Effect of a physiotherapy-directed rehabilitation programme on patients with multidirectional instability of the glenohumeral joint: a multimodal interventional MRI study protocol.

INTRODUCTION: Altered neuromuscular control of the scapula and humeral head is a typical feature of multidirectional instability (MDI) of the glenohumeral joint, suggesting a central component to this condition. A previous randomised controlled trial showed MDI patients participating in the Watson Instability Program 1 (WIP1) had significantly improved clinical outcomes compared with a general shoulder strength programme. The aim of this paper is to outline a multimodal MRI protocol to identify potential ameliorative effects of the WIP1 on the brain. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: Thirty female participants aged 18-35 years with right-sided atraumatic MDI and 30 matched controls will be recruited. MDI patients will participate in 24 weeks of the WIP1, involving prescription and progression of a home exercise programme. Multimodal MRI scans will be collected from both groups at baseline and in MDI patients at follow-up. Potential brain changes (primary outcome 1) in MDI patients will be probed using region-of-interest (ROI) and whole-brain approaches. ROIs will depict areas of functional alteration in MDI patients during executed and imagined shoulder movements (MDI vs controls at baseline), then examining the effects of the 24-week WIP1 intervention (baseline vs follow-up in MDI patients only). Whole-brain analyses will examine baseline versus follow-up voxel-wise measures in MDI patients only. Outcome measures used to assess WIP1 efficacy will include the Western Ontario Shoulder Index and the Melbourne Instability Shoulder Score (primary outcomes 2 and 3). Secondary outcomes will include the Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia, Short Form Orebro, Global Rating of Change Score, muscle strength, scapular upward rotation, programme compliance and adverse events. DISCUSSION: This trial will establish if the WIP1 is associated with brain changes in MDI. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Participant confidentiality will be maintained with publication of results. Swinburne Human Research Ethics Committee (Ref: 20202806-5692). TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: Australian New Zealand Clinical Trial Registry (ACTRN12621001207808).

Intra-Rater and Inter-Rater Reliability of Hand-Held Dynamometry for Shoulder Strength Assessment in Circus Arts Students.

The purpose of this study was to establish the intra-rater and inter-rater reliability of isometric shoulder strength assessment using a hand-held dynamometer (HHD) in functional joint positions in student circus artists with symptomatic atraumatic shoulder instability. METHODS: Over two testing sessions, two experienced physiotherapists assessed the shoulder strength of 24 student circus artists with clinically diagnosed atraumatic shoulder instability. Both the symptomatic and asymptomatic shoulder was assessed using a HHD in 10 functional positions. Intra-class correlation coefficients (ICCs) were calculated to determine the reliability of strength measurements. RESULTS: All examined positions showed moderate-high intra-rater and inter-rater reliability. External rotation at 0° and internal rotation in horizontal flexion at 45° revealed the most reliable results, and the shrug position the least reliable. Inter-rater and intra-rater reliability was high and demonstrated similar results in symptomatic and asymptomatic shoulders by both raters. DISCUSSION: This study demonstrated clinical applicability in reliably measuring functional strength in symptomatic atraumatic instability or asymptomatic shoulders when assessed by experienced therapists using an HHD.

A multifaceted prevention program to reduce infection after cesarean section: Interventions assessed using an intensive postdischarge surveillance system.

BACKGROUND: We assessed the effects of the components of a multifaceted and evidence-based caesarean-section surgical site infection (SSI) prevention program on the SSI rate after cesarean section using a postdischarge surveillance (PDS) system. METHODS: Multiple prevention interventions were serially implemented. SSI case finding was undertaken through active inpatient surveillance and intensive PDS using a standardized form at the 6-week postdischarge visit. SSI diagnosis was made using the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention standardized criteria. All cesarean deliveries between July 2007 and December 2012 were included. Changes in SSI rate were analyzed using segmented regression analysis. RESULTS: Nine thousand four hundred forty-two cesarean sections were assessed during the study period. PDS forms were completed for 7,985 women (85%). SSI was detected in 451 cases (5.6%): 91% were superficial, 9% were deep/organ-space infections. The SSI rate decreased incrementally from 8.2% at baseline to 4.1%; significant decreases were observed after optimizing antibiotic prophylaxis timing, using a surgical safety checklist, and enhancing prenatal education to discourage prehospital self-removal of hair. Nonelective surgeries or those undertaken after >12 hours of rupture of membranes had a significantly higher rate compared with those without either risk factor (6.3% vs 3.2%; P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: A multifaceted SSI prevention strategy, with periodic feedback of data, led to a significant reduction in SSI rates after cesarean section.