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Introduction Chronic low back pain is the pain in the lumbo-sacral area with a duration of more than 3 months. Aim: To find out the efficacy of sub-occipital muscle inhibition technique along with interferential therapy and exercises on pain and other functional parameters in chronic low back pain patients. Material and methods 45 patients with a mean age of 38.53±9.36 years who had chronić low back pain were randomly assigned to 3 groups (n =15 in each group). Group-A received sub-occipital muscle inhibition technique, interferential therapy and exercise training, Group-B received interferential therapy and exercise training and Group-C received exercise training only for 3 days/week for 4 weeks. The outcome measures used were Numerical Pain Rating Scale, Modified-Modified Schober’s Test, Oswestry Disability Index and SF-36 questionnaire. Patients were assessed at baseline, after 2 weeks and 4 weeks. Results There was significant within-group-effects (p = 0.000) for NPRS, lumbar flexion, functional disability (ODI) and quality of life (SF-36) in all the three groups, but not lumbar extension. There was significant between-group-effect in lumbar flexion, lumbar extension and functional disability (p<0.05). Conclusions The sub-occipital muscle inhibition technique along with interferential therapy and spinal exercises have better clinical effects than interferential therapy and exercises alone in chronic low back pain patients.

A comparative analysis of different conservative modes of therapy for lymphoedema, largely of Filarial origin, was conducted in a trial therapy unit in Chengalpattu, a Filarial endemic district in Tamil Nadu. Results were compared using a single chambered intermittent pneumatic compression pump, heat therapy, and interferential therapy machines. The results showed improvement of limb size between 20% and 60% of possible reduction (where 100% would mean return of limb circumference to the same as that of the normal side). Pneumatic compression therapy, when used alone, showed the best results, which were significantly better than all others whether alone or in combination.

Introduction A cure for osteoarthritis is unknown. However, lessen the discomfort and symptoms by implementing several lifestyle changes and therapies. Reducing discomfort, enhancing joint mobility, and halting more joint injury are the goals of therapy. Purpose To evaluate the combined effect of wax therapy, Ultrasound therapy, Interferential therapy, stretching and resisted exercises when compare to Pulsed shortwave diathermy and resisted exercise among bilateral osteoarthritis knee patients. Methods This was a randomized controlled trial conducted on participant aged above 45 with Bilateral knee osteoarthritis, in the Outpatient Physiotherapy Department, B.K.L Walawalkar Rural Medical Hospital, Sawarde, Maharastra. The outcome measure used were Visual Analoue Scale for pain, Goniometer for bilateral knee flexion and extension Range of Motion, and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index. Result There were significant improvements in the experimental group and control group in terms of the pre-test and post-test scores for the Pain by VAS ( p  = 0.000 < 0.05), average both knee flexion ROM by goniometry ( p  = 0.000 < 0.05), average both knee extension ROM by goniometry ( p  = 0.000 < 0.05), speed 50 Meters (in distance/time) ( p  = 0.000 < 0.05) and WOMAC by physiotherapy ( p  = 0.000 < 0.05). Conclusion The combined effect of Paraffin Wax Therapy, Ultrasound therapy, Interferential therapy, stretching, and resisted exercises in bilateral osteoarthritis knee patients significantly relieved the knee pain with increased knee flexion/extension range of motion, increased speed of walking for 50 m on floor and improved WOMAC Score when compare to pulsed shortwave diathermy with resisted exercises.

Objectives: To test the safety of the diode light therapy and evaluate the advantages of the interferential effect of two light probes versus a conventional light probe in the relief of shoulder pain and disability caused by shoulder tendinopathies. Design: Randomized single-blind pilot study. Setting: Clinical electrotherapy unit. Participants: A total of 30 patients with shoulder pain from tendinopathies. Interventions: The patients were randomly assigned into two groups. Group 1 (n = 15) received interferential light therapy generated by two independent and identical cluster probes composed of light emitting and superluminescent diodes. Similarly, two applicators were applied in group 2 (n = 15), but only one was active, as in conventional clinical therapy. Each multi-diode cluster probe was composed of seven light-emitting diodes at 600 nm and 12 superluminescent diodes at 950 nm. Main outcome measures: Pain was evaluated by visual analogue scale (VAS) at day, at night and during several shoulder movements. Shoulder functional status was measured by means of the University California Los Angeles scale (UCLA). Results: Comparison between both treatments using the Mann–Whitney U-test showed better results for the interferential treatment. There were significant differences in pain reduction during abduction (P < 0.05) and external rotation (P < 0.05), with pain reductions in abduction and external rotation of 1.5 (± 1.3) and 0.5 (± 1.0) respectively. Conclusion: Interferential light therapy was safe and effective regarding the shoulder pain reduction during abduction and external rotation movements. The estimated size sample needed for future two-treatment parallel-design studies will require about 60 patients.

Background Chronic constipation (CC) is a frequent condition, and the first‐line treatment includes dietary rules, the use of laxatives, and biofeedback for evacuation disorders. However, almost half of the patients are dissatisfied with their current treatment. We report the first double‐blind randomized multicenter trial assessing the effectiveness of transabdominal electrical stimulation by interferential therapy (IFT) in the treatment of CC in adults. Methods A prospective, multicenter, randomized, double‐blind, sham‐controlled, parallel‐group, phase 3 trial was conducted at 7 centers in France. The primary endpoint was 8‐week efficacy as defined by the number of complete spontaneous bowel movements during the last 4 weeks of the 8‐week stimulation period. Secondary endpoints included the evaluation of the effects of IFT on symptoms (Patient Assessment of Constipation Symptoms questionnair (PAC‐SYM)), quality of life (QOL) (Patient Assessment of Constipation Quality of Life), Colonic transit time (CTT), anorectal manometry, and patient satisfaction. Results The proportion of 8‐week responders was not significantly different between the two groups (73.2% in the IFT group vs. 67.1% in the sham group). After 8 weeks of stimulation, the mean overall PAC‐SYM score and the mean reduction in the overall PAC‐SYM score were significantly greater in the IFT group than in the sham group. No differences were observed concerning CTT, anorectal manometry, or patient satisfaction. Conclusions Although the primary endpoint was not reached, IFT can significantly alleviate the symptoms and improve the QOL of CC patients. It can be assumed that new treatments require different modes of evaluation and that the assessment of patient‐reported outcomes may become a priority among therapeutic targets of CC. Trial registration number NCT02381665.

Objective: Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is the main cause of pain, physical impairment and chronic disability in older people. Electrotherapeutic modalities such as interferential therapy (IFT) and action potential simulation (APS) are used for the treatment of knee OA. In this study, we aim to evaluate the therapeutic effects of APS and IFT on knee OA. Methods: In this randomized clinical trial, 67 patients (94% female and 6% male with mean age of 52.80 ± 8.16 years) with mild and moderate knee OA were randomly assigned to be treated with APS (n = 34) or IFT (n = 33) for 10 sessions in 4 weeks. Baseline and post-treatment Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis (WOMAC) subscales, visual analogue scale (VAS) and timed up and go (TUG) test were measured in all patients. Results: VAS and WOMAC subscales were significantly improved after treatment in APS and IFT groups (p < 0.001 for all). TUG was also significantly improved after treatment in APS group (p < 0.001), but TUG changes in IFT was not significant (p = 0.09). There was no significant difference in VAS, TUG and WOMAC subscales values before and after treatment as well as the mean improvement in VAS, TUG and WOMAC subscales during study between groups. Conclusion: Short-term treatment with both APS and IFT could significantly reduce pain and improve physical function in patients with knee OA.

Background Approximately 80% of all proximal humeral fractures (PHFs) are non-displaced or minimally displaced fractures, which can be treated with conservative treatment. This study investigated the effect of interferential current (IFC) added to orthopedic rehabilitation on shoulder function, pain, and disability in patients with PHF. Methods This study was a prospective, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled conducted in physical medicine and rehabilitation outpatient clinic. Thirty-five patients were randomly separated into the IFC group ( n  = 18) and the sham group ( n  = 17). The orthopedic rehabilitation program was applied to all patients by the same physiotherapist three times a week for four weeks. Patients in the IFC group received the intervention for 20 minutes 3 times a week before the exercise. The same pads were performed for the sham group, but no electrical stimulation was applied. Constant-Murley score (CMS) for shoulder function, visual analog scale (VAS) activity pain, disabilities of the arm, shoulder, and hand (DASH) score, and paracetamol intake were recorded post-treatment, at 6 weeks and 18 weeks post-treatment. Results The demographic and fracture characteristics were not different between the groups. Significant differences were observed in the IFC and sham group in intragroup comparisons of total CMS, VAS activity pain, DASH score, and paracetamol intake over time ( p  < 0.001). Significant improvement over time was valid for all pairwise comparisons in both groups. However, no significant differences were detected between the IFC and sham group. Conclusion IFC added to orthopedic rehabilitation could not appear to be an electrotherapy modality that could potentially benefit shoulder function and disability in patients with PHF.

Anorectal malformation (ARM) is one of the most common pediatric surgical problems dealt in day-to-day practice. Although the outcome of surgery has improved a great deal over the last three decades fecal incontinence (FI) is still a common long-term morbidity that affects the quality of life of these patients. Bowel wash (BW) program with pelvic floor exercise are standard care of management for these patients. This study was undertaken to assess the role of interferential therapy (IFT) along with BW compared to BW alone in the management of FI. Twenty-four children more than 2-year-old age previously operated for malformation and having FI with Kelly score <4 were recruited and assigned to one of the two groups. One group was given standard BW regimen and the other BW with IFT for 3 months. Posttherapy Kelly scoring was done, and the results were compared. IFT with BW provided no added advantage over BW alone for the treatment of FI in patients of ARMs. The time-tested modality of BW is the cornerstone in the management of FI.

Background The prevalence of chronic constipation is about 15 % in Western countries with a significant impact on quality of life and health care costs. The first-line therapy, based on medical treatment combined with laxatives and dietary rules, is often disappointing. Interferential therapy is a new treatment that has demonstrated its efficiency in the treatment of chronic constipation in children and encouraging results in adults. The primary objective of this study is to assess the efficacy of interferential therapy during 8 weeks in adult patients. The secondary objectives are to assess this new and noninvasive therapy in terms of persistence of the clinical efficacy, colonic transit time, ano-rectal manometry, patient satisfaction and quality of life (QoL), and tolerance. Methods/Design Design: multicenter, prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled, double blind, two-parallel groups study. Setting: nine French adult gastroenterology centers. Inclusion criteria: adult patients with a history of chronic constipation refractory to medical treatment for at least 3 months. Treatment groups: (1) interferential-experimental group (effective stimulation); (2) placebo-control group (sham stimulation). Randomization: 1:1 allocation ratio. Evaluation times: inclusion (T0, randomization), baseline assessment (T1), start of stimulation (T2), intermediary assessment (T3, 4 weeks), end of stimulation (T4, 8 weeks), follow-up (T5 and T6, 1- and 6-month). Endpoints: (1) primary: short-term efficacy at T4 (treatment response defined as three or more spontaneous, complete bowel movements per week); (2) secondary: efficacy at T5 and T6, symptoms (Patient Assessment of Constipation Symptoms questionnaire), colonic transit time, anorectal manometry, patient satisfaction (analogical visual scale), patient QoL (Patient Assessment of Constipation Quality of Life Questionnaire), side/unexpected effects. Sample size: 200 individuals to obtain 80 % power to detect a 20 % difference in treatment response at T4 between the two groups (15 % of lost to follow-up patients expected). Discussion The randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled design is the most appropriate to demonstrate the efficacy of a new experimental therapeutic (Evidence-Based Medicine Working Group classification). National and international recommendations could be updated based on the findings of this study. Trial registration Current controlled trials NCT02381665 (registration date: February 13, 2015).