Paula Chaves1, Daniela Simões2, Maria Paço3, Francisco Pinho4, José Alberto Duarte5, Fernando Ribeiro6. 1. CESPU, Institute of Research and Advanced Training in Health Sciences and Technologies, Gandra, Paredes, Portugal. Electronic address: paulamchaves@gmail.com. 2. CESPU, Institute of Research and Advanced Training in Health Sciences and Technologies, Gandra, Paredes, Portugal; Santa Maria Health School, Porto, Portugal. 3. CESPU, Institute of Research and Advanced Training in Health Sciences and Technologies, Gandra, Paredes, Portugal. 4. CESPU, Institute of Research and Advanced Training in Health Sciences and Technologies, Gandra, Paredes, Portugal; Algoritmi - Universidade do Minho, Guimarães, Portugal; School of Health Sciences, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal. 5. University of Porto, Faculty of Sport, Research Centre in Physical Activity, Health and Leisure, Porto, Portugal. 6. School of Health Sciences, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal; Institute of Biomedicine - iBiMED, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Deep friction massage is one of several physiotherapy interventions suggested for the management of tendinopathy. OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence of deep friction massage use in clinical practice, to characterize the application parameters used by physiotherapists, and to identify empirical model-based patterns of deep friction massage application in degenerative tendinopathy. DESIGN: observational, analytical, cross-sectional and national web-based survey. METHODS: 478 physiotherapists were selected through snow-ball sampling method. The participants completed an online questionnaire about personal and professional characteristics as well as specific questions regarding the use of deep friction massage. Characterization of deep friction massage parameters used by physiotherapists were presented as counts and proportions. Latent class analysis was used to identify the empirical model-based patterns. Crude and adjusted odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were computed. RESULTS: The use of deep friction massage was reported by 88.1% of the participants; tendinopathy was the clinical condition where it was most frequently used (84.9%) and, from these, 55.9% reported its use in degenerative tendinopathy. The "duration of application" parameters in chronic phase and "frequency of application" in acute and chronic phases are those that diverge most from those recommended by the author of deep friction massage. CONCLUSION: We found a high prevalence of deep friction massage use, namely in degenerative tendinopathy. Our results have shown that the application parameters are heterogeneous and diverse. This is reflected by the identification of two application patterns, although none is in complete agreement with Cyriax's description.
BACKGROUND: Deep friction massage is one of several physiotherapy interventions suggested for the management of tendinopathy. OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence of deep friction massage use in clinical practice, to characterize the application parameters used by physiotherapists, and to identify empirical model-based patterns of deep friction massage application in degenerative tendinopathy. DESIGN: observational, analytical, cross-sectional and national web-based survey. METHODS: 478 physiotherapists were selected through snow-ball sampling method. The participants completed an online questionnaire about personal and professional characteristics as well as specific questions regarding the use of deep friction massage. Characterization of deep friction massage parameters used by physiotherapists were presented as counts and proportions. Latent class analysis was used to identify the empirical model-based patterns. Crude and adjusted odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were computed. RESULTS: The use of deep friction massage was reported by 88.1% of the participants; tendinopathy was the clinical condition where it was most frequently used (84.9%) and, from these, 55.9% reported its use in degenerative tendinopathy. The "duration of application" parameters in chronic phase and "frequency of application" in acute and chronic phases are those that diverge most from those recommended by the author of deep friction massage. CONCLUSION: We found a high prevalence of deep friction massage use, namely in degenerative tendinopathy. Our results have shown that the application parameters are heterogeneous and diverse. This is reflected by the identification of two application patterns, although none is in complete agreement with Cyriax's description.