.

The (cost-)effectiveness of combined lifestyle interventions for people with persistent low-back pain who are overweight or obese: A systematic review.

Introduction: Lifestyle factors are expected to contribute to the persistence and burden of low-back pain (LBP). However, there are no systematic reviews on the (cost-)effectiveness of combined lifestyle interventions for overweight or obese people with LBP.

Aim: To assess whether combined lifestyle interventions are (cost-)effective for people with persistent LBP who are overweight or obese, based on a systematic review.

Reliability of coracohumeral distance and subcoracoid tendons in subacromial pain syndrome.

This study investigated the intra-rater reliability of a novice ultrasound (US) examiner and the inter-rater reliability of two examiners (novice, expert) in the measures of coracohumeral distance at rest (CHD) and at 60° of elevation without (CHD60) or with weights (CHD60w), tendon thickness of the long head of the biceps (LHB) and subscapularis (SCP). Twenty-one patients with subacromial pain syndrome (SAPS) and 20 asymptomatic participants were included. Intra and inter-rater reliability were tested with intraclass-correlation-coefficient (ICC), differences between raters were analyzed with Bland-Altman plots.

Immediate effects of dry needling on pain sensitivity and pain modulation in patients with chronic idiopathic neck pain: a single-blinded randomized clinical trial.

Background: Dry needling is frequently used for the treatment of neck pain but knowledge about its neurophysiological central effects is scarce.

Objectives: To compare the immediate effects of a single session of dry needling (DN) and sham needling (SN) on local and distant pressure pain thresholds and conditioned pain modulation in patients with chronic idiopathic neck pain.

Method: Participants with chronic idiopathic neck pain were randomly allocated to a DN or SN group.

Risk Factors to Persistent Pain Following Musculoskeletal Injuries: A Systematic Literature Review.

Background: Musculoskeletal (MSK) injury is one of the major causes of persistent pain.

Objective: This systematic literature review explored the factors that lead to persistent pain following a MSK injury in the general population, including athletes.

Methods: A primary literature search of five electronic databases was performed to identify cohort, prospective, and longitudinal trials.

Subacromial space measured by ultrasound imaging in asymptomatic subjects and patients with subacromial shoulder pain: an inter-rater reliability study.

Background: Acromiohumeral distance (AHD) and supraspinatus tendon thickness (STT) measured by ultrasound (US) can be combined in the occupation ratio (OR). Inter-rater reliability on these subacromial measures depends on the US experience of raters and on the subject status, differing between asymptomatic or patients with subacromial shoulder pain (SSP).

Objective: To evaluate inter-rater reliability between two raters with different US experience (experienced examiner and novice examiner).

Effects of previous experience with dry needling therapy on blinding effectiveness and pain outcomes in people with neck pain: A preliminary sham-controlled study.

Background: Participants' previous experience with an intervention may be an important variable when conducting sham-controlled trials.

Objective: This study explored if previous experience with dry needling (DN) influenced blinding effectiveness and pain outcomes, after the application of DN in patients with neck pain.

Design: A preliminary randomized, sham-controlled study.

Specific versus Non-Specific Exercises for Chronic Neck or Shoulder Pain: A Systematic Review.

The current systematic review aimed to compare the effect of injury-focused (specific) exercises versus more general (non-specific) exercises on pain in patients with chronic neck or shoulder pain. We searched PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science. Two reviewers screened and selected studies, extracted outcomes, assessed risk of bias, and rated the quality of evidence.

Nociplastic Pain Criteria or Recognition of Central Sensitization? Pain Phenotyping in the Past, Present and Future.

Recently, the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) released clinical criteria and a grading system for nociplastic pain affecting the musculoskeletal system. These criteria replaced the 2014 clinical criteria for predominant central sensitization (CS) pain and accounted for clinicians' need to identify (early) and correctly classify patients having chronic pain according to the pain phenotype. Still, clinicians and researchers can become confused by the multitude of terms and the variety of clinical criteria available.

The Dutch Multidisciplinary Occupational Health Guideline to Enhance Work Participation Among Low Back Pain and Lumbosacral Radicular Syndrome Patients.

Purpose Based on current scientific evidence and best practice, the first Dutch multidisciplinary practice guideline for occupational health professionals was developed to stimulate prevention and enhance work participation in patients with low back pain (LBP) and lumbosacral radicular syndrome (LRS). Methods A multidisciplinary working group with health care professionals, a patient representative and researchers developed the recommendations after systematic review of evidence about (1) Risk factors, (2) Prevention, (3) Prognostic factors and (4) Interventions. Certainty of the evidence was rated with GRADE and the Evidence to Decision (EtD) framework was used to formulate recommendations.

Can Patient Expectations Modulate the Short-Term Effects of Dry Needling on Sensitivity Outcomes in Patients with Mechanical Neck Pain? A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Objective: Dry needling is commonly used for the management of patients with musculoskeletal pain. However, the effects of patient expectations are uncertain. Our aim was to determine the effect of patient expectations on short-term clinical outcomes after the application of a single session of dry needling in individuals with neck pain.

Physiotherapy in nursing homes. A qualitative study of physiotherapists' views and experiences.

Background: There are distinct differences in the implementation of physiotherapeutic care in nursing homes. Both nationally and internationally staffing levels of physiotherapy differ significantly between and within nursing homes. Since legislation or guidelines that specify the parameters of physiotherapy required in nursing homes are lacking, it is unknown how physiotherapists currently estimate the usefulness and necessity of physiotherapy in individual situations in long-term care.