Test-retest reliability of the isometric contraction test (IC test) of the masticatory muscles in subjects with and without temporomandibular muscle disorders

Abstract Recently, the DC/TMD has become an essential tool for the diagnosis of temporomandibular disorders (TMD). However, as they fail to include functional activities, new assessment proposals have emerged, such as the isometric contraction test (IC test) of the masticatory muscles, which uses muscle contractions to identify muscular TMD. Objective This study aimed to determine the test-retest reliability of the IC test. Methods A total of 64 participants (40 women and 24 men) completed the IC test administered by two different physical therapists on two non-consecutive days. Cohen's kappa (k), PABAK, and percent agreement (PA) between days were estimated. Results The IC test showed good to excellent test-retest reliability values (k>0.77; PABAK>0.90), both globally and individually for the muscles evaluated, and PA>90%, therefore above the thresholds for clinical applicability. However, the global assessment of myofascial pain and the evaluation of the medial pterygoid muscle showed slightly lower reliability values. Conclusion The IC test is reliable for the assessment of subjects with muscular TMD, both in terms of the global assessment and the evaluation of each muscle, which supports its clinical applicability. Care should be taken when assessing myofascial pain globally and when evaluating the medial pterygoid in all types of pain.

Differences in pain perception, health-related quality of life, disability, mood, and sleep between Brazilian and Spanish people with chronic non-specific low back pain

ABSTRACT Background Cultural and social factors play an important role in the development and persistence of Low Back Pain (LBP). Nevertheless, there are few studies investigating differences in LBP features between countries. Objective To determine differences in pain perception between individuals with LBP living in Brazil and Spain. Method Thirty Spanish individuals and 30 age- and sex-comparable Brazilian individuals with LBP were recruited from the Public Health Services of both countries. The Numerical Pain Rating Scale and the pain rating index (PRI), the number of words chosen (NWC), and the present pain index (PPI) extracted from the McGill Pain Questionnaire were used to assess pain. The Oswestry Disability Index, the Short Form-36, Beck Depression Inventory-II, and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index were also applied. Differences between countries and the correlation between demographic and clinical variables in each country were assessed with parametric and the nonparametric tests. Results A significant Country by Gender interaction was found for the PRI total score (P=0.038), but not for intensity of pain, disability, PPI, or NWC, in which Spanish women exhibited greater pain ratio than Spanish men (P=0.014), and no gender differences were identified in Brazilians. The Spanish group showed a consistent pattern of correlations for clinical data. Within Brazilian patients, fewer correlations were found and all of the coefficients were lower than those in the Spanish group. Conclusion The pain perception in patients with LBP is different depending on the country. Within Spanish patients, LBP is considered a more global entity affecting multidimensional contexts.

Association between ongoing pain intensity, health-related quality of life, disability and quality of sleep in elderly people with total knee arthroplasty / Associação entre a intensidade da dor, a qualidade de vida relacionada com a saúde, a incapacidade e a qualidade do sono em idosos com artroplastia total de joelho

The scope of this paper was to study the relationship between pain intensity, health-related quality of life, disability, sleep quality and demographic data in elderly people with total knee arthroplasty (TKA). 24 subjects who had been subjected to TKA the previous month (4 females; 66 ± 9years) and 21 comparable controls (8 male; 70 ± 9years) participated in the study. Intensity of pain, and highest and lowest pain intensity experienced in the preceding week were collected. The Western Ontario and McMaster Universities index function, quality of life (Medical Outcomes Study Short Form 36), and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index were assessed. Age, gender, weight, height, body mass index were also collected. Individuals with TKA presented worse physical function (P < 0.01), social role (P = 0.01), physical performance (P < 0.01), pain (P = 0.04), disability (P = 0.04) and sleep quality (P = 0.03) than the controls. Higher intensity of pain was associated with lower physical function, social role, mental health, vitality and general health, and with higher disability and sleep quality. Disability and sleep quality were negatively associated with several quality of life domains. The associations between the intensity of pain, disability, quality of life and sleep reveal the multidimensional experience of TKA.

Objetivo: Identificar as relações entre intensidade da dor, qualidade de vida relacionada à saúde, incapacidade, qualidade do sono e dados demográficos em idosos com artroplastia total de joelho (ATJ). Métodos: Participaram vinte e quatro pacientes que receberam ATJ no mês anterior (4 mulheres; 66 ± 9 anos) e 21 controles comparáveis (8 homens; 70 ± 9 anos). Foram coletadas a intensidade da dor no momento da avaliação, a maior e a menor intensidade de dor sentida na semana anterior. A função (Western Ontario and McMaster Universities index), a qualidade de vida (Medical Outcomes Study Short Form 36), e a qualidade do sono (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index) foram avaliadas. Idade, sexo, peso, altura, índice de massa corporal também foram coletados. Resultados: Indivíduos com ATJ mostraram pior função física (P < 0,01), papel social (P = 0,01), desempenho físico (P < 0,01), dor (P = 0,04), incapacidade (P = 0,04) e qualidade do sono (P = 0,03) do que os controles. Maior intensidade da dor foi associada com menor função física, papel social, saúde mental, vitalidade e saúde geral, e com maior incapacidade e qualidade do sono. Incapacidade e qualidade do sono estiveram associa das negativamente com vários domínios de qualidade de vida. As associações entre a intensidade da dor, incapacidade, qualidade de vida e do sono mostram a experiência multidimensional da ATJ.

The application of Reiki in nurses diagnosed with Burnout Syndrome has beneficial effects on concentration of salivary IgA and blood pressure / Uma sessão de Reiki em enfermeiras diagnosticadas com síndrome de Burnout tem efeitos benéficos sobre a concentração de IgA salivar e a pressão arterial / Una sesión de Reiki en enfermeras diagnosticadas con síndrome de Burnout tiene efectos beneficiosos sobre la concentración de IgA salival y la presión arterial

This study aimed to investigate the immediate effects of the secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA), α-amylase activity and blood pressure levels after the application of a Reiki session in nurses with Burnout Syndrome. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover design was conducted to compare the immediate effects of Reiki versus control intervention (Hand-off sham intervention) in nurses with Burnout Syndrome. Sample was composed of eighteen nurses (aged 34-56 years) with burnout syndrome. Participants were randomly assigned to receive either a Reiki treatment or a placebo (sham Reiki) treatment, according to the established order in two different days. The ANOVA showed a significant interaction time x intervention for diastolic blood pressure (F=4.92, P=0.04) and sIgA concentration (F=4.71, P=0.04). A Reiki session can produce an immediate and statistically significant improvement in sIgA concentration and diastolic blood pressure in nurses with Burnout Syndrome.

O objetivo deste estudo foi investigar os efeitos imediatos na imunoglobulina A salivar (IgAs), na atividade de α-amilase e na pressão arterial, após uma aplicação de Reiki em enfermeiras que sofrem da síndrome de Burnout. Foi realizado ensaio clínico randomizado duplo-cego e placebo controlado, com desenho cruzado. Dezoito enfermeiras (idade entre 34 e 56 anos), com síndrome de Burnout, participaram do estudo. As participantes receberam tratamento com Reiki ou Reiki falso, de acordo com a ordem estabelecida, através da randomização em dois dias distintos. O teste de Anova mostrou interação significativa entre o momento da intervenção e a pressão arterial diastólica (F=4,92, p=0,04) e os níveis de sIgA (F=4,71, p=0,04). Conclui-se que uma sessão de Reiki de 30 minutos pode melhorar de forma imediata a resposta de IgAs e da pressão arterial diastólica em enfermeiras com síndrome de Burnout.

El objetivo fue investigar los efectos inmediatos en inmunoglobulina A salival (IgAs), actividad de α-amilasa y presión arterial de una aplicación de reiki en enfermeras sufriendo síndrome de Burnout. Se utilizó un ensayo preliminar placebo randomizado con cegamiento doble utilizando un diseño cruzado. Dieciocho enfermeras (edad 34-56) con síndrome de Burnout participaron en el estudio. Las participantes recibieron tratamiento con Reiki o Reiki fingido según el orden establecido por la randomización en dos días distintos. El test de ANOVA mostró un interacción significativa momento intervención para la presión arterial diastólica (F=4.92, P=0.04) a y la concentración de sIgA (F=4.71, P=0.04). Una sesión de Reiki de 30 minutos puede mejorar de manera inmediata la respuesta de IgAs y la presión arterial diastólica en enfermeras con síndrome de Burnout.