Physiotherapy
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To delineate the relative extent to which specific cognitive factors are related to levels of pain and disability in patients with chronic whiplash-associated disorder. ⋯ Interventions which aim to reduce catastrophising and enhance functional self-efficacy beliefs should be included alongside conventional physiotherapy interventions when treating patients with chronic whiplash-associated disorder.
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Comparative Study
The national clinical audit of falls and bone health-secondary prevention of falls and fractures: a physiotherapy perspective.
To establish current physiotherapy practice in the secondary management of falls and fragility fractures compared with national guidance. ⋯ Physiotherapists have a significant role to play in the secondary prevention of falls and fractures. However, along with managers and professional bodies, more must be done to ensure that clinical practice reflects the evidence base and professional standards.
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To examine the effectiveness of chest physiotherapy for patients admitted to hospital with an acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). ⋯ Chest physiotherapy techniques such as intermittent positive pressure ventilation and positive expiratory pressure may benefit patients with COPD requiring assistance with sputum clearance, while walking programmes may have wider benefits for patients admitted with an exacerbation of COPD. Chest physiotherapy techniques other than percussion are safe for administration to this patient population.
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To generate expert consensus evidence for the purpose of developing more complete guidelines for people with persistent low back pain than is possible using current research evidence alone. Gaps in research evidence lead to incomplete practice recommendations unless a scientific process can provide supplementary consensus evidence that is a basis for additional recommendations. ⋯ The modified NGT was a practical and cost-effective way of generating consensus evidence from a UK-wide group. The consensus evidence was the basis of appropriately graded recommendations for effective care of people with persistent low back pain. Consensus methods have been little used in physiotherapy to date but are likely to be valuable in developing clinically useful, evidence-based tools for future practice.