| 1. |
- Björklund, Martin, 1961-, et al.
(författare)
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Effects of tailored versus non-tailored treatment on pain and pressure pain threshold in women with nonspecific neck pain : a randomized controlled trial
- 2014
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- Aim of the investigation: The evidence for physiotherapy treatments of nonspecific neck pain is modest despite a large increase of intervention studies the last decade. One reason could be different underlying causes for pain in individuals with nonspecific neck pain, and that identification of sub-groups or individual needs is seldom accounted for in studies. In the absence of causal treatment options, a tailored treatment approach based on an explicit clinical decision model guided by assessment of function, clinical signs and symptoms, should be considered. Our aim was to evaluate tailored treatment based on such a decision model, targeting women with nonspecific neck pain. Our main hypothesis was that the tailored treatment (T) would have better short, intermediate and long-term effects on pain intensity and pressure pain threshold for the trapezius muscles than either non-tailored treatment (NT) (same treatment components but applied quasi-randomly) or treatment-as-usual (TAU) (no treatment from the study, no restrictions). We further hypothesized that T or NT has better effect than TAU. For details, cf. Current Controlled Trials registration ISRCTN49348025 and published study protocol.Methods: 120 working women with minimum six weeks duration of neck pain were randomized to the T, NT or TAU groups. All participants had more than “no disability” but less than “complete disability” according to the Neck Disability Index, and reported impaired capacity on the quality or quantity to work the preceding month. Main exclusion criteria were trauma-related neck pain, specific diagnoses and generalized pain or concomitant low back pain. The decision model for tailored treatment was based on tests and symptoms with defined cut-off levels comprising the following main categories: reduced cervical mobility, impaired neck-shoulder strength and motor control, trapezius myalgia, cervicogenic headache and impaired eye-head-neck control (cf. published study protocol). Assessment was performed one week before and after the 11-weeks intervention, with follow-ups 6-months (intermediate-term) and 12-months (long-term) after the intervention. Outcome variables were pain intensity (Numeric Rating Scale, NRS, 0 – 10) and pressure pain threshold (PPT) of the upper trapezius muscles (kPa). PPT was not measured at long-term follow-up. Preliminary statistical analyses for the predefined hypotheses were performed with analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) with baseline outcome values as covariates. This was supplemented with pairwise Bonferroni-compensated comparisons in case of significance of factor group.Results: 86% of the participants completed the intervention, and the attrition was similar across groups. Preliminary results for the short term evaluation showed a reduction in NRS from an average of 4.4 and 4.5 to 2.5 in the T and NT groups, respectively, which was significantly greater compared to the TAU group (p=0.024 and p=0.014 for T and NT). For the PPT, there was no difference between T and NT groups at the short term evaluation, but close to a significantly increased threshold for the T compared to the TAU group (p=0,058). No differences were found between treatment groups on the intermediate and long-term evaluations for neither of the two outcome variables.Conclusions: The results indicate that tailored treatment for women with nonspecific neck pain may not be more effective, with respect to pain reduction, compared to non-tailored treatment. The hypothesis of superiority of tailored or non-tailored treatment over treatment-as-usual was partly supported for the short-term evaluation. However, the short-term results should be interpreted with caution since the impact of higher attention given to the participants in T and NT groups is not known. Reference:1. Björklund M, Djupsjöbacka M, Svedmark Å, Häger C. (2012) Effects of tailored neck-shoulder pain treatment based on a decision model guided by clinical assessments and standardized functional tests. A study protocol of a randomized controlled trial. BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders. May 20;13(1):75
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| 2. |
- Berglund, Martin, 1981-, et al.
(författare)
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Parsing unranked tree languages, folded once
- 2023
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Ingår i: Fundamentals of computation theory. - : Springer Nature. - 9783031435867 ; , s. 60-73
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- A regular unranked tree folding consists of a regular unranked tree language and a folding operation that merges, i.e., folds, selected nodes of a tree to form a graph; the combination is a formal device for representing graph languages. If, in the process of folding, the order among edges is discarded so that the result is an unordered graph, then two applications of a fold operation is enough to make the associated parsing problem NP-complete. However, if the order is kept, then the problem is solvable in non-uniform polynomial time. In this paper we address the remaining case where only one fold operation is applied, but the order among edges is discarded. We show that under these conditions, the problem is solvable in non-uniform polynomial time.
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| 3. |
- Berglund, Martin, 1981-, et al.
(författare)
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Transduction from trees to graphs through folding
- 2023
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Ingår i: Information and Computation. - : Elsevier. - 0890-5401 .- 1090-2651. ; 295
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We introduce a fold operation that realises a tree-to-graph transduction by merging selected nodes in the input tree to form a possibly cyclic output graph. The work is motivated by the increasing use of graph-based representations in semantic parsing. We show that a suitable class of graphs languages can be generated by applying the fold operation to regular unranked tree languages. We investigate two versions of the fold operation, one that preserves a depth-first ordering between the edges, and one that does not. Finally, we demonstrate that the time complexity for the associated non-uniform membership problem is solvable in polynomial time for the order-preserving version, and NP-complete for the order-cancelling one.
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| 4. |
- Diarbakerli, E., et al.
(författare)
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Learning from the past to plan for the future: A scoping review of musculoskeletal clinical research in Sweden 2010-2020
- 2022
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Ingår i: Upsala Journal of Medical Sciences. - : Uppsala Medical Society. - 0300-9734 .- 2000-1967. ; 127:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: The aims of this study are to 1) determine the scope of musculoskeletal (MSK)-related clinical research in Sweden; 2) collate the amount of first-tier funding received; 3) discuss strategies and infrastructure supporting future MSK clinical trials in Sweden. Methods: A systematic scoping review protocol was applied in PubMed, Scopus, and SweCRIS databases. The articles were examined, and data were extracted in multiple stages by three blinded authors. Results: The search strategy resulted in 3,025 publications from 479 Swedish-affiliated authors. Primary health care was the basis for 14% of the publications, 84% from secondary health care, and 2% from occupational health care with a similar proportional distribution of first-tier research grant financing. Approximately one in six publications were randomized controlled trials (RCTs), while the majority were of observational cohort design. The majority of publications in primary and occupational health care were related to pain disorders (51 and 67%, respectively), especially diagnosis, prognosis, and healthcare organizational-related interventions (34%) and rehabilitation (15%) with similar proportional distribution of first-tier research grant financing. In secondary health care, rheumatic inflammatory disorder-related publications were most prevalent (30%), most frequently concerning diagnosis, prognosis, and healthcare organizational-related interventions (20%), attracting approximately half of all first-tier funding. Publications related to degenerative joint disorders (25%), fractures (16%), and joint, tendon, and muscle injuries (13%) frequently concerned surgical and other orthopedic-related interventions (16, 6, and 8%, respectively). Pain disorder-related publications (10%) as well as bone health and osteoporosis-related publications (4%) most frequently concerned diagnosis, prognosis, and healthcare organizational-related interventions (5 and 3%, respectively). Conclusions: Swedish-affiliated MSK disorder research 2010-2020 was predominantly observational cohort rather than RCT based. There was skewed first-tier funding allocation considering prevalence/incidence and burden of disease. Use of infrastructure supporting register-based RCTs, placebo-controlled RCTs, and hybrid effectiveness-implementation studies on prevention and clinical intervention is important strategies for the future in all healthcare sectors.
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| 5. |
- Diarbakerli, Elias, et al.
(författare)
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Swedish musculoskeletal researchers view on a collaborative network and future research priorities in Swedish healthcare
- 2024
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Ingår i: Musculoskeletal Care. - : John Wiley & Sons. - 1478-2189 .- 1557-0681. ; 22:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Musculoskeletal disorders (MSK) are a global burden causing significant suffering and economic impact. Systematic identification and targeting of research questions of highest interest for stakeholders can aid in improving MSK disorder knowledge and management.Objective: To obtain Swedish MSK researchers' opinions and views on a collaborative Swedish MSK network (SweMSK) and identify future research areas of importance for Swedish MSK research.Methods: A web-based survey was conducted July to September 2021 to collect data from 354 Swedish MSK researchers. The survey focused on the need, objectives, and structure of a SweMSK network and identified prioritised areas for future MSK research.Results: The study included 141 respondents, of which 82 were associate professors or professors. The majority (68%) supported the creation of a new musculoskeletal network. The most supported element was increased collaboration regarding nationwide and multicenter studies. Respondents recommended the creation of a homepage and the establishment of national work groups with different specific interests as the primary elements of a new network.Conclusion: The results demonstrated a need and desire for increased national research collaboration and the creation of a new musculoskeletal network. The high academic experience and active research participation of the respondents suggest the need for MSK disorder knowledge and management improvement in Sweden. Therefore, the SweMSK network may help facilitate effective collaboration and research efforts that can contribute to the advancement of MSK disorder management and care. This study may provide valuable insights for policymakers, clinicians, and researchers to improve MSK disorder care and management in Sweden.
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| 6. |
- Hadrévi, Jenny, et al.
(författare)
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Systemic differences in serum metabolome : a cross sectional comparison of women with localised and widespread pain and controls
- 2015
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Ingår i: Scientific Reports. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2045-2322. ; 5
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Chronic musculoskeletal pain exists either as localised to a single region or as widespread to multiple sites in several quadrants of the body. Prospective studies indicate that widespread pain could act as a far end of a continuum of musculoskeletal pain that started with chronic localised pain. The mechanism by which the transition from localised pain to widespread occurs is not clear, although many studies suggest it to be an altered metabolism. In this study, systemic metabolic differences between women with chronic localised neck-shoulder pain (NP), women with chronic widespread pain (CWP) and women who were healthy (CON) were assessed. Blood samples were analysed taking a metabolomics approach using gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and orthogonal partial least square discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA). The metabolomics analysis showed a clear systematic difference in the metabolic profiles between the subjects with NP and the CON but only a weak systematic difference between the subjects with CWP and the CON. This most likely reflects a difference in the portion of the metabolome influenced by the two pain conditions. In the NP group, the overall metabolic profile suggests that processes related to energy utilisation and lipid metabolism could be central aspects of mechanisms maintaining disorder.
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| 7. |
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| 8. |
- Arumugam, Ashokan, et al.
(författare)
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Effects of neuromuscular training on knee proprioception in individuals with anterior cruciate ligament injury : A systematic review and GRADE evidence synthesis
- 2021
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Ingår i: BMJ Open. - : BMJ Publishing Group Ltd. - 2044-6055. ; 11:5
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective: To systematically review and summarise the evidence for the effects of neuromuscular training compared with any other therapy (conventional training/sham) on knee proprioception following anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury.Design: Systematic Review.Data sources: PubMed, CINAHL, SPORTDiscus, AMED, Scopus and Physical Education Index were searched from inception to February 2020.Eligibility criteria: Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and controlled clinical trials investigating the effects of neuromuscular training on knee-specific proprioception tests following a unilateral ACL injury were included.Data extraction and synthesis: Two reviewers independently screened and extracted data and assessed risk of bias of the eligible studies using the Cochrane risk of bias 2 tool. Overall certainty in evidence was determined using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) tool.Results: Of 2706 articles retrieved, only 9 RCTs, comprising 327 individuals with an ACL reconstruction (ACLR), met the inclusion criteria. Neuromuscular training interventions varied across studies: whole body vibration therapy, Nintendo-Wii-Fit training, balance training, sport-specific exercises, backward walking, etc. Outcome measures included joint position sense (JPS; n=7), thresholds to detect passive motion (TTDPM; n=3) or quadriceps force control (QFC; n=1). Overall, between-group mean differences indicated inconsistent findings with an increase or decrease of errors associated with JPS by ≤2°, TTDPM by ≤1.5° and QFC by ≤6 Nm in the ACLR knee following neuromuscular training. Owing to serious concerns with three or more GRADE domains (risk of bias, inconsistency, indirectness or imprecision associated with the findings) for each outcome of interest across studies, the certainty of evidence was very low.Conclusions: The heterogeneity of interventions, methodological limitations, inconsistency of effects (on JPS/TTDPM/QFC) preclude recommendation of one optimal neuromuscular training intervention for improving proprioception following ACL injury in clinical practice. There is a need for methodologically robust RCTs with homogenous populations with ACL injury (managed conservatively or with reconstruction), novel/well-designed neuromuscular training and valid proprioception assessments, which also seem to be lacking.PROSPERO registration number CRD42018107349.
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| 9. |
- Bergqvist, Maria, et al.
(författare)
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The impact of visuospatial and executive function on activity performance and outcome after robotic or conventional gait training, long-term after stroke—as part of a randomized controlled trial
- 2023
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Ingår i: PLOS ONE. - : Public Library of Science. - 1932-6203. ; 21:3
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Introduction: Visuospatial and executive impairments have been associated with poor activity performance sub-acute after stroke. Potential associations long-term and in relation to outcome of rehabilitation interventions need further exploration.Aims: To explore associations between visuospatial and executive function and 1) activity performance (mobility, self-care and domestic life) and 2) outcome after 6 weeks of conventional gait training and/or robotic gait training, long term (1–10 years) after stroke.Methods: Participants (n = 45), living with stroke affecting walking ability and who could perform the items assessing visuospatial/executive function included in the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA Vis/Ex) were included as part of a randomized controlled trial. Executive function was evaluated using ratings by significant others according to the Dysexecutive Questionnaire (DEX); activity performance using 6-minute walk test (6MWT), 10-meter walk test (10MWT), Berg balance scale, Functional Ambulation Categories, Barthel Index and Stroke Impact Scale.Results: MoCA Vis/Ex was significantly associated with baseline activity performance, long-term after stroke (r = .34-.69, p < .05). In the conventional gait training group, MoCA Vis/Ex explained 34% of the variance in 6MWT after the six-week intervention (p = 0.017) and 31% (p = 0.032) at the 6 month follow up, which indicate that a higher MoCA Vis/Ex score enhanced the improvement. The robotic gait training group presented no significant associations between MoCA Vis/Ex and 6MWT indicating that visuospatial/executive function did not affect outcome. Rated executive function (DEX) presented no significant associations to activity performance or outcome after gait training.Conclusion: Visuospatial/executive function may significantly affect activity performance and the outcome of rehabilitation interventions for impaired mobility long-term after stroke and should be considered in the planning of such interventions. Patients with severely impaired visuospatial/executive function may benefit from robotic gait training since improvement was seen irrespective of visuospatial/executive function. These results may guide future larger studies on interventions targeting long-term walking ability and activity performance.
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| 10. |
- Björklund, Martin, 1961-, et al.
(författare)
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Cervico-thoracic and cranio-cervical strength differences between women with and without neck pain and the diagnostic performance of neck-strength tests
- 2019
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Ingår i: World Confederation for physical Therapy Congress 2019, Geneva 10-13 May.
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Cervical strength and stability is often addressed in rehabilitation of people with neck pain. These functions may be associated with emergence and retention of neck pain in cases where the neck strength does not meet daily demands. However, clear empiric support for these notions are lacking, partly due to a scarcity of well controlled dynamometry studies with large samples. First, clarification is needed whether neck strength is in fact reduced in people with neck pain and to resolve the diagnostic performance of neck strength tests.Purpose: To compare neck muscle strength of women with non-specific long-term neck pain and healthy controls. Also, to assess the diagnostic performance of neck strength tests by assessing their discriminative ability to discern women with and without neck pain.Methods: The study had a cross-sectional design with data on cervical strength derived from the baseline measurement of a randomized controlled trial (RCT). 80 women with long-term non-specific neck pain (NP) were compared with 40 healthy women (CON). The NP group was a subsample from the RCT selected so that there were no group differences (NP-CON) for body weight and physical activity. Cervical strength assessment included dynamometry of cervico-thoracic extension (CTE) and flexion (CTF) in sitting and cranio-cervical flexion (CCF) in standing, all performed with isometric maximum voluntary contraction (iMVC). Independent samples Mann-Whitney U test and T-test were used to assess group differences for iMVC of the tests. Diagnostic accuracy was further assessed with a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve by plotting the true positive rate (sensitivity) as a function of the false positive rate (1 - specificity). The area under the ROC curve (AUC) with 95% confidence interval was used to determine discriminative ability of the tests. The optimal cut-off value to discern NP from CON with corresponding sensitivity and specificity was also determined.Results: Women with neck pain produced significant lower iMVC in CTE (28%), CTF (26%) and CCF (33%) (all p< 0.001). The ability of CTE, CTF and CCF to discriminate between NP and CON showed moderate accuracy (AUC 0.83, 0.78 and 0.73, respectively). The cut-off value of 165.7 N in CTE had a sensitivity of 0.725 and a specificity of 0.8. The corresponding values for CTF and CCF were 85.8 N (sensitivity 0.8; specificity 0.692) and 4.2 Nm (sensitivity 0.575; specificity 0.9).Conclusion(s): The neck pain group had less neck muscle strength than controls in all tests. The diagnostic performance of the neck strength tests, judged as discriminative ability to discern neck pain from control participants, were moderate. These results support earlier findings of reduced neck strength in people with neck pain. Also, neck strength tests may have a complementary value in the assessment of neck pain persons.Implications: The results highlights that impaired neck strength, both in global cervico-thoracic and deep cranio-cervical muscles, is most likely a characteristic of people with long-term neck pain. The study also shows that strength tests could be used with fairly good discriminative precision and may thereby be valuable assessment tools.
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