Evidence Reviews

Natural history and prognosis for musculoskeletal rehabilitation students

Understanding the natural history and prognosis of musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions and injuries creates a great foundation when starting clinical rotations as a physical therapy student. In this blog, Chris shares his own evolving document which gathers various papers together in one centralized location to help him (and others) find the natural history and prognosis of most MSK conditions

Evidence Reviews

Literature versus clinical practice: rehabilitation intervention following meniscal repair

How does the literature compare to the actual rehabilitation performed in clinical practice after a meniscal repair?

Evidence Reviews

Literature versus clinical practice: rehabilitation intervention after subacromial decompression and rotator cuff repair

How does the literature compare to the actual rehabilitation performed in clinical practice after subacromial decompression and rotator cuff repair?

Evidence Reviews

Timing of hypertonic saline and airway clearance techniques in adults with Cystic Fibrosis during pulmonary exacerbation: a critical appraisal

This blog is a critical appraisal of a randomized controlled trial assessing the timing of hypertonic saline and airways clearance techniques in adults with Cystic Fibrosis (CF) during a pulmonary exacerbation.

Evidence Reviews

Land‐based versus water‐based rehabilitation following total knee replacement: a critical appraisal of the evidence

This blog is a critical appraisal of a randomized controlled trial assessing the effectiveness of land-based versus water-based rehabilitation following total knee replacement.

Evidence Reviews

In-hospital physiotherapy improves physical activity level after lung cancer surgery: a critical appraisal

This blog is a critical appraisal of a randomized controlled trial assessing the effectiveness of in-hospital physiotherapy for improving physical activity level after lung cancer surgery.

Evidence Reviews

Physiotherapy in patients with clinical signs of shoulder impingement syndrome: a critical appraisal

This blog is a critical appraisal of a randomized controlled trial assessing the effectiveness of individualized manual therapy, in addition to exercises, for treatment of shoulder impingement.

Evidence Reviews

Preoperative physiotherapy for the prevention of respiratory complications after upper abdominal surgery: a critical appraisal

This blog is a critical appraisal of a randomized controlled trial assessing the effectiveness of preoperative physiotherapy for the prevention of respiratory complications after upper abdominal surgery.

Evidence Reviews

How balance task-specific training contributes to improving physical function in older subjects undergoing rehabilitation following hip fracture: a critical appraisal

This blog is a critical appraisal of a randomized controlled trial assessing the effectiveness of balance task-specific training following hip fracture.

Evidence Reviews

An early rehabilitation intervention to enhance recovery during hospital admission for an exacerbation of chronic respiratory disease: a critical appraisal

This blog is a critical appraisal of a randomized controlled trial, assessing the effectiveness of an early rehabilitation intervention to enhance recovery during hospital admission for an exacerbation of chronic respiratory disease.

Evidence Reviews

Effectiveness of core stabilization exercises and routine exercise therapy in management of pain in chronic non-specific low back pain: A randomized controlled clinical trial: Critical appraisal

This blog is a critical appraisal of a randomized controlled trial assessing core stabilization exercises and routine exercise therapy for management of pain in chronic nonspecific low back pain.

Evidence Reviews

Effectiveness of Aquatic Exercises in Women with Rheumatoid Arthritis: A critical appraisal

This blog is a critical appraisal of a randomised control trial assessing the effectiveness of aquatic exercise in women with Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Evidence Reviews

Effectiveness of robotic-assisted gait training in stroke rehabilitation: A retrospective matched control study

This blog is a critical appraisal of a retrospective matched control study assessing the effectiveness of robotic-assisted gait training in stroke rehabilitation.

Evidence Reviews

Acapella vs. PEP mask therapy: A randomised trial in children with cystic fibrosis during respiratory exacerbation. A critical appraisal

This blog is a critical appraisal of a randomized controlled trial assessing Acapella vs. PEP mask therapy for children with cystic fibrosis during respiratory exacerbation.

Evidence Reviews

Hydrotherapy Versus Conventional Land-Based Exercise for the Management of Patients With Osteoarthritis of the Knee: A critical appraisal

This blog is a critical appraisal of a randomized controlled assessing hydrotherapy versus conventional land-based exercise for the management of patients with osteoarthritis of the knee.

Evidence Reviews

Effectiveness of different exercises and stretching physiotherapy on pain and movement in Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome: A critical appraisal

This blog is a critical appraisal of a randomized controlled trial examining the effectiveness of different exercises and stretching physiotherapy on pain and movement in patellofemoral pain syndrome.

Evidence Reviews

Responsiveness of Myofascial Trigger Points to Single and Multiple Trigger Point Release Massages: A critical appraisal

Myofascial trigger points (MTrPs) are nodules in a tight band of skeletal muscle which have an exaggerated response to moderate stimuli. These MTrPs are present in patients with myofascial pain syndrome (MPS). This blog critically appraises a randomized controlled trial which assessed the responsiveness of MTrPs to trigger point release massages.

Evidence Reviews

A critical appraisal of spinal mobilization vs conventional physiotherapy in the management of chronic low back pain due to spinal disc degeneration: a randomized controlled trial

This blog critically appraises a randomized controlled trial which compared spinal mobilization vs conventional physiotherapy in management of chronic low back pain due to disc degeneration.

Evidence Reviews

Expiratory Muscle Training in Spinal Cord Injury

This blog critically appraises a randomized controlled trial looking at the effectiveness of expiratory muscle training on the pulmonary function of patients with high spinal cord injury.

Evidence Reviews

Platelet-Rich Plasma Injection for Chronic Achilles Tendinopathy: A Randomized Controlled Trial

This blog critically appraises a randomized controlled trial looking at the effectiveness of eccentric exercises in combination with PRP injections versus saline injection.

Evidence Reviews

The Effect of Prehabilitation Exercise on Strength and Functioning after Total Knee Arthroplasty in Patients with Osteoarthritis

This blog is a critical appraisal of a randomized control trial which examined the effect of a preoperative exercise intervention on knee pain, functional ability, and quadriceps strength among patients with knee osteoarthritis before and after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) surgery.

Evidence Reviews

The effect of prehabilitation on the range of motion and functional outcomes in patients following total hip or knee arthroplasty

This blog is a critical appraisal of a randomized control trial which investigates the effects prehabilitation has on quality of life and functional abilities in patients undergoing total knee or hip replacement.

Evidence Reviews

Physiotherapy programme reduces fatigue in patients with advanced cancer receiving palliative care

Much research has looked into the use of exercise for patients receiving cancer treatment, however few studies have focused on palliative care. This blog is a critical appraisal of a randomized controlled trial (RCT) which evaluated the use of a physiotherapy programme to reduce cancer related fatigue in palliative cancer patients.

Evidence Reviews

The Effect of Physiotherapy on Shoulder Function in Patients Surgically Treated for Breast Cancer

This blog is a critical appraisal of a randomized control trial (RCT) looking at the effect of Physiotherapy on shoulder function in patients surgically treated for breast cancer.

Evidence Reviews

Stroke rehabilitation trials: let’s measure what matters

In this blog, Julie Duncan Millar, PhD Student and Physiotherapist, reflects on the difficulties of comparing and sharing upper limb rehabilitation trial data and proposes a condensed toolkit of measures recommended for researchers to use in future trials.

Evidence Reviews

Tailored vs. general exercise for low back pain

This blog is a critical appraisal of a randomised controlled trial comparing a tailored exercise programme with a general exercise programme for individuals with low back pain and movement control impairment.

Evidence Reviews

The Influence of Strength Training on Quality of Life in Ischemic Stroke

This blog is a critical appraisal of a Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) investigating the influence of strength training on quality of life in ischemic stroke survivors.

Evidence Reviews

Home-based Physiotherapy for Severe Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

This blog takes a critical look at a systematic review exploring home-based physiotherapy for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Evidence Reviews

Comparing different types of exercise for myocardial infarction patients

This blog is a critical appraisal of a randomised control trial comparing aerobic interval training with moderate intensity continuous training as part of treatment for patients with myocardial infarction.

Evidence Reviews

Bed exercises following a total hip replacement

This blog is a critical appraisal of a randomised control trial investigating the effects of bed exercises following a total hip replacement.

Evidence Reviews

Strengthening of hip and core muscle vs. knee muscles for treatment of patellofemoral pain

This blog is a critical appraisal of a randomized controlled trial investigated investigated whether strengthening the hip and core muscles vs. strengthening knee muscles is more effective for the treatment of patellofemoral (knee) pain.

Evidence Reviews

Using Nintendo Wii Fit in rehabilitation following total knee replacement

This is a critical analysis of a preliminary randomized control trial to determine if using the Nintendo Wii FitTM would be beneficial as part of the rehabilitation of strength, movement and function following a total knee replacement.

Evidence Reviews

Exercise for pregnant women with low back and pelvic pain (LBPP)

This blog takes a critical look at a randomized controlled trial evaluating the efficacy of an exercise program for improving functioning & pain in pregnant women suffering from low back pain and pelvic pain (LBPP)

Evidence Reviews

Additional task-related practice after stroke

This blog takes a critical look at whether including adding task-related exercises to standard rehabilation after a stroke can improve patients’ functioning and mobility.

Evidence Reviews

Warm-up exercises to prevent lower limb injuries in youth sports

Can including a structured warm-up exercise programme within a training schedule lead to fewer lower limb injuries among youth athletes?

Evidence Reviews

Acupuncture vs. physiotherapy for severe knee osteoarthritis

This blog takes a critical look at whether acupuncture or physiotherapy (compared to usual care) can lead to improvements in knee pain & functionality in patients awaiting knee replacement surgery.

Evidence Reviews

Tailored exercise vs. general exercise for low back pain & movement control impairment

This blog takes a critical look at whether a general or tailored exercise programme for a subgroup of individuals with lower back pain is more effective.

Evidence Reviews

Spinal manipulative therapy in patients with chronic low back pain

This study critically appraises an RCT, looking at whether Spinal Manipulative Therapy (SMT) is more effective in patients with chronic low back pain when it’s applied specifically or non-specifically to the back pain area.

Evidence Reviews

Strength training for young people with Down Syndrome

This blog takes a critical look at a strength-based training programme for young people with Down Syndrome.

Evidence Reviews

Circuit training as an alternative to usual physiotherapy after stroke

This blog takes a critical look at whether circuit training may be a safe alternative to usual physiotherapy for patients who’ve suffered a stroke.

Evidence Reviews

Clinical Feasibility of the Nintendo Wii for Balance Training Post-Stroke: a Phase II Randomized Controlled Trial in an Inpatient Setting – A Critical Appraisal

This blog looks at the importance of the use of video games or stimulation games for the use in physiotherapy treatment, in relation to aiding patients with proprioception post stroke. It analyses an article looking at balance training post stroke using the Wii Fit balance board and balance games. Reviewing the article and suggesting whether it is relevant or requires further studies or investigations.