Displaying publications 1 - 20 of 422 in total

Abstract:
Sort:
  1. Fessi MS, Ben Saad H, Soares Oliveira RF, Washif JA, Chamari K, Moalla W
    Tunis Med, 2023 Nov 05;101(11):795-799.
    PMID: 38468578
    AIM: This research design protocol outlines the methodology for a thorough evaluation of workload monitoring and management strategies in football.

    METHODS: The study involves conducting a global survey to fitness coaches, sports scientists, analysts, and physicians with experience in load monitoring within football. The research adheres to the principles of the Helsinki Declaration and complies with General Data Protection Regulation standards, with ethical approvals obtained from multiple Ethics Committees across various countries, including Tunisia. A consortium of professionals collaboratively crafted the survey instrument, dividing it into seven sections, each addressing specific aspects of workload monitoring in football. Survey reliability will undergo evaluation in a pilot study utilizing Cronbach's alpha and intraclass correlation coefficient. To ensure inclusivity, the survey will be translated into multiple languages, facilitating participation from diverse regions. As such, survey distribution will consider online platforms (such as social media) and email invitations, with a specific focus on engaging football clubs, federations, and professional networks. The targeted sample size will remain at 385 participants. Statistical analysis planning encompasses descriptive examination, exploration of variable relationships, hypothesis testing, and qualitative analyses of participant feedback and recommendations regarding load monitoring practices.

    EXPECTED RESULTS: Expected outcomes include i) A comprehensive global overview of training and match load monitoring practices in football, ii) The identification of emerging trends, an improved understanding of training optimization processes, and iii) The development of practical recommendations to enhance player well-being and performance.

    CONCLUSION: This study will contribute to the ongoing development of knowledge in the field of football workload monitoring.

    Matched MeSH terms: Pilot Projects
  2. Bohari R, Jin Hin C, Matusop A, Abdullah MR, Ney TG, Benjamin S, et al.
    PLoS One, 2020;15(4):e0230910.
    PMID: 32236146 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0230910
    Several sites, Z-7L, Z-5 and Z-14, in Sibu district, Sarawak, Malaysia, experienced intense dengue transmission in 2014 that continued into 2015. A pilot study with Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (Bti) to control Aedes aegypti (L.) and Ae. albopictus (Skuse) was evaluated in Z-7L, a densely populated site of 12 ha. Bti treatments were conducted weekly from epidemiology week (EW) 24/2015 for 4 weeks, followed by fortnight treatments for 2 months, in addition to the routine control activities. Bti was directly introduced into potable containers and the outdoor artificial and natural containers were treated via a wide area spray application method using a backpack mister. Aedes indices significantly reduced during the treatment and post treatment phases, compared to the control site, Z-5 (p<0.05). A 51 fold reduction in the incidence rate per 100,000 population (IR) was observed, with one case in 25 weeks (EW 29-52). In Z-5 and Z-14, control sites, a 6 fold reduction in the IR was observed from EW 29-52. However, almost every week there were dengue cases in Z-14 and until EW 44 in Z-5. In 2016, dengue cases resurfaced in Z-7L from EW 4. Intensive routine control activities were conducted, but the IR continued to escalate. The wide area Bti spray misting of the outdoor containers was then included from EW 27 on fortnight intervals. A 6 fold reduction in IR was observed in the Bti treatment phase (EW 32-52) with no successive weekly cases after EW 37. However, in the control sites, there were dengue cases throughout the year from EW 1-52, particularly in Z-14. We feel that the wide area Bti spray application method is an integral component in the control program, in conjunction with other control measures carried out, to suppress the vector population in outdoor cryptic containers and to interrupt the disease transmission.
    Matched MeSH terms: Pilot Projects
  3. Darmawan J, Muirden KD
    J Rheumatol, 2003 Nov;30(11):2312-4.
    PMID: 14677169
    Matched MeSH terms: Pilot Projects
  4. Abd Rahman MN, Abdul Rani MR, Rohani JM
    J Hum Ergol (Tokyo), 2011 Dec;40(1-2):19-36.
    PMID: 25665205 DOI: 10.11183/jhe.40.19
    This paper describes the development of the Workplace Ergonomic Risk Assessment (WERA) for investigating the physical risk factor associated with work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs). The initial development of WERA tool involved the following procedures: (1) first stage, development of WERA prototype from literature review, (2) second stage, evaluation of the psychometric properties including (a) validity trials and (b) reliability and usability trials. In the validity trials, the relationship of the individual WERA body part scores to the development of pain or discomfort is statistically significant for the wrist, shoulder and back regions. It shows that the WERA assessment provided a good indication of work-related musculoskeletal disorders which might be reported as pain, ache or discomfort in the relevant body regions. In the reliability trials, the results of inter-observer reliability shows that moderate agreement among the observers while from the feedback questionnaire survey about the usability of WERA tool, all participants including expert and management teams agreed that the prototype of WERA tool was easy and quick to use, applicable to workplace assessment for the wide range of job/task and valuable at work. It was confirmed that there was no need of training required to do WERA assessment. Therefore, the WERA assessment has been designed for easy and quick use, and for those who are trained to use it do not need previous skills in observation techniques although this would be an advantage. As WERA is a pen and paper technique that can be used without any special equipment, WERA assessment can be done in any space of workplaces without disruption to the task that have been observed.
    Matched MeSH terms: Pilot Projects
  5. Sui CF, Ming LC, Neoh CF, Ibrahim B
    PMID: 26316735 DOI: 10.2147/COPD.S84618
    Background: This study utilized a validated combination of a COPD Population Screener
    (COPD-PS) questionnaire and a handheld spirometric device as a screening tool for patients at high risk of COPD, such as smokers. The study aimed to investigate and pilot the feasibility and application of this combined assessment, which we termed the “VitalQPlus”, as a screening tool for the early detection of COPD, especially in primary care settings.
    Methods: This was a cross-sectional study screening potentially undiagnosed COPD patients using a validated five-item COPD-PS questionnaire together with a handheld spirometric device. Patients were recruited from selected Malaysian government primary care health centers.
    Results: Of the total of 83 final participants, only 24.1% (20/83) were recruited from Perak and Penang (peninsular Malaysia) compared to 75.9% (63/83) from Sabah (Borneo region). Our dual assessment approach identified 8.4% of the surveyed patients as having potentially undiagnosed COPD. When only the Vitalograph COPD-6 screening tool was used, 15.8% of patients were detected with a forced expiratory volume in 1 second/forced expiratory volume in 6 seconds (FEV1/FEV6) ratio at <0.75, while 35.9% of patients were detected with the COPD-PS questionnaire. These findings suggested that this dual assessment approach has a greater chance of identifying potentially undiagnosed COPD patients compared to the Vitalograph COPD-6 or COPD-PS questionnaire when used alone. Our findings show that patients with more symptoms (scores of >=5) yielded twice the percentage of outcomes of FEV1/FEV6 <0.75 compared to patients with fewer COPD symptoms (scores <5).
    Conclusion: With the availability of a simple screening questionnaire and the COPD-6, there is an opportunity easily to make patients more aware of their lung symptoms and to encourage the provision of early treatment. The proposed dual assessment approach, which we termed the VitalQPlus, may play a profound role in the early diagnosis of COPD, which is crucial in improving the clinical management of the disease.
    Keywords: spirometry, pulmonary function test, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease,
    airway obstruction
    Matched MeSH terms: Pilot Projects
  6. Halim NH, Chong ET, Goh LP, Chuah JA, See EU, Chua KH, et al.
    Asian Pac J Cancer Prev, 2016;17(4):1925-31.
    PMID: 27221877
    BACKGROUND: The XRCC1 protein facilitates various DNA repair pathways; single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in this gene are associated with a risk of gastrointestinal cancer (GIC) with inconsistent results, but no data have been previously reported for the Sabah, North Borneo, population. We accordingly investigated the XRCC1 Arg194Trp and Arg399Gln SNPs in terms of GIC risk in Sabah.

    MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed genotyping for both SNPs for 250 GIC patients and 572 healthy volunteers using a polymerase chain reaction- restriction fragment length polymorphism approach. We validated heterozygosity and homozygosity for both SNPs using direct sequencing.

    RESULTS: The presence of a variant 194Trp allele in the Arg194Trp SNP was significantly associated with a higher risk of GIC, especially with gastric and colorectal cancers. We additionally found that the variant 399Gln allele in Arg399Gln SNP was associated with a greater risk of developing gastric cancer. Our combined analysis revealed that inheritance of variant alleles in both SNPs increased the GIC risk in Sabah population. Based on our etiological analysis, we found that subjects ≥50 years and males who carrying the variant 194Trp allele, and Bajau subjects carrying the 399Gln allele had a significantly increased risk of GIC.

    CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that inheritance of variant alleles in XRCC1 Arg194Trp and Arg399Gln SNPs may act as biomarkers for the early detection of GIC, especially for gastric and colorectal cancers in the Sabah population.

    Matched MeSH terms: Pilot Projects
  7. Lim R, Liong ML, Lau YK, Yuen KH
    Neurourol Urodyn, 2017 02;36(2):438-442.
    PMID: 26693962 DOI: 10.1002/nau.22950
    AIMS: To enable the use of the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Urinary Incontinence Short Form (ICIQ-UI SF) and ICIQ-Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms Quality of Life (ICIQ-LUTSqol) in Southeast Asia, we translated and subsequently evaluated their validity (content and discriminant validity), reliability (internal consistency and test-retest reliability), and responsiveness in female patients with stress urinary incontinence.

    METHODS: Permission was obtained to translate the English versions into Malay and subsequently validate them, and to validate the existing Chinese versions. The translated questionnaires were taken for pilot testing. Validation was carried out for the face/content and discriminant validity. Reliability was assessed for test-retest and internal consistency using Cronbach's alpha and intraclass correlation coefficient respectively. The responsiveness was calculated via effect size and standardized response mean.

    RESULTS: Ten patients were recruited for the pilot testing. The English and Chinese versions had "substantial" or "almost perfect" agreement as measured by weighted Kappa. 284 participants (139 patients with stress urinary incontinence and 145 healthy volunteers) were included in the subsequent phases. The ICIQ-UI SF and ICIQ-LUTSqol had good discriminant validity. The ICIQ-UI SF had moderate internal consistency although the ICIQ-LUTSqol had good internal consistency. Both questionnaires had high test-retest reliability. Responsiveness was established with a moderate to large effect size and a standardized response mean.

    CONCLUSIONS: The English, Chinese, and Malay versions each proved to be valid and reliable in our Malaysian population, thereby enabling more cross-cultural research in this region. Neurourol. Neurourol. Urodynam. 36:438-442, 2017. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

    Matched MeSH terms: Pilot Projects
  8. Mikhael EM, Hussain SA, Shawky N, Hassali MA
    BMJ Open Diabetes Res Care, 2019;7(1):e000658.
    PMID: 31354953 DOI: 10.1136/bmjdrc-2019-000658
    Background: Medication non-adherence is a common problem among patients with diabetes. Patient-reported medication adherence scales are the most commonly used method to assess patient medication adherence, but up to today there is no specific tool for assessing medication adherence among patients with diabetes in Arab countries. This study aimed to develop and validate a new tool for assessment of adherence to antidiabetic medications among Iraqi patients with diabetes.

    Methods: The Iraqi Anti-Diabetic Medication Adherence Scale (IADMAS) consists of eight items. The face and content validity of the IADMAS were established via an expert panel. For convergent validity, the IADMAS was compared with the Medication Adherence Questionnaire (MAQ). For concurrent validity, the IADMAS was compared with glycosylated hemoglobin. A total of 84 patients with types 2 diabetes were recruited from a diabetes center in Baghdad, Iraq. Test-retest reliability was measured by readministering the IADMAS to the same patients 4 weeks later.

    Results: Only 80 patients completed the study (response rate: 95%). Reliability analysis of the IADMAS showed a Cronbach's alpha value of 0.712, whereas that of the MAQ was 0.649. All items in the IADMAS showed no significant difference in the test-retest analysis, indicating that the IADMAS has stable reliability. There was no difference in the psychometric properties of the IADMAS and the MAQ. The sensitivity and specificity of the IADMAS were higher than that of the MAQ (100% vs 87.5% and 33.9% vs 29.7%, respectively).

    Conclusion: The IADMAS developed in this study is a reliable and valid instrument for assessing antidiabetic medication adherence among Iraqi patients.

    Matched MeSH terms: Pilot Projects
  9. Nagammai T, Mohazmi M, Liew SM, Chinna K, Lai PS
    Qual Life Res, 2015 Aug;24(8):2031-7.
    PMID: 25648757 DOI: 10.1007/s11136-015-0933-7
    PURPOSE: To assess the validity and reliability of the Malay version of the Quality of Life (QOL) Questionnaire of the European Foundation for Osteoporosis (QUALEFFO-41) in Malaysia.
    METHODS: The QUALEFFO-41 was translated from English to Malay and administered to 215 post-menopausal osteoporotic women ≥50 years who could understand Malay, at baseline and 4 weeks. The SF-36 was administered at baseline to assess convergent validity. To assess discriminative validity, patients with and without back pain were recruited.
    RESULTS: Confirmatory factor analysis showed that the QUALEFFO-41 had five domains. Good internal consistency was seen in all domains (0.752-0.925) except for the social activity domain (0.692). Test-retest reliability showed adequate correlation for all items (0.752-0.964, p < 0.001). Patients with back pain had significantly worse QOL compared with those without (back pain = 42.2 ± 10.9, no back pain = 33.3 ± 8.9; p < 0.001). The total QUALEFFO-41 score and the SF-36 physical and mental composite scores were significantly correlated (-0.636 and -0.529, p < 0.001, respectively).
    CONCLUSIONS: The Malay version of the QUALEFFO-41 was found to be a reliable and valid instrument to evaluate the QOL of osteoporotic patients in Malaysia. To enable the QUALEFFO-41 to be used in a multiracial population, further studies should look into validating other versions of the QUALEFFO-41 in Malaysia.
    Matched MeSH terms: Pilot Projects
  10. Ong TA, Khong SY, Ng KL, Ting JR, Kamal N, Yeoh WS, et al.
    Urology, 2015 Sep;86(3):487-91.
    PMID: 26142713 DOI: 10.1016/j.urology.2015.06.022
    OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of pelvic floor muscle exercises (PFMEs) performed with the new biofeedback Vibrance Kegel Device (VKD), compared to PFMEs alone, in treating stress urinary incontinence (SUI).

    MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a pilot prospective, randomized trial of women aged ≥18 years with SUI symptoms who underwent PFMEs at University Malaya Medical Centre from October 2011 to October 2013. The patients were randomly divided into two groups: control (PFMEs alone) and VKD (PFMEs with VKD biofeedback). The patients underwent 16 weeks of pelvic floor training, during which they were assessed using Australian pelvic floor questionnaires and modified Oxford scales for pelvic floor muscle strength at week 0, 4, and 16.

    RESULTS: Forty patients were recruited (control 19, VKD 21). Three patients in the control group dropped out during week 16 training, whereas the VKD group had no dropouts. The VKD group reported significantly earlier improvement in SUI scores, as assessed by the Australian pelvic floor questionnaires (P = .035) at week 4. However, there was no significant difference between the groups' SUI scores at week 16. Pelvic floor muscle strength was significantly better in the VKD group at week 4 (P = .025) and week 16 (P = 0.001). The subjective cure rate was similar in both groups at week 16 (62.5% for control and 61.9% for VKD) (P = 0.742).

    CONCLUSION: Using the VKD resulted in significant early improvement in SUI scores, and pelvic muscle strength had improved significantly by the end of the study. The VKD proved useful as an adjunct for pelvic floor training.

    Matched MeSH terms: Pilot Projects
  11. Francis K, Chapman Y, Doolan G, Sellick K, Barnett T
    Aust J Rural Health, 2008 Jun;16(3):164-9.
    PMID: 18471187 DOI: 10.1111/j.1440-1584.2008.00967.x
    OBJECTIVE:This study sought to identify and evaluate approaches used to attract internationally trained nurses from traditional and non-traditional countries and incentives employed to retain them in small rural hospitals in Gippsland, Victoria.
    DESIGN: An exploratory descriptive design.
    SETTING: Small rural hospitals in Gippsland, Victoria.
    PARTICIPANTS: Hospital staff responsible for recruitment of nurses and overseas trained nurses from traditional and non-traditional sources (e.g. England, Scotland, India, Zimbabwe, Holland, Singapore, Malaysia).
    RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Recruitment of married overseas trained nurses is more sustainable than that of single registered nurses, however, the process of recruitment for the hospital and potential employees is costly. Rural hospitality diffuses some of these expenses by the employing hospitals providing emergency accommodation and necessary furnishings. Cultural differences and dissonance regarding practice create barriers for some of the overseas trained nurses to move towards a more sanguine position. On the positive side, single overseas registered nurses use the opportunity to work in rural Australian hospitals as an effective working holiday that promotes employment in larger, more specialized hospitals. Overall both the registered nurses and the employees believe the experience to be beneficial rather than detrimental.
    Matched MeSH terms: Pilot Projects
  12. Mahmood WA, Watson CJ, Ogden AR, Hawkins RV
    Int J Prosthodont, 1992 Jul-Aug;5(4):359-66.
    PMID: 1520458
    Image analysis was used to determine masticatory efficiency and performance before and after placement of immediate dentures. Sections of cored carrot were used as the test food and the particle size of chewed expectorated food was measured using image analysis. Measurements were shown to be accurate and reproducible. Masticatory function of immediate-denture patients was also compared with a similar number of dentate individuals and experienced complete-denture wearers. Dentate subjects were significantly (P less than .01) more efficient at masticating the test food than were the complete- or immediate-denture wearers. The new method of measurement removes the necessity for the unpleasant and unhygienic sieving process previously used in this type of study.
    Matched MeSH terms: Pilot Projects
  13. Adha PR, Chua KH, Mazlyzam AL, Low KC, Aminuddin BS, Ruszymah BH
    Med J Malaysia, 2008 Jul;63 Suppl A:30-1.
    PMID: 19024968
    A major factor limiting survival following extensive thermal injury is insufficient availability of donor sites to provide enough skin for the required grafting procedures. Limitation of autologous grafting promotes the usage of allograft skin substitutes to promote wound healing. Here, we investigated the wound healing potential of allograft single layered tissue engineered skin which comprises of either keratinocytes (SLTES-K) or fibroblast (SLTES-F) with fibrin as the delivery system. Results from gross and microscopic evaluation showed our single layered tissue engineered skin constructed with keratinocytes or fibroblast after gamma radiation with the dosage of 2Gy could serve as allograft for the treatment of skin loss.
    Matched MeSH terms: Pilot Projects
  14. Chan CYW, Chiu CK, Lee CK, Gani SMA, Mohamad SM, Hasan MS, et al.
    Spine (Phila Pa 1976), 2017 Oct 01;42(19):1427-1433.
    PMID: 28248896 DOI: 10.1097/BRS.0000000000002135
    STUDY DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial.

    OBJECTIVE: The present study investigated the effectiveness of chewing gum on promoting faster bowel function and its ability to hasten recovery for patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) after posterior spinal fusion (PSF) surgery.

    SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Sham feeding with chewing gum had been reported to reduce the incidence of postoperative ileus by accelerating recovery of bowel function.

    METHODS: We prospectively recruited and randomized 60 patients with AIS scheduled for PSF surgery into treatment (chewing gum) and control group. The patient-controlled anesthesia usage, wound pain score, abdominal pain score, nausea score, and abdominal girth were assessed and recorded at 12, 24, 36, 48, and 60 hours postoperatively. The timing for the first fluid intake, first oral intake, sitting up, walking, first flatus after surgery, first bowel opening after surgery, and duration of hospital stay were also assessed and recorded.

    RESULTS: We found that there were no significant differences (P > 0.05) in patient-controlled anesthesia usage, wound pain score, abdominal pain score, nausea score, and abdominal girth between treatment (chewing gum) and control groups. We also found that there were no significant difference (P > 0.05) in postoperative recovery parameters, which were the first fluid intake, first oral intake, sitting up after surgery, walking after surgery, first flatus after surgery, first bowel opening after surgery, and duration of hospital stay between both groups. The wound pain was the worst at 12 hours postoperatively, which progressively improved in both groups. The abdominal pain progressively worsened to the highest score at 48 hours in the treatment group and 36 hours in the control group before improving after that. The pattern of severity and recovery of wound pain and abdominal pain was different.

    CONCLUSION: We found that chewing gum did not significantly reduce the abdominal pain, promote faster bowel function, or hasten patient recovery.

    LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 1.

    Matched MeSH terms: Pilot Projects
  15. Abdul Rahman H, Manzor NF, Tan GC, Tan AE, Chua KH
    Med J Malaysia, 2008 Jul;63 Suppl A:57-8.
    PMID: 19024982
    Angiogenic induction was made to promote angiogenesis by differentiating stem cells towards endothelial cells. However, the stemness property of induced cells has not been revealed yet. Hence, we aim to evaluate the differential mRNA expression of stemness genes in human chorion-derived stem cells (CDSC) after being cultured in EDM50 comprised bFGF and VEGF. Results indicated that CDSC cultured in EMD50 expressed significantly higher mRNA level of Sox-2, FZD9, BST-1 and Nestin. In addition Oct-4, FGF-4 and ABCG-2 were also upregulated. Our finding suggested that CDSC after angiogenic induction enhanced its stem cell properties. This could be contributed for the mechanism of stem cell therapy in ischemic problem.
    Matched MeSH terms: Pilot Projects
  16. Goh KL, Choi MG, Hsu WP, Chun HJ, Mahachai V, Kachintorn U, et al.
    J Gastroenterol Hepatol, 2014 Dec;29(12):1969-75.
    PMID: 24990817 DOI: 10.1111/jgh.12655
    Data on patient satisfaction with proton pump inhibitor (PPI) therapy for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) are scarce in Asia. The perspectives of Asian patients with GERD and their satisfaction with PPI therapy were investigated.
    Matched MeSH terms: Pilot Projects
  17. Kalong NA, Yusof MM
    Stud Health Technol Inform, 2013;192:749-53.
    PMID: 23920657
    Despite the rapid application of the Lean method in healthcare, its study in IT environments, particularly in Health Information Systems (HIS), is still limited primarily by a lack of waste identification. This paper aims to review the literature to provide an insight into the nature of waste in HIS from the perspective of Lean management. Eight waste frameworks within the context of healthcare and information technology were reviewed. Based on the review, it was found that all the seven waste categories from the manufacturing sector also exist in both the healthcare and IT domains. However, the nature of the waste varied depending on the processes of the domains. A number of additional waste categories were also identified. The findings reveal that the traditional waste model can be adapted to identify waste in both the healthcare and IT sectors.
    Matched MeSH terms: Pilot Projects
  18. Jamshed SQ, Elkalmi R, Rajiah K, Al-Shami AK, Shamsudin SH, Siddiqui MJ, et al.
    J Infect Dev Ctries, 2014;8(6):780-5.
    PMID: 24916878 DOI: 10.3855/jidc.3833
    This study is aimed to investigate the understanding of antibiotic use and antibiotic resistance and its correlate factors among final-year medical and pharmacy students at International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM).
    Matched MeSH terms: Pilot Projects
  19. Muhamad Aiman Afiq Mohd Noor, Azhari Md Hashim
    MyJurnal
    The relationship between typicality and novelty was discussed in order to identify the significant emotional value arising in the compact car design of Malaysian manufacturers. Typicality and novelty usually are associated with the aesthetic preference of human artefacts as in this study in compact car design. Considering a typical product is rarely new and, conversely, a novel product often labelled as typical, the positive effects of both features seem incompatible. This paper discusses the history of the Malaysian manufacturer’s compact car design according to its timeline and the current market based on its model and achievement. Furthermore, the relationship between compact car design such as the limitation of emotional value arising through typicality and novelty of specific compact car design and how it triggers the user’s perception through its aesthetics form. Hence, a pilot study was conducted to validate a set of stimulus and questionnaires as a way to formulate an actual survey. Finally, the outcome of this study will suggest a way forward in exploring typicality and novelty through a reliable method of compact car design
    Matched MeSH terms: Pilot Projects
  20. Lim E, Lim R, Suhaimi A, Chan BT, Wahab AKA
    J Back Musculoskelet Rehabil, 2018;31(6):1041-1047.
    PMID: 30149436 DOI: 10.3233/BMR-171042
    BACKGROUND: Low frequency sound wave stimulation therapy has become increasingly popular in the rehabilitation fields, due to its ease, less fatiguing and time efficient application.

    OBJECTIVE: This 12-week pilot study examines the efficacy of applying low frequency sound wave stimulation (between 16-160 Hz) through both hands and feet on relieving pain and improving functional ability in patients with chronic back pain.

    METHODS: Twenty-three participants with chronic shoulder (eleven participants) or low back pain (twelve participants) underwent a 12-week vibration therapy program of three sessions per week. A low frequency sound wave device comprising four piezoelectric vibration-type tactile tranducers enclosed in separate 5-cm diameter circular plates, which generate sinusoidal vibratory stimuli at a frequency of 16-160 Hz, was used in this study. Primary outcome measure was pain sensation measured using the Visual Analogue Scale (P-VAS). The secondary outcome measures were pain-related disability measured using the pain disability index (PDI) and quality of life measured using the SF-12.

    RESULTS: At week 12, significant reductions in pain sensation and pain-related disability were observed, with mean reductions of 3.5 points in P-VAS and 13.5 points in the PDI scores. Sixty-five percent of the participants had a reduction of at least 3 points on the P-VAS score, while 52% participants showed a decrease of at least 10 points in the PDI score. Significant improvement was observed in the SF-12 physical composite score but not the mental composite score.

    CONCLUSIONS: The preliminary findings showed that passive application of low frequency sound wave stimulation therapy through both hands and feet was effective in alleviating pain and improving functional ability in patients with chronic back pain.

    Matched MeSH terms: Pilot Projects
Filters
Contact Us

Please provide feedback to Administrator (afdal@afpm.org.my)

External Links