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Objectives: This study aims to determine the frequency of juvenile fibromyalgia syndrome (JFMS) among children and adolescents in Çorum Province, Turkey, and its impact by comparing the levels of academic success, depression and quality of life (QoL) in individuals with and without JFMS. Patients and methods: This was a cross-sectional study on 476 children and adolescents (245 boys, 231 girls; mean age 13.81±2.3 years; range, 9 to 17 years). The control group (non-JFMS group) consisted of 105 age-and sex-matched healthy participants (75 girls, 30 boys; mean age 14.1±1.8 years; range; 9 to 17 years). Participants’ sociodemographic data, parental information, and school achievement in addition to data on chronic illness and drug use were collected via questionnaires (depression and QoL). A tender point (TP) examination was performed on each participant. Results: Thirty-five (7.35%) of the participants (girls, n=25; boys, n=10) were diagnosed with JFMS. The number of minor JFMS diagnostic criteria, number of TPs, depression level and number of days the participants were absent from school were significantly higher in the JFMS group compared with the non-JFMS group (p

BACKGROUND: Although there are several studies of Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) and exercise in myofascial pain syndrome, there are no studies comparing the effectiveness of Kinesio Taping (KT) and TENS in myofascial pain syndrome patients. OBJECTIVE: To compare the early and late effects of TENS and KT on pain, disability and range of motion in myofascial pain syndrome patients. METHODS:Sixty-nine patients were divided into three groups randomly as TENS+Exercise,KT+Exercise and exercise groups. Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), pain threshold, Neck Disability Index and cervical contralateral lateral flexion were employed in the evaluation of the patients performed before treatment, after treatment and 3rd month after treatment. RESULTS: The VAS, pain threshold, Neck Disability Index and contralateral lateral flexion values were improved in all groups both in after treatment and 3rd month after treatment (p < 0.01). In the comparison of after treatment vs. before treatment evaluations, VAS score was decreased in KT group compared to the TENS and control group (p = 0.001), in the TENS group compared to control group (p = 0.011). In the comparison of 3rd month and before treatment evaluations, VAS score was decreased in the TENS group compared to control group (p = 0.001) and in the KT group compared to the control group (p = 0.001). There was no significant difference between TENS and KT groups. All other parameters did not differ between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: TENS and KT added exercises can decrease pain severity and increase pain threshold, function and cervical range of motion in myofascial pain syndrome patients. Addition of TENS or KT to the exercise therapy resulted in more significant improvement compared to exercise therapy alone with a more pronounced improvement in KT group compared to the TENS group in the early period. Because KT was found to be more effective in decreasing the pain and had the advantage of being used in every 3 days, it seems to be beneficial in acute painful periods in myofascial pain syndrome patients. © 2017 IOS Press and the authors. All rights reserved.

BACKGROUND: Shoulder involvement is frequently observed in chronic renal disease (CRD) and hemodialysis patients. OBJECTIVE: Our aim is to compare shoulder Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) findings of stage 4 CRD patients naive to dialysis, hemodialysis patients and healthy controls. METHODS: Twenty hemodialysis patients with shoulder pain (Group 1), 30 hemodialysis patients without shoulder pain (Group 2), 20 patients with stage 4 CRD (Group 3) and 30 healthy controls (Group 4) were enrolled. Urea, creatinine and beta 2 microglobulin were measured. Thickness, homogeneity and integrity of rotator cuff and presence of effusion were examined by MRI. RESULTS: Supraspinatus tendon was thicker in Group 1 compared to other groups, whereas infraspinatus tendon was thicker in Group 1 compared to Groups 2 and 4. Although all tendons thickness was higher in Group 3 than Group 4, there was no significant difference. Most effusion areas were present in Group 1, followed by Groups 2 and 3. There was a significant correlation between glomerular filtration rate and thickness of supraspinatus, infraspinatus tendons and between beta 2 microglobulin and thickness of infraspinatus, subscapularis tendons and total number of areas with effusion. CONCLUSIONS: Increased shoulder tendon thickness and effusion were detected in symptomatic dialysis patients, while greater effusion areas were detected in asymptomatic dialysis patients and in stage 4 CRD patients who do not require dialysis compared to healthy controls. WOS:000522151500002 2-s2.0-85078119924 PubMed: 31450486

Objectives: This study aims to evaluate the relation of scoliosis with coronal and sagittal balance parameters and the effect of postural balancing in young adults with idiopathic scoliosis. Patients and methods: Between April 2017 and June 2017, a total of 24 patients (7 males, 24 females; mean age 20.3 +/- 2 years; range 17 to 24) who were diagnosed with scoliosis and 65 age- and sex-matched healthy controls (20 males, 45 females; mean age 20.3 +/- 1.6 years; range 19 to 25) were included in the study. The Cobb angle, sagittal balance, coronal balance, and truncal shift were measured with radiographs in the patient group. The Biodex Balance System (BBS) was used to assess the general stability index, anterior-posterior and medial-lateral stability index, and fall risk. Results: All balance parameters were significantly worse in the patient group than in the control group (p

Objectives: This study aims to evaluate the cardiopulmonary functions and exercise performance of patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and to investigate the relationship between these parameters and disease activity, spine mobility and quality of life (QoL). Patients and methods: Forty-five patients with AS (group 1; 33 males, 12 females; mean age 43.1±12.1 years; range 22 to 70 years) and 30 control subjects (group 2; 23 males, 7 females; mean age 42.8±10.0; range 23 to 70 years) were included in the study. Disease activity was assessed with the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index and spinal mobility measures with the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Metrology Index (BASMI). The Ankylosing Spondylitis Quality of Life (ASQoL) Questionnaire and the Maastricht Ankylosing Spondylitis Enthesitis Score (MASES) were used. The pulmonary function test (PFT) and cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) were performed. Results: There was no significant difference between groups 1 and 2 in terms of mean age. The peak expiratory flow value in PFT was significantly lower in group 1 (p

Objective: To investigate the factors that affect disability and quality of life in patients with spinal cord injuries (SCIs) and to compare the degree of disability and quality of life in patients with SCI according to over and under 18 years of age when their injury occurred. Design: Cohort study. Setting: Two academic hospitals in Istanbul, Turkey. Participants: Forty patients with SCI were included in this study. Group 1 included 20 patients with SCI who were younger than 18 years of age when their injury occurred, Group 2 included 20 patients who were older than 18 years of age when their injury occurred. Outcome Measures: Patients’ demographics, duration of SCI and degree of disability were assessed using the Craig Handicap Assessment and Reporting Technique (CHART). Quality of life was assessed using the World Health Organization Quality of Life Scale Short Form (WHOQOL-Bref). Depression was assessed using the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Results: Although there was no significant difference between the BDI scores and CHART scores of the two groups, environment domain scores in the WHOQOL-Bref were significantly higher in Group 2 than in Group 1 (P

BACKGROUND: Clinical and electrophysiological effects of therapeutic ultrasound (US) were researched in many studies on patients with CTS with conflicting results. OBJECTIVE: To assess the effects of continuous and pulsed US treatments by ultrasonographic imaging in addition to clinical and electrophysilogical parameters in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). METHOD: Fifty-four patients with idiopathic CTS were randomly divided into three groups. All patients used night splints for two weeks. In addition to splint therapy, continuous, pulsed or sham US treatments were applied to patients 10 min/session, 5 sessions/week for two weeks. Clinical situation (pain, hand function, strength), electrophysiological studies (motor distal latency, MDL, sensorial distal latency, SDL), and ultrasonographic area measurements of median nerve were evaluated. All evaluations were applied at pretreatment (baseline), posttreatment (2nd week) and in the 6th week. RESULTS: Whereas significant differences were detected for clinical, functional and ultrasonographic imaging findings in each group in the 2nd week and 6th week compared to baseline (p< 0.0167 for both), no electrophysiological improvements were detected in pulsed-US (p> 0.0167) and only improvement for SDL in sham US group in the 2nd week evaluation (p< 0.0167). CONCLUSION: According to the results of this study, continuous, pulsed or sham US treatments combined with splinting had similar effects on clinical, electrophysiological and ultrasonographic imaging improvements. Additionally, ultrasonographic imaging may be a preferable objective evaluation tool to prove the early posttreatment clinical improvements when electrophysiological changes could not be detected. © 2018 - IOS Press and the authors. All rights reserved.

Objectives: To analyze the relationship between vertebral fracture, degree of kyphosis, and BMD in women living in nursing homes. Methods : This cross-sectional study was carried out in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Hitit University Hospital, Corum, Turkey, betweenJanuary 2014 and January 2015. Of the 126 female patients who participated in the study, 48 lived in nursing homes (nursing-home-group [NHG]), 78 lived in non-nursing home settings (control-group [CG]). Vertebral fractures were evaluated via the semi-quantitative Genant method. Cases in which a Cobb angle measured 40 degrees or more resulted in a diagnosis of kyphosis. Results : The mean age of participants in the NHG was 77.2±7.6 years and 76.8±6.2 years in the CG ( p greater than 0.05). The kyphosis rate in the NHG was found to be higher at 52.1% compared to 27.7% for the CG ( p less than 0.001). In the NHG, 68.7% had osteoporosis, 31.3% had osteopenia; in the CG, 55.2% had osteoporosis, 32% had osteopenia, 12.8% had normal values ( p less than 0.05).The vertebral fracture rate was 37.5% in the NHG and 24.3% in the CG ( p greater than 0.05). The Cobb angle had correlation with the number of fractures in both groups ( p less than 0.05). Conclusions : The osteoporosis and kyphosis rates of women living in NHG were higher than those of women living in CG. As kyphosis and the number of fractures are correlated, it is important to analyze kyphosis in women residing in NHG. Saudi Med J 2018; Vol. 39 (7): 711-718 doi: 10.15537/smj.2018.7.22580 How to cite this article: Turk AC, Sahin F, Kucukler FK, Deveci H. Analysis of kyphosis, vertebral fracture and bone mineral density measurement in women living in nursing homes. Saudi Med J . 2018 Jul;39(7):711-718. doi: 10.15537/smj.2018.7.22580.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of restless legs syndrome (RLS) in patients with chronic renal failure (CRF) and to compare CRF patients with or without RLS in terms fatigue and sleep quality. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 220 patients (18-75 years) who were undergoing dialysis 3 times weekly in Corum Province, Corum, Turkey, between January 2014 and January 2016. The diagnosis of RLS was based on the diagnostic form proposed by the international RLS study group. Sleep quality was evaluated using the Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI), and severity of fatigue was determined by using fatigue severity scale (FSS). Results: Of all the participants, 16.8% (n=37) (Group 1) were found to have RLS, while 183 patients had no RLS (Group 2). The mean ages were similar between groups. With respect to laboratory analyses, a p-value of 0.05 في سنة 76.8±6.2 و سنة معدل احلداب في NHG ليكون أعلى بنسبة %1.152.2 مقارنة املصابون بلغ ، NHG في(. CG (P p CG .زاوية كوب لها ارتباط مع عدد الكسور في كال .)p0.05( املجموعتني اخلامتة: كانت معدالت ترقق العظام واحلدب لدى النساء الالتي يعشن في NHG أعلى من النساء اللواتي يعشن في CG .كما يرتبط حداب وعدد من الكسور، من املهم حتليل حداب في النساء املقيمات في NHG

WOS: 000460932900018, PubMed ID: 30040706, BACKGROUND: In treatment of adhesive capsulitis, deep heating agents have been shown to have positive effects on pain and function. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate if addition of ultrasound used in treatment of adhesive capsulitis will provide additional benefits. METHODS: Thirty patients with adhesive capsulitis were included in a prospective, double-blind, randomized controlled trial. Hotpack, TENS (Transcutaneus Electrical Nerve Stimulation), exercise and active ultrasound therapies were applied to the first group (n = 15), whereas sham ultrasound was applied to the second group (n = 15) in addition to hotpack, TENS and exercise. The patients were evaluated using joint range of motion, UCLA shoulder scale and Shoulder Disability Questionnaire scales at baseline and at 6th and 24th weeks post-treatment. RESULTS: When pain and the clinical and functional parameters were compared in both groups, significant improvement was found compared to baseline (p < 0.001). At week 24, no difference was found in terms of pain at rest, but all other parameters were improved compared to week 6. When the groups were compared, no difference was found in any comparison between 6th and 24th week (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Adding ultrasound treatment to a combination of physical therapy modalities did not provide any additional benefits for the treatment of adhesive capsulitis.

Objective: Osteoporosis is a disease which causes fractures depending on decreasing bone mineral density. Nutrition and life style which support the bone health must be known for prevention of the disease. This study was conducted to assess awareness about OP between men and women. Materials and Methods: The study was performed between the dates November 2012-May 2014 in Denizli Pamukkale University. A form including sociodemographic features, Osteoporosis Knowledge Test (OKT) and Osteoporosis Health Belief Scale (OHBS) were used in the collection of the data for evaluation the osteoporosis knowledge level and awarenes of the volunteers who accept to attend the study. Results: Hundred forty-seven volunteers of 96 women and 51 men attended to the study. Mean age was 36.1±14,6 years and 6.1% of the participants had a diagnosis osteoporosis and 13.6% of the participants had a family history of osteoporosis. When the participants were compared according to gender, there were statistically significant difference between two groups for education level, had own and a family history of osteoporosis (p

WOS: 000391751500009 BACKGROUND: Shoulder pain is frequently observed in haemodialysis patients. OBJECTIVE: To compare haemodialysis patients with or without shoulder pain in terms of shoulder motion ranges, beta 2 microglobulin levels and magnetic resonance imaging findings. METHODS: Forty-three patients undergoing dialysis were enrolled, of which 23 patients had explicit shoulder pain at night, which appeared during dialysis. Range of joint motion was evaluated. beta 2 microglobulin value was recorded. MRI was used to evaluate rotator cuff tendons for thickness, homogeneity, integrity and presence of effusion. RESULTS: Ranges of motion were significantly lower in the painful shoulder group. Supraspinatus tendon thickness and the number of areas with effusion were higher in the painful group. There was a positive correlation between the beta 2 microglobulin level and supraspinatus (r:0.352 p < 0.05) and subscapular (r:0.454 p < 0.05) tendon thicknesses. While effusion areas and pain (r:0.351 p < 0.05) showed positive correlation, there was a negative correlation between pain and shoulder motion ranges. CONCLUSIONS: Shoulder pain in dialysis patients can be related with tendon thickness and effusion. While the beta 2 microglobulin level affects tendon thickness, it has no relation to pain and movement constraint.

Background: Although there are several studies of systemic corticosteroid therapies in various doses and various durations in complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), the outcome measurement parameters are limited to the range of motion measurements, edema, and symptoms of CRPS. Objective: To investigate the effects of prednisolone on clinical symptoms, pain, hand grip strength, range of motion, as well as on functional ability and quality of life in patients who developed CRPS after traumatic upper extremity injury. Study Design: Retrospective evaluation. Methods: Forty-five patients who used prednisolone for CRPS of the upper extremity were retrospectively studied. Prednisolone was started with a dose of 30 mg and tapered by 5 mg every 3 days until discontinuation after 3 weeks. Clinical symptoms (morning stiffness, cold intolerance, shoulder pain, numbness of fingers, hyperesthesia, abnormal sweating, and cyanosis that is exacerbated by exposure to cold temperature), pain (Visual Analogue Scale-Rest [VAS-R] and VASActivity [VAS-A]) were reviewed. The muscle strength with grip strength (GS) (kg), lateral pinch (LP) (pound), tip-to-tip pinch (TP) (pound), and chuck pinch (CP) (pound) measurements; the joint range of motion with using third finger tip-distal crease distance (FT-DC) (cm); functional ability with Quick-Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (Q-DASH) score; and quality of life with Short Form-36 (SF-36) score were evaluated. Results: Mean age was 43.53 ± 11.43 years. After 3 weeks of therapy, patients showed significant improvements in clinical symptoms compared to the basal assessments (P < 0.05). The comparison of pre- and post-treatment results revealed that VAS-R, VAS-A, GS, LP, TP, CP, FT-DC, Q-DASH scores, and all SF-36 subscores were significantly improved (P < 0.05). Limitations: The retrospective design and data collection procedure was limited to the medical records of patients. Conclusion: A short-term oral prednisolone therapy significantly reduced the symptoms and signs of CRPS, and improved the functional abilities and quality of life. Key words: Complex regional pain syndrome, prednisolone, function, quality of life

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: To investigate the relations between alexithymia, temperament features, depression and anxiety levels and level of benefit from physical therapy. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Fifty-eight patients in a physical therapy program were included in this study. Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS), Temperament Evaluation of the Memphis, Pisa, Paris and San Diego Autoquestionnaire (TEMPS-A), Beck Depression Scale (BDS) and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) were used before the treatment. Response to treatment parameters were as follows: pre-treatment, 10th session and 3rd month resting and activity pain was evaluated using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS-R, VAS-A), patients' self global evaluation (PSGE), doctors' global patient evaluation (DGPE) and Nottingham Health Profile (NHP). RESULTS: At the end of treatment, significant recovery was obtained in VAS-R, VAS-A, PSGE, DGPE, NHP-pain, NHP-physical mobility and NHP-energy scores. No changes were found in NHP-sleep, NHP-social isolation and NHP-emotional reaction scores (p> 0.05). Except for the recovery percentage of TAS and NSP-energy, no relations between TAS and other parameters were detected (p< 0.05). Only the recovery percentage of the PSGE parameter revealed significant negative correlation with depressive, cyclothymic and anxious temperament means of TEMPS-A (p< 0.05). Other temperament features of TEMPS-A (hyperthymic, irritable) revealed no correlations. Significant negative correlations were found between BDS and PSGE, and VAS-A (p< 0.05). No correlations were found between BDS and other parameters, or between STAI scores and response parameters (p> 0.05). CONCLUSION: Although pain, life quality and doctor evaluation of the patients in the physical treatment program improved greatly after the treatment, no favorable results were obtained for patients who had high depressive, cyclothymic, anxious temperament and depression scores. It was detected that alexithymia and anxiety scores revealed no effect in this evaluation. © 2013 - IOS Press and the authors. All rights reserved.

BACKGROUND: Although functional results of combined rehabilitation programs are reported, there have been no reports studying the effects of solo pendulum exercises on ultrasonographic measurements of acromiohumeral distance (AHD). OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of weighted and un-weighted pendulum exercises on ultrasonographic AHD and clinical symptoms in patients with subacromial impingement syndrome. METHODS: Patients with subacromial impingement syndrome were randomized to performing weighted (1.5 kilograms hand held dumbbell, N = 18) or un-weighted (free of weight, N = 16) pendulum exercises for 4 weeks, 3 sessions/day. Exercises were repeated for each direction of shoulder motion in each session (ten minutes). Clinical situation was evaluated by Constant score and Shoulder Pain Disability Index (SPADI). Ultrasonographic measurements of AHD at 0°, 30° and 60° shoulder abduction were performed. All clinical and ultrasonographic evaluations were performed at the beginning of the exercise program and at end of 4 weeks of exercise program. RESULTS: Thirty-four patients (23 females, 11 males; mean age 41.7 ± 8.9 years) were evaluated. Significant clinical improvements were detected in both exercise groups between pre and post-treatment evaluations (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference for pre and post-treatment AHD measurements at 0°, 30°, and 60° shoulder abduction between groups (p > 0.05). There was no significant difference for pre and post-treatment narrowing of AHD (narrowing of 0°'30°, and 0°'60°) between groups (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: While significant clinical improvements were achieved with both weighted and un-weighted solo pendulum exercises, no significant difference was detected for ultrasonographic AHD measurements between exercise groups. © 2017 IOS Press and the authors. All rights reserved.

Guray, Gurkan/0000-0003-1221-0841 WOS: 000372164000023 PubMed: 26905486 We aimed to determine the incidence of osteoporosis in hemodialysis patients, to evaluate the differences due to arteriovenous fistula on bone mineral density (BMD) and to investigate whether usage of arm with fistula has an effect on BMD. In this cross-sectional study, 96 patients with chronic renal disease undergone to dialysis were included. Place of fistula (radial and brachial) and dominant hand were recorded. All patients were asked to complete Likert's scale in order to determine the frequency of their usage of arm with fistula. Patients were assigned in two groups: age >51 and < 50years. Age-matched control group included 60 subjects. BMD measurements were done on lumbar vertebra, femur and both forearms. BMD measurement of proximal femur and total radius were significantly lower in patients >50years compared to healthy controls and bone density measurement of lumbar vertebra, proximal femur, 1/3 distal and total radius were significantly lower in patients < 50years compared to healthy controls (p < 0.05). BMD measurement was significantly lower in arms with fistula, especially with radial fistula, compared to both arms without fistula and healthy controls (p < 0.05). When all patients were evaluated, BMD scores were lowering by increasing age, duration of dialysis and fistula and decreasing usage of arm with fistula. BMD in hemodialysis patients is lower than normal population. BMD of arm with fistula is lower than arm without fistula and healthy controls. Both radial and brachial fistula affect negatively ipsilateral BMD. Movement of arm with fistula has positive effects on BMD.

Background: Migraine is a common disorder characterized by headache attacks frequently accompanied by vestibular symptoms like dizziness, vertigo, and balance disorders. Clinical studies support a strong link between migraine and vertigo rather than between other headache types and vertigo or nonvertiginous dizziness. There is a lack of consensus regarding the pathophysiology of migrainous vertigo. Activation of central vestibular processing during migraine attacks and vasospasm-induced ischemia of the labyrinth are reported as the probable responsible mechanisms. Because vestibular examination alone does not provide enough information for diagnosis of migrainous vertigo, posturography systems which provide objective assessment of somatosensory, vestibular, and visual information would be very helpful to show concomitant involvement of the vestibular and somato-sensorial systems. There are few posturographic studies on patients with migraine but it seems that how balance is affected in patients with migraine and/or migrainous vertigo is still not clear. We want to investigate balance function in migraineurs with and without vertigo with a tetra-ataxiometric posturography system and our study is the first study in which tetra-ataxiometric static posturography was used to evaluate postural abnormalities in a well-defined population of patients with migrainous vertigo. Objective: To investigate balance functions in migraineurs with and without vertigo with a tetra-ataxiometric posturography system. Study Design: Prospective, nonrandomized, controlled study. Setting: Pamukkale University Hospital, Neurology and Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation outpatient clinics. Methods: Sixteen patients with migrainous vertigo, 16 patients with migraine without aura and no vestibular symptoms, and 16 controls were included in the study. Computerized static posturography system was performed and statistical analyses of fall, Fourier, Stability, and Weight distribution indexes were performed. The tetra-ataxiometric posturography device measures vertical pressure fluctuations on 4 independent stable platforms, each placed beneath 2 heels and toe parts of the patient; inputs from these platforms are integrated and processed by a computer digitally. Four separate plates are used and perpendicular pressures of the anterior and posterior feet are measured. Pressure of each force plate is measured and data was analyzed by the software program. Limitations: A very small, non-randomized, and controlled study with the inability to find an answer to the mechanism of involvement of the somatosensorial system and vestibular system in migrainous headaches. Results: The distribution of patients with posturographical abnormalities in the migrainous vertigo group was significantly different than the control group. Distribution of the patients with posturographical abnormalities in the high frequencies of the head-right position was significantly different in the migrainous vertigo group than in the control group and distribution of the patients with posturographical abnormalities in high frequencies of the head-right position was significantly different in the migraine group than in the controls groups. The stability index of the migrainous vertigo group was significantly higher than in the control group when tested on in the neutral-head position with open eyes. Conclusion: In this first study of tetra-ataxiometric static posturography evaluating postural abnormalities in a well-defined population of patients with migrainous vertigo, the central part of the vestibular apparatus would be responsible of postural abnormalities in patients with migraine and migrainous vertigo. Key words: Fall index, migraine, migrainous vertigo, static posturography

Objective: The purpose of this study was to develop a Turkish version of the mini Osteoporosis Quality of Life Questionnaire (mini-OQLQ), and assess its reliability and validity., Material and method: Sixty-four women with postmenopausal osteoporosis were included in the study. Patients who were diagnosed with secondary osteoporosis through clinical and laboratory examinations were excluded from the study. After translation process, the Turkish version of the scale was applied to each participant twice with an interval of 2 weeks. For reliability study, internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha) of mini-OQLQ total score and test-retest intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) were calculated. Validation study was assessed by correlating the scale with QUALEFFO 41., Results: The mean age at menopause and age of patients were 45.61 +/- 6.04 and 59.91 +/- 8.69 years, respectively. Cronbach's a of the Turkish version of the mini-OQLQ was 0.898. The test-retest reliability (ICC) of the Turkish version of the mini-OQLQ was determined as 0.81 for the total score, and ranged between 0.71 and 0.84 for individual items. In terms of validity, the Turkish version of mini-OQLQ showed significant negative correlation with QUALEFFO 41 (r = -0.756; p < 0.0001)., Conclusion: The Turkish version of the mini-OQLQ was found to be reliable and valid in the evaluation of life quality of patients with postmenopausal osteoporosis.

The aims were to investigate how the body image is affected in fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) in comparison to healthy people, as well as to explore the relationship of the body image with the level of pain, functional status, severity of depression, and quality of life (QoL). Demographic variables, symptoms of fibromyalgia, and number of fibromyalgia tender points for 51 patients with FMS and 41 control subjects were recorded. All patients were asked to mark the level of pain on visual analogue scale (VAS). Six-minute walking test was recorded for functional assessment. The impact of the disease was evaluated by fibromyalgia impact questionnaire (FIQ). All patients were asked to complete body image scale (BIS), Beck depression inventory (BDI), and short form-36 (SF-36). There were no differences between groups with regard to demographic variables (p > 0.05). Mean VAS was 7.5 ± 1.4 for the patients with FMS and 0.3 ± 0.4 for control subjects (p

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare patients who were injured by punching glass with patients who were injured accidentally, according to demographical, clinical, and psychological parameters.Methods: The Hand Injury Severity Score (HISS), the Duruöz Hand Index, the Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand scale (Q-DASH), the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R), the Adult Attention-Deficiency/Hyperactivity Scale (A-ADHS), the Borderline Personality Inventory (BPI), and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) were used for evaluating severity of the injury, functionality, impact of the injury on the patient, attention deficiency, patterns of borderline personality symptoms, and level of depression, respectively.Results: Patients who were injured by punching glass were significantly younger and more likely to injure their dominant hand. The severity of injury and all psychological scales were significantly higher in patients who were injured by punching glass.Conclusion: Hand therapy specialists should be aware of potential problems in patients who were injured by punching glass., Amaç: Bu çalışmanın amacı cama vurmayla ve kazayla yaralanan hastaları demografik, klinik ve psikolojik parametreler açısından karşılaştırmaktır.Çalışma planı: Yaralanma ciddiyetini değerlendirmek için El Yaralanması Ciddiyet Skoru (EYCS), fonksiyon değerlendirmesi için Duruöz El İndeksi (DEİ), Hızlı Kol Omuz El Disabilite indeksi (H-KOES), yaralanmanın etkisini değerlendirmek için Revize Olayların Etkisi Ölçeği (R-OEÖ), dikkat eksikliğini değerlendirmek için Erişkin Dikkat Eksikliği ve Hiperaktivite Ölçeği (E-DEHÖ), kişilik bozukluğu semptomlarını değerlendirmek için Sınırda Kişilik Envanteri (SKE), depresyon düzeyini belirlemek için Beck Depresyon Ölçeği (BDÖ) kullanıldı.Bulgular: Cama vurarak yaralanan hastalar anlamlım olarak daha gençti ve ağırlıklı olarak dominant ellerinden yaralanmışlardı.

Hemifacial spasm (HFS) is defined as an involuntary, irregular clonic, or tonic movement of muscles innervated by the ipsilateral seventh cranial nerve. It is reported that the coexistence of non-motor- and motor-related symptoms can be seen in patients with HFS. Postural disturbances were investigated in some movement disorders; however, postural abnormalities due to HFS had not been reported before. In this study, we aimed to investigate the postural abnormalities in patients with HFS. In this cross-sectional, controlled study, Tinetti Balance and Gait Test (TBGT) scores and static posturography were performed on fifteen patients with HFS and fifteen healthy age- and sex-matched controls. The total TBGT score and TBGT-balance score were found to be significantly lower in the patient group than in the control group (p values were, respectively, 0.046 and 0.011). The ratio of the patients with high risk of falling was 40 %, and the difference was found to be significantly higher in the patient group (p value = 0.008). In Fourier analyses, a significant difference was found in the medium to high frequencies (F5–6) when the posturographic evaluation was performed on a solid ground with closed eyes, head rotated to right, and head rotated to the left positions (p values were, respectively, 0.045 and 0.007). The stability index of the HFS group was significantly higher than the control group when tested on the neutral, head right, and head left positions (p values were, respectively, 0.004, 0.049, and 0.003). In conclusion, our study showed that the patients with HFS have more balance and falling problems than the controls, which can be both clinically and posturographically determined. © 2014, Belgian Neurological Society.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of dynamic lumbar stabilization exercises in patients with lumbar microdiscectomy. Design: A prospective, randomized, controlled study. Subjects: Forty-two patients who were diagnosed as having lumbar disc herniation and had been operated on using the microdiscectomy method were divided randomly into 3 groups. Methods: Dynamic lumbar stabilization exercises were set for the first group and a home exercise programme for the second. The third group given no exercises was considered as a control group. All patients were examined twice, once before the exercise programme and once 8 weeks later. Results: Improvement in the first group was highly significant after the treatment (p 0.0001). The second group improved significantly more in some parameters (pain, functional disability, lumbar Schober, progressive isoinertial lifting evaluation (neck), trunk endurance (flexion-extension)) than did the third group. The third group of patients showed some improvement in fingertip‐floor distance, functional disability, modified lumbar Schober and left rotation in 8 weeks, but there were no significant improvements in the other parameters. Conclusion: Dynamic lumbar stabilization exercises are an efficient and useful technique in the rehabilitation of patients who have undergone microdiscectomy. They relieve pain, improve functional parameters and strengthen trunk, abdominal and low back muscles.

PURPOSE: To compare responsiveness Short Form-36 (SF-36), Nottingham Health Profile (NHP), and QUALEFFO-41 scales in patients diagnosed with osteoporosis. METHODS: A number of 70 osteoporosis patients who were in their menopause period at least for three years were enrolled in our study. The patients completed Short Form-36 (SF-36), Nottingham Health Profile (NHP), and QUALEFFO-41 scales during pretreatment period and one year after the termination of the treatment. Reponsiveness was compared between questionnaires using standardized responsiveness mean (SRM), the effect size (ES), and Guyatt's method., RESULTS: All scales revealed statistically significant improvement after the treatment. Upon this finding, calculations related with responsiveness indices for SF-36 (Physical Health and Mental Health), NHP (Total point), and QUALEFFO-41 (Total point) demonstrated highly responsive. ES=1.67 and 1.55, SRM=1.55 and 1.85, Guyatt value=2.20 and 1.91 for SF-36 Physical Health and Mental Health. ES=1.35, SRM=1.35, Guyatt value=1.72 for NHP. QUALEFFO-41's ES=2.56, SRM=4.32 and Guyatt value=2.31. CONCLUSION: Osteoporosis specific scale as QUALEFFO-41, gives more specific information about the quality of life of osteoporotic patients. If patients with osteoporosis will be compared with other diseases regarding quality of life, then SF-36, one scale was used to evaluate general quality life of such patients, should be preferred against NHP. © 2014 IOS Press and the authors. All rights reserved.

In this study, we aimed to determine whether there is a correlation between the electrodiagnostic findings and the functional status, muscle strength and sensibility in patients with traumatic nerve injury to the wrists. We assessed 50 patients at a mean of 11.6 months (SD 5.85) (range 6-25) after nerve injury. Sensibility was assessed by monofilament testing. Motor function was evaluated by assessing the manual muscle grade of the abductor pollicis brevis and abductor digiti minimi muscles. Function was evaluated by the Sollerman Hand Function Test. The amplitudes of the compound muscle action potential and the sensory nerve action potential were determined by electroneuromyography. While the compound muscle action potential and sensory nerve action potential amplitudes had significant correlation with muscle grade and Semmes Weinstein Monofilament tests, there was no correlation with the functional scores. © The Author(s) 2013.

The aim of this study was to investigate the acute-stage and later-stage impacts of trauma on a patient, and to determine the relationship between the degree of the impact of the event and recovery of hand function in patients with traumatic hand injury. The functional status of patients was assessed by the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) questionnaire; psychological influence was assessed by the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI); and the impact of the event was assessed by the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R) both during the acute stage and at a later stage. Fifty-four patients completed the study. The DASH, BDI, and IES-R scores were significantly improved at a later stage compared with the acute stage (P0.05). Our study suggests that depression status, functional status of the hand, and impact of the event improve at a later stage, and that the functional outcome at a later stage is affected by the degree of impact of the event, and the functional status of the hand in the acute stage, in patients with traumatic hand injury. © 2014 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.

Objectives The aim of this study was to develop a Turkish version of the painDETECT questionnaire (PD-Q) and assess its reliability and validity. Methods Two hundred and forty patients who were diagnosed by expert pain physicians in daily clinical practice and classified as having either neuropathic, nociceptive, or mixed pain for at least 3 months were enrolled in this study. After the usual translation process, the Turkish version of the PD-Q was administered to each participant twice with an interval of 48 hours. The Leeds Assessment of Neuropathic Symptoms and Signs (LANSS), Douleur Neuropathique en 4 questions (DN4) and a pain visual analog scale were assessed along with the PD-Q. Chronbach's α was calculated to evaluate internal consistency of the PD-Q. Intraclass correlation coefficient was calculated to examine test-retest reliability. Convergent validity was assessed by correlating the scale with LANSS and DN4. Discriminant statistics—sensitivity, specificity, Youden index, positive predictive value, negative predictive value—were also assessed. Results A total of 240 patients with chronic pain, 80 patients in each neuropathic, nociceptive, and mixed pain group, were included in this study. Mean age of the patients was 54.1 years, and majority of the patients were female (52.9%). Chronbach's α of the Turkish version of the PD-Q was 0.81. The test-retest reliability of the Turkish version of the PD-Q was determined as 0.98 for the total score and ranged from 0.86 to 0.99 for individual items. The Turkish version of the PD-Q was possitively and significantly corralated with LANSS (r 0.89, P

The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate the effects of neural therapy, and physical therapy on level of pain, disability, quality of life, and psychological status in patients with chronic low back pain. Patients admitted to the physical therapy and rehabilitation outpatient clinic with the complaint of low back pain of at least 3 months duration. Group 1 (n=27), physical therapy (PT, hotpack, ultrasound, TENS 15 sessions), group 2 (n=33), neural therapy (NT, 1:1 mixture of 20 mg/mL Lidocaine HCl (Jetokain simplex®) and saline for 5 sessions. For pain, Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), for disability Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ), for quality-of-life Nottingham-Health-Profile (NHP), for depression, and anxiety, Hospital Anxiety-Depression Scale (HADS) were used before and after the treatment. Mean age was 47.3±11.32 years, symptom time was 13.78±11.98 months. There were no differences for demographic variables between groups. Significant improvements were detected for VAS, RMDQ, NHP-Pain, NHP-Physical activity, HADS for both of two groups after treatment. In addition to these findings, significant improvements were found for NHP-Energy, NHP-Social isolation in NT group. The differences of pre- and post-treatment values of parameters were evaluated for each group. Although there were no differences for VAS, NHP-sleep, NHP-Emotional reaction, HADS between groups, RMDQ, NHPPain,NHP-Physical activity, NHP-Social isolation were higher in NT than PT before treatment, the improvements for these parameters were better in NT than PT. In conclusion both of NT and PT are effective on pain, function, quality of life, anxiety, and depression in patients with chronic low back pain.Key Words: chronic low back pain, physical therapy, neural therapy

We would like to thank Tanriverdi and Kaskari for their interest in our study regarding the frequency of fibromyalgia syndrome in breast cancer patients which was accepted for publication in International Journal of Clinical Oncology. We think that the letter of Tanriverdi and Kaskari consists of the subjects which we mentioned in our manuscript as discussion, limitations or suggestions for future studies. The first issue raised by Tanriverdi and Kaskari was the missing ‘‘adjuvant’’ terminology in our study. Tanriverdi and Kaskari said that, as they know, in postmenopausal women, aromatase inhibitors (AIs) cause musculoskeletal menopausal symptoms by further lowering the estrogen level; and in previous studies, when Tmx and placebo were compared with AIs, the women using AIs had more musculoskeletal side effects, and arthralgia and myalgia were the most common musculoskeletal side effects reported [1]. Tanriverdi and Kaskari suggested that, therefore, in the study’s design the study group was statistically poor, the frequency of fibromyalgia syndrome (FM) was analyzed and in fact this situation removed the study from the topic it described. Rheumatologic symptoms and FM cases have been reported as a result of adjuvant treatments or chemotherapy used in breast cancer, as we mentioned in our study [2]. The history of chemotherapy, hormonotherapy or radiotherapy in our patients was explained in the results section of our manuscript. The main topic of our study was to explore whether the frequency of FM after mastectomy depended on adjuvant therapy or not. In any case the authors overlooked that the main question of our study was not to investigate the effect of adjuvant therapy after mastectomy for the development of FM. The aim of our manuscript was not to investigate the reasons for widespread pain or fibromyalgia in breast cancer patients. We do not agree with the authors for this comment because we explained the aims of our study previously. The second issue raised by Tanriverdi and Kaskari was that if the study’s title was ‘‘The effect of regional and widespread pain on the quality of life in breast cancer patients’’ perhaps it could reflect the complete article. The first aim of the study was to determine the frequency of FM in breast cancer patients after mastectomy, and the second aim of the study was to explore the relationships between FM, fatigue severity, and quality of life. We do not agree that the suggested title of ‘‘The effect of regional and widespread pain on the quality of life in breast cancer patients’’ could reflect complete article, since the suggested title does not consist of the term ‘‘fibromyalgia,’’ which is the main topic of our study. We would like to bring to light first the definitions of widespread pain and fibromyalgia, and the differences of these disorders. Fibromyalgia is a chronic widespread pain disorder characterized by sleep disorders, fatigue, psychiatric illnesses (depression, anxiety), and somatic disorders (irritabl bowel syndome, headache, fatigue, paresthesia on extremities). FM diagnosis is based on two criteria established by the American College of Rheumatology (ACR): one of which is a history of widespread pain lasting more than 3 months, and the This reply refers to the comment available at doi:10.1007/s10147-013-0545-6.

Background: We aimed to determine the frequency of fibromyalgia syndrome (FM) in operated breast cancer patients and to research the relationship between FM and the severity of fatigue and quality of life in these breast cancer patients. Methods: The demographic data of 101 operated breast cancer patients were recorded. The patients who had pain were then classified as having regional pain (RP), widespread pain without FM (WP), and widespread pain with FM (WFM). The FM diagnosis was based on the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria. The severity of fatigue was evaluated with the Brief Fatigue Inventory, the disease impact was evaluated with the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ), and the quality of life was evaluated with the European Organization for Research on Treatment of Cancer questionnaire Quality of Life-C30 (EORTC-QoL-C30). Results: There was no pain in 38 (37.6%) patients, whereas there was pain in 63 (62.4%) patients (N = 42, 41.6% had RP, N = 21, 20.8% had WP). Ten (9.9%) of the entire patient cohort were diagnosed as having FM according to the ACR criteria. There were no differences among the 3 groups in respect to demographic characteristics when patients were classified as RP (N = 42), WP (N = 11), and WFM (N = 10) groups. While there were negative correlations between the FIQ and EORTC-QoL-C30-function score (r = -0.727) and EORTC-QoL-C30-global score (r = -0.488), there was a positive correlation between the FIQ and EORTC-QoL-C30-symptom score (r = 0.726). Conclusion: We note that the frequency of FM in the operated breast cancer patients in this study was higher than that reported in normal populations in the literature. Also, we found that the presence of FM had negative effects on the quality of life of the breast cancer patients. Accordingly, in the evaluation of widespread pain and complaints of fatigue in long-surviving breast cancer patients, after metastatic disease is excluded, the probability of FM should be kept in mind, so that appropriate treatment can be initiated to improve their functional status and quality of life. © 2012 Japan Society of Clinical Oncology.

The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship of postural stability and sleep disorders in patients with fibromyalgia syndrome. Frequency of falls in the last 6 months in 48 fibromyalgia and 32 control subjects were recorded. Postural stability was assessed by static posturography device (Tetrax, Sunlight Medical Ltd., Israel). Functional assessment consisted of lower-body strength; one-leg stance test were applied to all subjects. Fibromyalgia impact questionnaire (FIQ), sleep quality numeric rating scale (NRS), and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index were inquired. The number of falls in the last 6 months was significantly higher in the fibromyalgia group. Mean total value of stability indexes was 201.7 ± 70.9 vs. 162.6 ± 29.6 in fibromyalgia and control subjects (p < 0.05). NRS and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index were significantly higher in fibromyalgia patients. It was detected that there were significant relationships between fall risk and NRS scores (r = 0.565), and FIQ fatigue subscores (r = 0.560) (both p < 0.05). Worse postural performance and fall risk found in the fibromyalgia patients compared to controls were related with the sleep quality in the last 24 h and level of fatigue. © 2012 Clinical Rheumatology.

OBJECTIVES: To compare responsiveness for the two region specific questionnaires Shoulder Disability Questionnaire (SDQ) and Shoulder Pain Disability Index (SPADI) and the disease specific Western Ontario Rotator Cuff (WORC) index in subacromial impingement syndrome (SIS) receiving physical therapy or subacromial corticosteroid injection. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Sixty-four patients with SIS diagnosed participated in this study. All the patients were provided either physical therapy or subacromial corticosteroid injection treatment. The SDQ, the SPADI and WORC index were assessed both at the beginning and after the 3rd month of treatment. The responsiveness of the three questionnaires was compared by using the effect size (ES), the standardized responsiveness mean (SRM) and Guyatt's method. RESULTS: For both treatment groups there was no statistical difference observed between the pre- and post treatment measurement results versus improvement differences (p> 0.05). SDQ (ES=0.94; SRM=1.14; Guyatt value=0.95), SPADI (ES=1.55; SRM=2.14; Guyatt value=1.08), WORC index (ES=1.37; SRM=1.70; Guyatt value=1.15) were highly responsive for SIS. CONCLUSIONS: The SDQ, the SPADI and the WORC index are suitable for measuring changes in patients with SIS. Of these three indices, the SDQ and the SPADI are more suitable for a rapid assessment whereas the WORC index is better in cases where a more detailed assessment including the psychological impact created by the functional status needs to be assessed. © 2013 - IOS Press and the authors. All rights reserved.

Purpose: To assess the distal femoral cartilage after unilateral arthroscopic partial meniscectomy and to explore the relationship between cartilage thickness and various disease-/surgery-related parameters. Methods: Eighty-nine patients (42 M, 47 F) who had undergone arthroscopic partial meniscectomy surgery were evaluated. Ultrasonographic distal femoral cartilage thicknesses were measured with a 5-13-MHz linear probe (General Electric, Logiq P5) on mid-points of the lateral condyle, intercondylar notch and medial condyle of operated and non-operated knees by a physician blinded to patients' data. Demographic features, duration after surgery, type of meniscal tear and site of meniscectomy were recorded. Results: Mean age of the patients was 51. 8 ± 12. 8 years (range 18-88). Mean body mass index was 29. 4 ± 4. 4 kg/m2 (range 18-38). Overall, in patients with degenerative meniscal tears, femoral cartilage thicknesses pertaining to all the three measured sites (lateral, intercondylar and medial) were found to be decreased in the operated knees when compared with those of the non-operated knees (p = 0. 004, p = 0. 003, p = 0. 041, respectively), whereas in patients with non-degenerative tears, this decrease was significant only in the intercondylar area (p = 0. 038). When patients were grouped according to the duration (months) after their surgery (≤36, 37-48 and ≥49), cartilage thickness was similar between both knees in the first group, decreased at the lateral condyle (p = 0. 008) and intercondylar area (p = 0. 049) in the second group and decreased at all three sites (lateral, intercondylar and medial) in the third group (p = 0. 015, p = 0. 005 and p = 0. 008, respectively). Conclusion: These findings would be considered as unfavourable with respect to weight-bearing, and thus, conservative measures to support relevant joints would strongly be kept in mind during clinical practice. Lastly, ultrasonography may be a convenient alternative imaging method for the evaluation of short- and medium-term cartilage loss in patients with arthroscopic partial meniscectomy. Levels of evidence: III. © 2012 Springer-Verlag.

The aim of this study was to measure the direct and indirect costs and factors influencing these costs in patients presenting following traumatic hand injury. We assessed patients aged 18-65 years who were in work. Hand injury severity and functional status were assessed. Direct costs, including medical care expenses, and indirect costs, including lost productivity, were calculated. Seventy-nine patients of a mean age of 32 years were included. The mean direct cost for each patient was $1772 (47% of total cost), and the indirect cost was $1891 (53% of total cost). Injury severity, time to return to work, and hospitalization time were the main parameters of increased total cost in a linear regression analysis. © The Author(s) 2012.

Objective: To compare the effectiveness of electromyographic biofeedback training and electrical stimulation therapy for rehabilitation following arthroscopic partial meniscectomy.Design: Randomized, prospective, controlled single-blind trial.Setting: Department of physical medicine and rehabilitation, university hospital.Subjects: Forty-five patients who had undergone surgery for arthroscopic partial meniscectomy were randomly divided into three groups with 15 patients in each group.Interventions: The control group had home exercise, the second and third groups received electromyographic biofeedback training or electrical stimulation therapy to quadriceps muscle in addition to home exercise.Main measures: The patients were evaluated for: visual analogue scale, gait velocity (m/s), time using a walking aid after surgery, Lysholm Knee Scoring Scale score, knee flexion–extension angle, maximum and average contraction powers of vastus medialis obliquus and vastus lateralis muscles on the day before the operation and two and six weeks after.Results: The time using a walking aid was 8.3 ± 8.0, 1.5 ± 2.5 and 4.5 ± 5.5 days, respectively, for the home exercise, electromyographic biofeedback training and electrical stimulation groups, and significantly shorter in the electromyographic biofeedback training than in the home exercise group ( P Conclusions: The addition of electromyographic biofeedback training to a conventional exercise programme following arthroscopic partial meniscectomy helps to speed up the rehabilitation process.

Although there are some studies suggesting relation between different types of infection and fibromyalgia syndrome (FM), there is presently no proof that FM is caused by an infection. Helicobacter pylori (HP) infection may cause extragastric manifestations. Inflammation is an important mediator of increased sympathetic nervous system activity and may lead to pain in fibromyalgia patients. In this study, we aimed to investigate the HP seropositivity in fibromyalgia patients compared with controls for possible role of HP infection in FM. Sixty-seven patients with fibromyalgia were evaluated. Two of them were excluded from the study because of high level of acute phase reactants. Sixty-five female patients with fibromyalgia and 41 randomly selected age-matched female healthy controls were enrolled to study. Serum HP IgA and IgG antibodies were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technique. Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire was assessed in patients and controls. Seropositivity of HP IgG antibody in the fibromyalgia patients was significantly higher than in the control group. No statistically significant differences were found regarding the clinical features between fibromyalgia patients with HP IgG antibody and patients without IgG antibody. Our study suggests that former HP infection may have a role in the etiopathogenesis of fibromyalgia syndrome or may act as a triggering factor. However, high seroprevalence of HP in general population and prevalent asymptomatic infection make it difficult to interpret these results for the definite role of HP in FM. Highlighting the pathophysiologic mechanisms of FM will result in more effective treatment regimens. © Clinical Rheumatology 2010.

Background and aims: The aim of this study was to develop a Turkish version of the Nottingham Extended Activities of Daily Living Scale (NEADLS) and to assess its reliability and validity. Methods: Sixty healthy volunteers over 67 years old were included in the study. After translation, the Turkish version of the scale was filled in by each participant over a period of 2 weeks. Reliability was assessed by internal consistency, test-retest intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and Spearman’s correlation. Converging validity was determined correlating the scale with the Modified Barthel Index (MBI). Results: The mean age of participants was 77±5.67 years. In the reliability studies, internal consistency within the subsections and items of the NEADLS was good and very good, with Cronbach’s a values ranging between 0.84–0.93 and 0.74–0.97 respectively. The Cronbach’s a for the total NEADLS score was also determined as 0.97. Test-retest intraclass correlation coefficients, determined as 0.97 in total score, ranged from 0.84–0.97 between items. The converging validity study for the NEADLS total score was correlated with the MBI and the r value was found statistically significant (r=0.84, p

The purpose of this study was to develop a Turkish version of the Berg Balance Scale (BBS) and assess its reliability and validity.Sixty healthy volunteers older than 65 years were included in to the study. Subjects who had lower extremity amputation, or were armchair or bedridden were excluded. After translation process, the Turkish version of the scale was administered to each participant twice with an interval of 2 weeks. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was calculated to assess intra- and inter-observer reliability. Chronbach alpha was calculated to evaluate internal consistency of the total BBS score. Interclass correlation coefficient was calcuated to examine test-retest reliability. Convergent validity was assessed by correlating the scale with Modified Barthel Index (MBI) and Timed Up and Go Test (TUG). Construct validity was assessed with factor analysis.The mean age in years of the participants were 77.00+/-5.67 (range: 67-92 yrs). The ICC for intra- and inter- observer reliability was 0.98 (p0.0001) and 0.97 (p0.0001), respectively. Chronbach alpha of the Turkish version of the BBS was 0.98. The test-retest reliability (ICC) of the Turkish version of the BBS was determined as 0.98 for the total score, and ranged from 0.86-0.99 for individual items. In terms of validity, the Turkish version of the BBS was correlated with the MBI (in positive direction) and TUG (in negative direction) (r=0.67 p0.0001; r=-0.75 p0.0001, respectively).The Turkish version of the BBS is a reliable and valid scale to be used in balance assessment of Turkish older adults.

Objective. The aim of this study was to evaluate the motor, sensory, and functional recovery in patients with spinal cord injury (SCI). Methods. Forty-one patients with SCI participated in this study. Twenty patients were evaluated after discharge. Each patient was evaluated by the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) impairment scale and the Functional Independence Measure (FIM) at admission, before discharge, and at least at 6 months after discharge. Friedman, Dunn, and Mann-Whitney U tests were used for statistical analysis. Results. There were 17 male and 3 female patients. Seven patients had complete SCI, and 13 patients had incomplete SCI. The evaluation of motor, sensory, and FIM scores at admission showed significant improvement in all of the patients during the follow-up period (P < 0.0001). Five incompletely injured cases improved with regard to ASIA staging. Motor and FIM scores significantly increased at follow-up for converted and unconverted patients. All parameters increased at follow-up in patients who were complete and incomplete. Motor scores significantly increased at discharge and at follow-up. FIM scores also increased significantly at follow-up in incomplete patients. Conclusion. Motor, sensory, and FIM scores increased in patients with SCI after a follow-up period of 18 months. Improvement to a higher ASIA stage could be accomplished by 25% of the patients. Although both complete and incomplete patients recovered significantly at the follow-up period, only incompletely injured cases could convert to a higher ASIA stage.