The winner of the Readers’ Choice Award—Professor Peter Malliaras’ Invited Topical Review on physiotherapy management of Achilles tendinopathy—is announced in the July issue of the Journal of Physiotherapy.

Professor Malliaras is the director of higher degree research in the School of Primary and Allied Health Care, Monash University, Melbourne, and the director of the Monash Musculoskeletal Research Unit.

He is also a practising clinical physiotherapist.

The winning paper expertly summarises the results of a large amount of research into the epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, natural history, assessment and treatment of Achilles tendinopathy.

Future directions for research are also discussed.

Associate Professor Leanne Hassett provides an Invited Topical Review on physiotherapy management of traumatic brain injury.

After reviewing the literature about the prevalence and burden of traumatic brain injury and precautions during the common period of post-traumatic amnesia, the majority of this paper meta-analyses only the most robust evidence about the effects of each physiotherapy modality on managing hypertonus, strength training, retraining for functional motor tasks, training for cardiorespiratory fitness and promoting physical activity.

These sections include six meta-analyses to summarise the most up- to-date information.

Functional performance is a vital component of quality of life, independence and health in older adults.

Both higher and lower velocity resistance training are viable options for improving functional performance, but a systematic review by physiotherapists in the UK shows that high-velocity power training has better effects than traditional resistance training on the Short Physical Performance Battery and the Timed Up and Go test.

Pilates has been increasingly used as exercise therapy and has demonstrated clinically important improvements in low back pain and its associated dysfunction compared with other exercise types.

Mark Elkins.

A mediation analysis by Dr Lianne Wood and colleagues in Australia, the UK and North and South America shows that reductions in pain catastrophising and kinesiophobia mediate improved pain intensity and physical function when using Pilates exercise for chronic low back pain.

These psychological components may be important treatment targets for clinicians and researchers to consider when prescribing exercise for chronic low back pain.

The discussion section of the paper explains how clinical physiotherapists could use this evidence to optimise the provision of Pilates to reduce fear of movement and worrisome thoughts about pain.

A national mixed-methods study investigates the vexing issue that while about half of all physiotherapists in Australia work in private practice, less than 10 per cent of student placements are in this setting.

The study, led by Dr Casey Peiris from Melbourne, shows that private practitioners perceived hosting students to be beneficial for practitioners, clients and future recruitment but also reported that it was costly and time-consuming.

The authors recommend that universities reduce barriers by providing tailored training and support and that they work with practitioners, professional bodies, government and third-party funders to address policy barriers.

Natasha Pocovi and colleagues from Sydney address the fact that although people with low back pain can reduce short-term pain and disability with a walking program, their adherence to walking or other general exercise is low to moderate.

They interviewed people who had recently recovered from an episode of non-specific low back pain and who participated in a six-month progressive walking program.

The authors conclude that physiotherapists should use health coaching techniques to collaboratively plan walking or other general exercise goals as part of routine care for people with low back pain.

Arranging for patients to be accountable at scheduled follow-ups or via exercise logging aids early adherence to the general exercise.

Reflecting on health benefits obtained from the general exercise supports longer term adherence.

The rest of the issue contains appraisal of research related to topics as diverse as anterior cruciate ligament injury, childhood bladder and bowel dysfunction, osteoarthritis, achondroplasia, chronic respiratory disease and diastasis recti abdominis.

Click here to read the research.

>> Clinical Associate Professor Mark Elkins APAM is the scientific editor of the Journal of Physiotherapy. Follow him on Twitter @JOP_Editor and follow Journal of Physiotherapy @JPhysiother.