Jean-Sébastien Roy

• PT, PhD
• Professor (Full) at Université Laval

BACKGROUND Low back pain (LBP) is the most common chronic pain condition in veterans, but the effectiveness of standard management approaches is modest. Addressing the psychological risk factors of chronic pain that are often observed in this population (e.g., anxiety, depression, stress and mood disorders) may be important to enhance outcomes. Psy...

Background Since the emergence of COVID-19, millions worldwide have continued to experience persistent symptoms months after infection. Among these, physical and cardiorespiratory impairments are frequently reported, but remain poorly understood. This systematic review aimed to identify and synthesize evidence regarding physical and cardiorespirato...

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effect of combining proprioceptive exercises with strengthening exercises versus strengthening exercises alone, on shoulder pain and disability in individuals with chronic rotator cuff-related shoulder pain (RCRSP). DESIGN: Parallel group randomized controlled trial. METHODS: Seventy individuals with chronic RCRSP were ran...

BACKGROUND Musculoskeletal disorders (MSKDs) are a leading cause of disability, and pain, placing a substantial burden on healthcare systems. To address this, optimizing resource use through innovative interventions is essential. Evidence from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) suggests that not all individuals with MSKDs require ongoing follow-up...

Background Achilles tendinopathy (AT) is a prevalent musculoskeletal injury among runners, accounting for approximately 10% of all running-related injuries. AT can result in persistent symptoms and impact the quality of life of runners. The Victorian Institute of Sport Assessment questionnaire (VISA-A) is a widely used self-reported tool for assess...

Objective To determine whether psychosocial factors such as resilience, perceived stress, catastrophizing, anxiety, depression, pain self-efficacy, and social support, explain the persistence of pain and disability in individuals with RCRSP following an education program. Methods One hundred forty-three individuals with persistent RCRSP were inclu...

Introduction Body perception disturbances (BPD) are well documented in certain chronic pain populations [e.g., complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS)], while being far less studied in chronic pain as a general condition. The aims of this scoping review are to identify the self-reported questionnaires used to assess BPD in individuals with chronic no...

Background Clustering helps identify patient subgroups with similar biopsychosocial profiles in acute low‐back pain (LBP). Motor factors are common treatment targets and are associated with disability but have not been included in acute LBP cluster development. This study aimed to identify subgroups of individuals with acute LBP based on motor, sen...

Background Proprioception is crucial for shoulder stability, yet clinical methods for assessing all aspects, particularly the sense of force (SOF) -the ability to perceive, interpret, and reproduce force at a joint-are limited. The purpose of this study was to test a new SOF protocol with a handheld dynamometer (HHD) and examine its agreement with...

OBJECTIVE: To conduct a cost-utility analysis of a group physiotherapy intervention, compared to usual care, for musculoskeletal disorders in Canadian military personnel. METHODS: One hundred and twenty military members presenting with shoulder, knee, ankle or low back pain were randomized to receive either usual one-on-one physiotherapy care or a...

Context: Numerous studies report deficits in hip muscle performance in individuals with patellofemoral pain (PFP). However, the exact stage at which these deficits emerge and the impact of symptom duration remain unclear. Objective: To compare hip abductor strength and endurance based on the presence or absence of PFP and its duration. Design: Cr...

This evidence-based Clinical Practice Guideline (CPG) aims to guide clinicians with recommendations covering the assessment, treatment, and prognosis of adults with shoulder pain with suspected RC tendinopathy, the nonsurgical medical care and rehabilitation of adults with RC tendinopathy, as well as the return to function and sport for elite and r...

Objective The primary objective was to compare the physical capacities of individuals with Long COVID [Long COVID group (LCG)] to those who had COVID-19 but did not develop persistent symptoms [short COVID group (SCG)], and to individuals without a history of COVID-19 [control group (CG)]. The secondary objectives were to provide a comprehensive pr...

OBJECTIVE: To compare, during shoulder proprioceptive testing (kinesthesia, active and passive joint position sense), (1) proprioception acuity between participants with and without subacromial pain syndrome (SPS), and (2) proprioception acuity and pain intensity across various arm and body positions. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. METHODS: Forty p...

Upper limb impairments, resulting from various neurological and neuromuscular conditions, significantly impact daily activities and limit social participation. Assistive technologies, particularly dynamic arm supports, offer promising solutions to enhance independence for individuals facing these challenges. This paper presents the development of a...

Foot strike patterns influence vertical loading rates during running. Running retraining interventions often include switching to a new foot strike pattern. Sudden changes in the foot strike pattern may be uncomfortable and may lead to higher step-to-step variability. This study evaluated the effects of running with an imposed and usual foot strike...

Objective Suboptimal primary health care management of shoulder pain has been reported in previous studies. Implementing clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) recommendations using a theoretical approach is recommended to improve shoulder pain management. This study aims to identify determinants for implementing recommendations from shoulder CPGs to...

Objective: The objective of this cross-sectional study was to compare the physical activity level between individuals with and without rotator cuff related shoulder pain (RCRSP), and, in individuals with RCRSP, investigate whether biopsychosocial factors are associated with the physical activity level. Methods: Seventy-four participants with and 84...

Background: Work-related shoulder disorders (WRSDs) pose a significant problem, negatively impacting workers’ health and well-being. Various factors contribute to WRSDs, including work environment, physical workload, psychological stressors and an aging workforce. While various interventions have been proposed to address WRSDs, finding high-quality...

Background Physiotherapists often inconsistently adhere to clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) when managing musculoskeletal disorders (MSKDs), potentially due to discrepancies between patient-valued interventions and guideline recommendations. Since patients’ expectations are important predictors of outcome, this disparity between CPGs recommendat...

OBJECTIVES: The primary objective is to compare two modes of delivering an 8-week self-management program for chronic musculoskeletal (MSK) pain: standard self-management vs. supported self-management, which includes two physiotherapist-led sessions and one patient-partner-led session. The primary outcome measure is pain-related disability after 10...

Objective There is no established consensus for screening the spine in patients with shoulder pain. The aim of this study was to explore the role of the spine in shoulder pain and generate a set of recommendations for assessing the potential involvement of the spine in patients with shoulder pain. Methods A modified Delphi study was conducted thro...

With the overall objective of providing implication for clinical and research practices regarding the identification and measurement of modifiable predicting factors for return to work (RTW) in people with musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) and common mental disorders (CMDs), this study 1) systematically examined and synthetized the research evidence...

Background: While low back pain (LBP) is the leading cause of disability worldwide, its clinical objective assessment is currently limited. Part of this syndrome arises from the abnormal sensorimotor control of back muscles, involving increased muscle fatigability (i.e., assessed with the Biering–Sorensen test) and abnormal muscle activation patter...

Background The majority of patients with musculoskeletal pain (62-64%) achieve their treatment goals upon completing rehabilitation. However, high re-consultation rate after discharge is frequently reported. Numerous authors have recognized the necessity of secondary prevention programs (after-discharge strategy), to ensure that the gains are maint...

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of a workplace injury prevention and wellness program compared to no intervention (control) on musicians' playing-related musculoskeletal pain intensity. The hypothesis was that musicians who completed the program would have a greater reduction in pain intensity than the control group. DESIGN: Pragmatic parallel ra...

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of exercise interventions with differing frequency, intensity, type and time (FITT) on shoulder pain and disability in people with rotator cuff related shoulder pain (RCRSP). DESIGN: Intervention systematic review with meta-analyses. LITERATURE SEARCH: Electronic searches were conducted up to May 2023. STUDY SELE...

OBJECTIVE: To summarize the FITT (frequency, intensity, time, type) components of exercise programs included in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that compared 2 or more programs for managing rotator cuff related shoulder pain (RCRSP). DESIGN: Scoping review. LITERATURE SEARCH: Electronic searches were conducted up to May 2023. STUDY SELECTION CR...

Background Low back pain (LBP) is a common and disabling musculoskeletal disorder. LBP experiences and expectations can vary from one person to another and influence their clinical outcomes. Despite the existence of numerous evidence‐based treatment recommendations, LBP management in primary care remains challenging. This study aims to investigate...

Background: The mechanistic response of rotator cuff tendons to exercises within the context of rotator cuff-related shoulder pain (RCRSP) remains a significant gap in current research. A greater understanding of this response can shed light on why individuals exhibit varying responses to exercise interventions. It can also provide information on t...

This retrospective study aimed to analyze the return to running of non-professional runners after experiencing asymptomatic or mild COVID-19. Participants aged 18–55 years who maintained a training load of ≥10 km/week for at least three months prior to diagnosis and utilized Garmin/Polar apps were included. From these devices, parameters such as pa...

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effects of personalized, supervised group-based programs (ie, group physical therapy programs) and usual one-on-one physical therapy care (ie, usual physical therapy care) on disability for military personnel suffering from low back pain, rotator cuff–related shoulder pain, patellofemoral pain syndrome, or lateral ankle sp...

Background Daily upper limb activities require multitasking and our division of attention. How we allocate our attention can be studied using dual-task interference (DTi). Given the vital role proprioception plays in movement planning and motor control, it is important to investigate how conscious upper limb proprioception is impacted by DTi throug...

Background Individuals with rotator cuff-related shoulder pain (RCRSP) have altered proprioception. The relationship between shoulder pain and proprioception is not well understood. Purpose This study aimed to investigate the relationship between shoulder pain and proprioception. Study design This was a cross-sectional comparative study. Methods...

Objective To evaluate the responsiveness to change and longitudinal validity of the Post-Concussion Symptom Scale (PCSS) in patients with persistent post-concussive symptoms (PCS). Responsiveness of other clinical outcome measures used to monitor clinical recovery was also explored. Design Prospective cohort clinimetric study. Setting Online ques...

Objective To assess the effects of symptom-limited aerobic exercise programs compared to control interventions, on symptom intensity, time to recovery, balance, cognitive capacity and adverse events in individuals with sport-related concussion (SRC). Design Systematic review with meta-analyses. Participants After scrutinized four databases (MEDLI...

Objective: To determine whether higher level or improvements over time in pain self-efficacy (PSE) and expectations of intervention effectiveness lead to better outcomes and whether the intervention used to manage rotator cuff related shoulder pain (RCRSP) impacts PSE and expectations over time. Design: Secondary analysis of data from a randomised...

Background Fatigue impacts motor performance and upper limb kinematics. It is of interest to study whether it is possible to minimize the potentially detrimental effects of fatigue with prevention programs. Objective To determine the effect of task-specific training on upper limb kinematics and motor performance when reaching in a fatigued state....

Background A full-thickness rotator cuff tear (FTRCT) is defined as a complete tear of one of the four rotator cuff muscle tendons (supraspinatus, infraspinatus, subscapularis or teres minor). This condition can lead to pain and reduced function. However, not all FTRCT are symptomatic. A better understanding of the characteristics that lead some in...

Background The management of shoulder pain is challenging for primary care clinicians considering that 40% of affected individuals remain symptomatic one year after initial consultation. Developing tailored knowledge mobilization interventions founded on evidence-based recommendations while also considering patients’ expectations could improve prim...

Objectives The objective of this systematic review was to provide a comprehensive overview of the measurement properties of patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) used to assess resilience in individuals with musculoskeletal and rheumatic conditions. Methods Four electronic databases (MEDLINE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Web of Science) were searched. St...

OBJECTIVE: To identify which psychological and psychosocial constructs to include in a core outcome set to guide future clinical trials in the tendinopathy field. DESIGN: Modified International Delphi study. METHODS: In 3 online Delphi rounds, we presented 35 psychological and psychosocial constructs to an international panel of 38 clinician/resear...

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, about 10 to 20% of people who have contracted COVID-19 continue to experience symptoms and physical sequelae which lead to a decrease of their physical capacities and impact their quality of life. The persistence of such symptoms for more than 4 weeks is defined as “long COVID”. The purpose of this stud...

Purpose: The objective of this study was to compare the effects of an in-clinic cervicovestibular rehabilitation program (education, home exercises, manual techniques, sub-symptom threshold aerobic exercise [STAE] program) to a similar program (education, home-exercises, STAE program), but without manual techniques, provided in a telerehabilitatio...

The study aimed to investigate the effects of footwear on the electromyographic (EMG) activity of pelvic floor muscles (PFMs) and internal oblique (IO) muscles during running at different speeds. The study also aimed to explore the correlation between EMG activity of PFMs and IO muscles and participants’ morphological characteristics. Ten nulliparo...

Background: Proprioception is our sense of body awareness, including the sub-category of active joint position sense (AJPS). AJPS is fundamental to joint stability and movement coordination. Despite its importance, there remain few confident ways to measure upper limb AJPS in a clinic. Objective: To assess a new AJPS clinical tool, the Upper Lim...

Background: The Musculoskeletal Pain Intensity and Interference Questionnaire for Professional Orchestra Musicians (MPIIQM) is a prominent patient-reported outcome measure (PROM) in the musicians' health literature. It has been published in at least four languages, but not in French. Aims: To cross-culturally adapt the MPIIQM into French and est...

Background: There is no clear consensus as to which intervention to prioritize for midportion Achilles tendinopathy (AT), although recent clinical practice guidelines have recommended eccentric exercises. Purpose/Hypothesis: The purpose of this study was to (1) compare exercise loading protocols with passive treatment modalities for the management...

Introduction Trunk muscle endurance (TME) tests are commonly used by clinicians to assess muscle performance changes in response to rehabilitation in patients with low back pain (LBP). The aim of this study was to assess the responsiveness of three TME-tests in patients with LBP and to evaluate the relationships between changes in TME and improveme...

Background: Shoulder injuries are associated with proprioceptive deficits. Elastic kinesiology tape (KT) is used for treating musculoskeletal disorders, including shoulder injuries, as it arguably improves proprioception. Objective: To synthesize the evidence on the effects of elastic KT on proprioception in healthy and pathological shoulders....

Introduction: Approximately 33% of people who contracted COVID-19 still experience symptoms 12 weeks after infection onset. This persistence of symptoms is now considered a syndrome itself called 'long COVID'. Evidence regarding long COVID and its cognitive and physical impacts is growing, but the literature is currently lacking objectively measur...

Objective: The aims of this systematic review were to identify the different versions of the TSK and to report on the psychometric evidence relating to these different versions for people suffering from musculoskeletal pain. Methods: Medline [Ovid] CINAHL and Embase databases were searched for publications reporting on psychometric properties of...

Electromyography (EMG) is gaining importance in many research and clinical applications, including muscle fatigue detection, control of robotic mechanisms and prostheses, clinical diagnosis of neuromuscular diseases and quantification of force. However, EMG signals can be contaminated by various types of noise, interference and artifacts, leading t...

Purpose: To investigate how step counts relate to overall physical activity (PA) in able-bodied adults and stroke survivors in developing countries. Materials and methods: Sixty able-bodied adults (mean age: 48.8 ± 11.7 years old) and 60 stroke survivors (mean age: 56.7 ± 10.4 years old) were recruited in Benin (West-Africa). Step counts were co...

Electromyography (EMG) is gaining importance in many research and clinical applications, including muscle fatigue detection, control of robotic mechanisms and prostheses, clinical diagnosis of neuromuscular diseases and quantification of force. However, EMG signals can be contaminated by various types of noise, interference and artifacts,leading to...

Objectives: Knee underloading patterns have been reported mid- and long-term after return to running post-ACLR, but changes in these patterns during the reintroduction to running are unknown. We evaluated knee biomechanics in individuals within 6 months of ACL-R at the start and completion of a reintroduction to running program. Design: Longitud...

Background: Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMSDs) remain a challenge despite research aimed at improving their prevention and treatment. Extrinsic feedback has been suggested for the prevention and rehabilitation of WRMSDs to improve sensorimotor control, and ultimately to reduce pain and disability. However, there are few systematic rev...

Background: The management of shoulder pain is challenging for primary care clinicians considering that 40% of affected individuals remain symptomatic one year after initial consultation. Developing tailored knowledge translation interventions founded on evidence-based recommendations while also considering patients’ expectations could improve prim...

Objective: To compare the short-term, mid-term and long-term effects between three interventions (education only, education and strengthening exercises, education and motor control exercises) for rotator cuff-related shoulder pain (RCRSP) on symptoms and function. Methods: 123 adults presenting with RCRSP took part in a 12-week intervention. They...

Background: Shoulder pain is difficult to diagnose and treat with half of those affected still symptomatic six months after initial consultation. This may be explained by primary care management not conforming to evidence-based practice. This survey evaluated physiotherapists (PTs) and family physicians' (FPs) knowledge and appropriateness of care...

Background: Advanced practice physiotherapy (APP) models of care where physiotherapists are primary contact emergency department (ED) providers are promising models of care to improve access, alleviate physicians' burden, and offer efficient centered patient care for patients with minor musculoskeletal disorders (MSKD). Objectives: To compare th...

Stroke self-efficacy is under-investigated in sub-Saharan Africa. In particular, studies focusing on the relationship between self-efficacy and post-stroke functional outcomes are scarce. This cross-sectional study aimed to explore the association between self-efficacy and post-stroke activity limitations, locomotor ability, physical activity, and...

Introduction Following most musculoskeletal injuries, motor control is often altered. Acute pain has been identified as a potential contributing factor. However, there is little evidence of this interaction for acute pain following ankle sprains. As pain is generally present following this type of injury, it would be important to study the impact o...

Gait modifications are commonly advocated to decrease knee forces and pain in runners with patellofemoral pain (PFP). However, it remains unknown if clinicians can expect immediate effects on symptoms. Our objectives were (1) to compare the immediate effects of gait modifications on pain and kinetics of runners with PFP; (2) to compare kinetic chan...

Le développement des environnements numériques d’apprentissage (ENA), en plus de permettre un accès plus facile au savoir pour tous, présente un nouvel éventail de possibilités pédagogiques. Les infrastructures de données intrinsèquement liées aux technologies du Web favorisent l’apprentissage adaptatif et la personnalisation des parcours. C’est le...

SYNOPSIS: JOSPT has published scientifically rigorous, clinically-relevant musculoskeletal rehabilitation- and sports-related content for over 40 years. The benefit of so many years of JOSPT is a rich back catalogue of quality musculoskeletal rehabilitation and sports content. To harness the back catalogue, the Journal is launching JOSPT Collection...

Background: The Post-Concussion Symptom Scale (PCSS) is used to assess the number and intensity of symptoms after a concussion/mild traumatic brain injury. However, its responsiveness to monitor clinical recovery has yet to be determined. Purpose: To evaluate the responsiveness of the PCSS to change and longitudinal validity in patients with per...

A limit in the development of preventive interventions for musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) of the upper limb is the lack of devices that can measure and process surface electromyography (sEMG) signals in order to provide real-time, reliable information on muscular fatigue in relation to the physical demands of the work being carried out. To keep t...

Background Individuals living with a rheumatic pain condition can face delays in accessing pain clinics, which prevents them from receiving timely treatment. Little is known regarding their specific healthcare utilization in order to alleviate pain while waiting to obtain services in pain clinics. Hence, the aim of this study was to explore the per...

Purpose To systematically review patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) of musicians' musculoskeletal symptoms (MSS) and psychosocial factors and their psychometric properties. Methods Six databases were searched. Studies evaluating at least one psychometric property of a PROM developed for or adapted to adult musicians and measuring MSS or occ...

Objective: To develop a clinical practice guideline (CPG) covering the assessment, management, and return to work of adults with rotator cuff disorders. Design: Clinical practice guideline. Methods: Using systematic reviews, appraisal of the literature and an iterative approach to obtain consensus from key stakeholders, clinical recommendation...

Objective: To present the methods used to develop a clinical practice guideline (CPG) with recommendations endorsed by key stakeholders for assessing, managing, and supporting return to work for adults with rotator cuff disorders. Design: Clinical practice guideline development. Methods: A steering committee composed of the research team of th...

Purpose: The objectives of this study were to translate the Pain Self-Efficacy Questionnaire (PSEQ) into Canadian French (PSEQ-F) and to evaluate its validity, reliability and responsiveness in a French-Canadian sample of patients with persistent rotator cuff related shoulder pain (RCRSP). Methods: Translation and cross-cultural adaptation of th...

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) minimum dataset for chronic low back pain (CLBP) was developed in response to the challenge of standardizing measurements across studies. Although reference values are critical in research on CLBP to identify individuals and communities at risk of poor outcomes such as disability, no reference values have bee...

Background Musculoskeletal disorders are a leading cause of morbidity and the most prevalent source of disability among soldiers. Their high prevalence in armed forces and limited ressources have led to problems related to access to physical rehabilitation care. To increase access, supervised group-based exercise programs for the most prevalent mus...

Background: Proprioception, our sense of joint awareness, is a sub-category of somatosensation, known as our “sixth sense”. It is part of our neuromuscular system, responsible for maintaining joint stability and preventing injury, particularly amongst shoulders. Proprioception is affected by injury and a decreased sense of proprioception can cause...

Background: Scapular stabilization exercises (SSE) are often included in the treatment of individuals with rotator cuff-related shoulder pain (RCRSP) to decrease pain and improve function. These SSE typically aim to strengthen the scapular muscles and optimize dynamic neuromuscular control of the scapula, which may improve overall shoulder stabilit...

Background Altered movement patterns have been proposed as an etiological factor for the development of musculoskeletal pain. Fatigue influences upper limb kinematics and movement performance which could extend to the contralateral limb and potentially increasing risk of injury. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of fatigue at the...

Work-related upper extremity disorders are costly to society due to resulting medical costs, presenteeism and absenteeism. Although their aetiology is likely multifactorial, physical workplace factors are known to play an important role in their development. Promising options for preventing work-related upper extremity disorders include assistive t...

Background Experimental pain during gait has been shown to interfere with learning a new locomotor task. However, very few studies have investigated the impact of clinical pain on motor learning due to the challenges associated with clinical populations. Objective The first objective of this proof-of-concept study was to determine the feasibility...

Introduction: Numerous definitions of acute low back pain (aLBP) exist. The use of different definitions results in variability in reported prevalence or incidence, conflicting data regarding factors associated with the transition to chronic LBP (cLBP), and hampers comparability among studies. Objective: Here, we compare the impact of 3 aLBP def...