Context: Pes planus is a prevalent chronic condition that causes foot pain, disability, and impaired plantar load distribution. Short-foot exercises are often recommended to strengthen intrinsic foot muscles and to prevent excessive decrease of medial longitudinal arch height. Objective: To investigate the effects of short-foot exercises on navicular drop, foot posture, pain, disability, and plantar pressures in pes planus. Design: Quasi-experimental study. Setting: Biomechanics laboratory. Participants: A total of 41 participants with pes planus were assigned to the short-foot exercises group (n = 21) or the control group (n = 20). Intervention: Both groups were informed about pes planus, usual foot care, and appropriate footwear. Short-foot exercises group performed the exercises daily for 6 weeks. Main Outcome Measures: Navicular drop, Foot Posture Index, foot pain, disability, and plantar pressures were assessed at the baseline and at the end of 6 weeks. Results: Navicular drop, Foot Posture Index, pain, and disability scores were significantly decreased; maximum plantar force of midfoot was significantly increased in short-foot exercises group over 6 weeks (P < .05). No significant differences were determined between the baseline and the sixth week outcomes in control group (P > .05). Conclusions: Six-week short-foot exercises provided a reduction in navicular drop, foot pronation, foot pain, and disability and increment in plantar force of medial midfoot in pes planus.

This study revealed that plantar tactile sensory was not associated with balance and mobility functions in older adults. This result may be related to the protection of other sensory systems supporting the maintenance of balance and mobility functions in physically active community-dwelling older people.

Background: Connective tissue manipulation (CTM) has therapeutic effects on diseases with autonomic imbalance, yet its mechanisms of action are not clearly identified. Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate acute autonomic responses to CTM in healthy young women with various physical activity levels. Method: The study was designed as a nonrandomized, controlled single-center study. Healthy women aged between 18 and 25 years were assigned to a connective tissue manipulation group (CTMG) (n = 150) or a control group (CG) (n = 60). CTM was applied to the CTMG while the CG did not receive any intervention. Respiratory rate (RR), heart rate, systolic/diastolic blood pressures (SP/DP), oxygen saturation (OS) and body temperature were measured. The International Physical Activity Questionnaire short form was used to determine physical activity levels. ­Results: Analysis revealed significant reduction in SP and DP and an increment in RR in the CTMG (p < 0.05). RR increased and SP decreased among inactive, SP decreased among moderately active, and SP and OS decreased among highly active participants in the CTMG (p < 0.05). There were no significant alterations in the CG (p > 0.05). Conclusions: CTM has an immediate reducing effect on sympathetic activity in healthy young women independently from the physical activity level. Future studies are needed to clarify long-term effects of CTM on autonomic functions in healthy individuals.

Main Problem: Pilates, as a body-mind exercise method has an increasing popularity in recent years especially among young women. But there is not enough evidence whether this exercise method contributes to the physical or/and psychological condition of individuals. The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of an original six-week Pilates Exercise Protocol on young females’ health-related parameters including anthropometric features, emotional state, fatigue, and quality of life. Methods: Fifty-one sedentary females aged between 18 and 25 were randomly assigned to Pilates Exercise Group (n=25), and Control Group (n=26). Pilates Exercise Group performed a six-week Pilates exercise protocol whereas Control Group did not participate any regular physical activity during six weeks. Anthropometric features, anxiety, depression, fatigue, and quality of life of the subjects were assessed at the baseline and after six weeks. Results: Weight (p=0.005), body mass index (p=0.005), waist (p<0.001), hip (p=0.002), and thigh circumferences (p<0.001), severity of anxiety (p=0.001), depression (p=0.001), and fatigue (p<0.001) significantly decreased in Pilates Exercise Group after six weeks besides vitality (p=0.005), and mental health (p=0.021) domains of quality of life increased. There were no significant differences in Control Group (p>0.005) after six weeks except of anxiety (p=0.010), and fatigue (p=0.032). Conclusions: The current Pilates exercise protocol contribute to the physical, and psycological well being of young females in terms of anthropometric features, emotional state, fatigue, and some domains of quality of life.

Objective:To evaluate and point out the importance of prosthetic rehabilitation of upper extremity.Methods:A systematic literature search was performed to identify studies concerning prosthetic rehabilitation in upper extremity. The PRISMA Statement 2009 was used to establish the study and the methodological quality was assessed.Results:The literature search identified 620 studies. Of these 620, 9 studies fulfilled the inclusion criteria and were included for data extraction. The studies pointed out the upper limb prosthetic rehabilitation protocols consist of general exercise programme, motor tasks, phantom exercises, Muscle Training System, edema control, functional activities, signal strengthening, prosthetic education exercises, neuromuscular reeducation, virtual image and virtual reality exercises.Conclusions:The current systematic literature review has shown that the prosthetic rehabilitation seems promising especially for upper extremity amputees.