Research Group Painful conditions in the musculoskeletal system

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The research group Painful musculoskeletal conditions is one of the two close collaborating groups in the research unit of the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Oslo University Hospital (OUH). The goal of the Painful musculoskeletal condition group is to generate knowledge on mechanisms, diagnostics, treatment and rehabilitation in painful musculoskeletal conditions. The research is multidisciplinary, and collaboration with basal, clinical and health care service milieus established. Based on the framework of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) and the biospychosocial model, interaction between the genetic and other basal disease mechanisms with psychosocial, personal and environmental factors are studied regarding the course of pain, functioning and participation. Furthermore, developing and evaluating treatment models in prospective and randomized studies, aiming to improve functioning and return to work are focus areas.

The main aims are:
• To understand the mechanisms, course and consequences of painful musculoskeletal conditions.
• To develop and evaluate diagnostic approaches and assessment tools for different musculoskeletal conditions
• To develop and evaluate treatment models for painful musculoskeletal conditions.

The effectiveness of radial extracorporeal shock wave therapy (rESWT), sham-rESWT, standardised exercise programme or usual care for patients with plantar fasciopathy

Principal investigators: Marte Heide (PhD candidate), Marianne Mørk (PhD candidate), Aasne Fenne Hoksrud, Helene L Søberg, Karen S Groven, Jens Ivar Brox, Cecilie Røe

This is a four-armed randomized trial aiming to estimate the extent to which a combination therapy of extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) with usual care (exercise and orthotic support) improve functional ability in the patient with plantar fasciopathy when compared to usual care alone. The study also explores the experiences of people living with plantar fasciopathy and evaluate the measurement properties of common assessment tools in plantar faciopathy.

A randomized controlled study of surgical versus non-surgical treatment for cervical radiculopathi.

Prinicipal investigators Jens Ivar Brox, Mirad Taso (PhD candidate), Jon Håvard Sommernes , Frode Kolstad, Jarle Sundseth , Siri Bjorland, John Anker Zwart .

Cervical radiculopathy is usually caused by disc herniation or spondylosis. The prognosis is expected to be good in most patients, but there is limited scientific evidence on the indications for nonsurgical and surgical treatments. The aim of the present study is to evaluate and compare the effectiveness of surgical and nonsurgical treatment in two trials - including disc herniation and spondylosis, respectively, and to evaluate factors that contribute to better decision making

The Norwegian Tennis Elbow (Note) study.

Principal investigator Marianne Bakke Johnsen, Håkon Sveinall (PhD candidate), Jens Ivar Brox, Aasne Fenne Hoksrud, Cecilie Røe

The primary aim of this study is to pilot the methods for an RCT comparing the effectiveness of Heavy slow resistance training (HSR), Radial extracorporeal shock wave therapy (rESWT) and Information and advice for pain, functioning and health in patients with lateral elbow pain. The specific aims of the pilot is to: Measure the process of recruitment, Measure intervention adherence and acceptability and Measure outcome measure retention rate and completeness. The Patient-Rated Tennis Elbow Evaluation (PRTEE) will be used as the primary outcome measure.

Self-management program with exercises for greater trochanteric pain syndrome: a randomized controlled trial with nested qualitative interviews

Principal investigator Marianne Bakke Johnsen, Thea Morin Melås (PhD candidate), Niels Gunnar Juel, Karen Synne Groven, Cecilie Røe

The primary aim of this study is to investigate the clinical effectiveness of a self-management program with exercises versus usual physiotherapy care for patients with greater trochanteric pain syndrome. In addition, embedded qualitative interviews will be performed to explore the lived experience of patients with GTPS, providing complementary data to the findings from the RCT.

Interdisciplinary services for immigrant neck- and back patients- a quality improvement project based on registerdata from the national Norwegian Neck and Back registery.

Principal investigators: John Bjørneboe, Sigrid Skatteboe in collaboration with researchers from the national Norwegian Neck and Back registery (NNRR).

This is a national quality project aiming to improve the amount of participants in interdisciplinary treatment for neck- and back pain with non-Norwegian background in specialized outpatient care. The specific aims are to establish national routines for interdisciplinary treatment for patients with non-Norwegian background and persons in need for an interpreter and Explore the need and possibilities for developing additional information supplies for this patient group.

Development of a minimum reporting set for rehabilitation services.

Principal investigator Cecilie Røe, Nada Andelic, Helene L Søberg in collaboration with the ICSO-R development group.

Evidence-based decision-making in rehabilitation is based on clinical judgement, scientific evidence and the patients’ needs and preferences. Organisation of the services heavily impact accessibility and effects of rehabilitation. Hence, clinical trials need to include health system and service organization factors. Recently a classification system for service organization in rehabilitation has been developed. This classification is too extensive to be included in clinical trials. Hence, the aim of this project is to create a beta-version of Minimum Reporting Dataset of International classification of service organisation in rehabilitation (ICSO-R) categories for reporting in clinical trials.