Effectiveness of Physiotherapy Interventions after Head and Neck Trauma

Abstract

Introduction:

Diverse physiotherapy interventions for head and neck trauma include targeted exercises for range of motion, strength training, and proprioceptive enhancement. Quantifying the effectiveness of physiotherapy interventions is vital for evidence-based clinical decision-making and the enhancement of patient outcomes. This systematic review aimed to offer a more comprehensive evaluation of the overall effectiveness of physiotherapy for head and neck traumatized patients.

Methods:

The systematic review focused on identifying interventional studies, particularly clinical trials, assessing the efficacy of physiotherapy interventions for head and neck trauma. Rigorous search strategies using relevant terms and Boolean operators were applied across comprehensive databases, including PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Scopus. The emphasis on randomized controlled trials (RCTs) ensured a robust evaluation of intervention efficacy. The systematic study selection process, involving removal of duplicates, title and abstract screening, and full-text assessments, followed stringent eligibility criteria. Manual searches, expert consultations, and a methodologically sound approach aimed to minimize bias and provide a comprehensive overview of the effectiveness of physiotherapy interventions in head and neck trauma rehabilitation.

Results:

The systematic review, encompassing seven clinical trials, elucidates the effectiveness of physiotherapy interventions for individuals recovering from head and neck trauma, with sample sizes ranging from 52 to 764 participants. The diverse demographic characteristics and trauma types, including fractures and sports-related incidents, highlight the broad applicability of the findings. The interventions, spanning exercises to therapeutic modalities, yielded favorable outcomes, evidenced by risk ratios indicating a 24% reduction in pain scores, a 34% improvement in range of motion, and a 21% increase in functional outcomes, supported by robust confidence intervals [6, 10-14]. These results collectively emphasize the positive impact of physiotherapy interventions on head and neck trauma recovery.

Conclusions:

The systematic review robustly supports the overall effectiveness of physiotherapy interventions for head and neck trauma recovery, considering varied sample sizes and demographics, diverse interventions, and consistently significant improvements in pain scores, range of motion, and functional outcomes, aligning with or surpassing percentages reported in existing literature.