Use Of Non-drug Treatments Research Articles

Nutraceutical Supplementation as a Potential Non-Drug Treatment for Fibromyalgia: Effects on Lipid Profile, Oxidative Status, and Quality of Life.

Fibromyalgia (FM) is a chronic syndrome of unknown etiology, although many studies point to inflammation, oxidative stress, and altered mitochondrial metabolism as some of the cornerstones of this disease. Despite its socioeconomic importance and due to the difficulties in diagnosis, there are no effective treatments. However, the use of non-drug treatments is increasingly becoming a recommended strategy. In this context, the effects of supplementation of FM patients with an olive (poly)phenol, vitamin C, and vitamin B preparation were investigated in this work, analyzing complete blood count, biochemical, lipid, and coagulation profiles, and inflammation and oxidation status in blood samples. To gain a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms and pathways involved in the etiology of FM, a proteomic study was also performed to investigate the mechanisms of action of the supplement. Our results show that the nutraceutical lowers the lipid profile, namely cholesterol, and improves the oxidative status of patients as well as their quality of life, suggesting that this product could be beneficial in the co-treatment of FM. ClinicalTrials.gov (ID: NCT06348537).

Virtual reality therapy in patients after trauma surgery: prospective clinical trial

INTRODUCTION: Postoperative pain is a common problem. The use of non-drug treatments can reduce the need for medications. The use of Virtual Reality Therapy (VR-therapy) is being widely studied as a complementary treatment for acute and chronic pain. The lack of data on the effectiveness of the technique in patients after traumatological surgical interventions became the basis for this study. OBJECTIVE: To determine the effectiveness of VR-therapy as a method of additional treatment of postoperative pain in patients after traumatological surgical interventions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective clinical study included 70 patients admitted for elective trauma surgery. VR-therapy in combination with medicated analgesics was used in 35 patients. The control group included 35 patients who, after performing similar surgical interventions, were given pain relief only with medication. Virtual reality therapy was performed using an Oculus Quest 2 device. Sessions of 25 minutes were performed 3, 7, 12 hours after the operation. The effectiveness of pain therapy was assessed using a numerical rating scale. The response of the endocrine-metabolic response to pain was assessed by changes in the concentration of cortisol and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH). RESULTS: Therapy based on drug analgesia in combination with virtual reality sessions led to a better quality of pain relief for patients after trauma surgery. After a session of VR, the decrease in scores on the pain self-assessment scale was 44 %. When compared with the results obtained the next day, the values in the main group were lower by 22 %. The need of patients of the main group for narcotic analgesics significantly decreased. The change in the concentration of ACTH, as an indicator of the endocrine-metabolic response, in the group with VR-therapy was 18 % less pronounced. CONCLUSIONS: The use of VR leads to a decrease in postoperative pain, endocrine-metabolic response and the need for opioid analgesics.

Adjuvant treatments associated with botulinum toxin injection for managing spasticity: An overview of the literature.

A wide range of adjunct therapies after botulinum toxin administration have been proposed. The aim of the present paper is to provide an overview of major writings dealing with adjuvant (non-pharmacological) treatments associated with botulinum toxin for managing spasticity in order to provide some up-to-date information about the usefulness of the most commonly used procedures. The literature in PubMed was searched with the MeSH terms botulinum toxins, muscle spasticity, physical therapy modalities, and rehabilitation. The results were limited to studies focusing on adjuvant treatments associated with botulinum toxin for managing spasticity. We excluded papers on the use of non-drug treatments for spasticity not associated with botulinum toxin serotype A (BoNT-A) injection. Relevant literature known to the authors along with this complementary search represented the basis for this overview of the literature. Adhesive taping and casting effectively improved the botulinum toxin effect in patients with upper- and lower-limb spasticity. There is level 1 evidence that casting is better than taping for outcomes including spasticity, range of motion and gait. However, consensus about their most appropriate timing, duration, target and material is lacking. In terms of physical modalities combined with botulinum toxin injection, we found level 1 evidence that extracorporeal shock wave therapy is better than electrical stimulation for some post-injection outcomes including spasticity and pain. Furthermore, electrical stimulation of injected muscles might be useful to boost the toxin effect. However, the best stimulation protocol has not been defined. In addition, we found level 2b evidence that whole-body vibration therapy might reduce spasticity with cerebral palsy. Future research in this field should focus on investigating the most appropriate post-injection treatment protocol for each goal to achieve.

Nondrug Therapies for Pain Management Among Rural Older Adults

This quasiexperimental two-group pilot study tested an intervention aimed at educating older adults in rural communities about the appropriate use of nondrug treatments for pain. Earlier data reveal that older adults use significantly less nonpharmacologic modalities than their younger counterparts, and that pain self-treatment is prevalent in rural areas. Individuals aged ≥60 years who experienced pain in the preceding 2 weeks were recruited from rural Midwestern communities through the use of flyers and information sessions at hospitals, churches, and community organizations. Upon enrollment, participants selected a date for an educational session, which was randomized to the experimental or control condition. All participants (n = 53) completed a series of questionnaires (Brief Pain Inventory, Symptom Distress Scale, Perceived Control Scale) at the initial educational session (T1) and at a two-week follow-up session (T2). Participants in the control and experimental groups attended a 30-minute educational session on safe use of over-the-counter medications; the experimental group also received an additional 30-minute session on safe and effective use of heat, cold, and relaxation breathing. Hot and cold packs and relaxation breathing instruction were provided for use over the 2-week period. There was a significant increase in the use of all nondrug treatments and a decrease in pain-related distress and current pain scores in the experimental group compared with the control group. This study informs nurses and other health care providers on the value of education for use of nondrug therapies in conjunction with pharmacologic pain management among rural older adults.