Key messages from this Snapshot Summary include:
- There is a lack of sufficient high quality evidence of clinical benefit to support a recommendation for the use of ultrasound as a treatment for low back pain or sciatica and or peripheral joints.
Snapshot Summaries
NCOR launched our Centre For Reviews and Summaries (CFRS) in early 2017. This will grow into a one-stop-shop for all osteopaths who want to read summaries of the latest evidence relating to osteopathic care and management. Our Snapshot Summaries are intended to provide a brief overview of predominantly manual therapy and osteopathically-relevant research, with references for further reading. They are not intended to be an exhaustive or systematic review of the literature.
Manual therapy for paediatric care
Key messages from this Snapshot Summary include:
- There is moderate to high quality evidence of benefit for osteopathic treatment for pre-term infants on length of hospital stay.
- There is moderate quality evidence of benefit of manual therapy treatment for infants with ‘colic’ for reduced crying time.
Kinesiology tape in the management of musculoskeletal disorders
Key messages from this Snapshot Summary include:
- Kinesiology tape may offer short-term reduction in pain but does not appear to provide long-term pain relief
- Pain-reducing effects of kinesiology tape may not be large enough to be significant to patients
- Kinesiology tape appears safe, relatively cheap, and no serious adverse effects were reported in the literature reviewed
The full Snapshot Summary is available as a PDF to download. Read more
Exercise therapy in the management of hip and knee osteoarthritis
Key messages from this Snapshot Summary include:
- There is strong evidence suggesting that exercise in general can help patients manage the pain of hip and knee osteoarthritis.
- Appropriate exercise can be prescribed irrespective of age, pain level, comorbidity and disability.
- Catering to the patient’s specific needs and circumstances may improve adherence, which is important for improvements in outcomes.
Acceptance and mindfulness in the management of persistent pain
Key messages from this Snapshot Summary include:
- Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) can positively influence the way in which individuals respond to and cope with pain experiences. Evidence that MBIs alter the experience of pain itself is weak.
- Depression is a common comorbidity, and patients with persistent pain are more likely to have higher levels of anxiety symptoms.
Exercise therapy in the management of shoulder pain
Key messages from this Snapshot Summary include:
- For rotator cuff disorders, Exercise therapy — including stretching, range of motion exercises, and strengthening — may result in greater pain reduction when combined with other therapies, including manual therapy and acupuncture.
- For frozen shoulder, exercise should only be recommended once movement can be tolerated after the acute phase.
Manual therapy in the management of tendinopathy
Key messages from this Snapshot Summary include:
- Tendinopathy is generally accepted to be the result of tendon derangement and adverse mechanical loading, in the absence of inflammation.
- For patients with rotator cuff tendinopathy, there is low-to moderate quality evidence supporting the use of manual therapy to reduce pain, but not to improve function.
What evidence is there for osteopathy?
This Snapshot Summary is available as a PDF to download: What evidence is there for osteopathy? Read more
Pharmacological pain management
This Snapshot Summary is available as a PDF to download: Pharmacological pain management Read more
Straight leg raising test
This Snapshot Summary is available as a PDF to download: Straight leg raising test Read more