Important links exist between psychologic and social factors and recovery from insults to the "soft tissues." Identifiable biochemical and physiologic processes mediate this relationship. It is time to rethink and refine views of the role of psychologic and social factors in musculoskeletal illness, chronicity, and pain.

BACKGROUND:To our knowledge, the correlation between ultrasonographic enthesopathy and severity in psoriatic arthritis (PsA) has been done before. However, the correlation between ultrasonography of enthesopathy and the Psoriatic Arthritis Disease Activity Score (PASDAS) have not been done.AIM:To compare the results of ultrasonographic enthesopathy of foot and PASDAS in PsA.MATERIALS AND METHODS:A total of 65 PsA patients were involved and divided into two groups. The first group of 35 active PsA and the second group of 30 ages and sex matched inactive PsA as a control group were recruited in this study. Both groups were evaluated by examination, radiological findings and ultrasonography.RESULTS:Of 70 entheses in 35 active PsA patients, the most entheseal abnormalities were tender plantar fascia (18.5%), tender Achilles tendon (37.8%). PASDAS was a direct highly significant correlated with plantar fascia and Achilles tendon thickness in in active PsA (r = 0.823 and r = 0.796, p < 0.001 respectively).CONCLUSION:Musculoskeletal US is an accurate and low-cost method for assessment of enthesopathy with significant correlation to disease activities in psoriatic arthritis.

BACKGROUND:Gait disorders or postural instability has been done before. However, lack of reviews has addressed the relation between gait and postural stability in Parkinson’s disease (PD).AIM:The aim was to evaluate the relation between gait parameters and postural stability in early and late stages of PD.MATERIALS AND METHODS:The forty-one idiopathic PD patients were divided into two groups into a group (A) considered as early PD and group (B) considered as late ambulant PD. They were evaluated for postural stability by computerised dynamic posturography (CDP) device and gait analysis using an 8 m-camera Vicon 612 data capturing system set.RESULTS:There was a statistically significant improvement of composite equilibrium score, the composite latency of motor response, walking speed and cadence after treatment as compared to before training (p < 0.05) in early PD. However, in the late PD, there was a non-significant change of previous parameters after treatment as compared to before training (p > 0.05). There was a significant correlation between UPDRS motor part score, walking speed and composite equilibrium score after training in early PD (p > 0.05).CONCLUSIONS:Both gait analysis and CDP are important quantitative assessment tools of gait and posture instability.

Aim: To compare limits of stability (LOS) between stroke patients and control group and to evaluate the effects of balance training program on hemiplegic stroke patients.Setting: Balance clinic, physical medicine and rehabilitation hospital, Kuwait. Materials and Methods:A total of 36 ambulatory hemiplegic stroke patients and 34 age-matched healthy individuals as control group were recruited in this study. All patients and healthy individuals were evaluated by the LOS test.Results: There were a significant increased RT (sec), a significant decreased MVL (deg/sec), a significant decreased EPE (%), a significant decreased MXE (%) and a significant decreased directional control(DCL) (%) in stroke patients compared to control group (p < 0.01). Moreover, a significant decreased RT, a significant increased MVL (deg/sec), a significant increased EPE (%) and a significant increased MXE(%) after training compared to results before training in stroke patients (p < 0.01). However, no significant difference of DCL (%) after training compared to results before training in stroke patients (p >0.05). Conclusion:There were significantly worse in parameters of LOS test in stroke patients. Moreover, significant enhancement of some parameters of LOS test after training in stroke patients was found.