Title |
Maintained physical activity and physiotherapy in the management of distal upper limb pain – a protocol for a randomised controlled trial (the arm pain trial)
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Published in |
BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders, March 2014
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DOI | 10.1186/1471-2474-15-71 |
Pubmed ID | |
Authors |
Gareth T Jones, Kathrin Mertens, Gary J Macfarlane, Keith T Palmer, David Coggon, Karen Walker-Bone, Kim Burton, Peter J Heine, Candy McCabe, Paul McNamee, Alex McConnachie |
Abstract |
Distal upper limb pain (pain affecting the elbow, forearm, wrist, or hand) can be non-specific, or can arise from specific musculoskeletal disorders. It is clinically important and costly, the best approach to clinical management is unclear. Physiotherapy is the standard treatment and, while awaiting treatment, advice is often given to rest and avoid strenuous activities, but there is no evidence base to support these strategies. This paper describes the protocol of a randomised controlled trial to determine, among patients awaiting physiotherapy for distal arm pain, (a) whether advice to remain active and maintain usual activities results in a long-term reduction in arm pain and disability, compared with advice to rest; and (b) whether immediate physiotherapy results in a long-term reduction in arm pain and disability, compared with physiotherapy delivered after a seven week waiting list period. |
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Chile | 1 | 25% |
Germany | 1 | 25% |
Unknown | 2 | 50% |
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Members of the public | 4 | 100% |
Mendeley readers
Geographical breakdown
Country | Count | As % |
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United Kingdom | 1 | <1% |
Brazil | 1 | <1% |
Unknown | 99 | 98% |
Demographic breakdown
Readers by professional status | Count | As % |
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Student > Master | 16 | 16% |
Student > Ph. D. Student | 11 | 11% |
Researcher | 10 | 10% |
Student > Bachelor | 7 | 7% |
Other | 5 | 5% |
Other | 15 | 15% |
Unknown | 37 | 37% |
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Medicine and Dentistry | 23 | 23% |
Nursing and Health Professions | 16 | 16% |
Social Sciences | 4 | 4% |
Sports and Recreations | 3 | 3% |
Economics, Econometrics and Finance | 2 | 2% |
Other | 8 | 8% |
Unknown | 45 | 45% |