Adaptation of the Visual Analog Sleep Scales to Portuguese

The Institute of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Hospital das Clínicas University of São Paulo School of Medicine comprehensive rehabilitation program for elderly people with knee osteoarthritis

Background

Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is a leading cause of disability in the elderly population. Chronic disabling pain is associated with maladaptive neuroplastic changes in brain networks, commonly associated with central sensitization. The main clinical features of nociplastic pain conditions include combined peripheral and central sensitization, and it is crucial to recognize this type of pain, as it responds to different therapies than nociceptive and neuropathic pain.

Objective

To report the effect of the Institute of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (IMREA) comprehensive rehabilitation program to reduce pain and to improve functioning in elderly people with knee OA, under the DEFINE cohort.

Methods

This is a retrospective observational cohort of 96 patients with knee OA, recruited from October 2018 to December 2019. All patients were evaluated by a trained multidisciplinary team using the Kellgren Lawrence classification, bilateral knee ultrasonography, the visual analog scale (VAS), the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (WOMAC) pain, rigidity and difficulty scores, the Timed Up and Go Test (TUG), 10-m and 6-min walking test (10 and 6 MWT), Berg Balance Scale, isokinetic dynamometry for knee extension and flexion strength, and pain pressure thresholds. The rehabilitation program included paraspinous lidocaine blocks, focal extracorporeal shockwaves combined with radial pressure waves and functional electrical stimulation according to individual needs. The baseline was compred with the treatment results with a paired t-test.

Results

The study sample is composed of 96 participants, mostly females (n = 81, 84.38%), with bilateral osteoarthritis (n = 91, 94.79%), and a mean age of 68.89 (SD 9.73) years. Functional improvement was observed in TUG (p = 0.019), 6-mwt (p = 0.033), right knee flexion strength (p < 0.0001), WOMAC rigidity and difficulty domains (p < 0.0001). Pain was reduced from baseline as measured by WOMAC pain domain (p < 0.0001), VAS for both knees (p < 0.0001), and SF-36 pain domain (p < 0.0001). Pressure pain threshold was modified above the patella (p = 0.005 and p = 0.002 for right and left knees, respectively), at the patellar tendons (p = 0.015 and p = 0.010 for right and left patellar tendons, respectively), left S2 dermatome (p = 0.017), and L1-L2 (p = 0.008).

Conclusions

The IMREA comprehensive rehabilitation program improved functioning and reduced disabling pain in elderly people with knee OA. We highlight the relevance and discuss the implementation of our intervention protocol. Although this is an open cohort study, it is important to note the significant improvement with this clinical protocol.

Eletroestimulação no controle da dor na dismenorreia primária

RESUMO A dismenorreia primária é um distúrbio ginecológico caracterizado por dores cíclicas na lombar e abdômen inferior, com alta prevalência entre jovens, contribuindo para o absenteísmo. O presente trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar os efeitos da eletroterapia de baixa e média frequência em 30 participantes do sexo feminino, entre 18-26 anos, com queixa de dismenorreia primária. As participantes foram divididas em grupos que receberam: corrente TENS (frequência de 100 Hz e duração de pulso de 100 µs), corrente aussie (portadora de 4Khz modulada em 100 Hz com bursts de 4ms) e placebo (colocação dos eletrodos com o aparelho desligado). Todos os grupos eletroestimulados foram tratados com corrente no limiar sensorial e ajuste da intensidade a cada cinco minutos, sendo o tempo total de 30 minutos. Para a avaliação foi coletado a dor durante o ciclo menstrual (EVA), influência da dor nas atividades de vida diária e qualidade do sono (escalas visuais análogas do sono). Após análise estatística, conclui-se que houve redução significativa do quadro álgico em todos os grupos, sendo a corrente superior ao placebo. Em relação às AVD, todos os grupos apresentaram diferença significativa, e o grupo corrente aussie foi o único que obteve melhora nos três dias avaliados, mantendo o efeito analgésico tardio maior em comparação aos demais. A qualidade de sono pouco se alterou após os tratamentos propostos, necessitando de estudos futuros para fundamentar essa variável.

Electrostimulation in pain control in primary dysmenorrhea

ABSTRACT Primary dysmenorrhea is a gynecological disorder characterized by a cyclic pain in the lower back and abdomen, with a high prevalence among young women, which contributes to absenteeism. This study aimed to assess the effects of low and medium frequency electrotherapy in 30 women, aged from 18 to 26 years, who suffer from primary dysmenorrhea. Participants were divided into groups that received the transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation current (frequency of 100Hz and 100μs pulses), Aussie current (4kHz carrier frequency, modulated at 100Hz, and 4ms bursts), and placebo (electrodes placed with the machine turned off). All treated groups received electrical current at the sensory threshold and its intensity was adjusted every five minutes. The treatment lasted 30 minutes. For the evaluation, pain during the menstrual cycle (via VAS), pain interference in activities of daily living (ADL), and sleep quality (via VAS sleep quality) were collected. After statistical analysis, pain reduced significantly in all groups evaluated, with better outcomes for the currents than for the placebo. Although all groups showed significant difference regarding ADL, the Aussie group was the only one that improved pain in all days evaluated. Sleep quality changed little after treatment, thus, further studies are required to assess this variable.

Quality of sleep of the aged at home and in hospital

The objective of this study was to describe the quality of sleep of aged individuals at home and in hospital. Descriptive study, conducted in the wards of a university hospital in São Paulo, Brazil, with 160 individuals (57.5% men, mean age 69.8 years) admitted for a period between 48 hours to five days, who were able to answer the instruments. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index was used at home and a visual analog scale of sleep in the hospital. This scale indicated satisfactory sleep quality and moderate daytime sleepiness. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index indicated poor quality of sleep at home (69.4%), more particularly sleep fragmentation for the majority of subjects. Data indicating poor quality of sleep at home emphasize the need for assessing the quality of sleep of the elderly, especially its fragmentation, as well as the need for studies that give support to practices that promote good sleep quality during hospitalization, aiming at clinical recovery.

Effects of massage therapy on sleep quality after coronary artery bypass graft surgery

INTRODUCTION

Having poor sleep quality is common among patients following cardiopulmonary artery bypass graft surgery. Pain, stress, anxiety and poor sleep quality may be improved by massage therapy.

OBJECTIVE

This study evaluated whether massage therapy is an effective technique for improving sleep quality in patients following cardiopulmonary artery bypass graft surgery.

METHOD

Participants included cardiopulmonary artery bypass graft surgery patients who were randomized into a control group and a massage therapy group following discharge from the intensive care unit (Day 0), during the postoperative period. The control group and the massage therapy group comprised participants who were subjected to three nights without massage and three nights with massage therapy, respectively. The patients were evaluated on the following mornings (i.e., Day 1 to Day 3) using a visual analogue scale for pain in the chest, back and shoulders, in addition to fatigue and sleep. Participants kept a sleep diary during the study period.

RESULTS

Fifty-seven cardiopulmonary artery bypass graft surgery patients were enrolled in the study during the preoperative period, 17 of whom were excluded due to postoperative complications. The remaining 40 participants (male: 67.5%, age: 61.9 years ± 8.9 years, body mass index: 27.2 kg/m² ± 3.7 kg/m²) were randomized into control (n = 20) and massage therapy (n = 20) groups. Pain in the chest, shoulders, and back decreased significantly in both groups from Day 1 to Day 3. The participants in the massage therapy group had fewer complaints of fatigue on Day 1 (p=0.006) and Day 2 (p=0.028) in addition, they reported a more effective sleep during all three days (p=0.019) when compared with the participants in the control group.

CONCLUSION

Massage therapy is an effective technique for improving patient recovery from cardiopulmonary artery bypass graft surgery because it reduces fatigue and improves sleep.