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Forty- six cervical radiculopathy patients, age- and gender-matched with 43 controls, recruited in this study were measured for end-range flexion, extension, lateral rotation right and left using the Spin-T goniometer. Within group differences were calculated using a paired t-test and differences between groups were compared using an independent sample t-test at p < 0.05. The results showed that the mean cervical spine ROM in the cervical radiculopathy group was reduced compared to matched controls for flexion (t = 2.26, p = 0.02), extension (t = 2.30, p = 0.02) and full cycle rotation (sum of left and right rotation) (t = 2.01, p = 0.04). Differences calculated within normal controls and the patients for paired rotation movements were not significant. Cervical ROM comparisons between a cervical radiculopathy patient cohort and a normal control group indicate a trend toward limitation of ROM compared to normal controls although it does not seem to be a systematic feature of the pain population as tested in this study. The reduction was not unilaterally patterned and did not show any difference in individual movements of the cervical spine when compared to any one painful side. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An editorial is presented on expecting manuscripts for using estimation methods instead of null hypothesis statistical tests. Topics include statistical inference being the process of making inferences about populations using data from samples; and availability of alternative methods of statistical inference and promotion of the methods in statistical, medical, and physiotherapy journals.

Objectives: To study the effectiveness of mirror therapy along with a Stroke rehabilitation program on oedema, pain intensity and functional activities in patients with shoulder‐hand syndrome (SHS) after stroke. Design: Randomized controlled trial. Settings: Out‐patient rehabilitation center. Methods: Thirty‐eight SHS patients after stroke, were randomly allocated into two groups; both the groups received a 4‐week stroke rehabilitation program, 30 min a day for 5 days a week. Control group patients performed all the exercises of stroke rehabilitation program, while directly visualizing their both limbs. Experimental group patients performed same exercises of stroke rehabilitation program in front of the mirror. Outcome Measures: Oedema (figure‐of‐eight measurement method), pain intensity (0–10 Numeric Pain Rating Scale [0–10 NPRS]), functional activities (Functional Independence Measure [FIM]). Results: After intervention, both groups showed statistically significant (p < 0.05) improvement for all measures (oedema measurement, 0–10 NPRS and FIM). Improvements were more significant (p < 0.05) in the experimental group with mirror therapy for all three measures compared to the control group. Mean differences between groups were 1.40 cm for oedema measurement, 0.87 for NPRS score and 12.20 for FIM score. At 2‐week follow‐up, the improvements were sustained. Conclusion: The current study may indicate mirror therapy as an effective central neuromodulatory rehabilitative program to reduce pain, improves functional activities. More distinctively, this preliminary study suggests a decrease in oedema by mirror therapy for SHS after stroke. Improvement of upper limb in SHS after stroke will be more perceptible with the decrease in oedema, being the characteristic sign, following mirror therapy. Clinically, patients during their daily functional activities, shall be more confident to use their upper limb following mirror therapy after reduction in oedema along with pain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: With the Wuhan pandemic spread to India, more than a lakh of population were affected with COVID-19 with varying severities. Physiotherapists participated as frontline workers to contribute to management of patients in COVID-19 in reducing morbidity of these patients and aiding them to road to recovery. With infrastructure and patient characteristics different from West and lack of adequate evidence to existing practices, there was a need to formulate a national consensus. Materials and methods: Recommendations were formulated with a systematic literature search and feedback of physiotherapist experiences. Expert consensus was obtained using a modified Delphi method. Results: The intraclass coefficient of agreement between the experts was 0.994, significant at p < 0.001. Conclusion: This document offers physiotherapy evidence-based consensus and recommendation to planning physiotherapy workforce, assessment, chest physiotherapy, early mobilization, preparation for discharge planning, and safety for patients and therapist in acute-care COVID 19 setup of India. The recommendations have been integrated in the algorithm and are intended to use by all physiotherapists and other stakeholders in management of patients with COVID-19 in acute care settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A correction to the article "Statistical Inference Through Estimation: Recommendations From the International Society of Physiotherapy Journal Editors," by M. R. Elkins et al, that was published in a 2022 issue is presented.

The article presents the recommendations from the "International Society of Physiotherapy Journal" on the use of statistical inference through estimation.