Tim Watson

TENS or Interferential for pain, function + quality of life in Multiple Sclerosis. Single blind RCT, N=40. Both sig effective on multiple outcomes. TENS results were stronger: Katirci Kirmaci et al (2023) Mult Scler Relat Disord 71: 104541 tinyurl.com/yckw76fw

Sys Rev + Meta: Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stim (rTMS) in Fibromyalgia. Based on N=7 studies with 217 patients. rTMS delivered at 10Hz. Sig benefits for pain + quality of life: Zhu et al (2023) Arch Phys Med Rehabil 104(1): 151 tinyurl.com/yvbk377p

Posterior Tibial Nerve Stim (PTNS) for functional constipation in children. N=23, Stim at ankle 30 min daily for 10 days. Sig benefits on multiple outcomes incl pain + bowel function: Velasco-Benitez et al (2023) Eur J Pediatr (online) tinyurl.com/3t68tjnp

Sys Rev: Involvement of neurogenic inflammation in tendinopathy. Interesting consideration of the latest on this controversial topic - makes for a good read : Wasker et al (2023) BMJ Open Sport + Ex Med 9(1): e001494 tinyurl.com/4dvkvkbv

Wishing all you Twitter people a very Happy Christmas (for those who celebrate it) and a peaceful New Year. Back in 2023. ElectroTim🤓

Shockwave for breast cancer related lymphedems. N=28 shockwave vs contral. Sig benefits for limb circumference, volume, skin thickness + more up to 3 months post treatment. Interesting + potentially useful: Lee et al (2022) J Clin Med 11(22) tinyurl.com/5yvktbe3

Rev + Meta: Laser therapy (photobiomodulation) effects on muscular performance + soreness recovery in athletes, N=24 trials. Sig strength benefits (up to 8 week follow up) + benefits for several other outcomes: Luo et al (2022) Sports Health 14(5): 687 tinyurl.com/yexhrtm4

Laser Therapy (photobiomodulation) for osteoarthritis in (N=23) dogs. Increased activity levels + improved quality of life by end of treatment period (1 x weekly for 6 weeks): Barale et al (2022) Vet Med Sci (online) tinyurl.com/y547yrv2

Narrative Review: Transcranial treatment options for neurological disorders. Includes Photobiomodulation; Transcranial Electrical Stim (TES); Transcranial Magnetic Stim (TMS) + Ultrasound. Useful current summary: Mosilhy et al (2022) Life Sci 307: 120869 tinyurl.com/3nbn23sf

Microcurrent for pressure ulcers in older people. RCT, N=30, MCT vs sham. Sig benefits in the microcurrent group at end of treatment using PUSH scale and healing outcomes: Avendano-Coy et al (2022) Int J Environ Res Public Health 19(16) tinyurl.com/2thjd47k

Review: Laser therapy (photobiomodulation) using red light for postoperative pain management. N=7 studies. Also looks at mechanism of action + dose-response curves. Concludes it is safe + effective: Sammons & Shanks (2022) J Periop Pract: 17504589221124757 tinyurl.com/2s49ac6m

Compare ultrasound + laser (photobiomodulation) for pain + function in rotator cuff tendinopathy. N=75 patients in 5 groups. Infra Red laser + Ultrasound is strongest combination. Useful study + worth a read: Martins et al (2022) Lasers Med Sci 37(8):3155 tinyurl.com/mrbkdwdd

Sys Rev: Shockwave therapies in veterinary / animal therapy - sport + small animals included. 27 studies are included covering a wide range of applications: Boström et al (2022) Animals (Basel) 12(22) tinyurl.com/ytmvkc34

Radial Shockwave effect on spasticity post stroke. N=40 pilot study compare shockwave (1 x week, 4 weeks) vs control. Sig benefits for shockwave, maintained at 4 week follow up: Brunelli et al (2022) Biomed Res Int 2022: 8064548 tinyurl.com/4d2ub7we

Perspective: Non invasive electroanalgesia for cancer pain. Includes TENS and Scrambler Therapy as viable options: Verma et al (2022) Indian J Cancer 59(2): 282 tinyurl.com/bdf9up5e

Transcranial Direct Current (tDCS) for older alults with chronic musculoskeletal pain. Mental health + physical outcomes. N=25 RCT tDCS vs sham. Sig benefits multiple outcomes at end treatment + 1 month follow up: Kim et al (2022) Eur Geriat Med 13(4):959 tinyurl.com/bdh28yp2

Narrative Review: E Stim for painful diabetic neuropathy. Includes Spinal Cord Stim (SCS), Peripheral Nerve Stim (PNS), TENS + Scrambler Therapy based on N=17 studies. Mixed results but some useful insights: Wang et al (2022) Pain Physician 25(8): E1163 tinyurl.com/3xfst77v

Home based laser light therapy compared with sham for Overactive Bladder (OAB). Applied suprapubic, 3 x daily. Sig benefits on multiple outcomes including incontinence events: Hwang et al (2022) Int Urogynecol J 33(12): 3573 tinyurl.com/2w482kmf

Sys Rev + Meta: Photobiomodulation (Laser Therapy) for exercise induced oxidative stress. N=8 studies, 140 participants. Evidence of reduced oxidative damage though results are mixed on some outcomes: De Marchi et al (2022) Antioxidants (Basel) 11(9) tinyurl.com/4urftpvd

Low Intensity Pulsed Ultrasound (LIPUS) for non union fractures. Retrospective study, 37 patients. Success rate of over 82% suggests both safe and effective: Pretorius et al (2022) Cureus 14(9): e29230 tinyurl.com/367hh4vv