James Selfe

Manchester Metropolitan University | MMU · Department of Health Professions

Objectives to investigate the distribution of patella skin temperature (Tsk) measurements and to explore the presence of temperature subgroups in patellofemoral pain (PFP) patients. Design cross-sectional observational study design Participants One dataset of 58 healthy participants and 232 PFP patients from three different datasets. Main outcom...

Synopsis: The International Federation of Orthopaedic Manipulative Physical Therapists (IFOMPT) led the development of a framework to help clinicians assess and manage people who may have serious spinal pathology. While rare, serious spinal pathology can have devastating and life-changing or life-limiting consequences, and must be identified early...

Background Targeted intervention for subgroups is a promising approach for the management of patellofemoral pain. Hypothesis Treatment designed according to subgroups will improve clinical outcomes in patients unresponsive to multimodal treatment. Study Design Prospective crossover intervention. Level of Evidence Level 3. Methods Patients with...

Background Serious pathology masking as musculoskeletal conditions is rare, still it is pertinent that physiotherapists can recognise it. This ability has been investigated internationally, however the decision-making skills of registered Austrian physiotherapists has not been examined. The aim of this study was to assess the ability of registered...

Introduction Measuring rate of torque development (RTD) and peak torque (PT) for hip muscle performance presents challenges in clinical practice. This study investigated the construct validity of a handheld dynamometer (HHD) versus an isokinetic dynamometer (IKD), and intra-rater repeated reliability for RTD and PT and their relationship in hip joi...

Objective The objective was to investigate the effectiveness of a person-centred active rehabilitation programme on symptoms associated with suspected Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE). This was accomplished by (1) assessing the effect that a person-centred active rehabilitation programme had on participant symptoms, and (2) exploring how temp...

Background Nonsurgical guidelines recommend implementing a correctly fitted bra when managing back pain among larger breasted women. Achieving this is challenging with current bra solutions, sizing principles, and fitting approaches. Persistent wearing of an ill-fitting bra can cause negative health implications, including non-specific back pain....

Background Cauda Equina Syndrome is a serious spinal pathology, which can have life changing physical and psychological consequences and is highly litigious. Litigation can have negative personal and professional effects on the healthcare professionals cited in a clinical negligence claim. There is an absence of research looking at the experience o...

For physiotherapists and other healthcare professionals, developing capability and expertise in research can be challenging. However, involvement in research is beneficial at organisational and individual levels, both for clinicians and patients. One way to embark on research is to apply for a personal fellowship such as the National Institute for...

Inertial sensors may help clinicians to assess patients’ movement and potentially support clinical decision making. Our aim was to determine whether shoulder range of motion during movement tasks measured using inertial sensors is capable of accurately discriminating between patients with different shoulder problems. Inertial sensors were used to m...

Anterior knee pain (AKP) is one of the most common reasons why physically active people consult an orthopedic surgeon specializing in the knee. It can be challenging to manage.

This chapter critically reviews proposed stratification frameworks and subgrouping approaches for patients with patellofemoral pain (PFP) in light of the methodological guidelines which guide stratification research. Potential emergent subgroups are discussed with respect to important clinimetric properties and likely clinical utility. Directions f...

Background Data collected during initial primary care consultations could be a source of baseline prognostic factors associated with changes in outcome measures for patients with knee pain. Objectives To identify, appraise and synthesize studies investigating prognostic factors associated with changes in outcome for people presenting with knee pai...

Background: The recognition of serious pathologies affecting the musculoskeletal (MSK) system, especially in the early stage of a disease, is an important but challenging task. The prevalence of such serious pathologies is currently low. However, in our progressing aging population, it is anticipated that serious pathologies affecting the MSK syst...

Cigarette smokers try to quit using several strategies including electronic cigarette use (vaping). An alternative, easy and cheap method is exercise. However, little is known about the efficacy of aerobic exercise (AE) to augment smoking and vaping cessation. This study aimed to systematically review and discuss the reported effects of AE on long-...

Objective This review sought to address an evidence gap and lay a foundation for future Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) management studies by evaluating and appraising the literature which reports the effect that active rehabilitation has on other tauopathies, a group of conditions with hyperphosphorylation and aggregation of tau protein tha...

Objective The aim was to investigate the extent of cauda equina syndrome (CES) litigation and explore the process of medico-legal litigation in relation to physiotherapy in the UK. Design A multimethods inquiry that followed on from a previously conducted scoping literature review was undertaken to address the aim. This included freedom of informa...

Background: Spinal infection is a diagnostic challenge, the personal and economic consequences of misdiagnosis can be significant resulting in paralysis and instability of the spine and can ultimately be fatal. To aid identification of those at risk of spinal infection, a better understanding of the red flags for spinal infection is needed. Object...

Context: Abnormal knee frontal plane projection angles (FPPA) during movement have been associated with patellofemoral pain. As such, clinicians are interested in valid and reliable instruments suitable for broad-based clinical use that allow them to objectively measure such variables. Therefore, the purpose of the current study was to examine the...

Defensive medicine is a well-documented phenomenon and refers to the practice of over-cautious management of patients, leading to excessive clinical activity such as over–investigation, unnecessary appointments and additional interventions. Adopting this approach is not in the best interest of patients and can lead to clinical reasoning being repla...

Due to current measurement, sizing and fitting approaches, poor bra fit is prevalent amongst larger breasted women. The impact of improving bra fit hasn't yet been explored. This pre-clinical study aimed to explore immediate and short-term biomechanical responses to changing breast support garment. Asymptomatic participants (n=24) performed a stati...

This research quantitatively explores the potential effectiveness of a new approach to managing chronic pain amongst larger breasted women with NSBP through implementation of correctly fitting breast support garments. As a self-management strategy, it may provide these women with independence, empowerment and active involvement in their long-term p...

Patellofemoral pain (PFP) can cause significant pain leading to limitations in societal participation and physical activity. PFP is usually associated with athletes undergoing intensive physical training, or military recruits; but recent evidence shows that PFP is common in the general population. The relationship of PFP with physical activity is n...

Background Several clinical tests used to identify patients with lumbar instability have reported diagnostic accuracy in separate studies with conflicting results. To augment the diagnostic process, tests that are better able to identify lumbar instability suitable for use in the clinical setting are required. The aim of this study was to identify...

The popliteal fossa is located at the back of the knee joint and it is an area where blood vessels and nerves and also lymph nodes pass. Popliteal fossa injuries includes nearly 2% of acute knee injuries. The treatment of chronic injuries are always more difficult than acute ones, because its diagnosis would depend on careful interpretation of spec...

Background/Aims For the management of sports injury, cryotherapy is commonly applied, yet modalities differ extensively in application including levels of compression. The aim of this study was to provide a comprehensive review of the current position in the literature on contemporary cryo-compression applications for musculoskeletal sports inj...

OBJECTIVES: To assess the feasibility of a 30-minute education session for patients with patellofemoral pain on levels of catastrophizing and kinesiophobia. DESIGN: Randomised feasibility study SETTING: Three sites within a single NHS Organisation in England. PARTICIPANTS: Thirty-one adult patients were screened for inclusion, resulting in twenty-f...

Background /objective: The Survey Instrument for Natural History, Aetiology and Prevalence of Patellofemoral Pain (SNAPPS) is a self-report questionnaire which is a specifically designed measurement instrument to identify patellofemoral pain. It has reported high sensitivity, specificity and test-retest reliability to discriminate between people wi...

Introduction: Cauda Equina Syndrome (CES) is a condition where early identification and treatment is crucial to avoid potentially life changing devastating effects. This paper reviews the extent and process of CES litigation amongst UK physiotherapists. Methods: A well-established framework by Arksey and O'Malley was followed when completing the...

Background: Online health information-seeking is thought to be common among pregnant women, and the use of digital media has been widely adopted. Women with pregnancy-related lumbopelvic pain (PLPP) are often disappointed with the volume and content of condition-related information offered by their health care providers and alternative modes of inf...

Patellofemoral pain is a common and often debilitating musculoskeletal condition. Clinical translation and evidence synthesis of patellofemoral pain research are compromised by heterogenous and often inadequately reported study details. This consensus statement and associated checklist provides standards for REPORTing of quantitative PatelloFemoral...

Cigarette smoking has a negative effect on respiratory and skeletal muscle function and is a risk factor for various chronic diseases. To assess the effects of 14 days of smoking cessation on respiratory and skeletal muscle function, markers of inflammation and oxidative stress in humans. Spirometry, skeletal muscle function, circulating carboxyhae...

Objective To investigate the effectiveness of early rehabilitation compared with delayed/standard rehabilitation after rotator cuff repair for pain, function, range of movement, strength, and repair integrity. Design Systematic review and meta-analyses. Methods We searched databases and included randomised controlled trials (RCTs) comparing early...

BACKGROUND: The effects of contemporary cryo-compression devices on function are limited compared to traditional applications of cooling. Development of cooling protocols are warranted. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of three different cryo-compressive modalities applied at the knee on the isokinetic strength of the quadriceps over a re-warm...

Background: Patellofemoral pain (PFP) is a common knee problem. The foot posture in a relaxed stance is reported as a distal factor of PFP. However, the effects of short foot exercise (SFE) on the knee and functional factors have not yet been investigated in patients with PFP. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the additional effects of...

BACKGROUND: The number of rotator cuff repairs performed worldwide is increasing every year. However, there are still controversies regarding when rehabilitation after surgery should start. OBJECTIVES: To assess and to compare clinical and biomechanical outcomes of patients who were randomised and allocated to early or conservative rehabilitation a...

Background The Targeted Interventions for Patellofemoral Pain studies (TIPPs) have identified three subgroups exist in UK and Turkish patellofemoral pain (PFP) populations: Strong; Weak and Tight; and Weak and Pronated, based on six clinical assessments. The thresholds used to develop the subgrouping algorithms were based on normative values source...

Objective This study validated the newly adapted electronic SNAPPS (eSNAPPS) against the original paper SNAPPS. Subsequently, the study estimated the prevalence of PFP in running participants and spectators attending three mass-participant running events in the United Kingdom by using the eSNAPPS tool. Design This study had two parts. Firstly, a v...

Introduction Cauda equina syndrome (CES) is a condition where early identification and treatment is crucial to avoid potentially devastating effects. There is a high number of litigation cases linked with CES given it is a relatively rare condition. This scoping review protocol proposes to explore the extent and process of CES litigation in UK heal...

Objective: To investigate the effectiveness of early rehabilitation compared with delayed/standard rehabilitation after rotator cuff repair for pain, function, range of movement, strength, and repair integrity. Design: Systematic review and meta-analyses. Methods: We searched databases and included randomised controlled trials (RCTs) comparing earl...

The effects of electronic-cigarette use (vaping), marketed as a healthier alternative to cigarette smoking (CS), on lung function remain equivocal. Therefore, this study assessed and compared the effects of vaping and CS on maximum respiratory pressures (MRP), respiratory function and carboxyhaemoglobin levels. Forty-four young healthy participants...

Cryotherapy: Physiology and New Approaches

Contrast therapy is the alternation of thermotherapy and cryotherapy. Commonly used modalities of contrast therapy include contrast water therapy (CWT) and cold/hot packs. Despite a lack of research, it is widely used in clinical and sporting settings, particularly to aid recovery. The scoping review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of rese...

Objective The purpose of the study was to examine the effectiveness of a novel supported dynamic lumbar extension with the abdominal drawing-in maneuver (ADIM) technique on stature change, deep abdominal muscle activity, trunk muscle fatigue, and pain intensity during prolonged sitting in chronic low back pain (CLBP) participants. Background Prolo...

Purpose First Contact Practitioner (FCP) roles have been developed for health professionals with advanced practice skills to take on many of the musculoskeletal responsibilities currently carried out by general practitioners. FCP roles are new and still developing. Currently there is little research that has investigated the experiences of FCPs. Th...

The popliteal fossa is located at the back of the knee joint and it is an area where blood vessels and nerves and also lymph nodes pass. Popliteal fossa injuries includes nearly 2% of acute knee injuries. The treatment of chronic injuries are always more difficult than acute ones, because its diagnosis would depend on careful interpretation of spec...

Background The presentation and management of Cauda Equina Syndrome (CES) remains contentious in medical literature, however it is widely agreed that CES requires emergency medical attention. Physiotherapists will often refer suspected cases to A&E departments for emergency medical review in order to safeguard patient safety. Objectives /Purpose:...

Cigarette smoking is a risk factor for respiratory disorders, cardiovascular diseases and even decrements in muscle function. Electronic cigarette use (vaping) is considered a healthier alternative to cigarette smoking and may help in smoking cessation. However, the effects of vaping are not clear yet and particularly the long-term effects of vapin...

Background/Aims An ongoing discussion about direct access to physiotherapy for patients with musculoskeletal pain disorders in Austria requires the development of a curriculum that educates physiotherapy students to make autonomous decisions to treat the patient without the need for medical referral (keep), to treat the patient with additional medi...

Safety netting is a recognised General Practitioner (GP) diagnostic strategy often used in the face of uncertainty to help ensure that a patient with unresolved or worsening symptoms knows when and how to access further advice. It is an important way of reducing clinical risk. In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and the rapid move to mainly rem...

Background: In deliberation of the diverse physical traits of rugby union and the known interference adipose tissue has on the ability to cool deeper tissues, evidence is required to understand the effect of cryotherapy modalities to provide optimum outcomes post-injury. Purpose: To investigate differences in the cooling ability of three different...

Aims: We conducted a systematic review assessing the reporting quality of studies validating models based on machine learning (ML) for clinical diagnosis, with a specific focus on the reporting of information concerning the participants on which the diagnostic task was evaluated on. Method: Medline Core Clinical Journals were searched for studies...

Background: Red flags are signs and symptoms that are possible indicators of serious spinal pathology. There is limited evidence or guidance on how red flags should be used in practice. Due to the lack of robust evidence for many red flags their use has been questioned. The aim was to conduct a systematic review specifically reporting on studies t...

Purpose Back Pain is a worldwide problem that often interferes with work, daily activities and sleep. The stress and disability experienced at night by individuals with simple mechanical Low Back Pain (LBP) could potentially be reduced by targeted treatments designed specifically for this period. This study aimed to assess the clinical effectivenes...

Objectives Over the past decade, due to access in large sums of clinical data and the development of new machine learning (ML) techniques, there has been a rise in the application of ML methods to medicine. Due to their propensity to facilitate and promote timely and objective clinical decision-making, ML methods have been applied to gain insights...

Objectives There is an emergent body of evidence supporting exercise therapy and physical activity in the management of musculoskeletal pain. The purpose of this study was to explore potential barriers and facilitators with patients and physiotherapists with patellofemoral pain involved in a feasibility randomised controlled trial (RCT) study. The...

Background: Many studies have established the importance of having a rigorous and robust framework for the translation and cross-cultural adaptation of self-report outcome measures. This abstract reports on the use of the guidelines developed by Beaton and colleagues (2001) on a translation process as part of a pan-European epidemiological project...

Objectives Anecdotal evidence supports stretching exercises to minimize symptoms of low back pain and improve function. This study aimed to assess whether a passive gravity assisted traction (PGAT) device can reduce LBP through stretching techniques. Methods Sixty-seven participants with mechanical LBP were randomly assigned to a control or interve...

Introduction Not all clubs provide good methodological and physical structures. In Brazil, there are more than 660 professional clubs. However only 128 of them have an annual calendar to participate in the four divisions national championships of the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) (1). That is, 534 (80%) compete for quick and low visibility...