Hong Kong Physiotherapy Journal - Articles in Press

Musculoskeletal pain and its impact on motor performance among stroke survivors - Corrected Proof

Talhatu K. Hamzat, Oladunni C. Osundiya — 2011-03-23

Abstract: Pain is an important clinical factor that can limit movement at a joint and inhibit the functional use of a limb after stroke. Incidence of musculoskeletal pain (MSP) and its impact on motor performance among community-dwelling stroke survivors were investigated in this descriptive study. The study sample comprised 102 (51 men and 51 women) freely consenting stroke survivors (mean age, 52.92±10.24 years) receiving physiotherapy on outpatient basis as part of their rehabilitation programme. They were interviewed and physically assessed for pain, and for those who had MSP, the intensity of their pain and motor performance were assessed using Numerical Box-21 Scale and Stroke Rehabilitation Assessment of Movement, respectively. Data were analysed using Spearman correlation coefficient at alpha value of 0.05. Results showed that 81 (42 men and 39 women) or 79.4% of the sample had pain symptoms, with 23.5% of these having the pain pre-dating stroke onset. Pain distribution by type revealed that MSP and central post-stroke pain was equally distributed (30.9%), whereas the remaining 38.3% presented with mixed type of pain. Among those with MSP, 25.9% had pain at shoulder only, 12.0% at the elbow only, and 2.5% at the ankle joints only. A statistically significant negative correlation (rho=−0.29, p=0.009) was observed between the Numerical Box-21 Scale and Stroke Rehabilitation Assessment of Movement scores. MSP after stroke is as common as central post-stroke pain, and presence of MSP is associated with lower motor performance. There is a need for physiotherapists treating post-stroke individuals to take care of this type of pain to enhance the recovery of motor function.

Clinical diagnosis of soft tissue injuries to the knee by physiotherapists and orthopaedic surgeons: Is there a difference between the two professions? - Corrected Proof

Alex Trompeter, Naveed Shaikh, Chris Bateup, Simon Palmer — 2011-03-23

Abstract: The aim of this study was to compare the accuracy of clinical diagnosis made by trained physiotherapists and orthopaedic surgeons when seeing elective patients in the outpatient clinic. The method involved a retrospective analysis of 100 case notes of patients who had been seen in the orthopaedic outpatient department and consecutively scheduled for knee arthroscopies. Fifty patients were seen by a physiotherapist and 50 by the orthopaedic surgical team. The physiotherapist was able to make a 66% clinically accurate diagnosis compared with 82% by the doctors (p=0.07). Sensitivity was 90.7% for surgeons and 68.1% for physiotherapists, whereas specificity was shown to be 71.4% for surgeons and 66.6% for physiotherapists. The accuracy of clinical diagnosis by trained surgeons is better than that of physiotherapists, although not statistically significant. It is, therefore, justifiable to place patients on theatre lists based only on clinical examination by either physiotherapists or surgeons.

Professional sexual boundaries—Asian and Western perception: An observational study - Corrected Proof

Ian Cooper, Alice Jones, Sue Jenkins — 2011-03-23

Abstract: Question: Do Hong Kong (HK) physiotherapists recognise professional sexual boundaries, and are there differences (1) between genders and (2) when compared with physiotherapists in Western Australia (WA)?Design: Observational study using a postal questionnaire.Participants: One thousand eight hundred and fifteen physiotherapists registered with the HK Physiotherapists’ Registration Board.Outcome Measures: Respondents were asked to state (1) their opinions about the actions of a physiotherapist in six vignettes highlighting professional sexual boundaries; (2) the incidence of sexual attraction and dating of their patients; and (3) their course(s) of action when confronted by an allegation of sexual misconduct against a colleague.Results: Two hundred and fifty-five responses were received (16% response rate). HK physiotherapists were similar to their peers in WA in finding four of the six vignettes unacceptable. Overall, HK physiotherapists were significantly (p<0.01) less conservative than their WA peers. Eighty percent of respondents thought it acceptable for a physiotherapist working for a sports team to date a player and 51% thought it acceptable to date a work colleague to whom they had provided professional ergonomics advice. Although the incidence of sexual attraction was less than that reported from WA, HK physiotherapists were more likely to have dated a current or ex-patient and especially if they worked in the private sector (p<0.01). Seventy percent of respondents stated that they would advise a patient to make a complaint against their colleague to the appropriate authority. Less than 20% stated that they would complain directly to the HK Physiotherapists’ Registration Board or Physiotherapy Association (16% and 7%, respectively).Conclusion: Similarities and differences exist between HK and WA physiotherapists with regard to professional sexual boundaries. Education on this topic is urged within the HK physiotherapy population.

The effects of mulligan mobilisation with movement and taping techniques on pain, grip strength, and function in patients with lateral epicondylitis - Corrected Proof

2011-03-23

Abstract: This experimental design study investigated the effect of a combination of Mulligan techniques and traditional treatment compared with that of traditional treatment alone in patients with lateral epicondylitis. The applied Mulligan techniques included mobilisation with movement and taping, and were aimed to reduce pain, increase grip strength, and improve activities of daily living. A total of 34 patients aged between 16 and 69 years underwent 11 sessions of a combination of Mulligan techniques and traditional treatment (experimental group, n=17) or traditional treatment only (control group, n=17). They were evaluated before the treatment, and after 4 weeks, using visual analogue scale, maximum grip strength, and Patient-Rated Tennis Elbow Evaluation. Analysis showed statistically significant improvement in all outcomes in both the experimental and the control groups. In addition, the mean improvement in visual analogue scale and maximum grip strength was significantly greater in the experimental group than that in the control group. This study showed that the combination of Mulligan techniques with traditional treatment leads to better outcomes in treatment of lateral epicondylitis than traditional treatment alone.

A new beginning - Corrected Proof

Marco Y.C. Pang — 2011-03-23

I am sure you have noticed the new look of the journal. This is done to signify a new beginning, as the Editorial Board will be implementing a series of new plans to raise the standing of the journal. First, we are going to invite more internationally renowned researchers to serve in our Editorial Review Board. It is hoped that, through their expertise in different sub-specialties, the quality of the manuscripts published in our journal can be further enhanced. Second, it is important that our journal be included in the Science Citation Index, so that an impact factor can be assigned to our journal in the future. The journal impact factor is a commonly used index to indicate the standing of scientific journals. Obtaining a decent impact factor is instrumental in attracting more good-quality manuscripts. Rest assured that the Editorial Board will be working very hard towards achieving this goal. Third, to improve the “visibility” of our journal, it is important that our journal appears on major databases, such as MEDLINE or PubMed. Again, the Editorial Board will look into this and take appropriate actions to make this happen.