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Limitations to full social participation in physical activity—both during leisure time and in physical education—persist among young individuals with cerebral palsy. This study explores the experiences of physical education and physical leisure activities among youth with cerebral palsy living in Sweden. It examines how these youths navigate contextual barriers and facilitators to participation, focusing on norms of function and gender. Individual interviews with 13 youth, aged 15–18 years, were analysed using Qualitative Content Analysis resulting in a main theme: Being in a continuum between exclusion and empowerment, with three categories: 1) Excluded and denied of support; 2) Resisting prejudice and discrimination; and 3) Empowered, with appropriate support. Most participants had experienced not being given equal opportunity in particularly in physical education but also in leisure activities and had encountered limiting norms and preconceptions based on gender and function. The findings indicate that norm-consciousness, respect and involvement in decision-making are key for participation and empowerment.

Background: The term kinesiophobia originates in the context of the cognitive fear-avoidance model of pain. The Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia (TSK) is frequently used to assess this construct, notably among populations for which it was not designed, including athletes with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury, for whom pain is not a major concern. The objective of this study was to determine the suitability of the TSK for evaluating re-injury worries in ACL-injured persons with and without pain, by assessing key psychometric properties.

Methods: Ninety-two individuals post-ACL reconstruction (ACLR) were included and divided into PAIN and NO-PAIN subgroups, based on a 90% cutoff on the pain subscale of the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score. Correlation analyses were employed to assess the contribution of pain-specific TSK items to the total score. Criterion validity (Cohen’s-kappa) was evaluated between an established TSKtotal cutoff and classification based on the re-injury fear-specific TSKQ9, with an optimal cutoff further explored via receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. The TSK’s internal consistency was tested on subgroup level, using Chronbach’s-α. Finally, in a subset of participants, the TSK’s discriminant validity was assessed through correlation with the ACL Return-to-Sport-after-Injury survey (ACL-RSI) of psychological readiness.

Results: Pain-specific TSK items correlated strongly with TSKtotal (rs=0.85). Classification based on a previously recommended TSKtotal cutoff (38-point) demonstrated fair agreement with TSKQ9 (K = 0.31), with low sensitivity and high specificity. An optimal cutoff of 33.5 for TSKtotal had a sensitivity of 70.6% and specificity of 87.8%. The TSK’s internal consistency was poor (α = 0.65) for NO-PAIN and acceptable (α = 0.77) for the PAIN subgroup. The TSKtotal and ACL-RSI scores were not correlated.

Conclusion: The TSK may have limited suitability for individuals after ACLR due to poor internal consistency when pain is not a concern and limited relationship to re-injury fear, regardless of selected cutoff, and psychological readiness. The construct of kinesiophobia is likely less relevant in this population while other more suitable constructs could provide more meaningful assessment of psychological aspects affecting athletic recovery. Clinicians should consider prioritising more efficient, population-specific tools for detecting re-injury worries, over commonly-used but less-fitting tools like the TSK.

Background: The associations between physical activity and various social determinants with quality of life (QoL) among teenagers with cerebral palsy (CP) are inconclusive.

Objective: To explore associations between perceived QoL among teenagers with CP in Sweden and participation in physical leisure activity and physical education in school, as well as sex, gross motor function, pain and bother, caregivers’ birth country and socioeconomic status.

Methods: A cross-sectional study with teenagers who have CP, aged 15–18 years. The survey, including the assessment form Cerebral Palsy Quality of Life-teenager (CP QoL-teen), was sent to all youths in the national patient registry held by the Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare (n = 900). Survey data was complemented with data from other national health registries containing information on demographics, physical leisure activity, physical education, and gross motor function. Multivariable linear- and quantile regression analyses were performed.

Results: The survey was answered by 149 participants. Physical leisure activity was positively associated with the QoL-domain Communication and physical health. Gross motor function was associated with domains referring to physical function and participation; more severe motor difficulties indicated lower QoL. Pain was negatively associated with all QoL domains. Low caregiver educational levels were associated with higher social well-being domain.

Conclusion: Minimizing pain and facilitating physical activity may enhance QoL for teenagers who have CP. To improve participation for teenagers with severe disabilities, with non-Nordic caregivers, and caregivers without postgraduate education, targeted measures to facilitate participation are needed.

BACKGROUND: Low back pain (LBP) is the leading cause of disability and an increasing sick leave in Denmark. Psychosocial risk factors have been linked to the development of LBP-related disability and work-absenteeism. The short form Örebro Musculoskeletal Pain Screening Questionnaire (ÖMPSQ-sf) was developed to screen for psychosocial risk factors and assess the risk of long-term disability and work-absenteeism.

OBJECTIVE: To translate and cross-culturally adapt ÖMPSQ-sf into Danish and evaluate test-retest reliability with relative and absolute reliability and internal consistency in LBP-patients in a secondary setting.

METHODS: A six-step translation and cross-culturally adaptation process was used. Forty-four patients with subacute and chronic LBP were recruited at an outpatient clinic.

RESULTS: Test-retest reliability (n= 37) was found to be excellent (ICC2.1= 0.92), Internal Consistency (n= 44) was adequate (Cronbach's alpha = 0.72). Absolute reliability included Standard Error of Measurement (SEM = 3.97 points), 95% Limits of Agreement (95% LOA = 0.08, -15.90-15.74), and Smallest Detectable Change (SDC = 10.87 points).

CONCLUSION: The Danish ÖMPSQ-sf showed acceptable measurements properties in subacute and chronic LBP-patients. Further research is needed to assess other measurement properties of the ÖMPSQ-sf, in relation to validity, responsiveness, and the predictive ability before application in research or clinical practice.

Musculoskeletal trauma often leads to lasting psychological impacts stemming from concerns of future injuries. Often referred to as kinesiophobia or re-injury anxiety, such concerns have been shown to hinder return to physical activity and are believed to increase the risk for secondary injuries. Screening for re-injury anxiety is currently restricted to subjective questionnaires, which are prone to self-report bias. We introduce a novel approach to objectively identify electrocortical activity associated with the threat of destabilising perturbations. We aimed to explore its feasibility among non-injured persons, with potential future implementation for screening of re-injury anxiety. Twenty-three participants stood blindfolded on a translational balance perturbation platform. Consecutive auditory stimuli were provided as low (neutral stimulus [CS^–]) or high (conditioned stimulus [CS⁺]) tones. For the main experimental protocol (Protocol I), half of the high tones were followed by a perturbation in one of eight unpredictable directions. A separate validation protocol (Protocol II) requiring voluntary squatting without perturbations was performed with 12 participants. Event-related potentials (ERP) were computed from electroencephalography recordings and significant time-domain components were detected using an interval-wise testing procedure. High-amplitude early contingent negative variation (CNV) waves were significantly greater for CS⁺ compared with CS– trials in all channels for Protocol I (> 521-800ms), most prominently over frontal and central midline locations (P ≤ 0.001). For Protocol II, shorter frontal ERP components were observed (541-609ms). Our test paradigm revealed electrocortical activation possibly associated with movement-related fear. Exploring the discriminative validity of the paradigm among individuals with and without self-reported re-injury anxiety is warranted.

Background: Musculoskeletal disorders (MSK) are a global burden causing significant suffering and economic impact. Systematic identification and targeting of research questions of highest interest for stakeholders can aid in improving MSK disorder knowledge and management.

Objective: To obtain Swedish MSK researchers' opinions and views on a collaborative Swedish MSK network (SweMSK) and identify future research areas of importance for Swedish MSK research.

Methods: A web-based survey was conducted July to September 2021 to collect data from 354 Swedish MSK researchers. The survey focused on the need, objectives, and structure of a SweMSK network and identified prioritised areas for future MSK research.

Results: The study included 141 respondents, of which 82 were associate professors or professors. The majority (68%) supported the creation of a new musculoskeletal network. The most supported element was increased collaboration regarding nationwide and multicenter studies. Respondents recommended the creation of a homepage and the establishment of national work groups with different specific interests as the primary elements of a new network.

Conclusion: The results demonstrated a need and desire for increased national research collaboration and the creation of a new musculoskeletal network. The high academic experience and active research participation of the respondents suggest the need for MSK disorder knowledge and management improvement in Sweden. Therefore, the SweMSK network may help facilitate effective collaboration and research efforts that can contribute to the advancement of MSK disorder management and care. This study may provide valuable insights for policymakers, clinicians, and researchers to improve MSK disorder care and management in Sweden.

Introduction: Visuospatial and executive impairments have been associated with poor activity performance sub-acute after stroke. Potential associations long-term and in relation to outcome of rehabilitation interventions need further exploration.

Aims: To explore associations between visuospatial and executive function and 1) activity performance (mobility, self-care and domestic life) and 2) outcome after 6 weeks of conventional gait training and/or robotic gait training, long term (1–10 years) after stroke.

Methods: Participants (n = 45), living with stroke affecting walking ability and who could perform the items assessing visuospatial/executive function included in the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA Vis/Ex) were included as part of a randomized controlled trial. Executive function was evaluated using ratings by significant others according to the Dysexecutive Questionnaire (DEX); activity performance using 6-minute walk test (6MWT), 10-meter walk test (10MWT), Berg balance scale, Functional Ambulation Categories, Barthel Index and Stroke Impact Scale.

Results: MoCA Vis/Ex was significantly associated with baseline activity performance, long-term after stroke (r = .34-.69, p < .05). In the conventional gait training group, MoCA Vis/Ex explained 34% of the variance in 6MWT after the six-week intervention (p = 0.017) and 31% (p = 0.032) at the 6 month follow up, which indicate that a higher MoCA Vis/Ex score enhanced the improvement. The robotic gait training group presented no significant associations between MoCA Vis/Ex and 6MWT indicating that visuospatial/executive function did not affect outcome. Rated executive function (DEX) presented no significant associations to activity performance or outcome after gait training.

Conclusion: Visuospatial/executive function may significantly affect activity performance and the outcome of rehabilitation interventions for impaired mobility long-term after stroke and should be considered in the planning of such interventions. Patients with severely impaired visuospatial/executive function may benefit from robotic gait training since improvement was seen irrespective of visuospatial/executive function. These results may guide future larger studies on interventions targeting long-term walking ability and activity performance.

Background: Psychophysiological consequences often persist following musculoskeletal trauma and can result in vastly decreased quality of life. Re-injury anxiety is particularly common among individuals following anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury. Existing assessments of re-injury anxiety are, however, restricted to subjective suboptimal questionnaires, which may result in under-reporting and thus poorer injury management. We propose a novel approach to objectively quantify arousal response to movement-related anxiety. A new experimental paradigm was implemented to induce and record a conditioned electrophysiological response to a sudden perturbation, experienced to be potentially injurious.

Objective: To explore the feasibility of detecting anxiety-associated electrocortical response and to evaluate its discriminative ability between asymptomatic individuals and those who had experienced an ACL injury.

Methods: Physically-active asymptomatic persons and individuals post-ACL reconstruction stood blindfolded on a perturbation platform capable of generating high-acceleration translations (1.5 m/s2). Auditory stimuli were repeatedly presented in four-second intervals, as either low- or high-frequency tones. Half of the high-frequency tones were followed 1.5 seconds later by a destabilizing perturbation in one of eight randomized directions. The two tone conditions were thus termed ‘Neutral’ and ‘Anxiety’, as the high-frequency tone was intended to invoke an arousal response in anticipation of a potential perturbation. Event-related potentials (ERP) were computed for nine electrodes by averaging 100 Neutral and 100 Anxiety trials. Significant ERP components were identified using functional data analysis. Paired difference-waves’ amplitudes (Neutral - Anxiety) were compared between groups.

Results: ERP correlates of anxiety were detected for both groups in frontal and central midline locations, with an observable contingent negative variation (CNV) from 500 ms post-stimulus in Anxiety compared with Neutral trials. This ERP component is reflective of a threat-induced arousal response, associated with attention and expectancy of an anxiety-relevant event. Preliminary data indicate no group differences in CNV amplitudes.

Conclusions: Objective evaluation of an arousal response to movement-related anxiety was found to be feasible, resulting in a threat-induced CNV. Further investigation will elucidate the discriminative power of such an approach to differentiate between individuals with high and low re-injury anxiety, as well as potential associations with existing patient-reported outcome measures.

Background: The aims of this study are to 1) determine the scope of musculoskeletal (MSK)-related clinical research in Sweden; 2) collate the amount of first-tier funding received; 3) discuss strategies and infrastructure supporting future MSK clinical trials in Sweden.

Methods: A systematic scoping review protocol was applied in PubMed, Scopus, and SweCRIS databases. The articles were examined, and data were extracted in multiple stages by three blinded authors.

Results: The search strategy resulted in 3,025 publications from 479 Swedish-affiliated authors. Primary health care was the basis for 14% of the publications, 84% from secondary health care, and 2% from occupational health care with a similar proportional distribution of first-tier research grant financing. Approximately one in six publications were randomized controlled trials (RCTs), while the majority were of observational cohort design. The majority of publications in primary and occupational health care were related to pain disorders (51 and 67%, respectively), especially diagnosis, prognosis, and healthcare organizational-related interventions (34%) and rehabilitation (15%) with similar proportional distribution of first-tier research grant financing. In secondary health care, rheumatic inflammatory disorder-related publications were most prevalent (30%), most frequently concerning diagnosis, prognosis, and healthcare organizational-related interventions (20%), attracting approximately half of all first-tier funding. Publications related to degenerative joint disorders (25%), fractures (16%), and joint, tendon, and muscle injuries (13%) frequently concerned surgical and other orthopedic-related interventions (16, 6, and 8%, respectively). Pain disorder-related publications (10%) as well as bone health and osteoporosis-related publications (4%) most frequently concerned diagnosis, prognosis, and healthcare organizational-related interventions (5 and 3%, respectively).

Conclusions: Swedish-affiliated MSK disorder research 2010-2020 was predominantly observational cohort rather than RCT based. There was skewed first-tier funding allocation considering prevalence/incidence and burden of disease. Use of infrastructure supporting register-based RCTs, placebo-controlled RCTs, and hybrid effectiveness-implementation studies on prevention and clinical intervention is important strategies for the future in all healthcare sectors.

Objective: To systematically review and summarise the evidence for the effects of neuromuscular training compared with any other therapy (conventional training/sham) on knee proprioception following anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury.

Design: Systematic Review.

Data sources: PubMed, CINAHL, SPORTDiscus, AMED, Scopus and Physical Education Index were searched from inception to February 2020.

Eligibility criteria: Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and controlled clinical trials investigating the effects of neuromuscular training on knee-specific proprioception tests following a unilateral ACL injury were included.

Data extraction and synthesis: Two reviewers independently screened and extracted data and assessed risk of bias of the eligible studies using the Cochrane risk of bias 2 tool. Overall certainty in evidence was determined using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) tool.

Results: Of 2706 articles retrieved, only 9 RCTs, comprising 327 individuals with an ACL reconstruction (ACLR), met the inclusion criteria. Neuromuscular training interventions varied across studies: whole body vibration therapy, Nintendo-Wii-Fit training, balance training, sport-specific exercises, backward walking, etc. Outcome measures included joint position sense (JPS; n=7), thresholds to detect passive motion (TTDPM; n=3) or quadriceps force control (QFC; n=1). Overall, between-group mean differences indicated inconsistent findings with an increase or decrease of errors associated with JPS by ≤2°, TTDPM by ≤1.5° and QFC by ≤6 Nm in the ACLR knee following neuromuscular training. Owing to serious concerns with three or more GRADE domains (risk of bias, inconsistency, indirectness or imprecision associated with the findings) for each outcome of interest across studies, the certainty of evidence was very low.

Conclusions: The heterogeneity of interventions, methodological limitations, inconsistency of effects (on JPS/TTDPM/QFC) preclude recommendation of one optimal neuromuscular training intervention for improving proprioception following ACL injury in clinical practice. There is a need for methodologically robust RCTs with homogenous populations with ACL injury (managed conservatively or with reconstruction), novel/well-designed neuromuscular training and valid proprioception assessments, which also seem to be lacking.

PROSPERO registration number CRD42018107349.