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Aim: The coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) infection directly impacts fatigue and exercise performance. More studies have focused on these problems and were conducted with hospitalized patients and/or adult and geriatric populations. The aim of this study was to explore the effects of mild COVID-19 on fatigue, muscle strength, balance, and exercise performance, specifically in young adults. Methods: This research was designed as a case-control study, and tests were conducted between January 2022 and June 2022. The study included 60 participants aged 18-28, consisting of individuals who had a mild COVID-19 diagnosis within the past year (study group, n=30) and tested negative during the study, as well as a control group of individuals who had no COVID-19 diagnosis or symptoms within the past year (control group, n=30). The participants’ fatigue levels (Chalder Fatigue Scale), lower (Biodex Isokinetic-Dynamometer) and upper (Jamar-Handgrip Dynamometer) extremity muscle strength, balance (Y-Balance Test), and exercise performance (Queen’s College Step Test) were evaluated using various standardized tests. Results: Measurements showed that individuals with COVID-19 had an increase in fatigue scores (p=0.02). It was determined that fatigue was particularly prominent in women. Due to this difference that arose according to gender, it was observed that fatigue scores in those who had experienced COVID-19 were negatively correlated with muscle strength measurements. Conclusion: This study showed that symptoms of fatigue persisted in younger individuals, especially women, even after the COVID-19 infection. We think the next research should focus on COVID-19 symptoms, surveillance, and therapy in different age groups.

Abstract Background Noncardiac chest pain (NCCP) is persistent angina-like chest pain without cardiac origin that affects the patient’s health related quality of life (HrQoL), although it does not affect mortality. The effect of a comprehensive training program for NCCP focused on quality of life, psychological state, peripheral muscle strength, physical activity, and quality of life has not been previously established or published. Therefore, this study aimed to show the effectiveness of our combined training program that focuses on functional capacity, physical activity, pulmonary function, respiratory and peripheral muscle strength, dyspnea, fatigue, anxiety, and depression perception in NCCP patients with dyspnea. Case presentation A 38-year-old man with shortness of breath and NCCP was referred to to us for cardiopulmonary rehabilitation. Respiratory muscle strength (mouth pressure device), functional capacity (6 min walking test, 6-MWT), peripheral muscle strength (dynamometer), pulmonary function (spirometry), fatigue (fatigue severity scale), shortness of breath (MMRC, Modified Medical Council Research, Modified Borg Scale-MBS), physical activity (International Physical Activity Questionnaire, IPAQ), health related quality of life (SF-36, Short Form-36), and depression and anxiety (Hospital Depression and Anxiety scale, HADs) were assessed. Aerobic training combined with inspiratory muscle training (loading 30% maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP)) was administered at least 5 days/week for 6 weeks. Functional capacity, physical activity, pulmonary function, and respiratory and peripheral muscle strength improved, and dyspnea, fatigue, anxiety, and depression perception were decreased after the management. Conclusions This combined training program was effective for patients with NCCP and shortness of breath. Future studies should be conducted to find the most effective biopsychosocial training protocol for NCCP patients.

Background Neuromuscular diseases are acquired or inherited diseases that affect the function of the muscles in our body, including respiratory muscles. Objective We aimed to discover more cost-effective and practical tools to predict respiratory function status, which causes serious problems with patients with neuromuscular disease. Methods The Vignos and Brooke Upper Extremity Functional Scales were used to evaluate functional status for patient recruitment. The handgrip strength and dexterity of patients were measured using a dynamometer and nine-hole peg test. Respiratory function parameters: forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume in one second, and peak expiratory flow were evaluated using spirometry. Results The mean age of the 30 patients was 11.5 ± 3.79 years old. Significant relationships were found between nine-hole-peg-test scores and respiratory function parameters on both sides. Significant correlations were found between both handgrip strength and respiratory function parameters (p

Abstract Background Assessment of extrapulmonary comorbidities is essential in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Deterioration of balance and increasing fear of falling are two of the most significant extrapulmonary manifestations. Although pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) is well-known and effective for COPD patients, there is a need for alternative treatments to enhance balance and alleviate concerns about falling. This study aimed to investigate the effect of Body Awareness Therapy (BAT), in addition to the PR program, on balance and fear of falling in patients with COPD. Methods Forty-three patients were randomized into two groups: the BAT + PR group (BAT: once a week, 60 min + PR: 30 min, seven days of the week) or the PR group (PR: 30 min, seven days of the week) for eight weeks. Primary (balance, fear of falling) and secondary (dyspnea, muscle strength, functional capacity) outcomes were assessed at two different times: the baseline and end of the eight weeks. Results Significant improvements were found in dynamic balance (reaction time η2 = 0.777, movement velocity η2 = 0.789, endpoint excursion η2 = 0.687, maximal excursion η2 = 0.887), static balance on firm ground (eyes opened η2 = 0.679, eyes closed η2 = 0.705), dyspnea (η2 = 0.546), muscle strength (η2 = 0.803), and functional capacity (η2 = 0.859) of the BAT + PR group (p

Purpose: It is known that the care burden of parents who care child diagnosed with cerebral palsy (CP) is higher than that of the parents who care for a healthy child. The study aim was to examine the relationship between this caregiving burden (CB) and parents' psychological state (PS) and quality of life (QoL). Materials and Methods: The study is a prospective cross-sectional study completed with 101 parents of children with CP. The CB, PS, and QoL of parents were measured with Zarit Caregiver Burden Scale, Beck Depression Inventory, and Short Form-36, respectively. In addition, the QoL of CP was assessed with the Katz Activities of Daily Living Scale and functionality was meas-ured with the Pediatric Functional Independence Measure. Results: The majority of caregivers were mothers (90.09%). The daily living activities and functionality of the children were moderate levels. While the CB of the parents was moderate to severe, their PS was mildly depressed. There was a positive moderate (r=0.472, p

Objective We aimed to compare functional exercise capacity, respiratory and peripheral muscle strength, pulmonary function and quality of life between patients with stable angina and healthy controls. Methods We compared 33 patients with stable angina (55.21 ± 6.12 years old, Canada Class II–III, left ventricular ejection fraction: 61.92 ± 7.55) and 30 healthy controls (52.70 ± 4.22 years old). Functional capacity (6-minute walk test (6-MWT)), respiratory muscle strength (mouth pressure device), peripheral muscle strength (dynamometer), pulmonary function (spirometer) and quality of life (Short Form 36 (SF-36)) were evaluated. Results 6-MWT distance (499.20 ± 51.91 m versus 633.05 ± 57.62 m), maximal inspiratory pressure (85.42 ± 20.52 cmH 2 O versus 110.44 ± 32.95 cmH 2 O), maximal expiratory pressure (83.33 ± 19.05 cmH 2 O versus 147.96 ± 54.80 cmH 2 O) and peripheral muscle strength, pulmonary function and SF-36 sub-scores were lower in the angina group versus the healthy controls, respectively. Conclusion Impaired peripheral and respiratory muscle strength, reduction in exercise capacity and quality of life are obvious in patients with stable angina. Therefore, these parameters should be considered in stable angina physiotherapy programmes to improve impairments.