Physical Therapy Modalities

From the JAMA Network, this is JAMA Internal Medicine Author Interviews. Conversations with authors exploring the latest clinical research, reviews, and opinions featured in JAMA Internal Medicine.

Author/s:

Romi Haas, MPH, PhD, Michael A. Incze, Eve Rittenberg, MD

Parkinson disease primer, part 2: management of motor and nonmotor symptoms

Aubrey Delammermore — Thu, 23 Feb 2023 06:00:00 +0000

Date Added:

February 23, 2023

Journal/Publication:

Canadian Family Physician

Publication Date:

February 1, 2023

Issue:

Volume:

Pages:

91-96

Type:

Meta-analyses, Reviews, and Guidelines

Format:

Article

DOI (1):

10.46747/cfp.690291

Keywords

PMID (1):

36813521

MeSH

Levodopa

depression

Hypotension, Orthostatic

Physical Therapy Modalities

Sleep Wake Disorders

The second of a series of articles on management of Parkinson's Disease. James W. Mold, MD, MPH

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Objective To provide family physicians with an approach to the management of
motor and nonmotor symptoms of Parkinson disease (PD).
Sources of information Published guidelines on the management of PD were
reviewed. Database searches were conducted to retrieve relevant research
articles published between 2011 and 2021. Evidence levels ranged from I to III.
Main message Family physicians can play an important role in identifying and
treating motor and nonmotor symptoms of PD. Family physicians should initiate
levodopa treatment for motor symptoms if they affect function and if specialist
wait times are long, and they should be aware of basic titration approaches
and possible side effects of dopaminergic therapies. Abrupt withdrawal of
dopaminergic agents should be avoided. Nonmotor symptoms are common and
underrecognized and are a major factor in disability, quality of life, and risk of
hospitalization and poor outcomes for patients. Family physicians can manage
common autonomic symptoms such as orthostatic hypotension and constipation.
Family physicians can treat common neuropsychiatric symptoms such as
depression and sleep disorders, and they can help recognize and treat psychosis
and PD dementia. Referrals to physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech
language therapy, and exercise groups are recommended to help preserve function.
Conclusion Patients with PD present with complex combinations of motor
and nonmotor symptoms. Family physicians should have basic knowledge of
dopaminergic treatments and their side effects. Family physicians can play
important roles in management of motor symptoms and particularly nonmotor
symptoms and can have a positive impact on patients’ quality of life. An
interdisciplinary approach involving specialty clinics and allied health experts
is an important part of management.

Author/s:

Frank, C., Chiu, R., Lee, J.

Effect of Physical Therapy vs Arthroscopic Partial Meniscectomy in People With Degenerative Meniscal Tears: Five-Year Follow-up of the ESCAPE Randomized Clinical Trial

Aubrey Delammermore — Wed, 27 Jul 2022 05:00:00 +0000

Date Added:

July 27, 2022

Journal/Publication:

JAMA Network Open

Publisher:

JAMA Network Open

Publication Date:

July 8, 2022

Issue:

Volume:

Pages:

URL:

Effect of Physical Therapy vs Arthroscopic Partial Meniscectomy in People With Degenerative Meniscal Tears Five-Year Follow-up of the ESCAPE Randomized Clinical Trial

Type:

Clinical Research Results

Format:

Article

DOI (1):

10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.20394

Keywords

Knee Injuries

Follow-Up Studies

randomized controlled trial

Meniscus Injuries

Meniscectomy

PMID (1):

35802374

MeSH

osteoarthritis

Knee / surgery

Tibial Meniscus Injuries / etiology

Tibial Meniscus Injuries / surgery

Physical Therapy Modalities

Meniscectomy / methods

Meniscectomy / adverse effects

For patients with degenerative meniscal tears, physical therapy is as effective as surgery over 5 years follow-up. James W. Mold, MD, MPH

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Importance: There is a paucity of high-quality evidence about the long-term effects (ie, 3-5 years and beyond) of arthroscopic partial meniscectomy vs exercise-based physical therapy for patients with degenerative meniscal tears.

Objectives: To compare the 5-year effectiveness of arthroscopic partial meniscectomy and exercise-based physical therapy on patient-reported knee function and progression of knee osteoarthritis in patients with a degenerative meniscal tear.

Design, setting, and participants: A noninferiority, multicenter randomized clinical trial was conducted in the orthopedic departments of 9 hospitals in the Netherlands. A total of 321 patients aged 45 to 70 years with a degenerative meniscal tear participated. Data collection took place between July 12, 2013, and December 4, 2020.

Interventions: Patients were randomly allocated to arthroscopic partial meniscectomy or 16 sessions of exercise-based physical therapy.

Main outcomes and measures: The primary outcome was patient-reported knee function (International Knee Documentation Committee Subjective Knee Form (range, 0 [worst] to 100 [best]) during 5 years of follow-up based on the intention-to-treat principle, with a noninferiority threshold of 11 points. The secondary outcome was progression in knee osteoarthritis shown on radiographic images in both treatment groups.

Results: Of 321 patients (mean [SD] age, 58 [6.6] years; 161 women [50.2%]), 278 patients (87.1%) completed the 5-year follow-up with a mean follow-up time of 61.8 months (range, 58.8-69.5 months). From baseline to 5-year follow-up, the mean (SD) improvement was 29.6 (18.7) points in the surgery group and 25.1 (17.8) points in the physical therapy group. The crude between-group difference was 3.5 points (95% CI, 0.7-6.3 points; P < .001 for noninferiority). The 95% CI did not exceed the noninferiority threshold of 11 points. Comparable rates of progression of radiographic-demonstrated knee osteoarthritis were noted between both treatments.

Conclusions and relevance: In this noninferiority randomized clinical trial after 5 years, exercise-based physical therapy remained noninferior to arthroscopic partial meniscectomy for patient-reported knee function. Physical therapy should therefore be the preferred treatment over surgery for degenerative meniscal tears. These results can assist in the development and updating of current guideline recommendations about treatment for patients with a degenerative meniscal tear.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01850719.

Author/s:

Noorduyn, J. C. A., Van de Graaf, V. A., Willigenburg, N. W., Scholten-Peeters, G. G. M., Kret, Kret, E. J., Van Dijk, R. A., Buchbinder, R., Hawker, G. A., Coppieters, M. W., Poolman, R. W., ESCAPE Research Group

Effect of Physical Therapy vs Arthroscopic Partial Meniscectomy in People With Degenerative Meniscal Tears: Five-Year Follow-up of the ESCAPE Randomized Clinical Trial

Saige Blanchard — Wed, 13 Jul 2022 05:00:00 +0000

Date Added:

July 13, 2022

Journal/Publication:

JAMA Network Open

Publisher:

JAMA Network Open

Publication Date:

July 8, 2022

Issue:

Volume:

URL:

Effect of Physical Therapy vs Arthroscopic Partial Meniscectomy in People With Degenerative Meniscal Tears: Five-Year Follow-up of the ESCAPE Randomized Clinical Trial

Type:

Clinical Research Results

Format:

Article

DOI (1):

10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.20394

Keywords

physical therapy

Arthroscopic Partial Meniscectomy

clinical trial

Knee osteoarthritis

Degenerative Meniscal Tear

PMID (1):

35802374

MeSH

Meniscectomy

osteoarthritis, knee

follow-up studies

Intention to Treat Analysis

Netherlands

Physical Therapy Modalities

PT appears to as effective as surgery for partial meniscus tears in the knee. James W. Mold, MD, MPH

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Interventions: Patients were randomly allocated to arthroscopic partial meniscectomy or 16 sessions of exercise-based physical therapy.

Author/s:

Noordyun, J. C. A., Van de Graaf, V. A., Willigenburg, N. W., Scholten-Peeters, G. G. M., Kret, E. J., Van Dijk, R. A., Buchbinder, R., Hawker, G. A., Coppieters, M. W., Poolman, R. W., ESCAPE Research Group

Comparison of Treatments for Frozen Shoulder: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Devin Evans — Thu, 14 Jan 2021 06:00:00 +0000

Date Added:

January 14, 2021

Journal/Publication:

Journal of the American Medical Association Network Open

Publication Date:

December 16, 2020

Issue:

Volume:

URL:

Comparison of Treatments for Frozen Shoulder: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Type:

Meta-analyses, Reviews, and Guidelines

DOI (1):

10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.29581

Keywords

PMID (1):

33326025

MeSH

Bursitis

Physical Therapy Modalities

exercise therapy

Electric Stimulation Therapy

adrenal cortex hormones

This meta-analysis suggests that an intra-articular injection of a corticosteroid can benefit patients with frozen shoulder syndrome. James W. Mold, MD, MPH

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mportance: There are a myriad of available treatment options for patients with frozen shoulder, which can be overwhelming to the treating health care professional.

Objective: To assess and compare the effectiveness of available treatment options for frozen shoulder to guide musculoskeletal practitioners and inform guidelines.

Data sources: Medline, EMBASE, Scopus, and CINHAL were searched in February 2020.

Study selection: Studies with a randomized design of any type that compared treatment modalities for frozen shoulder with other modalities, placebo, or no treatment were included.

Data extraction and synthesis: Data were independently extracted by 2 individuals. This study followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) reporting guideline. Random-effects models were used.

Main outcomes and measures: Pain and function were the primary outcomes, and external rotation range of movement (ER ROM) was the secondary outcome. Results of pairwise meta-analyses were presented as mean differences (MDs) for pain and ER ROM and standardized mean differences (SMDs) for function. Length of follow-up was divided into short-term (≤12 weeks), mid-term (>12 weeks to ≤12 months), and long-term (>12 months) follow-up.

Results: From a total of 65 eligible studies with 4097 participants that were included in the systematic review, 34 studies with 2402 participants were included in pairwise meta-analyses and 39 studies with 2736 participants in network meta-analyses. Despite several statistically significant results in pairwise meta-analyses, only the administration of intra-articular (IA) corticosteroid was associated with statistical and clinical superiority compared with other interventions in the short-term for pain (vs no treatment or placebo: MD, -1.0 visual analog scale [VAS] point; 95% CI, -1.5 to -0.5 VAS points; P < .001; vs physiotherapy: MD, -1.1 VAS points; 95% CI, -1.7 to -0.5 VAS points; P < .001) and function (vs no treatment or placebo: SMD, 0.6; 95% CI, 0.3 to 0.9; P < .001; vs physiotherapy: SMD 0.5; 95% CI, 0.2 to 0.7; P < .001). Subgroup analyses and the network meta-analysis demonstrated that the addition of a home exercise program with simple exercises and stretches and physiotherapy (electrotherapy and/or mobilizations) to IA corticosteroid may be associated with added benefits in the mid-term (eg, pain for IA coritocosteriod with home exercise vs no treatment or placebo: MD, -1.4 VAS points; 95% CI, -1.8 to -1.1 VAS points; P < .001).

Conclusions and relevance: The findings of this study suggest that the early use of IA corticosteroid in patients with frozen shoulder of less than 1-year duration is associated with better outcomes. This treatment should be accompanied by a home exercise program to maximize the chance of recovery.

Author/s:

Challoumas, Dimitris, Biddle, Mairiosa, McLean, Michael, Millar, Neal L.

Stepped Exercise Program for Patients With Knee Osteoarthritis: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Devin Evans — Thu, 14 Jan 2021 06:00:00 +0000

Date Added:

January 14, 2021

Journal/Publication:

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorder

Publication Date:

May 28, 2019

Issue:

254

Volume:

URL:

Stepped Exercise Program for Patients With Knee Osteoarthritis: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Type:

Clinical Research Results

Format:

Article

DOI (1):

10.1186/s12891-019-2627-8

Keywords

PMID (1):

31138256

MeSH

Physical Therapy Modalities

Patient-Centered Care

exercise therapy

An interesting type of stepped intervention that could be applied to other health conditions as well. James W. Mold, MD, MPH

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Background: Physical therapy (PT) and other exercise-based interventions are core components of care for knee osteoarthritis (OA), but both are underutilized, and some patients have limited access to PT services. This clinical trial is examining a STepped Exercise Program for patients with Knee OsteoArthritis (STEP-KOA). This model of care can help to tailor exercise-based interventions to patient needs and also conserve higher resource services (such as PT) for patients who do not make clinically relevant improvements after receiving less costly interventions.

Methods / design: Step-KOA is a randomized trial of 345 patients with symptomatic knee OA from two Department of Veterans Affairs sites. Participants are randomized to STEP-KOA and Arthritis Education (AE) Control groups with a 2:1 ratio, respectively. STEP-KOA begins with 3 months of access to an internet-based exercise program (Step 1). Participants not meeting response criteria for clinically meaningful improvement in pain and function after Step 1 progress to Step 2, which involves bi-weekly physical activity coaching calls for 3 months. Participants not meeting response criteria after Step 2 progress to in-person PT visits (Step 3). Outcomes will be assessed at baseline, 3, 6 and 9 months (primary outcome time point). The primary outcome is the Western Ontario and McMasters Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), and secondary outcomes are objective measures of physical function. Linear mixed models will compare outcomes between the STEP-KOA and AE control groups at follow-up. We will also evaluate patient characteristics associated with treatment response and conduct a cost-effectiveness analysis of STEP-KOA.

Discussion: STEP-KOA is a novel, efficient and patient-centered approach to delivering exercise-based interventions to patients with knee OA, one of the most prevalent and disabling health conditions. This trial will provide information on the effectiveness of STEP-KOA as a novel potential model of care for treatment of OA.

Author/s:

Allen, Kelli D., Bongiorni, Dennis, Caves, Kevin, Coffman, Cynthia J., Floegel, Theresa A., Greysen, Heather M., Hall, Katherine S., Heiderscheit, Bryan, Hoenig, Helen M., Huffman, Kim M., Morey, Miriam D., Ramasunder, Shalini, Severson, Herbert, Smith, Battista, Van Houtven, Courtney, Woolson, Sandra

Pharmacologic and Nonpharmacologic Therapies in Adult Patients With Exacerbation of COPD: A Systematic Review

John Bayhi — Fri, 18 Oct 2019 13:01:46 +0000

Date Added:

October 18, 2019

Journal/Publication:

AHRQ Website

Publisher:

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality

Publication Date:

October 11, 2019

URL:

Pharmacologic and Nonpharmacologic Therapies in Adult Patients With Exacerbation of COPD

Type:

Meta-analyses, Reviews, and Guidelines

Format:

Article

DOI (1):

10.23970/AHRQEPCCER221

Keywords

copd

chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

therapy

randomized control trial

systematic review

Key points are on page ii. Antibiotics and corticosteroids and some non-pharmacologic strategies are effective. We still don’t know the best corticosteroid dose or route. James W. Mold, MD, MPH

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Objectives. To synthesize existing knowledge about the effectiveness and harms of pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic treatments for exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (ECOPD).

Data sources. Embase®, Epub Ahead of Print, In-Process & Other Non-Indexed Citations, MEDLINE® Daily, MEDLINE, Cochrane Central Registrar of Controlled Trials, Ovid Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and Scopus from database inception to January 2, 2019.

Review methods. We included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that evaluated pharmacologic intervention or nonpharmacologic interventions for ECOPD. The strength of evidence (SOE) was graded for critical final health outcomes.

Results. We included 98 RCTs (13,401 patients, mean treatment duration 9.9 days, mean followup 3.7 months). Final health outcomes, including mortality, resolution of exacerbation, hospital readmissions, repeat exacerbations, and need for intubation, were infrequently evaluated and often showed no statistically significant differences between groups. Antibiotic therapy increases the clinical cure rate and reduces the clinical failure rate regardless of the severity of ECOPD (moderate SOE). There is insufficient evidence to support a particular antibiotic regimen. Oral and intravenous corticosteroids improve dyspnea and reduce the clinical failure rate (low SOE). Despite the ubiquitous use of inhaled bronchodilators in ECOPD, we found only a small number of trials that assessed lung function tests, and not final health outcomes. The evidence is insufficient to support the effect of aminophyllines, magnesium sulfate, mucolytics, inhaled corticosteroids, inhaled antibiotics, 5-lipoxygenase inhibitor, and statins on final health outcomes. Titrated oxygen reduces mortality compared with high flow oxygen (low SOE). Low SOE suggested benefit from some nonpharmacologic interventions such as chest physiotherapy using vibration/percussion/massage or breathing technique (on dyspnea), resistance training (on dyspnea and quality of life), early pulmonary rehabilitation commenced before hospital discharge during the initial most acute phase of exacerbation rather than the convalescence period (on dyspnea) and whole body vibration training (on quality of life). Vitamin D supplementation may improve quality of life (low SOE).

Conclusions. Although chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is a common condition, the evidence base for most interventions in ECOPD remains limited. Systemic antibiotics and corticosteroids are associated with improved outcomes in mild and moderate to severe ECOPD. Titrated oxygen reduces mortality. Future research is required to assess the effectiveness of several emerging nonpharmacologic and dietary treatments.

Author/s:

Dobler, CC, Morrow, AS, Farah, MH, Beuschel, B, Majzoub, AM, Wilson, ME, Hasan, B, Seisa, MO, Daraz, L, Prokop, LJ, Murad, MH, Wang, Z