Absolute MCID was strongly associated with baseline pain , explaining approximately two-thirds of the variation , and to a lesser degree with the operational definition of minimum pain relief and clinical condition .
MCID  for chronic pain relief vary considerably .
Baseline pain is strongly associated with absolute , but not relative , measures .
To a much lesser degree , MCID is also influenced by the operational definition of relevant pain relief and possibly by clinical condition .
BACKGROUND The minimum clinical ly important difference ( MCID ) is used to interpret the relevance of treatment effects , e.g. , when developing clinical guidelines , evaluating trial results or planning sample sizes .
There is currently no agreement on an appropriate MCID in chronic pain and little is known about which context ual factors cause variation .
METHODS This is a systematic review .
Effectiveness of neuromuscular taping on painful hemiplegic shoulder: a randomised clinical trial
Abstract Purpose : The purpose of this trial was to investigate changes in pain , the range of motion ( ROM ) and spasticity in people with painful hemiplegic shoulder ( PHS ) after the application of an upper limb neuromuscular taping ( NMT ) . Methods : We conducted a r and omised clinical trial . The study included 32 people , 31 % female ( mean ± SD age : 66 ± 9 years ) , with PHS after stroke with pain at rest and during functional movements . The experimental group received the application of NMT and a st and ard physical therapy programme ( SPTP ) , whereas the control group received SPTP . The groups received four 45-minute long sessions over four weeks . The VAS , ROM and spasticity were assessed before and after the intervention with follow-up at four weeks . Results : The experimental group had a greater reduction in pain compared to the control group at the end of the intervention , as well as at one month after the intervention ( p < 0.001 ; all the group differences were greater than 4.5 cm , which is greater than the minimal clinical ly important difference of 2.0 cm ) . The experimental group had a significantly higher ( i.e. better ) ROM , by 30.0 ° , than the control group in shoulder flexion ( 95 % CI : 37.3–22.7 ) at 4 weeks and by 24.8 ° ( 95 % CI : 32.1–17.6 ) at 8 weeks as well as in abduction by 30.6 ° ( 95 % CI : 37.5–23.7 ) at 4 weeks and 25.1 ° ( 95 % CI : 33.8–16.3 ) at 8 weeks . Conclusion : Our study demonstrates that NMT decreases pain and increases the ROM in subjects with shoulder pain after a stroke . Implication s for Rehabilitation Painful hemiplegic shoulder is a frequent complication after stroke with negative impacts on functional activities and on quality of life of people , moreover restricts rehabilitation intervention . Neuromuscular taping is a technique introduced by David Blow for the treatment of neuromuscoloskeletal problems . This study shows the reduction of pain and the improvement of range of motion after the application of an upper limb neuromuscular taping . Rehabilitation professionals who are involved in the management of painful hemiplegic shoulder may like to consider the benefits that neuromuscular taping can produce on upper limb
Absolute MCID was strongly associated with baseline pain , explaining approximately two-thirds of the variation , and to a lesser degree with the operational definition of minimum pain relief and clinical condition .
MCID  for chronic pain relief vary considerably .
Baseline pain is strongly associated with absolute , but not relative , measures .
To a much lesser degree , MCID is also influenced by the operational definition of relevant pain relief and possibly by clinical condition .
BACKGROUND The minimum clinical ly important difference ( MCID ) is used to interpret the relevance of treatment effects , e.g. , when developing clinical guidelines , evaluating trial results or planning sample sizes .
There is currently no agreement on an appropriate MCID in chronic pain and little is known about which context ual factors cause variation .
METHODS This is a systematic review .