title: The clinical effectiveness of a myofeedback-based teletreatment service in patients with non-specific neck and shoulder pain: a randomized controlled trial.
abstract: We investigated the effectiveness and efficiency of a four-week myofeedback-based teletreatment service in subjects with non-specific neck and shoulder pain. Subjects were recruited in Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands and randomly allocated to the intervention or conventional care. Subjects in the intervention group received four weeks of myofeedback training. Pain intensity and disability were evaluated by questionnaires at baseline, immediately after four weeks of treatment and at follow-up 3 months later. To investigate efficiency, the time-investment of both therapists and patients were assessed. Seventy-one subjects were included in the study (36 in the intervention group and 35 in the conventional care group). Myofeedback-based teletreatment was at least as effective clinically as conventional care. Pain intensity and disability decreased after 4 weeks of treatment in both groups and part of the effect remained at 3 months' follow-up. The teletreatment also increased efficiency for therapists by almost 20% and patients experienced the benefits of less travel time and travel costs by remote consultation. Myofeedback-based teletreatment has the potential to ensure more efficient treatment for patients with non-specific neck and shoulder pain.
authors.affiliation: Roessingh Research and Development, Roessinghbleekweg 33b, 7522 AL Enschede, The Netherlands. s.kosterink@rrd.nl
authors.forename: Stephanie M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Kosterink
authors.forename: Rianne M H A
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Huis in 't Veld
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cagnie
authors.forename: Monika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hasenbring
authors.forename: Miriam M R
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Vollenbroek-Hutten
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005060:Europe; D056228:Feedback, Sensory; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D019547:Neck Pain / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D020069:Shoulder Pain / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D017216:Telemedicine; D016896:Treatment Outcome