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Ultrasound (US)‐guided suprascapular nerve block (SSNB) is a widely used procedure and while describing the US‐guided SSNB in the suprascapular notch, the suprascapular fossa is often visualized and injection is performed in that location. Although it can be done in both location, to inject the right area, the terminology should be settled and the visualization of these areas which are unclear and confusing in the literature should be clarified. In this sense, we showed the course of the nerve on a cadaver and briefly describe a protocol to correctly visualize the suprascapular notch with US.

Even though the effect of several factors on sit-to-stand (STS) performance of children with CP has been previously explored, the potential role of lower extremity selective control, trunk control and sitting function on the performance of STS has not been examined. This study aimed to investigate the association of trunk control and lower extremity selective motor control with STS performance in children with CP. We recruited 28 children with CP aged between 4 and 10 years whose Gross Motor Function Classification System levels were I and II and 32 age-matched typically developing (TP) children. Trunk control, sitting function, selective control of the lower extremities and STS were evaluated with Trunk Control Measurement Scale (TCMS), sitting section of Gross Motor Function Measure-88 (GMFM-88), Selective Control Assessment of the Lower Extremity (SCALE) and the STS outcomes of a force platform [weight transfer time, rising index, and center of gravity (COG) sway velocity], respectively. In all evaluations, children with CP demonstrated lower scores than TD children. A moderate correlation was found between total scores of TCMS, GMFM-88 sitting section scores and COG sway velocity during STS and a fair correlation between SCALE total scores and COG sway velocity in the CP group (r= −0.51, r= −0.52, r= −0.39, respectively). A fair correlation was found between SCALE total scores and the weight transfer time during STS in children with CP (r= −0.39). Based on these results, improving trunk and lower extremity selective control may enhance STS performance in children with CP.

Aim:This study aims to investigate reliability of quantitative ultrasound measurement of the flexor digitorum superficialis (FDS) and flexor digitorum profundus (FDP) muscles in stroke. Materials & methods:Patients with a history of stroke were recruited. FDP and FDS muscles on both upper extremities were investigated with ultrasound. Two independent assessors acquired images and analyzed them using a program and Heckmatt scale. Results:Forty-eight patients were included. The inter-rater intraclass correlation coefficient for echo intensities was calculated as 0.91 while intrarater intraclass correlation coefficient as 0.80. For Heckmatt scale, the inter-rater reliability for FDS was Kw = 0.74 (p < 0.0005) and for FDP it was Kw = 0.73 (p < 0.0005). Mean echo intensity values showed significant strong correlations with Heckmatt scores (r = 0.663 and r = 0.633 with both p values <0.001). Conclusion:Quantitative ultrasound imaging of FDS and FDP is a reliable method to demonstrate echo intensity changes of muscles in stroke.

Neuromodulation techniques work by modulating pain perception by inducing changes in polarity of the neuronal membrane and thereby cortical excitability. The aim of this review is to evaluate the efficiency and safety of noninvasive neuromodulation techniques for phantom limb pain (PLP). A systematic literature search in the PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases was performed to identify studies investigating the effects of noninvasive neuromodulation for PLP. The included journal articles were assessed with Furlan et al.’s method for examining the risk of bias to assess methodologic quality, and evidence was graded using the GRADE approach. The literature search identified 239 studies. Of these 239, four studies fulfilled the inclusion criteria and were included for data extraction. Two of the studies focused on repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) whereas two other concentrated on transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS). The present review showed that there is conflicting evidence to support the use of tDCS in short term and moderate evidence to support the use of rTMS in immediate and short term. It is important to recognize that this evidence comes from a very small sample size. No serious adverse effects were reported. Further information from randomized controlled trials with larger sample size investigating immediate and short-term and long-term effects are needed to clarify the best effective stimulation parameters and number of sessions of tDCS and rTMS for PLP.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of vitamin D supplementation on pain, quality of life, and nerve conduction studies (NCSs) in women with chronic widespread pain (CWP) diagnosed with Vitamin D insufficiency. Thirty-three female participants with CWP and vitamin D insufficiency were included in this open-label trial. They were evaluated by routine NCSs in upper and lower limbs, pain scales, and the Nottingham Health Profile before and 8 weeks after starting vitamin D supplementation therapy. The P-value was adjusted to account for the number of comparisons performed in each assessment. After 8 weeks of treatment, participants reported significantly lower pain scores (P=0.000). The total Nottingham Health Profile score and subscores for pain, emotional reactions, and physical activity domains were significantly lower (0.000≤P≤0.008). However, no statistically significant changes in NCSs were detected, except trends toward increases in the amplitudes of left median and ulnar sensory nerve potentials and a decrease in the distal latency of the right median sensory potential (0.01≤P≤0.04). Vitamin D supplementation therapy decreased pain and increased quality of life without significantly affecting nerve conduction in patients with CWP.