Frozen Shoulder: A Comprehensive Summary for Healthcare Professionals Frozen shoulder (FS), also known as adhesive capsulitis, is a common condition characterized by significant pain and stiffness of the shoulder joint, resulting in functional impairment. This summary synthesizes key findings from four foundational studies, providing an evidence-based overview of FS’s etiology, progression, diagnosis, differential diagnoses, management,... Continue Reading →
The 2018 Meniscal Surgery Guidelines by the British Association for Surgery of the Knee (BASK) provide a comprehensive roadmap for assessing and managing meniscal injuries. Whether you’re a seasoned clinician or early in your career, these guidelines emphasize evidence-based practice, patient-centered care, and the importance of non-operative approaches where appropriate. Here's a breakdown of the... Continue Reading →
(Greenhalgh, Finucane, Mercer, & Selfe, 2020) Aim: Promote safety-netting as best practice Methods: Editorial + clinical examples Limitations: Author's views In practice: - Working collaboratively with the person to monitor symptoms: Therapeutic alliance, Shared Decision Making- Use time as a reasoning tool: resolving symptoms or red flag developing- Clear communication required- Anticipating patient's at riskImportant... Continue Reading →
Several names exist for this issue: Tennis elbow, lateral elbow pain / tendinopathy, epicondylalgia, epicondylitis … They all refer to the same problem. Foreword: This post has been written in relation to the reading and analysis of 6 recent literature reviews that synthesise the current scientific evidence about tennis elbow . These papers have been... Continue Reading →
(Vuvan, Vicenzino, Mellor, Heales, & Coombes, 2019) Aims: To investigate the effect of an 8-week unsupervised program of isometric exercise compared to a wait-and-see approach on pain, disability, global improvement, and pain-free grip strength in participants with unilateral LET. Methods: RCT in Australia. Inclusion: 18-70 years old, unilateral LET >6 weeks, pain >2 on average,... Continue Reading →
(Hoogvliet, Randsdorp, Dingemanse, Koes, & Huisstede, 2013) Aims: To assess the evidence for effectiveness of exercise therapy and mobilisation techniques for both medial and lateral epicondylitis. Methods: SR on 4 DB, 2 reviewers independently extracted data and assessed the methodological quality. English, German, French, Dutch language. Quality assessed according to a scale (Furlan). Heterogeneity made... Continue Reading →
(Coombes, Bisset, & Vicenzino, 2015) Aims: To collate evidence and expert opinion on the pathophysiology, clinical presentation, and differential diagnosis of LET. Factors that might provide prognostic value or direction for physical rehabilitation are canvassed. Clinical recommendations for physical rehabilitation are provided, including the prescription of exercise and adjunctive physical therapy and pharmacotherapy. Methods: Not... Continue Reading →
(Smith, Hendrick, O Smith, & Al., 2017) Aims: To compare the effect of exercises where pain is allowed / encouraged compared with non-painful exercises on pain, function or disability in patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain within randomised controlled trials. Method: Systematic review on exercises into pain vs non-pain exercises on pain, function or disability. 9... Continue Reading →
(Takasaki et al., 2011) Aims: The purpose of this study was 1) to examine measurement reliability of segmental upper cervical movements using magnetic resonance imaging and 2) to investigate the content validity of the FRT Methods: MRI study measurement on 19 healthy women. Results: FRT is a valid and reliable (substantial reliability) measure of Upper... Continue Reading →
(Van Laarhoven et al., 2011) Aims: To study verbally induced nocebo and placebo effects on itch and pain. Methods: 105 healthy female subjects were randomly assigned to one of 4 groups: (Itch nocebo n=36 vs Control n=20 or Pain nocebo n=33 vs Control n=16). In itch / pain nocebo groups patients were told a verbal... Continue Reading →
