Shoulder Pain

BACKGROUND: Chronic pain is frequent in persons living with spinal cord injury (SCI). Conventionally, the pain is treated pharmacologically, yet long-term pain medication is often refractory and associated with side effects. Non-pharmacological interventions are frequently advocated, although the benefit and harm profiles of these treatments are not well established, in part because of methodological weaknesses of available studies.

The aim of the study is to determine which treatments for patients with subacromial pain are trusted by general practitioners (GPs) and physiotherapists, and to compare trusted treatments with evidence from a systematic critical review of the scientific literature. A two-step process was used: a questionnaire (written case simulation) and a systematic critical review. The questionnaire was mailed to 188 GPs and 71 physiotherapists in Sweden. The total response rate was 72% (186/259).

The results from studies on potential treatment effects of acupuncture are often limited due to serious difficulties in methodology. Randomized controlled trials on acupuncture should test a widely accepted treatment strategy of verum and sham acupuncture. However, in clinical practice various patterns of acupuncture techniques are employed, and up to now no generally accepted guidelines on how to perform a reliable verum or sham treatment have been established.

BACKGROUND: There are many commonly employed forms of treatment for shoulder disorders. This review of acupuncture is one in a series of reviews of varying interventions for shoulder disorders including adhesive capsulitis (frozen shoulder), rotator cuff disease and osteoarthritis. Acupuncture to treat musculoskeletal pain is being used increasingly to confer an analgesic effect and to date its use in shoulder disorder has not been evaluated in a systematic review. OBJECTIVES: To determine the efficacy and safety of acupuncture in the treatment of adults with shoulder pain.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The aim of this review is to evaluate the evidence for laser acupuncture in selected orthopaedic diseases. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Randomized controlled studies, meta-analyses and systematic reviews were identified by a systematic search strategy in Medline and the Cochrane library. The studies were evaluated using the quality criteria of the Oxford Centre of Evidence Based Medicine.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy of current interventions for shoulder complaints in adults. DESIGN: Systematic literature review. METHOD: Medline and the Cochrane Library were searched for systematic reviews and randomised studies on the efficacy of interventions for shoulder complaints in adults. Studies of patients with an identifiable cause of shoulder symptoms or an underlying disease were excluded. Studies evaluating pain, function and duration of symptoms were included.

The aim of the study is to determine which treatments for patients with subacromial pain are trusted by general practitioners (GPs) and physiotherapists, and to compare trusted treatments with evidence from a systematic critical review of the scientific literature. A two-step process was used: a questionnaire (written case simulation) and a systematic critical review. The questionnaire was mailed to 188 GPs and 71 physiotherapists in Sweden. The total response rate was 72% (186/259).

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The aim of this review is to evaluate the evidence for laser acupuncture in selected orthopaedic diseases. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Randomized controlled studies, meta-analyses and systematic reviews were identified by a systematic search strategy in Medline and the Cochrane library. The studies were evaluated using the quality criteria of the Oxford Centre of Evidence Based Medicine.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy of current interventions for shoulder complaints in adults. DESIGN: Systematic literature review. METHOD: Medline and the Cochrane Library were searched for systematic reviews and randomised studies on the efficacy of interventions for shoulder complaints in adults. Studies of patients with an identifiable cause of shoulder symptoms or an underlying disease were excluded. Studies evaluating pain, function and duration of symptoms were included.

OBJECTIVES: Shoulder pain, for which acupuncture has been used, is a common complication after a stroke that interferes with the function of the upper extremities. The aim of this systematic review is to summarize and evaluate the effects of acupuncture for shoulder pain after stroke.