Search

There is evidence that substance use and smoking cause some adverse effects on the respiratory system. The aim of this study was to assess dyspnea severity, respiratory muscle strength, cough capacity, and sleep quality in people with substance use disorder (SUD). Forty eight individuals with SUD and 28 active cigarette smokers participated in the study. Participants' dyspnea severity was assessed using the Modified Medical Research Council Scale, respiratory muscle strength was measured with a portable electronic mouth pressure device, peak cough flow was assessed with a Peak Flow Meter, and sleep quality was determined using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). The amount of daily cigarette smoking and dyspnea severity were significantly higher in individuals with SUD ( p  < .001). Peak cough flow values, maximum inspiratory pressure (MIP), maximum expiratory pressure (MEP), MIP (%predicted), and MEP (%predicted) were not significantly different between the SUD patients and the active cigarette smokers ( p  > .05). However, PSQI sub-parameters such as subjective sleep quality, sleep latency, habitual sleep efficiency, use of sleeping medication, and total scores showed significant differences between the SUD patients and the active cigarette smokers ( p  < .05, p  < .001, p  = .03, p  < .001, p  < .001, respectively). Individuals with SUD were found to have higher dyspnea and poorer sleep quality than active smokers. However, respiratory muscle strength and cough capacities were similar.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to identify factors contributing to normal mobility or hypermobility of the chest wall., Methods: Seventy-eight young adults were divided into 2 groups: patients with normal mobility (group 1, n = 40) and hypermobility of the chest wall (group 2, n = 38). The mean mobility of the chest wall in groups 1 and 2 was 9.9 and 6.1 cm, respectively. The mean age of groups 1 and 2 was 22.2 and 21.5 years, respectively. The Brief Symptom Inventory, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, Beck Depression Inventory, and the Perceived Stress Scale were used to evaluate the psychometric properties. Quality of life was assessed using 12-Item Short Form Health Survey. Smoking status was determined via self-report of current smoking status. Chest wall mobility was measured using thoracic and axillary cirtometry. Pulmonary functions were evaluated using a Spirobank II device. Subsequently, forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1 second, peak expiratory flow, and forced expiratory flow 25% to 75% were verified. Carefusion Micro RPM and the 6-minute walk test were used to evaluate maximal respiratory pressures and functional capacity, respectively., Results: With backward linear regression models, FVC and obsessive-compulsive traits were significant predictors of chest wall mobility (R² = 0.27; P < .001 and P = .01, respectively). In logistic regression models, FVC, maximum inspiratory pressure, and obsessive-compulsive traits were significant predictors of normal mobility/hypermobility of the chest wall (R² = 0.42; P < .001, P = .01, and P = .03, respectively)., Conclusion: Forced vital capacity, maximum inspiratory pressure, and obsessive-compulsive traits are significant predictors of chest wall mobility and normal mobility or hypermobility of the chest wall., (Copyright © 2020. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Objectives: This study aims to compare effectiveness of isolated body weight-supported treadmill training (BWSTT) with conventional and combined training on balance, mobility, and fear of falling in stroke patients., Patients and Methods: Between November 2014 and November 2015, a total of 45 post-stroke patients (32 males, 13 females; mean age 53.1±13.2 years; range, 19 to 73 years) were randomly assigned to combined training group (CombTG), conventional training group (CTG), and BWSTT group (BWSTTG). The CombTG received 45 min conventional therapy for five days a week along with 45 min of BWSTT twice a week. The CTG received only conventional therapy for five days a week. The BWSTTG received only BWSTT twice a week. Training duration was six weeks for all groups. Primary outcome measures were the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), affected and non-affected side Single Leg Stance Test (e-SLST/n-SLST), and Timed Up and Go Test (TUG) results. Secondary outcomes were the Falls Efficacy Scale-International (FES-I), Rivermead Mobility Index (RMI), Comfortable 10-m Walk Test (CWT), and Stair Climbing Test (SCT) results., Results: The mean change of outcome measures demonstrated that the improvements between groups were significantly different among the three groups, except for the CWT (p=0.135). In subgroup analysis, except for the RMI and CWT, all primary and secondary outcome measures improved significantly in favor of the CombTG, compared to the CTG and BWSTTG (p<0.016). However, no statistically significant difference was found in the mean change of the CTG and BWSTTG (p>0.05)., Conclusion: This study demonstrates that combined training has considerable effects on balance, mobility, and fear of falling parameters, while lower frequency of isolated BWSTT is as much effective as higher frequency of conventional training in ambulatory post-stroke patients., Competing Interests: Conflict of Interest: The authors declared no conflicts of interest with respect to the authorship and/or publication of this article.

Background: Stair climbing is an important but neglected aspect of independent living. Clinicians should pay attention to the ability to negotiate stairs in elderly and disabled patients., Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the effects of age, gender, medication use, cognitive status, lower extremity pathology and pain on the activities of stair negotiation in the elderly population in Turkish society., Methods: Volunteer elderly people (254) were included the study. Participants were assessed in terms of their medication use, cognitive status, lower extremity pathology and pain and the activity of climbing the stairs., Results: Significant differences were found on the activities of stair negotiation between the elderly with and without lower extremity pathology, with and without lower extremity pain, with and without medication use (p< 0.05). A positive and moderate correlation was found between age and the activity of stair climbing (r= 0.24, p< 0.01)., Conclusions: Activity of stair climbing is affected by age, medication use, the presence of lower extremity pathology and pain. We consider that this information will be helpful for planning an appropriate and effective rehabilitation programme for elderly people for decreasing their risk of falling and increasing their independence level during their activities of daily living.