Op 8 januari 2020 verdedigde ik mijn proef - schrift bij de Rijksuniversiteit Groningen. Het proefschrift richt zich op het vergroten van inzicht in de aard en de omvang van potentiële complicaties na het toepassen van manueeltherapeutische handelingen aan de cervicale wervelkolom bij mensen met nekpijn en/of hoofdpijn. Zowel onder leken als onder zorgprofessionals bestaat de veronderstelling dat manueeltherapeutische handelingen die worden toegepast aan de cervicale wervelkolom, kunnen leiden tot complicaties. Er is tot nu toe geen duidelijk causaal verband gevonden tussen de handelingen en ernstige complicaties. Bovendien wordt slechts sporadisch gepubliceerd over casuïstiek met ernstige complicaties die tijdens of na manuele behandelingen van de cervicale wervelkolom ontstaan zijn. De schattingen van het voorkomen van complicaties variëren enorm. Daarnaast is niet duidelijk welke patiënten een hoger of lager risico lopen op dergelijke complicaties.
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Background: The purpose of this study was to explore physiotherapists’ knowledge, attitude, and practice behavior in assessing and managing patients with non-specific, non-traumatic, acute- and subacute neck pain, with a focus on prognostic factors for chronification. Method: A qualitative study using in-depth semi-structured interviews was conducted with 13 physiotherapists working in primary care. A purposive sampling method served to seek the broadest perspectives. The knowledgeattitude and practice framework was used as an analytic lens throughout the process. Textual data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis with an inductive approach and constant comparison. Results: Seven main themes emerged from the data; physiotherapists self-estimated knowledge and attitude, role clarity, therapeutic relationship, internal- and external barriers to practice behavior, physiotherapists’ practice behaviors, and self-reflection. These findings are presented in an adjusted knowledge-attitude and practice behavior framework. Conclusion: A complex relationship was found between a physiotherapist’s knowledge about, attitude, and practice behavior concerning the diagnostic process and interventions for non-specific, non-traumatic, acute, and subacute neck pain. Overall, physiotherapists used a biopsychosocial view of patients with non-specific neck pain. Physiotherapists’ practice behaviors was influenced by individual attitudes towards their professional role and therapeutic relationship with the patient, and individual knowledge and skills, personal routines and habits, the feeling of powerlessness to modify patients’ external factors, and patients’ lack of willingness to a biopsychosocial approach influenced physiotherapists’ clinical decisions. In addition, we found self-reflection to have an essential role in developing self-estimated knowledge and change in attitude towards their therapeutic role and therapist-patient relationship.
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ACHTERGROND EN DOELAspecifieke lage rug- en/of nekpijn is een veel voorkomende klacht en kan tot veel beperkingen in ADL leiden. De vraag is “wat is de toegevoegde waarde van een self-tracking systeem de LumoBack” voor de fysiotherapie.METHODEIn dit onderzoek is geobserveerd of patiënten met aspeci eke lage rug en/of nekklachten (ALRNK) na twee weken gebruik van de LumoBack en reguliere fysiotherapie (groep A) minder moeite in activiteiten hebben en minder pijn ervaren, dan patiënten die alleen twee weken reguliere fysiotherapie (groep B) kregen. Het onderzoek bestond uit een voor- en nameting waarbij de VAS, de PSK en de QBPDS werden afgenomen.RESULTATENUit de resultaten blijkt dat er na twee weken geen signi cant verschil is gevonden tussen beide groepen. Wel is de verbetering in VAS1 en PSK3 signi cant verschillend tussen beide groepen. Groep A laat grotere verbeteringen zien met een klinisch relevante vermindering in vas 1 en vas 2.
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Background and objective: Serious pathologies of the neck can potentially result in cranial nerve palsy. Knowledge about cranial nerve examination (CNE) seems sparse, and its use is still unknown. We aim to investigate the knowledge, skills, and utilization of CNE of Italian physiotherapists. Materials and Methods: An online cross-sectional survey. Results: 396 completed the survey, reaching the required sample size. Although Italian physiotherapists consider CNE relevant (mean ± SD = 7.6/10 ± 2.0), over half of all responders (n = 229 (57.8%)) were not trained in the fundamentals and around a third did not use it in their daily practice (n = 138 (34.8%)). Additionally, participants were unconfident and insecure in conducting (n = 152 (38.4%) and n = 147 (37.1%)), interpreting (n = 140 (35.4%) and n = 164 (41.4%)), and managing the CNE (n = 141 (35.6%) and n = 154 (38.9%)). Possessing a musculoskeletal specialization was associated with an increased value attributed to clinical practice guidelines and reduced the lack of confidence in conducting, interpreting, and managing the CNE (respectively, n = 35 (25.5%), p = 0.0001; n = 32 (23.4%) p = 0.0002; n = 32 (23.4%) p = 0.0002). Working in a direct access setting significantly increased the considered relevance of guidelines and the concerns about arterial (p = 0.004) and other serious pathologies (p = 0.021). Pain and visual disturbances were considered the main indicators to CNE, demonstrating limited knowledge of signs and symptoms’ indicating CNE. Participants considered specific training in CNE as relevant (mean ± SD = 7.6/10 = 2.1). Conclusions: a substantial proportion of Italian physiotherapists are not schooled in the fundamentals of cranial nerve examination. Given the number of physiotherapists who work in first contact roles, this is a professional concern.
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Background Providing individualized care based on the context and preferences of the patient is important. Knowledge on both prognostic risk stratification and blended eHealth care in musculoskeletal conditions is increasing and seems promising. Stratification can be used to match patients to the most optimal content and intensity of treatment as well as mode of treatment delivery (i.e. face-to-face or blended with eHealth). However, research on the integration of stratified and blended eHealth care with corresponding matched treatment options for patients with neck and/or shoulder complaints is lacking. Methods This study was a mixed methods study comprising the development of matched treatment options, followed by an evaluation of the feasibility of the developed Stratified Blended Physiotherapy approach. In the first phase, three focus groups with physiotherapists and physiotherapy experts were conducted. The second phase investigated the feasibility (i.e. satisfaction, usability and experiences) of the Stratified Blended Physiotherapy approach for both physiotherapists and patients in a multicenter single-arm convergent parallel mixed methods feasibility study. Results In the first phase, matched treatment options were developed for six patient subgroups. Recommendations for content and intensity of physiotherapy were matched to the patient’s risk of persistent disabling pain (using the Keele STarT MSK Tool: low/medium/high risk). In addition, selection of mode of treatment delivery was matched to the patient’s suitability for blended care (using the Dutch Blended Physiotherapy Checklist: yes/no). A paperbased workbook and e-Exercise app modules were developed as two different mode of treatment delivery options, to support physiotherapists. Feasibility was evaluated in the second phase. Physiotherapists and patients were mildly satisfied with the new approach. Usability of the physiotherapist dashboard to set up the e-Exercise app was considered ‘OK’ by physiotherapists. Patients considered the e-Exercise app to be of ‘best imaginable’ usability. The paper-based workbook was not used. Conclusion Results of the focus groups led to the development of matched treatment options. Results of the feasibility study showed experiences with integrating stratified and blended eHealth care and have informed amendments to the Stratified Blended Physiotherapy approach for patients with neck and/or shoulder complaints ready to use within a future cluster randomized trial.
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Background: Neck and shoulder complaints are common in primary care physiotherapy. These patients experience pain and disability, resulting in high societal costs due to, for example, healthcare use and work absence. Content and intensity of physiotherapy care can be matched to a patient’s risk of persistent disabling pain. Mode of care delivery can be matched to the patient’s suitability for blended care (integrating eHealth with physiotherapy sessions). It is hypothesized that combining these two approaches to stratified care (referred to from this point as Stratified Blended Approach) will improve the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of physiotherapy for patients with neck and/or shoulder complaints compared to usual physiotherapy. Methods: This paper presents the protocol of a multicenter, pragmatic, two-arm, parallel-group, cluster randomized controlled trial. A total of 92 physiotherapists will be recruited from Dutch primary care physiotherapy practices. Physiotherapy practices will be randomized to the Stratified Blended Approach arm or usual physiotherapy arm by a computer-generated random sequence table using SPSS (1:1 allocation). Number of physiotherapists (1 or > 1) will be used as a stratification variable. A total of 238 adults consulting with neck and/or shoulder complaints will be recruited to the trial by the physiotherapy practices. In the Stratified Blended Approach arm, physiotherapists will match I) the content and intensity of physiotherapy care to the patient’s risk of persistent disabling pain, categorized as low, medium or high (using the Keele STarT MSK Tool) and II) the mode of care delivery to the patient’s suitability and willingness to receive blended care. The control arm will receive physiotherapy as usual. Neither physiotherapists nor patients in the control arm will be informed about the Stratified Blended Approach arm. The primary outcome is region-specific pain and disability (combined score of Shoulder Pain and Disability Index & Neck Pain and Disability Scale) over 9 months. Effectiveness will be compared using linear mixed models. An economic evaluation will be performed from the societal and healthcare perspective. Discussion: The trial will be the first to provide evidence on the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of the Stratified Blended Approach compared with usual physiotherapy in patients with neck and/or shoulder complaints.
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SYNOPSIS: Vascular serious adverse events can occur after examining, manipulating, mobilizing, and prescribing exercise for the cervical spine. Patients presenting with neck pain and headache who develop a vascular serious adverse event during or after treatment may have vascular flow limitations that go unrecognized and are aggravated by treatment. Patients with neck pain and headache-the first nonischemic symptoms of arterial dissection-frequently access physical therapists as first-point providers, not all of whom have specialist training in orthopaedic manual physical therapy. All physical therapists, irrespective of their training, who are helping patients manage neck pain, headache, and/or facial symptoms must feel confident to identify potential vascular flow limitations of the neck prior to providing treatment. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2021;51(9):418-421. Epub 10 May 2021. doi:10.2519/jospt.2021.10408.
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De context van oplopende schuldenproblematiek en de gezondheidszorg die onder druk staat brengt twee werelden samen die meer met elkaar van doen hebben dan op het eerste gezicht wellicht wordt gedacht. Voor veel mensen met (grote) geldzorgen geldt, dat de aanhoudende stress doorwerkt op hun psychisch en fysiek welbevinden. Chronische geldstress maakt ziek. Mensen die leven in armoede en schulden zoeken als zij medische klachten ontwikkelen door de geldstress vaak als eerste de huisarts op. Het project Financiën in de spreekkamer is opgestart voordat corona uitbrak. Tussen juni 2018 en november 2020 hebben Zorggroep Almere en het lectoraat Schulden en Incasso van Hogeschool Utrecht samengewerkt aan de ontwikkeling van een interventiepakket. Het doel van het pakket is huisartsen en praktijkondersteuners te helpen om alerter te zijn op geldzorgen, er vaker over in gesprek te gaan en patiënten adequaat door te verwijzen.
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Het project Financiën in de spreekkamer heeft als doel om een brug te slaan tussen de huisartsenzorg en de aanpak van schulden. In deze samenvatting wordt om te beginnen toegelicht wat het interventiepakket Patiënten met schulden inhoudt. Vervolgens is per projectfase weergegeven wat de belangrijkste opbrengsten en inzichten waren en hoe deze zijn meegenomen in de vervolgstappen. Het interventiepakket Patiënten met schulden: De huisartsenzorg is in het project Financiën in de spreekkamer voorzien van het interventiepakket Patiënten met schulden. Daarmee kunnen huisartsen en praktijkondersteuners (POH’ers), met zeer beperkte inspanningen, financiële problematiek eerder signaleren en patiënten vaker en adequater doorverwijzen. Dat kan bijdragen aan het terugdringen van situaties waarin aanhoudende financiële problematiek tot uiting komt in gezondheidsproblemen en/of doorwerkt in de gezondheidsbeleving.
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BACKGROUND: Differential diagnosis is a hot topic in physical therapy, especially for those working in a direct access setting dealing with neck pain and its associated disorders. All international guidelines agree in recommending to first rule out non-musculoskeletal pathologies as the cause of signs and symptoms in the patient. Although the autonomic nervous system (ANS) has a crucial role and is also involved in pain conditions, coverage of it in neuroscience textbooks and educational programmes is limited and most healthcare professionals are unfamiliar with it. Although autonomic conditions are benign in nature, they are clinically of great importance as they may be a 'red flag' warning of an injury along the sympathetic pathway. Therefore, sound knowledge of the ANS system is essential for clinicians.OBJECTIVE: To develop physical therapists' knowledge of and confidence in understanding cervical ANS function and dysfunction, thus enhancing clinical reasoning skills and the pattern recognition process, and performing and interpreting objective examinations.METHODS: This master class provides an introductory guide and essential knowledge to facilitate clinicians to understand cervical autonomic dysfunctions and their clinical evaluation. The optimal referral method is also handled.CONCLUSIONS: Gaining knowledge and understanding of the ANS, its function, its dysfunction, and the related clinical manifestations is likely to lead to a decision-making process driven by 'science and conscience'. This will empower physical therapists to be aware of subtle clues that may be offered by patients during the interview and history intake leading to the appropriate physical examination and triage.
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