Introduction: Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) imply damage to muscular or skeletal systems, which usually develop due to strenuous, repetitive activity, or an inflammation process. The therapy with capacitive and resistive electronic transfer (CRet) and high-intensity laser therapy (HILT) have mainly been applied for pain relief in these conditions. This paper aims to provide an overview of the efficient results of CRet therapy and HILT in managing pain associated with musculoskeletal disorders found in the available literature. Methods: Articles related to musculoskeletal disorders were searched through electronic databases, such as PubMed, Web of Knowledge, Lilacs, Cochrane, Research Gate, and available website search tools. After excluding records that are not clinical trials and studies (such as review articles, patient information, and Ph.D. papers) and articles which did not deal with pain in musculoskeletal disorders, 61 articles met our criteria and were included in the overview. Results: By reviewing the selected articles related to CRet therapy and HILT effects on pain in musculoskeletal disorders, it was found that both therapies have a favorable effect on pain reduction. Conclusion: The selected papers showed that both therapies are powerful tools for pain reduction. Although there are no specific protocols, including the number and frequency of therapies applied and other parameters, in both therapy modalities, pain alleviation occurs during or immediately after a therapy cycle application.

Background/Aim: Secondary arm lymphoedema is a common complication following breast cancer surgery. Complex decongestive therapy (CDT) represents the standard conservative treatment, but the incremental benefit of intermittent pneumatic compression (IPC) remains unclear. This study compared the efficacy of CDT alone with CDT combined with IPC on lymphoedema size, shoulder range of motion (ROM) and upper-limb function in patients with secondary arm lymphoedema following breast cancer treatment. Methods: In this prospective, randomised, parallel, non-blinded study, 108 women with secondary arm lymphoedema were assigned to either the CDT (control) group or the CDT plus IPC (experimental) group. The CDT protocol included skin care, manual lymphatic drainage (MLD), short-stretch multilayer compression bandaging and therapist-guided exercises. The experimental group also received IPC for 30 minutes daily at 40 mm Hg. Treatments were administered once daily, five days per week, for three weeks. Outcome measures included arm circumference, shoulder ROM and the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) scores assessed at baseline (T0), immediately post-treatment (T1) and three months post-treatment (T2). Statistical analyses included repeated-measures analysis of variance and analysis of covariance. Results: Of the 108 participants, 102 completed the study (51 per group). No significant baseline differences were observed between groups. A significant main effect of time was found for all outcome measures (p < 0.01), indicating overall improvement during the study period. However, no significant group-by-time interactions were identified (0.07 ≤ p ≤ 0.85). There were no significant between-group differences in lymphoedema reduction, shoulder ROM or DASH scores at either T1 or T2. Conclusions: The addition of IPC to standard CDT does not demonstrate additional benefits in managing secondary arm lymphoedema following breast cancer treatment.

Background/Aim: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disorder that primarily affects the joints, leading to stiffness, swelling and persistent pain. Pain in these patients is not only a physical symptom but also a complex experience shaped by biological, psychological and social influences. Depression and anxiety frequently occur alongside the disease, further contributing to greater pain perception, reduced functional ability and diminished quality of life. Aim of this study was to highlight the impact of depression on functional status and pain intensity in female patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Methods: A descriptive analytical study involving 50 female patients diagnosed with RA according to ACR/EULAR criteria followed patients during inpatient rehabilitation at the Institute for Physical Medicine, Rehabilitation and Orthopaedic Surgery "Dr Miroslav Zotović" was performed. The study examined the relationship between pain (VAS), functionality (HAQ), depression (BDI) and personality disorders (MMPI). Results: The average age of participants was 63.8 years. The most common comorbidities were hypertension (64 %) and hypothyroidism (30 %). Of the total 50 patients, 23 (46 %) were smokers. The mean VAS pain scale value was 6.59, while the HAQ questionnaire average value was 0.811. Depression was identified in 17 patients (12 mild, 4 moderate and 1 severe depression). Patients with depression had higher pain intensity and poorer function. Conclusion: Psychosocial factors, including anxiety and depression, are important predictors of functional status and pain in RA. For effective pain management, it is important to identify, through a biopsychosocial approach, all factors that influence subjective pain perception.

Background and Objectives: Persistent pain in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) may reflect mechanisms not fully captured by systemic inflammatory markers. This study estimated the frequency of elevated Central Sensitization Inventory (CSI) scores in women with RA and examined associations with pain, fatigue, depressive symptoms, function, inflammatory markers, and disease activity. Materials and Methods: This prospective single-center observational cohort included 97 female inpatients who completed a standardized three-week rehabilitation program. The CSI was used as a symptom-based screening instrument. Pain, function, fatigue, and depressive symptoms were assessed with the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ), FACIT-Fatigue scale, and Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II), respectively. Results: Fifty-seven participants (58.8%) had CSI scores ≥ 40. Higher CSI scores were associated with greater pain, more depressive symptoms, more fatigue, and higher DAS28-CRP scores, but not with ESR, CRP, IL-6, or disease duration. In adjusted baseline models, the association with VAS pain was statistically significant but modest (unstandardized beta = 0.024 per CSI point; standardized beta = 0.273). Across the three-week follow-up, VAS pain decreased by 2.53 points; mean FACIT-Fatigue and HAQ changes were smaller than commonly cited clinically important thresholds, and CSI changed only modestly. In adjusted multivariable models, higher CSI scores remained independently associated with VAS pain, FACIT-Fatigue, and BDI-II scores, whereas no significant association was found with HAQ. CSI was not associated with CRP, IL-6, or disease duration. Conclusions: In this cohort of women with RA, elevated CSI scores identified a greater self-reported symptom burden and were independently associated with pain, fatigue, and depressive symptoms after adjustment, though the pain association remained modest in magnitude. No meaningful association was found with functional disability. The uncontrolled, single-arm design and restricted inflammatory-marker range preclude causal conclusions or proof that symptoms were independent of inflammation.