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Treatments and technology rehabilitation: articles and guides
How the methods and devices work, what the evidence says and how recovery is measured.
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Treatments and technology
Treatments and technology Treatments and technology Who benefits from exercise in water?
Water-based exercise suits people whose pain, weight, weakness or balance problems make land exercise difficult, including those with knee and hip osteoarthritis and fibromyalgia. Trials show small improvements in pain and function with aquatic exercise, similar to land-based exercise. Warm water can ease stiffness, while people with heat sensitivity may need cooler pools.Read moreTreatments and technology Does shockwave therapy work?
Shockwave therapy uses pressure waves to treat persistent tendon and soft tissue pain. For plantar heel pain that has not improved with conservative care, trials show it reduces pain more than placebo. Evidence for other conditions is more mixed. It is usually considered after exercise and simpler treatments.Read moreTreatments and technology Does a TENS machine help pain?
TENS machines deliver mild electrical pulses through the skin and can reduce pain while in use. A large meta-analysis found that pain was lower during or immediately after TENS than with placebo, with mild side effects. Effects are mainly short term, and UK guidance does not recommend TENS for chronic primary pain.Read moreTreatments and technology What is the difference between dry needling and acupuncture?
Both use thin needles, but dry needling targets tight, tender points in muscles based on anatomy, while traditional acupuncture uses points along meridians based on Chinese medicine. A meta-analysis found dry needling by physical therapists reduced musculoskeletal pain in the short term. UK guidance considers a single course of either for chronic primary pain.Read moreTreatments and technology Should rehabilitation be inpatient or outpatient?
The right setting depends on medical needs, severity, safety at home and how much therapy is needed. After stroke, organised inpatient stroke unit care reduces death and dependency, and early supported discharge with rehabilitation at home shortens hospital stays safely for selected people. Many people move between inpatient, home-based and outpatient rehabilitation.Read more
