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Objective: This study aimed to examine the impact of robotic hand rehabilitation on hand function and quality of life in childrenwith cerebral palsy. Design: Children with cerebral palsy aged 7-16 yrs were divided into robotic rehabilitation (n = 9) or conventional rehabilitation (n = 10) groups for hand rehabilitation of 30 sessions. The primary outcomes were the Fugl-Meyer Assessment for Upper Extremity and Box and Block Test. The secondary outcomes were the Manual Ability Classification System, modified Ashworth scale, hand grasp and finger strengths, ABILHAND-Kids, Functional Independence Measure for Children, and PedsQL Quality of Life Inventory-CP Module. Results: In the robotic rehabilitation group, a significant improvement was found in all parameters after treatment (P < 0.05), except for the Functional Independence Measure (P = 0.081). In the conventional rehabilitation group, there was significant improvement after treatment in the modified Ashworth scale, Fugl-Meyer Assessment for Upper Extremity, hand grasp strength, Box and Block Test, ABILHAND-Kids, and PedsQL Quality of Life Inventory-CP Module (P < 0.05). Before and after treatment, all outcome parameters in the groups were similar (P > 0.05). Conclusions: Robotic hand rehabilitation is effective in improving motor function, manual dexterity, spasticity, and quality of life in children with cerebral palsy. However, it was not demonstrated to be superior to conventional rehabilitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: We evaluated pain, fatigue, anxiety, depression, and quality of life in patients hospitalized for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and observed them over a period of 3 months. We also investigated the relationship of these symptoms to age, sex, disease severity, and levels of anxiety and depression. Methods: The study included 100 confirmed COVID-19 patients (i.e., positive on a polymerase chain reaction test) between the ages of 18 and 75 years. Pain (visual analog scale [VAS]), fatigue (fatigue severity scale), anxiety, and depression (hospital anxiety and depression scales) were evaluated on the first day of hospitalization and at 1-month and 3-month follow-ups. The short form-12 questionnaire was used to measure quality of life at the 1-month and 3-month follow-ups. Results: No differences were found in pain, fatigue, anxiety levels, depression levels, and quality of life according to disease severity. High VAS scores at hospital admission were related to continued pain at the 3-month follow-up (odds ratio [OR], 1.067; p<0.001). High VAS (OR, 1.072; p=0.003) and anxiety levels (OR, 1.360; p=0.007) were related to severe fatigue at the 3-month evaluation. Conclusion: Pain, fatigue, anxiety, and depression appear to be long-term sequelae of COVID-19 and can affect quality of life. High VAS and anxiety levels were found to be associated with long-term fatigue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The purpose of this study was to research the clinical effectiveness of high-intensity laser therapy combined with exercise on pain, quality of life, and disability in patients with cervical radiculopathy and compared it with that of placebo and exercise alone. Design: Ninety participants with cervical radiculopathy were randomized into the following three groups: high-intensity laser therapy + exercise (n = 30), placebo + exercise (n = 30), and exercise only (n = 30). Pain, cervical range of motion, disability, and quality of life (36-item Short Form Health Survey) were assessed at baseline and weeks 4 and 12. Results: The mean age of the patients (66.7% female) was 48.9 ± 9.3 yrs. Pain intensity in the arm and neck, neuropathic and radicular pain levels, disability, and several parameters of the 36-item Short Form Health Survey showed an improvement in the short and medium term in all three groups. These improvements were greater in the high-intensity laser therapy + exercise group than in the other two groups. Conclusions: High-intensity laser therapy + exercise was much more effective in improving medium-term radicular pain, quality of life, and functionality in patients with cervical radiculopathy. Thus, high-intensity laser therapy should be considered for the management of cervical radiculopathy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]