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This study aimed to examine the effects of 6-week vibration (VFR) and non-vibration foam rolling (FR) on muscle strength, hamstrings-to-quadriceps (H:Q) ratio, flexibility, and dynamic balance in soccer players. Thirty-six players were included in the study. The players were randomly assigned to either VFR (n=12), FR (n=12), or control group (CG) (n=12). The players in VFR and FR groups performed VFR or FR thrice per week for 6 weeks. The CG did not receive any intervention. Pre- and post-test assessment included muscle strength, H:Q ratio, flexibility, and dynamic balance. Dominant extremity knee flexor and non-dominant extremity knee flexor and extensor muscle strength improved in VFR and FR groups (p<0.05). Flexibility and dynamic balance improved in VFR group (p<0.05). Both 6-week VFR and FR increased muscle strength without affecting H:Q ratio. VFR was more effective than FR for improving flexibility and dynamic balance. The results can be stunning for performance enhancement.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between pain and functional levels with pain catastrophizing, rumination, decision-making, and critical thinking in people with chronic neck pain., Methods: The study included 62 patients with chronic neck pain who had presented to a physiotherapy center with pain complaints for at least 3 months. The visual analog scale for pain severity, the Neck Disability Index for functional level, the Pain Catastrophizing Scale, the Ruminative Thinking Scale, the Melbourne Decision-Making Scale I-II, and the Marmara Critical Thinking Inventory were used for assessments., Results: Activity pain, night pain, and disability were positively correlated with rumination (rho: 0.368, p = .003; rho: 0.423, p = <.001; rho = 0.334, p = .008). There was a positive correlation between night pain, disability, and pain catastrophizing (rho = 0.298, p = .019; rho = .434 p < .001). A negative correlation was observed between patients' pain severity and disability with critical thinking scores (rho = -0.393, p = .002; rho = -0.377 p = .003, rho = -0.428 p < .001, rho = -0.441 p < .001)., Conclusions: The study suggested that there were positive correlations between pain severity and disability with rumination and pain catastrophizing. Additionally, chronic neck pain was found to have negative correlations with critical thinking scores, indicating potential impacts on cognitive processes. These findings may provide insights into the complex interplay between chronic pain and psychological factors, which can inform the development of interventions to enhance chronic pain management., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this article., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Background: The precise manner in which morphological and mechanical properties of cervical muscles in patients with fibromyalgia and migraine are affected remains unclear., Objectives: The objective of this study was to compare the morphological and mechanical properties of cervical muscles in individuals diagnosed with fibromyalgia who also experience migraine headaches with those who do not., Methods: The study included two groups of fibromyalgia patients: one with migraine (n = 18, age = 44.7 ± 7.5 years, body mass index = 28.7 ± 6.9 kg/m 2 ) and one without migraine (n = 21, age = 42.6 ± 9.5 years, body mass index = 25.1 ± 4.4 kg/m 2 ). Body pain intensity related to fibromyalgia and migraine attack severity were evaluated with a Visual Analog Scale (VAS). The cervical muscle morphological and mechanical properties, including thickness, cross-sectional area (CSA), and stiffness, were measured using ultrasound imaging., Results: It was found that there was a greater decrease in longus colli muscle CSA scores (p = 0.004) and a greater increase in upper trapezius muscle stiffness scores (p = 0.013) in the fibromyalgia + migraine group compared to the fibromyalgia group. No statistically significant differences were observed in trapezius muscle thickness (p = 0.261), sternocleidomastoid muscle thickness (p = 0.874), multifidus CSA (p = 0.963), or sternocleidomastoid muscle stiffness (p = 0.642) between the two groups., Conclusion: Patients with fibromyalgia and migraine exhibited diminished longus colli muscle CSA and heightened upper trapezius muscle stiffness compared to those with fibromyalgia but no migraine. It should be considered that migraine comorbidity in fibromyalgia may negatively affect cervical muscle morphological and mechanical properties., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest Author Toprak Celenay, author Balaban, author Lalecan, author Akan, and author Ozer Kaya declare that they have no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To compare psychological factors and the number of painful sites between wheelchair basketball athletes (WBA) with and without shoulder pain and examine their associations with shoulder pain., Design: A cross-sectional, case-control study., Methods: Forty-three WBA participated. Shoulder pain was assessed with the Wheelchair User's Shoulder Pain Index (WUSPI), pain catastrophizing with the Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS), kinesiophobia by the Tampa Kinesiophobia Scale (TKS), self-efficacy with the General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES), and the number of painful sites using the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire. Disability and sport-related data were collected. Spearman's correlation coefficients were calculated. Mann-Whitney U and independent samples t-tests were used for between-group comparisons., Results: Athletes with shoulder pain ( n  = 21) had an increased number of painful sites (P < .050) and higher PCS ( P  = .003). The WUSPI exhibited moderate associations with the number of painful sites during the last year (rho = .581) and past seven days (rho = .602), and PCS (rho = .470), and a weak association with the TKS (rho = .333)(P < .050). The number of painful sites with disability exhibited moderate associations with PCS (rho = .427) and GSES (rho = -.473)(P < .050). WBA classification levels showed moderate associations with the WUSPI (rho = -.400) and the number of painful sites during the last year (rho = -.437), and a weak association with the number of painful sites during past seven days (rho = -.315)(P < .050). The PCS showed weak associations with the number of painful sites during the last year (rho = .365) and the past seven days (rho = .398)(P < .050)., Conclusions: Results suggest considering WBA classes, pain catastrophizing, self-efficacy and multisite pain in the pain management of WBA.

Background/aim: It is still unclear what types of exercise, beneficial to prevent and/or decrease diastasis recti abdominis (DRA). This study purposed to examine immediate effects of corrective exercise versus curl-up exercise on interrecti distance (IRD) and linea alba (LA) distortion in women with DRA., Materials and Methods: Twenty-three women with DRA were included. The IRD and the LA distortion (with distortion index formula) were measured with ultrasound imaging at rest, during curl-up and corrective exercise., Results: The IRD, measured at above and below umbilicus, and the distortion index were different between the measurements at rest, during curl up and correction exercise (p < 0.05). In corrective exercise, the change in the IRD at above umbilicus decreased more than rest (p = 0.009) and curl-up (p = 0.004). The change in the IRD at below umbilicus decreased more in corrective exercise than rest (p = 0.033) and curl-up (p = 0.028). The distortion index increased more in corrective exercise than rest (p = 0.006). The index increased more in curl-up than rest (p = 0.029)., Conclusion: The corrective exercise may be helpful in the treatment of DRA. Moreover, different muscle contractions that will provide the LA distortion should be taken into account in the treatment of DRA., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest Author TOPRAK CELENAY, Author BALABAN, and Author OZER KAYA declare that they have no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: The aim of this study was to translate the Exercise Benefits/Barriers Scale (EBBS) into Turkish and investigate the perceptions of Turkish-speaking patients with different axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) subtypes regarding exercise benefits and barriers., Patients and Methods: This validation study was conducted between June 2018 and December 2021. Patients with axSpA were consecutively assessed regarding physical (age, sex and body mass index) and disease-related characteristics (disease activity, spinal mobility, functional status, quality of life, health status, emotional status, and kinesiophobia). Eligible participants were asked to complete the EBSS and other outcome measurements during their initial visits. EBBS was readministered 7 to 14 days later., Results: One hundred forty-eight patients (89 males, 59 females; mean age: 44.3±11.8 years; range, 19 to 65 years) were included in the study. Of the patients, 108 had radiographic axSpA, and 40 had nonradiographic axSpA. EBBS-Barriers and EBBS-Benefits subscales demonstrated adequate internal consistency (Cronbach's alphas of 0.82 and 0.95, respectively) and test-retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficients of 0.837 and 0.807, respectively). No significant differences were observed between axSpA subtypes regarding EBBS-Barriers (p=0.12) and EBBS-Benefits (p=0.10) subscales. Significant relationships were detected between kinesiophobia and EBBS-Barriers scores (r=-0.424, p<0.01), as well as EBBS-Benefits scores (r=-0.344, p<0.01) for all patients. EBBS-Benefits scores were correlated to health status (r=-0.412, p=0.08) and quality of life (r=-0.394, p=0.01) in patients with nonradiographic axSpA., Conclusion: According to our results, the Turkish EBBS is a valid and reliable tool for patients with axSpA. Perceptions of the patients with axSpA regarding exercise barriers and benefits do not differ according to the disease subtype. It appears that kinesiophobia may be an important parameter regarding exercise perception in axSpA., Competing Interests: Conflict of Interest: The authors declared no conflicts of interest with respect to the authorship and/or publication of this article., (Copyright © 2024, Turkish League Against Rheumatism.)

A reliable, versatile means of assessing visuo-motor reaction time (V-MRT) is important to football (soccer) players for many reasons, including the fact that faster V-MRT is a critical sport skill that may even play a role in reducing common sports injuries to the lower muscle extremities that can be associated with lost time on the field. We aimed to determine the test-retest reliability and minimum detectable change (MDC) of the Brain Pro System for assessing lower-extremity V-MRT in young male football players. We had 68 participants ( M age = 16.35, SD = 1.71 years) perform two assessment sessions one-week apart. For test-retest reliability, we calculated a one-way intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) at the 95% confidence interval and provided the standard error of measurement (SEM) and minimum detectable change (MDC) (MDC = SEM × 1.96 × √2) for V-MRTs. We obtained excellent V-MRT test-retest reliability for dominant lower-extremity, non-dominant lower-extremity, and dominant and non-dominant lower-extremities (ICC 2,1 = .93, 95%CI = .89-.96; ICC 2,1 = .94, 95%CI = .91-.96; ICC 2,1 = .96, 95%CI = .94-.97; respectively). The calculated MDC for the dominant lower-extremity V-MRT, the non-dominant lower-extremity V-MRT, and dominant and non-dominant lower-extremities (random) V-MRT were 1.21 seconds, 1.13 seconds, and 1.21 seconds, respectively. Brain Pro System had excellent reliability for assessing lower-extremity V-MRT in young male football players. The MDC values at the 95% confidence level (MDC95) we obtained were reliable for assessing clinically meaningful V-MRT changes., Competing Interests: Declaration of Conflicting InterestsThe author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Purpose/aim: Knee muscles strength is an important factor influencing postural stability in patients with knee osteoarthritis (KOA). However, there is no evidence regarding the relationship between the knee flexor/extensor strength ratio, which is suggested to be a good indicator of knee stability, and postural stability. We aimed to investigate postural stability and its relation to knee flexor and extensor strength and strength symmetry in women with KOA., Materials and Methods: Thirty-five women with unilateral KOA and thirty-five asymptomatic women were assessed with the Prokin system to collect the following parameters during quiet standing with eyes-open and eyes-closed: ellipse area, perimeter, forward-backward standard deviation, mediolateral standard deviation, the average centre of pressure displacement on the x- and y-axises (COPX and COPY), and the limit of stability (LoS) score. Higher scores mean better balance for LoS and poorer balance for other parameters. Knee flexor and extensor strength were assessed bilaterally with the Lafayette hand-held dynamometer., Results: The COPX during standing with eyes-closed was higher in women with KOA than controls and the LoS score was lower ( p  < 0.05, Cohens' d  = 0.72 and 0.65). Postural stability was correlated with knee muscles strength and the flexor/extensor strength ratios in both groups (r = between 0.395 and 0.456 for LoS, r = between -0.335 and -0.639 for the others, p  < 0.05)., Conclusions: Women with KOA had poorer postural stability in the mediolateral direction during standing with eyes-closed and a worse LoS score than controls. Postural stability was related to knee flexor and extensor strength and the flexor/extensor strength ratio in women.

Background: Circuit training (CT) is an important type of training that can combine different types of exercises in a single form of training. This study aimed to investigate the effects of 16-week CT on physical fitness parameters, pulmonary function, and quality of life in healthy women., Methods: Twenty-nine healthy women (median age: 37.00 [31.50/39.50] years) were included in the study. CT was applied to the participants for a total of 16 weeks. Participants' body composition with the Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis System, knee flexor and extensor muscle strength with the Biodex System-4 Pro, flexibility with the sit-and-reach test, pulmonary function with a spirometer device, and quality of life with Short Form-36 were assessed., Results: A significant difference was found between the participants' pretest and posttest median and interquartile range values of waist-hip ratio, body mass index, right/left knee flexor/extensor mean peak torque (60°/s,180°/s), right hamstring/quadriceps (H/Q) ratio (60°/s), flexibility, and SF-36 Mental Health Score (P˂0.050). There was no significant difference between the participants' pretest and posttest median and interquartile range values of total body fat, fat percentage, right H/Q ratio (180°/s), left H/Q ratio (60°/s,180°/s), pulmonary function, and Short Form-36 Physical Function Score (P˃0.050)., Conclusions: CT decreased waist-hip ratio and body mass index, increased knee flexor/extensor strength and flexibility, and improved mental health. The 16-week CT may be an alternative approach to improve physical fitness parameters and mental health without any positive effects on body fat and pulmonary functions in healthy women.

Background: Increased body mass index (BMI) adversely affects the mechanics of the musculoskeletal system. It is known that obese people have poorer postural stability and mobility-related outcomes compared to normal weight people, but there is limited research comparing overweight and class 1 obese people, two consecutive and prevalent BMI categories., Aims: To compare postural stability, functional mobility, and risk of falling and developing disability between overweight and obese women, and to investigate the relationship of BMI and body weight with the outcomes., Methods: Thirty women with class 1 obesity and 30 overweight women were included. Standing postural stability with eyes-open and eyes-closed and stability limits were assessed using the Prokin system. The Timed Up and Go Test (TUG) was used to assess functional mobility and risk of falling (≥11 s) and developing disability (≥9 s)., Results: The average center of pressure displacements on the y-axis (COPY) obtained during quiet standing with both eyes-open and eyes-closed were higher in obese women than overweight women (p < 0.05) and the effect sizes were moderate for the results. The COPY values in the eyes-open and eyes-closed conditions were correlated with BMI (r = 0.295 and r = 0.285, p < 0.05). Furthermore, the COPX value in the eyes-open condition and the TUG score were correlated with body weight (r = 0.274 and r = 0.257, p < 0.05)., Conclusions: Obese women had poorer static standing stability in the anteroposterior direction than overweight women, while functional mobility and risk of falling and developing disability did not differ. Furthermore, BMI and body weight were related to poorer static standing stability., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Although inspiratory muscle training (IMT) has proven effective in adult rheumatic diseases, its impact on juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) remains unexplored. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of IMT in children with JIA., Methods: Thirty-three children (13-18 years) with JIA were divided into two groups as exercise (n = 17) and control (n = 16). The exercise group performed IMT at home daily for 8 weeks. The initial IMT load was set as 60% of maximal inspiratory pressure (PI max ) and increased by %10 of the initial load every 2 weeks. The control group received no additional intervention. Forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV 1 ), FVC/FEV 1 , PI max , and maximal expiratory pressure (PE max ) were evaluated. Peak oxygen consumption (VO 2max ), metabolic equivalents (METs), and maximal heart rate were measured with cardiopulmonary exercise test. Functional capacity and quality of life were assessed with 6-min walk distance and Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory 3.0 Arthritis Module. All participants were evaluated at baseline and post-treatment., Results: FVC ( ↑ 0.20 (95% CI: 0.07/0.32) liters), FEV 1 ( ↑ 0.14 (95% CI: 0.02/0.25) liters), PI max (↑19.11 (95% CI: 9.52/28.71) cmH 2 O), PE max (↑12.41 (95% CI: 3.09/21.72) cmH 2 O), VO 2peak (↑158.29 (95% CI: 63.85/252.73) ml/min), and METs (↑0.92 (95% CI: 0.34/1.49) [ml/kg/min]) significantly improved only in the exercise group (p < .05). The difference over time in FVC, FEV 1 , PI max , VO 2peak , and METs were significantly higher in exercise group compared to control group (p < .05)., Conclusions: IMT seems to be an effective option for improving respiratory functions and aerobic exercise capacity in JIA., (© 2023 The Authors. Pediatric Pulmonology published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Purpose: To compare postural stability, spinal alignment, mobility, and postural competency in women with unilateral lower extremity lymphedema after radical hysterectomy following gynecologic cancer with a matched control group., Methods: Twenty-seven women with unilateral lower extremity lymphedema (lymphedema group, age: 54.14 ± 5.80 years) and 30 healthy women (control group, age: 51.90 ± 6.54 years) were included. The lymphedema severity was evaluated with circumferential measurements. Postural stability with the Biodex Balance System SD and the spinal alignment, mobility, and postural competency with the Spinal Mouse device were assessed., Results: In the lymphedema group, it was found that 3.7% of the women had mild lymphedema, 7.4% had moderate lymphedema, and 88.9% had severe lymphedema. Static eyes open (EO) (overall, medio-lateral and antero-posterior) and eyes closed (EC) (antero-posterior) stability scores and dynamic EO and EC stability scores (overall and antero-posterior) were detected to be higher in the lymphedema group than in the controls (p < 0.05). Spinal mobility and postural competency scores were lower in the lymphedema group than in the control group (p < 0.05). In other parameters, there were no significant differences between the groups (p > 0.05)., Conclusion: Decreased postural stability, spinal mobility, and postural competency were detected in women with unilateral lower extremity lymphedema; however, no difference was seen in spinal alignment. These changes should be taken into account in the assessment and the treatment of unilateral lower extremity lymphedema., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: Balance impairment and falls are common among patients after cancer treatment. This study aimed to compare static and dynamic balance functions in lung cancer survivors (LCS) and healthy controls and to investigate the factors related to balance in LCS., Methods: Cross-sectional data were collected from lung cancer patients whose treatment had been completed within the previous 3 months (n = 60) and age and gender-matched healthy controls (n = 60). Clinical characteristics and history of falls were recorded. Pulmonary function tests and measurements of respiratory muscle strength were performed. Dynamic and static balance, fear of falling, knee-extension strength, physical activity level, dyspnea, comorbidity, and quality of life (QoL) were assessed using the Time Up and Go Test, Single Leg Standing Test, the Fall Efficacy Scale-International, hand-held dynamometer, the International Physical Activity Questionnaire, the Modified Medical Research Dyspnea Scale, the Charlson Comorbidity Index, and the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer QoL Scale., Results: LCS reported a higher fall rate and exhibited lower dynamic balance compared to controls (p < 0.05). The number of chemotherapy cycles, number of falls in the past year, fear of falling, perceived dyspnea, forced expiratory volume in 1 s (%), maximal inspiratory pressure (%), knee-extension strength, physical activity score, and QoL score related to physical function were correlated with balance function in LCS (p < 0.05)., Conclusion: LCS had a higher risk of falls and lower dynamic balance function which might be related to various clinical and physical parameters., Implications for Cancer Survivors: Identifying factors related to balance should be considered within the scope of fall prevention approaches for these patients., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Purpose: This study aimed to compare health-related physical fitness parameters of women with breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL) to a matched control group., Methods: Thirty women with unilateral BCRL (lymphedema group, age = 55.00 (40.00-65.00) years) and 32 healthy women (control group, age = 49.00 (44.00-64.00) years) were included. Cardiorespiratory fitness with the UKK 2-km walk test, grip strength with a hand dynamometer, trunk muscle endurance with the McGill trunk muscle endurance tests, flexibility with the sit and reach test, body composition with a body composition analyzer, and waist-to-hip ratio were assessed., Results: In the lymphedema group, 36.7% of women had mild lymphedema, 36.7% had moderate, and 26.7% had severe lymphedema. It was found that maximal oxygen consumption, physical fitness index, grip strength, trunk extensor and lateral flexor muscle endurance, and flexibility scores were higher in the control group than in the lymphedema group (p < 0.05). In addition, body mass index, body fat percentage, and waist-to-hip ratio were found to be lower in the control group compared to the lymphedema group (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference between the trunk flexor muscle endurance scores (p > 0.05)., Conclusions: It was found that the health-related physical fitness parameters were adversely affected in women with BCRL compared to healthy women. The changes of physical fitness may be important for the assessment and the treatment of BCRL., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Background: There is little evidence about posture influence and its relationship with pulmonary functions in chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases(COPD) patients., Objectives: To compare spinal curvature, mobility, and postural competency in participants with and without COPD and investigate the relationship of postural characteristics with dyspnea and pulmonary functions in COPD patients., Methods: We included 47 COPD patients and 47 age and gender-matched controls in our cross-sectional study. Participants underwent the following evaluations: modified Medical Research Council Dyspnea Scale, respiratory function test, and postural measurements in the sagittal plane in a standing position using a non-invasive, computer-assisted electromechanical device. Postural variables were compared between groups, and the relationship between postural variables with dyspnea and pulmonary functions was analyzed by multivariate regression analysis., Results: Thoracic and lumbar curvature were higher (p<0.05), thoracic mobility and spinal inclination were lower (p=0.011, p=0.030, respectively) in patients with COPD. Thoracic angle and spinal inclination increased in COPD patients (p=0.040, p=0.011, respectively) while only spinal tilt increased in the control group (p=0.010) under spinal loading. Thoracic angle and mobility were related with dyspnea (r2=0.25, p<0.001), forced expiratory volume in the first second (r2=0.56, p<0.001), forced vital capacity (r2=0.41, p<0.001), and RV (r2 = 0.42, p<0.001)., Conclusion: COPD patients had greater thoracic and lumbar angles in the static upright posture and lower thoracic mobility and spinal inclination in the sagittal plane. It was observed that patients increase their thoracic angles to maintain postural stability in dynamic conditions. Thoracic angle and mobility were related to dyspnea and pulmonary functions., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest None., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To provide consensus on how to plan, organize and implement exercise-based injury prevention program (IPP) in sports., Design: Delphi., Setting: LimeSurvey platform., Participants: Experienced sports physical therapists from the International Federation of Sports Physical Therapy member countries., Main Outcome Measures: Factors related to sports IPP planning, organization and implementation., Results: We included 305 participants from 32 countries. IPP planning should be based on an athlete's injury history, on pre-season screening results, and on injury rates (respectively, 98%, 92%, 89% agreement). In total 97% participants agreed that IPP organization should depend on the athlete's age, 93% on the competition level, and 93% on the availability of low-cost materials. It was agreed that IPP should mainly be implemented in warm-up sessions delivered by the head or strength/conditioning coach, with physical training sessions and individual physical therapy sessions (respectively, 94%, 92%, 90% agreement)., Conclusion: Strong consensus was reached on (1) IPP based on the athlete's injury history, pre-season screening and evidence-based sports-specific injury rates; (2) IPP organization based on the athlete's age, competition level, and the availability of low-cost materials and (3) IPP implementation focussing on warm-up sessions implemented by the strength/conditioning coach, and/or individual prevention sessions by the physical therapist., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest LDM, CR, CN, UB are on the IFSPT executive board. The other co-authors have none declared., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: The aim was to compare the physical activity levels among radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) patients, non-radiographic axSpA patients, and healthy controls and investigating the possible relationships between physical activity level and clinical features., Methods: Thirty-four patients with radiographic axSpA (24 male), 33 patients with non-radiographic axSpA (23 male), and 35 age and sex-matched healthy controls (24 male) were included. The patients were assessed with Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index, Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index, Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Metrology Index, Ankylosing Spondylitis Quality of Life Questionnaire, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia. Physical activity was measured by using an accelerometer (Actigraph wGT3X-BT)., Results: Physical and disease-related characteristics were comparable between groups ( p  > .05). Radiographic axSpA patients showed lesser physical activity compared to non-radiographic axSpA patients and healthy controls ( p  < .05). No difference was detected between non-radiographic axSpA patients and healthy controls ( p  > .05). Physical activity levels were correlated with different clinical features for each sub-type of axSpA. Decreased spinal mobility is the most correlated disease characteristic with lower physical activity level for both sub-types., Conclusion: It seems that disease sub-type in axSpA may alter the physical activity levels. Increasing physical activity levels might need different approaches for different sub-types of axSpA.

Background: Determining the level of physical activity (PA) is an essential part of patient evaluation in axial spondylarthritis (axSpA). Subjective and objective methods are both frequently used methods for evaluating PA. Although subjective methods are cost-effective and easy to use, their accuracy for measuring PA is still questionable., Objective: To investigate the concurrent criterion validity of a self-reported questionnaire (IPAQ-Short Form) when compared to an accelerometer (Actigraph wGT3X-BT) for measuring PA level in patients with axSpA., Design: Cross-sectional design., Methods: Fifty-eight patients with axSpA with a median age of 39.0 (IQR 25/75: 30.0/46.0) years were included in the study. An accelerometer (Actigraph wGT3X-BT) was attached to the waist of patients at their first visits and was removed at their second visits, seven days later. Patients were asked to complete the International Physical Activity Questionnaire Short Form (IPAQ) at their second visits., Results: No significant correlations were determined between IPAQ and accelerometer (p > 0.05), except for the moderate PA (rho: 0.367, p < 0.05), and total PA (rho: 0.330, p < 0.05). It was also observed that IPAQ was underestimating energy expenditure for all types of PA., Conclusion: IPAQ might not be a valid tool for measuring PA level in patients with axSpA. Disease-specific subjective methods for determining the PA should be developed and validated for those patients., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

This study, conducted between October 2018 and May 2019, aimed to develop an Exercise Attitude Scale in Turkish (EAS-Turkish) for pregnant women and to determine its validity and reliability. The scale was prepared in Turkish to comprehensively measure pregnant women's exercise attitudes. Then, it administered in 253 pregnant women, who were native speakers of Turkish and older than 18 years, in the Obstetrics Polyclinic at Ataturk Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey. Validity with exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis and reliability with test-retest and internal consistency methods were tested. The 37-item scale was found to be 2-dimensional (knowledge and benefit; barrier). All indexes of the goodness of fit (χ2/df = 2.0, Comparative Fit Index = 0.90, Goodness-of-fit Index = 0.85, Root Mean Square Error of Approximation = 0.06) indicated that the fit between the model and the sample data was acceptable. The item-total score correlations varied between r = 0.22 and 0.60. The Cronbach alpha coefficients were found as 0.90 for the whole scale, 0.91 for the knowledge and benefit sub-dimension, and 0.87 for the barrier sub-dimension. In the test-retest analysis conducted with 41 pregnant women, the reliability coefficients were detected as 0.93 for the whole scale and 0.84 for each sub-dimension. The EAS-Turkish for pregnant women was found to be a valid and reliable tool.

Aim: To examine the regional spinal curvatures and movements in the sagittal and frontal planes during sitting position, and the ability to act independently in patients with CP and to compare the differences between children and adolescents with minimal-to-moderate functional limitations., Method: Twenty-one participants diagnosed with CP aged 5-16 years were included. The participants' Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) levels were determined and those at levels I (minimal functional limitation group: minFLG) or II-III (moderate functional limitation group: modFLG) were included. Spinal curvatures, mobilities, and inclinations in the sagittal and frontal planes were evaluated in the sitting position using a hand-held, computer-assisted non-invasive electromechanical device. Participants' functional independence levels were assessed with the Functional Independence Measure (WeeFIM)., Results: In the sagittal plane, there were no differences in terms of spinal curvatures between the minFLG and modFLG (p > 0.05). Spinal mobility degrees for flexion (thoracic and lumbar regions and total spine), extension (sacral region), and total spine mobility scores were significantly greater in the minFLG (p < 0.05). In the frontal plane, lumbar spinal curvature significantly increased, and total spine mobility in the right/left lateral motions and functional independence decreased in the modFLG (p < 0.05)., Interpretation: The children/adolescents with minimal functional limitations had greater spinal mobility during flexion, extension, and lateral flexions. Spinal curvatures were similar between groups in the sagittal plane. The lumbar region posture scores in the frontal plane observed as lordoscoliosis were higher, and functional independence was lower in the modFLG., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Aims: Double crush syndrome is a clinical condition composed of neurological dysfunction due to compressive pathology at multiple sites along a single peripheral nerve. The aims were to investigate the characteristics and disabilities of women with double crush syndrome, to compare the spinal alignment to healthy women, and to determine the cut-offs for the spinal alignment characteristics., Methods: Twenty women with double crush syndrome (age: 49.50 ± 8.64 years) and 21 asymptomatic healthy controls (age: 44.76 ± 7.82 years) were included in the study. The physical characteristics, pain intensity, and symptoms were questioned. Disability with Disability of Arm and Shoulder Questionnaire and Neck Disability Index and spinal alignment with Spinal Mouse ® (Idiag, Fehraltorf, Switzerland) were assessed., Results: The pain intensity at rest, night, and during activity was 3.70 ± 3.25, 6.01 ± 2.77, and 7.15 ± 2.68 cm, respectively. The most bothersome symptom was numbness (65%). The symptoms were seen in hands and/or fingers (55%), arms (15%), shoulder blade (15%), and neck (15%). The Disability of Arm and Shoulder Questionnaire and Neck Disability Index scores were 58.64 ± 15.41 and 19.55 ± 6.37, respectively. The sagittal thoracic curvature ( p : .011) and lumbar curvature ( p : .049) increased, and the overall spine mobility ( p <.001) decreased in the double crush syndrome patients. The cut-off points were detected as 54.5° (area under the curve: 0.680, p : .049, 40% sensitivity, 99.9% specificity) for the thoracic spinal curvature, and 113.5° (area under the curve: 0.667, p <.000, 65% sensitivity, 99.9% specificity) for the overall spine mobility., Conclusions: The double crush syndrome patients had moderate to severe pain and disability, increased thoracic and lumbar curvature, and decreased spine mobility. The cut-off values were found as 54.5° for thoracic curvature and 113.5° for spine mobility.

Background: The study aimed to investigate potential coronaphobia-related factors in adults and to assess the relationship between coronaphobia and sleep quality., Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in 1262 participants. The Covid-19 Phobia Scale (C19P-S) and Jenkins Sleep Scale (JSS) were used to measure outcomes. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were constructed to determine risk factors for coronaphobia. Pearson correlation coefficient was used to assess the correlation between C19P-S and JSS., Results: The following risk factors were found to be associated with coronaphobia: gender, marital status, presence of chronic disease, staying home, and sleep disturbances. Female gender (OR = 2.23 and OR = 2.12), being married (OR = 1.31 and OR = 1.45), chronic disease status (OR = 1.39 and OR = 1.27), staying home (OR = 1.72 and OR = 1.35) and sleep disturbances (OR = 2.63 and OR = 2.49) were found to be associated with the likelihood of having a higher coronaphobia score (p < 0.05). Weak positive correlations were found between C19P-S and its subscales and JSS scores (p < 0.001)., Conclusions: Female gender, being married, having chronic diseases, staying home, and having sleep disturbances were found to be risk factors for having high coronaphobia scores. Moreover, the severity of coronaphobia was associated with sleep disturbances. These results should be considered in the management of coronaphobia., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background and Purpose: Studies comparing the effectiveness of kinesio taping (KT) and classical massage (CM) in chronic neck pain (CNP) are scarce. This study aimed to compare the effects of KT and CM in addition to cervical stabilization exercise (CSE) in patients with CNP., Materials and Methods: Patients were randomly allocated to KT + CSE and CM + CSE groups. Disability with the Neck Disability Index (NDI), pain with the Visual Analog Scale, cervical range of motion with a goniometer, and quality of life (QoL) with the 36-Item Short-Form (SF-36) were assessed baseline and after a 4-week treatment., Results: Improvement was observed in NDI and physical component scores of SF-36 in favor of the KT + CSE group and in rotation movements in favor of the CM + CSE group (p < 0.05)., Conclusion: In CNP, KT + CSE was superior in improving disability and QoL compared to CM + CSE, whereas CM + CSE was superior in increasing rotation movements compared to KT + CSE., (Copyright © 2021. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Aim: The data on the action mechanism of the kinesiology taping (KT) used to reduce pain and inflammation, provide mechanical support, and facilitate or inhibit muscles in the treatment of osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee are contradictory. The aim of this study was to investigate the acute effects of KT treatment on muscle strength, tissue temperature, balance, and mobility in female patients diagnosed with OA of the knee., Methods: Thirty-four female patients (age: 60.26 ± 6.51 years) who were diagnosed with Kellgren-Lawrence Grade 2 OA according to the American Rheumatology Association (ACR-1986) criteria were included in the study. Patients who were performed KT with the superior Y, inferior Y, and U strip techniques were evaluated before and 30 min after taping. Muscle strength was assessed with a handheld dynamometer, tissue temperature with a thermal camera, balance with a monoaxial balance platform, and mobility the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test., Results: After taping, there was a significant increase in the muscle strength during both extension and flexion ( p <.001, p =.005). There was no statistically significant difference in the tissue temperature and balance scores before and after taping ( p =.219, p >.05). There was a significant improvement in TUG scores, which evaluated mobility, after taping ( p =.033)., Conclusions: Although KT treatment seems to be ineffective on tissue temperature and balance in the short term in patients with OA of the knee, we are of the opinion that patients should be included in the treatment program due to its positive effects on muscle strength and mobility.

Studies related to the effects of the lockdown on musculoskeletal pain, coronaphobia, and sleep quality in individuals who stayed at home (SH) and in those who continued to work (CW) at a workplace other than home during the Covid-19 pandemic are scarce. We compare the effects of a 3-month nationwide lockdown in Turkey on musculoskeletal pain, coronaphobia, and sleep quality in individuals who SH and in those who CW during the Covid-19 pandemic. Individuals who SH (n: 375) and those who CW (n: 311) during the Covid-19 were included in this case-controlled study. Data on musculoskeletal pain (Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire, NMQ), coronaphobia (Covid-19 Phobia Scale, C19P-S), and sleep quality (Jenkins Sleep Scale, JSS) were collected via an online form. During the 3-month Covid-19 lockdown, low back pain was higher in the SH group than CW group ( p < .05). Rates of the neck, upper-back, shoulder, and hip/thigh pain were lower, and rate of low back pain was higher in the SH group ( p < .05); while, rates of the neck, upper back, shoulder, and elbow pain were lower in the CW group ( p < .05) during the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown than pre-lockdown values. The total scores of the C19P-S and psychological, psychosomatic, social, and economic subscales were higher in the SH group ( p < .05). Sleep quality was similar in both groups ( p > .05). Individuals who SH had more low back pain and higher coronaphobia than individuals who CW during the 3-month Covid-19 pandemic lockdown. Nonetheless, sleep quality was similar and the rate of some types of musculoskeletal pain was lower in both groups.

Background: Osteoporosis leads to a series of problems such as postural impairment, poor balance. These problems may increase the risk of many problems such as falling and fracture. Therefore, detection of these problems is very important for prevention of these risks. The aim of this study was to compare the spine structure, postural stability and quality of life in women with and without osteoporosis., Methods: Forty-five women diagnosed with osteoporosis and 45 women without osteoporosis were included. Postural structure was assessed by the New York Posture Rating (NYPR) and Valedo®Shape device, mobility and balance were assessed with the Timed Up and Go test (TUG) and the ProKin 252 stabilometric assessment machine. The quality of life was assessed by the Quality of Life Questionnaire of the European Foundation for Osteoporosis., Results: In the sagittal plane, the thoracic angle was greater, spine length was shorter and spinal inclination angle was lower in osteoporotic patients with a significant difference (p < 0.05). The NYPR results of the osteoporotic group were significantly worse (p = 0.000). The cut-off point was 60° for the thoracic spinal curvature and 447 mm for the spine length. In the osteoporotic group, oscillation was higher in the open and closed eyes balances, the limit of stability was significantly lower and the TUG results were significantly worse (p < 0.05). The difference between quality of life was insignificant (p = 0.327)., Conclusion: Osteoporosis has a negative effect on the posture and spine. It causes changes in the angles of the spine and affects the balance negatively. It will be important to consider posture and balance problems in preventive rehabilitation for avoidance of serious problems such as falling and fracture. In addition, further studies examining the changes caused by osteoporosis and the impact of these changes on the clinic are needed., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest Sevtap Gunay Ucurum, Elif Umay Altas and Derya Ozer Kaya declare that they have no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2020 The Japanese Orthopaedic Association. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Objective: Postural control of patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP) is usually impaired. Effects of treatment applications on postural stability have not been well investigated. The aim of this study was to investigate the immediate effects of kinesio taping on pain and postural stability in patients with CLBP., Methods: One hundred and one patients with CLBP (age: 53.00 (10.69) years, body mass index (BMI): 31.52 (5.57) kg/m 2 ) were included in this study. Kinesio taping was applied on paravertebral muscles and sacrum with muscle and ligament techniques. Postural stability was assessed with Biodex Balance System ® (USA) both at static and dynamic mode in bilateral standing position. The base was set "static" for static mode, and set between"12-1" for dynamic mode. Pain intensity was evaluated with the pain section (0-5 points) of Oswestry Disability Index, including ten items (pain, personal care, lifting, walking, sitting, standing, sleeping, sex life, social life, travelling), pre- and post-application., Results: The static overall (pre: 1.49 (1.15), post: 1.25 (1.11)) and antero-posterior (pre: 0.96 (0.86), post: 0.74 (0.59)), dynamic overall (pre: 3.12 (2.26), post: 2.73 (2.44)) and medio-lateral postural sway scores (pre: 1.62 (1.12), post: 1.24 (0.75)), and pain (pre: 2.00 (0.00-5.00), post: 1.00 (0.00-4.00)) decreased after the application (p < .05). However, no differences were observed in static medio-lateral (pre: 0.84 (0.78), post: 0.82 (1.01)) and dynamic antero-posterior postural sway scores (pre: 2.33 (1.99), post: 2.12 (2.33)), (p > .05)., Conclusions: Kinesio taping may immediately improve postural stability and decrease pain of patients with CLBP., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of an 8-week lumbar spinal stabilization exercise program on pain, trunk muscle endurance, and postural stability in women with benign joint hypermobility syndrome (BJHS). Women with BJHS were randomly allocated into exercise (n = 20) and control (n = 18) groups. The lumbar spinal stabilization exercise program was carried out 3 days a week for 8 weeks. BJHS with Brighton criteria, musculoskeletal pain intensity with Visual Analog Scale, trunk muscle endurance with McGill's trunk muscle endurance tests, and postural stability as static and dynamic while eyes open and closed with Biodex Balance System SD were evaluated. Chi-square test, independent sample t test, Mann-Whitney U test, and Wilcoxon test were used for statistical analysis. It was shown that most of the patients with BJHS had low back (exercise group 40.0%; control group 22.2%) and knee pain (exercise group 15.0%; control group 22.2%). After the program, pain intensity, and static and dynamic stability scores (eyes closed) decreased, and trunk muscle endurance scores increased in the exercise group. There was no difference for all parameters in the control group. Pain intensity, trunk muscle endurance, and only dynamic stability (eyes open) improved in the exercise group in comparison to the control group. The lumbar spinal stabilization exercise program improved pain complaints, postural stability, and trunk muscle endurance of women with BJHS. The program can be used for general pain relief, trunk muscle weakness, and postural impairment in women with BJHS.

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare body fat mass, muscular endurance, multi-joint coordination and proprioception between sedentary adult women with and without knee pain., Methods: This cross-sectional study included 149 women. All participants were evaluated using the Visual Analog Scale to determine knee pain during specific functions and divided into 2 groups accordingly. The knee pain group (n=52; mean age: 42.6±4.1 years; mean height: 1.56±5.11 m; mean weight: 75.2±14.1 kg) included patients with mild to moderate knee pain scores. The without knee pain group (n=97; mean age: 41.7±4.2 years; mean height: 1.58±5.06 m; mean weight: 73.4±10.6 kg) included cases who reported no pain. Body composition was assessed using the TANITA Body Composition Analyzer. Concentric maximal torque of the knee flexor and extensor muscles was recorded using an Isomed 2000 isokinetic dynamometer at 180 deg/s. Coordination and proprioception were assessed using the Functional Squat System., Results: There was no significant difference in terms of physical characteristics, body composition parameters and coordination results between groups (p>0.05). Peak torque of flexion (0.65±0.21 N/kg) and extension (0.88±0.23 N/kg) of the affected side in the knee pain group were significantly lower than the without knee pain group dominant side flexion (0.74±0.19 N/kg) and extension (0.98±0.19 N/kg) (p<0.05). A significant difference in knee extension was observed between the affected (0.88±0.23 N/kg) and non-affected sides (0.93±0.21 N/kg) of the knee pain group (p<0.05). There were no significant differences for both legs between groups in terms of coordinative concentric side-to-side deficits and eccentric deficits (p>0.05). The deviation on visible movement for proprioception was significantly higher in the knee pain group (3.23±1.01 cm) than in the without knee pain group (2.78±1.03 cm) (p=0.012)., Conclusion: Knee pain impairs flexor and extensor peak torques of knee endurance and multi-joint proprioceptive accuracy in sedentary woman. No differences were observed in terms of body composition and joint coordination of the groups with or without knee pain.

Objective: To assess and compare the effects of 6 mo of Pilates and calisthenics on multijoint coordination and proprioception of the lower limbs at the 3rd and 6th mo of training., Design: Randomized, controlled, assessor-blinded, repeated-measures., Setting: University research laboratory., Participants and Intervention: Healthy, sedentary, female participants age 25-50 y were recruited and randomly divided into 3 groups: a calisthenic exercise group (n = 34, mean age ± SD 40 ± 8 y, body-mass index [BMI] 31.04 ± 4.83 kg/m2), a Pilates exercise group (n = 32, mean age ± SD 37 ± 8 y, BMI 31.04 ± 4.83 kg/m2), and a control group (n = 41, mean age ± SD 41 ± 7 y, BMI 27.09 ± 4.77 kg/m2). The calisthenics and Pilates groups underwent related training programs for 6 mo, while the controls had no specific training., Main Outcome Measures: Coordination and proprioception of the lower extremities with concentric and eccentric performances in the closed kinetic chain assessed with the monitored rehab functional squat system at baseline and at the 3rd and 6th mo of training., Results: For the within-group comparison, coordinative concentric and eccentric deviation values were significantly decreased for both dominant and nondominant lower limbs at pretraining and at the 3rd and 6th mo posttraining in the calisthenics group (P < .05). In contrast, there was no improvement in the Pilates group throughout the training. However, for comparisons between groups, the baseline values of coordinative concentric and eccentric deviations were different in the calisthenics group than in Pilates and the controls (P < .05). There were no differences in the proprioception values of either visible or nonvisible movement in any group throughout the training (P > .05)., Conclusions: It seems that calisthenic exercises are more likely to improve coordination of the lower extremity after 3 and 6 mo of training than Pilates exercises. Calisthenic exercises may be useful for individuals who require improved coordination.