Clinical trials

Chronic refractory plantar fasciopathy is a common musculoskeletal condition that can cause persistent heel pain and functional limitations despite conservative treatment. When symptoms do not improve, patients often face the decision between continuing non-surgical management or undergoing surgery. However, direct comparative evidence between these treatment strategies is limited. This multicenter controlled trial aims to compare the effectiveness of a multimodal conservative intervention consisting of manual therapy and ultrasound-guided percutaneous neuromodulation with endoscopic plantar fascial release followed by standard postoperative rehabilitation in adults with chronic refractory plantar fasciopathy. A total of 120 participants will be allocated to treatment groups according to their informed treatment preference within a shared decision-making process. The primary outcome will be the change in the Foot Function Index (FFI) after 6 weeks. Secondary outcomes include pain intensity, health-related quality of life, treatment adherence, adverse events, and exploratory neurophysiological measures. The results are expected to provide evidence to support clinical decision-making and optimize the management of patients with chronic refractory plantar fasciopathy.

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is the most common peripheral entrapment neuropathy and can cause pain, numbness, tingling, and functional impairment of the hand. Although surgical decompression is considered an effective treatment for moderate CTS, there is increasing interest in conservative therapeutic strategies that may improve symptoms and function while avoiding surgery. The aim of this multicenter non-randomized controlled trial is to evaluate the effectiveness of a combined intervention consisting of manual therapy and ultrasound-guided percutaneous neuromodulation compared with conventional postsurgical rehabilitation in patients with moderate CTS. Participants allocated to the experimental group will receive a standardized multimodal physiotherapy program including manual therapy techniques and ultrasound-guided percutaneous neuromodulation, whereas participants in the control group will undergo standard rehabilitation following carpal tunnel release surgery. The primary outcome will be symptom severity and functional status assessed with the Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire. Secondary outcomes will include pain intensity, nerve conduction parameters, ultrasound measures, hand strength, patient-reported outcomes, and adverse events. The findings of this study are expected to provide evidence regarding the potential role of combined conservative treatment as an alternative therapeutic strategy for patients with moderate carpal tunnel syndrome.

The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate whether dry needling combined with therapeutic exercise improves shoulder proprioception in amateur athletes with subacromial pain syndrome. The study will also assess its effects on dynamic stability, strength, pain, and functional disability. The main questions this study aims to answer are: Does dry needling improve shoulder proprioception compared with therapeutic exercise alone? Does dry needling improve dynamic shoulder stability and muscle strength? Does dry needling reduce pain and upper limb disability? Researchers will compare a group receiving dry needling plus therapeutic exercise with a group performing therapeutic exercise alone to determine whether the combined intervention produces better outcomes. Participants will: Be randomly assigned to one of the two treatment groups. Perform a home-based therapeutic exercise program for 3 weeks. Complete assessments of proprioception, dynamic stability, strength, pain, and functional disability before and after the intervention.

Background Recent literature suggests that ADHD is a risk factor for the development of antisocial behavior that is more severe and persistent than in community and other psychiatric populations. The combination of stimulant medication and psychotherapy (particularly cognitive-behavioral therapy, CBT) is considered an evidence-based intervention for adults with ADHD. In contrast, few studies have evaluated the efficacy of medication in adult prisoners with ADHD, and the literature on the efficacy of psychotherapy is virtually nonexistent. Therefore, this article presents the protocol of a trial that will assess the efficacy of a formulation-based CBT program for inmates with ADHD. Methods The study has a multicenter randomized controlled trial design. After screening and recruitment, participants will be randomly assigned to the CBT intervention, a general offender treatment program, or a waitlist. Pre- and post-treatment self-report and clinician-report assessments, as well as 6- and 12-month follow-up assessments will be conducted. These will include both clinical (e.g., ADHD symptoms, depression and anxiety symptoms, self-esteem, alcohol/drug abuse, treatment adherence, quality of life) and criminological (e.g., recidivism and risk of recidivism) measures. Linear mixed models will be used to assess differences between groups. Discussion This study may be the first to evaluate the efficacy of a psychotherapy intervention in adult inmates with ADHD. It is expected that addressing the specific needs of ADHD would not only result in the previously reported clinical improvements (e.g., reduction in ADHD and comorbidity symptoms), but also reduce the risk and rate of recidivism compared to the general intervention or no intervention. However, the design may be limited by the difficulties inherent in the prison setting and in following up the sample after release.