OBJECTIVE: To examine the effectiveness of whole body vibration (WBV) on tone, muscle force, sensation and functional performance in people with multiple sclerosis. DESIGN: A randomized cross-over pilot study. SETTING: Revive MS Support Therapy Centre. Glasgow, UK. SUBJECTS: Sixteen people with multiple sclerosis were randomly allocated to one of two ...

OBJECTIVES: Lifestyle is less favourable among individuals suffering from psychiatric disorders. We studied whether psychotherapy brings along changes in lifestyle and whether these changes differ between short-term and long-term psychodynamic psychotherapy (SPP and LPP) and solution-focused therapy (SFT). METHODS: A total of 326 outpatients, 20-46 years of age, with mood ...

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is an idiopathic disease of adults affecting upper and lower motor neurons. In one to four years, progressive weakness, spasticity, and respiratory insufficiency compromise independence and survival. Current medical treatment is limited to medication and supportive care. The benefit and harm of moderate ...

Exercise tolerance reflects the integrative capacity of components in the oxygen cascade to supply adequate oxygen for ATP resynthesis. Conventional cancer therapies can simultaneously affect one or more components of this cascade and reduce the body's ability to deliver or utilise oxygen and substrate, leading to exercise intolerance. We propose ...

The heterogeneity among severe haemophilia A patients reflects on variable tendencies for bleeding and also variable responses to FVIII therapy. This variability cannot be detected or predicted by routine coagulation tests. Thromboelastography (TEG) has recently been evaluated for assessing hemostatic patterns in haemophiliacs and proved valuable in monitoring therapy and/or ...

BACKGROUND: To date, optimal strategies for the management of patients with cervical radiculopathy remain elusive. Preliminary evidence suggests that a multimodal treatment program consisting of manual therapy, exercise, and cervical traction may result in positive outcomes for patients with cervical radiculopathy. However, limited evidence exists to support the use of ...

OBJECTIVE: To determine if clinical guidelines recommending therapeutic exercise for people with knee osteoarthritis (OA) are supported by rigorous scientific evidence. To explore whether the magnitude of treatment benefit reported in randomized controlled trials (RCT) is associated with exercise dosage or study methodology. METHODS: We conducted a metaanalysis of RCT ...

The importance of mitochondrial dysfunctions in the progression of chronic disease has been well established. Patients with chronic diseases are often prescribed a variety of medications, many of which have been shown to induce mitochondrial dysfunction. Exercise is a known stimulus for mitochondrial biogenesis and also recommended to patients as ...

This article summarizes physiologic obstacles to exercise and reviews exercise interventions in fibromyalgia (FM). In addition, the authors describe the top 10 principles for successfully prescribing exercise in the comprehensive treatment of FM and provide a practical exercise resource table to share with patients. A therapeutic alliance between the provider ...

To conduct a systematic review of the literature evaluating tai chi exercise as an intervention for patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD) or with CVD risk factors (CVDRF). We searched (1) MEDLINE, CAB Alt HealthWatch, BIOSIS previews, Science Citation Index, EMBASE, and Social Science Citation Index from inception through October 2007; ...

Evidence on the effects of exercise in the treatment of patients with chronic diseases should be based on well designed randomised controlled trials. The most consistent finding of the meta-analyses summarised in the present work is that aerobic/functional capacity and muscle strength can be improved by exercise training among patients ...

STUDY DESIGN: Randomized clinical trial. Introduction: Contrast baths are a treatment modality commonly used in hand clinics. Yet the benefits of contrast baths have been poorly substantiated. Contrast baths have been suggested for the purposes of reducing hand volume, alleviating pain, and decreasing stiffness in affected extremities. PURPOSE OF THE ...

Several methods of physiotherapy have been advanced for apogeotropic type benign positional vertigo involving the horizontal semicircular canal (HC-BPV). The aim of this study was to determine the therapeutic efficacies of the proposed maneuvers in apogeotropic HC-BPV. Using a prospective randomized trial involving seven nationwide dizziness clinics in Korea, we ...

Neuromuscular disease is an extremely common complication of end-stage kidney disease (ESKD), manifesting in almost all dialysis patients, and leading to weakness, reduced exercise capacity, and disability. Recent studies have suggested that hyperkalemia may underlie the development of neuropathy. As such, maintenance of serum K(+) within normal limits between periods ...

OBJECTIVE: The goal of this review is to ascertain the extent to which the current body of research on the role of exercise in multiple sclerosis (MS) provides sufficiently strong evidence to guide regular exercise prescription. METHODS: We searched CINAHL, COCHRANE, EMBASE, and MEDLINE between 1950 and December 2007 with ...

The purpose of this study was to compare conventional radiotherapy with parotid gland-sparing intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) using the PARSPORT trial. The validity of such a trial depends on the radiotherapy planning and delivery meeting a defined standard across all centres. At the outset, many of the centres had little ...

The aim of the study was to provide an overview of the effect of exercise interventions on subjective quality of life (QoL) across adult clinical populations and well people, and to systematically investigate the impact of the exercise setting, intensity and type on these outcomes. From a systematic search of ...

BACKGROUND, OBJECTIVES, AND MEASUREMENTS: Patients with chronic airway obstruction (CAO) frequently experience dyspnea and fatigue during activities performed by accessory muscles of ventilation, which competitively participate in arm elevation. This systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) concerning patients with CAO addresses the effects of upper-extremity exercise training (UEET), added ...

The prevalence of refractory angina in the United States is 600,000 to 1.8 million. Improved pharmacological, invasive, and surgical therapies for cardiovascular diseases during the last few decades have led to an increase in life expectancy of such individuals. Despite treatment with multiple medications and invasive procedures, these patients remain ...

Moderate exercise is a powerful therapy in the treatment and prevention of cardiac disease, but intense habitual exercise leads to cardiac adaptations for which the prognostic benefits are less clear. The athlete's heart syndrome refers to the morphological and electrical remodeling which occurs to varying extents dependent upon the sporting ...

RATIONALE: Upper airway muscle function plays a major role in maintenance of the upper airway patency and contributes to the genesis of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). Preliminary results suggested that oropharyngeal exercises derived from speech therapy may be an effective treatment option for patients with moderate OSAS. OBJECTIVES: To ...

BACKGROUND: Performance status (PS) scoring systems are tools of immense clinical importance in the management of patients with malignant disease but these tools are subjective and do not provide an objective evaluation of physical functioning. We conducted a pilot study to explore the feasibility and clinical utility of functional capacity ...

Regular thermal therapy, using saunas or hot baths, has the potential to improve impaired insulin sensitivity and boost endothelial expression of the "constitutive" isoform of nitric oxide synthase--effects, analogous to those of aerobic training that should promote vascular health. Previous clinical reports suggest that hot tubs may be beneficial for ...

This study describes two similar approaches to human movement: Qi Gong exercises and the Feldenkrais method. These systems are investigated in terms of Gestalt concepts and humanistic psychology. Moshe Feldenkrais created the concept known as Awareness Through Movement. This concept assumes that by becoming more aware of one's movements, one ...

INTRODUCTION: Therapeutic exercise, although potentially beneficial, does not appear acceptable to many cancer patients. A greater understanding of the reasons for this is required. We have systematically reviewed the use of exercise in this group, identifying rates of uptake, adherence and completion along with factors influencing acceptability. METHODS: Searches were ...

BACKGROUND: Post-natal depression (PND) is a serious mental health problem that may be reduced by exercise. National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence in England have recommended that health professions should consider exercise as a treatment for PND. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of exercise in the management of PND. ...

OBJECTIVE: Chronic tendon pathology is a soft tissue condition commonly seen in chiropractic practice. Tendonitis, tendinosis, and tendinopathy are terms used to describe this clinical entity. The purpose of this article is to review interventions commonly used by doctors of chiropractic when treating tendinopathy. METHODS: The Scientific Commission of the ...

Robot therapy seems promising with stroke survivors, but it is unclear which exercises are most effective, and whether other pathologies may benefit from this technique. In general, exercises should exploit the adaptive nature of the nervous system, even in chronic patients. Ideally, exercise should involve multiple sensory modalities and, to ...

Neurogenic claudication (NC) is the clinical syndrome commonly associated with lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS). Non-surgical management is recommended as initial treatment, but little is known about current practice in relation to the assessment and management of these patients in the non-surgical setting. We conducted a questionnaire survey of physiotherapists in ...

BACKGROUND: The most serious complications of cystic fibrosis (CF) relate to respiratory insufficiency. Oxygen supplementation therapy has been a standard of care for individuals with chronic lung diseases associated with hypoxemia for decades. Physicians commonly prescribe oxygen therapy for people with CF when hypoxemia occurs. However, it is unclear if ...

BACKGROUND: Androgen deprivation therapy leads to a number of adverse effects including deterioration of the musculoskeletal system and increased risk factors for cardiovascular and metabolic complications. The purpose of this study is to determine the effects, efficacy, retention and compliance of a physical exercise intervention in a large established cohort ...

Exercise has been increasingly investigated as an adjunct therapy for cancer patients. The purpose of this paper is to comprehensively review the literature regarding exercise as a therapeutic adjunct for prostate cancer (PC). Several studies in patients with PC have shown quality of life improvements associated with exercise. Although no ...

Several meta-analyses examining the effects of exercise on depression have been criticized for including studies of poor methodological integrity. More recent meta-analyses addressed the most common criticism by including only randomized control trials; however, these analyses suffer from incomplete literature searches and lack of moderating variable analyses. Using a more ...

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Aspheric intraocular lenses (IOLs) were designed to improve functional vision on the assumption that reducing ocular spherical aberration would lead to improvements in contrast sensitivity. Although this has largely been confirmed by many studies, several recent studies have reported no difference in contrast sensitivity or in patient ...

Scleroderma or systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a relatively uncommon disease. Although well-known for many years, research on appropriate physical therapy during all stages of myositis due to scleroderma is limited. We report the functional outcome in a patient with an acute quadriparesis secondary to diffuse SSc associated with extensive myositis. ...

While practice errors have been studied extensively in medicine and pharmacy, little research exists in physical therapy. The purpose of this study was to explore the phenomenon of physical therapy practice errors in geriatric, adult neurologic, and orthopedic clinical settings. Thirty physical therapists with three or more years of practice ...

BACKGROUND: Conservative interventions such as physiotherapy and ergonomic adjustments (such as keyboard adjustments or ergonomic advice) play a major role in the treatment of most work-related complaints of the arm, neck or shoulder (CANS). OBJECTIVES: This systematic review aims to determine whether conservative interventions have a significant impact on outcomes ...

Some patients with mild or moderate thoracic scoliosis (Cobb angle <50-60 degrees) suffer disproportionate impairment of pulmonary function associated with deformities in the sagittal plane and reduced flexibility of the spine and chest cage. Long-term improvement in the clinical signs and symptoms of childhood onset scoliosis in an adult, without ...

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effectiveness of meropenem with cefepime and piperacillin/tazobactam in the absence of direct comparisons in randomised controlled trials. DATA SOURCES: Two previously conducted systematic reviews, one comparing the carbapenems (ertapenem and imipenem/cilastatin) versus 4th-generation cephalosporins (cefepime) or antipseudomonal penicillins (piperacillin/tazobactam), and the other comparing the carbapenems (imipenem/cilastatin ...

PURPOSE: Pet therapy is a non-pharmacological intervention, but its scientific value is still undefined. METHODS: The first step to identify the papers of interest was the access to the MEDLINE library from 1960 until June 2007 and the Cochrane controlled trials registry. RESULTS: At present there is consistent evidence of ...

INTRODUCTION: Recent guidelines pertaining to exercise for individuals with osteoarthritis have been released. These guidelines have been based primarily on studies of knee-joint osteoarthritis. The current study was focused on the hip joint, which has different biomechanical features and risk factors for osteoarthritis and has received much less attention in ...

Benign Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) / Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) is a debilitating disease which, despite numerous biological abnormalities has remained highly controversial. Notwithstanding the medical pathogenesis of ME/CFS, the (bio)psychosocial model is adopted by many governmental organizations and medical profes-sio-nals to legitimize the combination of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and ...

BACKGROUND: Current international treatment guidelines recommending therapeutic exercise for people with symptomatic hip OA report are based on expert opinion only. OBJECTIVES: To determine whether land-based therapeutic exercise is beneficial for people with hip OA in terms of reduced joint pain and/or improved physical function. SEARCH STRATEGY: Five databases were ...

BACKGROUND: Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) is accompanied by a number of adverse side effects including reduced bone mass and increased risk for fracture, reduced lean mass and muscle strength, mood disturbance and increased fat mass compromising physical functioning, independence, and quality of life. The purpose of this investigation is to ...

Purpose: To systematically review and synthesize results of studies that examined the effects of exercise on persons with metastatic cancer.Methods: Databases searched were MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials. Search terms used were "metastatic or advanced or palliative AND cancer or neoplasms AND exercise or ...

Exercise therapies generate substantial costs in computer workers with non-specific work-related upper limb disorders (WRULD). To study if postural exercise therapy is cost-effective compared to regular physiotherapy in screen-workers with early complaints, both from health care and societal perspective. Prospective randomized trial including cost-effectiveness analysis; one year follow-up. Participants: Eighty-eight ...

Chronic whiplash is a common and costly problem. Sensory hypersensitivity is a feature of chronic whiplash that is associated with poor responsiveness to physical treatments such as exercise. Modalities such as dry-needling have shown some capacity to modulate sensory hypersensitivity, suggesting that when combined with advice and exercise, such an ...

Physiotherapy has long been a routine component of patient rehabilitation following hip joint replacement. The purpose of this systematic review was to evaluate the effectiveness of physiotherapy exercise after discharge from hospital on function, walking, range of motion, quality of life and muscle strength, for osteoarthritic patients following elective primary ...

Non-pharmacological, non-surgical interventions are recommended as the first line of treatment for osteoarthritis (OA) of the hip and knee. There is evidence that exercise therapy is effective for reducing pain and improving function in patients with knee OA, some evidence that exercise therapy is effective for hip OA, and early ...

Introduction: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is the most common progressive neurological disorder in the young adults. One of the areas that are affected in MS is the cerebellum. Ddisorders in this structure leadss to ataxia, imbalance, and so on, that can decrease patient's quality of life. Exercise therapy is an effective ...