Volume 7:1
Knowledge synthesis of the various physical activity selfreport measures used in physiotherapy practice
Vanitha Arumugam, PT, MPT; Joy C MacDermid, PT, PhD
University of Western Ontario, Health and Rehabilitation Sciences
McMaster University, School of Rehabilitation Science – Hamilton, Ontario
St. Joseph’s Hospital – London, Ontario
Background: Evidence shows moderate physical activity (PA) improves physical, mental, and social well-being. Patient reported outcome measures (PRO) are useful to assess PA levels over long intervals that are impractical to measure directly. There are a number of PROs that are available for assessing PA levels. A knowledge synthesis can determine the amount and type of research necessary to identify the most appropriate PA measures for use in rehabilitation practice. A scoping review is an efficient way of synthesizing literature when the knowledge base under review is very broad.
Description: The purpose of this study is to conduct a scoping review on physical activity self-report measures used in the field of rehabilitation. We aim to 1) compare and contrast the various PAPROs in terms of their content, structure, and clinical measurement properties; 2) map the existing literature on the use of these outcome measures on different patient populations and settings (hospital-based, rehab and communitybased);and 3) identify gaps that suggest areas for future research.
Proposed Methods: We will follow the scoping review methodology proposed by Arksey and O’Malley. We will search electronic databases and grey literature to identify suitable literature. This will be followed by data retrieval and charting. The retrieved data will then be collated and summarized.
Conclusion: From this scoping review, we anticipate the development of an executive summary describing the various ways to administer PA-PROs. This document will also contain recommendations on ideal measures for different settings and practices. The knowledge gained will be disseminated through various mediums like publications in open access peer reviewed journals and conference presentations.
Manual Therapy with Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation in a Patient with Frozen Shoulder
Chris Hendley, SPT and Ann Lucado, PhD, PT
Mercer University – Atlanta, GA
Background: Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) and manual therapy are well-researched interventions for frozen shoulder syndrome. No research has examined the effect of simultaneous TENS and manual therapy. This case report’s purpose is to describe the effects of simultaneous use of TENS and manual therapy in a subject with frozen shoulder syndrome.
Case Description: A fifty-two year old Caucasian male with right shoulder pain was referred to physical therapy. His pain was localized around the greater tuberosity of the humerus. The physical therapy diagnosis was shoulder impingement that developed into frozen shoulder syndrome. The plan of care included manual therapy, therapeutic exercise, and modalities. The patient reported pain during manual therapy, so the student physical therapist applied TENS during manual therapy to reduce the pain.
Outcomes: The subject reported decreased pain associated with manual therapy when the TENS was applied. The subject was able to regain some function as measured by the Disability of the Arm, Hand, and Shoulder outcome tool (DASH), goniometric measurements, and numeric pain rating scale.
Conclusion: This case report shows that simultaneous TENS and manual therapy may have an augmented effect on a patient with frozen shoulder syndrome. This case report also shows that TENS may reduce pain during manual therapy in patients with frozen shoulder syndrome. No definitive conclusions can be drawn from a single case; however, this information justifies the need for further investigation of the effect of simultaneous TENS and manual therapy in patients with frozen shoulder syndrome.
A Multi-Modal Treatment Approach for a Young Adult with Friedreich’s Ataxia
Megan Siler, PT, DPT; Bill Andrews, PT, MS, EdD, NCS
Elon University – Elon, NC
Background: FRDA is a progressive and degenerative autosomal recessive disorder affecting the neuromuscular, endocrine, cardiovascular, and musculoskeletal systems. The literature is limited regarding physical therapy intervention strategies specifically for patients with FRDA.
Case Description: The participant in this case report was a nineteen-year-old female who had been diagnosed with FRDA two and a half years earlier. At the initial examination, the participant presented with muscle weakness, difficulty with walking, decreased balance, and increased ataxia. Interventions focused on coordinative, balance, and strength training activities as well as aquatic therapy.
Outcomes: The patient demonstrated a six-point increase on the Berg Balance Scale, a 0.14m/s increase in gait speed with a rollator, and a fifteen-second decrease in time for the five times sit-to-stand test upon completion of the eight-week period. The participant reported that she felt stronger and steadier with activities of daily living performance and had decreased the use of her rollator inside her apartment.
Conclusion: A multi-modal treatment approach comprised of coordinative, balance, and strength training interventions along with aquatic therapy demonstrated positive gains for this patient with FRDA. Further research involving larger sample sizes is needed in order to verify the effectiveness of these interventions for other patients with FRDA.
