Browsing by Subject "Musculoskeletal conditions"

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    Open Access
    Exploring pedagogical dissonance in including a traditional acupuncture treatment approach into a western biomedical evidence-based Physiotherapy curriculum
    (2022) Anjos, Ana Alexandra; Maart, Soraya; Corten, Lieselotte
    Background: We cannot speak about complementary and alternative medicine without speaking about the most popular form of it, acupuncture, and its connection with health maintenance or forms of intervention to recover it. Over the last few years, acupuncture has been increasingly used for the treatment of pain either as a combined or complementing therapy, and evidence also suggests an increased in physiotherapists interested in acupuncture. The study aimed to 1) explore the scientific support for the combined use of acupuncture and physiotherapy in MSK conditions through a systematic review and 2) to explore the inclusion of acupuncture in undergraduate curricula as an elective course by doing a quantitative descriptive survey. Methods: Three major databases were used for the conduction of the systematic review of literature, taking place from March 2019 to May 2019, i.e., Cochrane Library, PubMed, and PEDro (Physiotherapy Evidence Database). For inclusion criteria were accepted only randomized controlled trials (RCT) published in English, released within the past decade, and using subject's adult population with MSK conditions. A quantitative descriptive survey was conducted among physiotherapists registered with professional societies in the United Arab Emirates and South Africa. A questionnaire was distributed to registered members using an online format to explore demographic information, usage of acupuncture as a treatment modality, and level of agreement for including acupuncture in undergraduate curricula. Results: Systematic Review (CHAPTER 3) The results from the electronic search yielded a total of 227 abstracts and study titles. Eight studies were considered after a detailed screening, in the included studies six of them were considered for a quantitative meta-analysis and all eight were used to perform a qualitative analysis. In total 960 patients were included, with 349 and 611 patients respectively divided into intervention and control groups. No statistically significant results were found in studies assessing pain to back up the combination of physiotherapy and acupuncture, as well in studies assessing range of motion in knee osteoarthritis. When comparing the baseline of physiotherapy combined with acupuncture or physiotherapy alone statistically significant improvements were found within-group. The studies that examined Isometric Neck-Muscle Strength (INMS) expressed noteworthy bettering within groups with physiotherapy combined with acupuncture being more viable than acupuncture or physiotherapy alone. The Constant Shoulder Assessment (CSA) for shoulder function was altogether superior within the exercise plus acupuncture group compared with the exercise group. Survey (CHAPTER 4) One hundred eighty-one physiotherapists completed the survey, with 35.4% (n=64) from the UAE, while 64.5% (n=117) were from South Africa. Additionally, 78.5% (n=142) of the participants were female, while 21.5% (n=39) were males. The mean (SD) age of the participants was 41.2 (11.9) years, and there was no statistical difference between the two countries (t=0.04, p=0.97). Thirty-five percent had a postgraduate qualification. Sixty-two (34.2%) physiotherapists reported a specialization in acupuncture, with the majority at certificate level. More physiotherapists in the UAE (57%) agreed that acupuncture ought to be included within the undergrad educational curriculum compared to South Africa (44%). Conclusion: There was no noteworthy prove found to back that the addition of acupuncture to physiotherapy treatments includes advantages to pain decrease. This review did, however, observe benefits of including acupuncture together with physiotherapy treatment in the diminishing of neck incapacity, muscle strength and shoulder function. Although physiotherapists are gaining qualification in acupuncture and using in practice, there is not sufficient traction on the inclusion of acupuncture in undergraduate curriculum.
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    Open Access
    The prevalence and functional impact of musculoskeletal conditions amongst clients of a primary health care facility in an under-resourced area of Cape Town
    (BioMed Central Ltd, 2010) Parker, Romy; Jelsma, Jennifer
    BACKGROUND:The extent of disease burden of musculoskeletal conditions (MSC) not due to injury has not been well determined in sub-Saharan Africa. The 1999 Global Burden of Disease study estimated the prevalence of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis to be 150/100,000 compared to 1,500/100,000 in Europe. The objective of the study was to determine the prevalence of MSC and the functional implications in a sample of people attending community health centres in Cape Town, South Africa. METHODS: A cross-sectional, descriptive study was conducted in clinics in two resource poor communities. Phase I consisted of screening and those who screened positive for peripheral or spinal joint pain went on to complete Phase II, which included the Stanford Health Assessment Questionnaire. RESULTS: 1005 people were screened in Phase I. Of these, 362 (36%) reported MSC not due to injury in the past three months. Those with MSC had higher rates of co-morbidities in every category than those without. The mean Disability Index for those with MSC was mild to moderate and moderate to severe in those over 55 years. CONCLUSIONS: Although the sample may not be representative of the general community, the prevalence is considerably greater than those reported elsewhere even when the population of the catchment area is used as a denominator, (367/100 000). The common presentation of MSC with co-morbid diabetes and hypertension requires holistic management by appropriately trained health care practitioners. Any new determination of burden of disease due to MSC should recognise that these disorders may be more prevalent in developing countries than previously estimated.