The results suggest that iontophoresis and phonophoresis of naproxen are equally effective electrotherapy methods in the treatment of lateral epicondylitis.

[Purpose] The aim of this study was to investigate whether hypertension negatively affects the postural balance control of elderly adults under different sensory conditions. [Subjects and Methods] Fifty-four healthy elderly adults who were residents in a Geriatric Home Care Center were recruited for this study. Height, weight, body mass index and age of the volunteers were recorded. After applying the exclusion criteria, the final study group included 16 hypertensive (HT) and the control group included 10 non-hypertensive (Non-HT) healthy elderly adults. To evaluate postural balance control objectively, the modified Clinical Test of Sensory Interaction on Balance (modified CTSIB) test was performed under four different conditions: 1) eyes open on a stable surface; 2) eyes closed on a stable surface; 3) eyes open on an unstable surface; and 4) eyes closed on an unstable surface. [Results] The postural balance scores (center of gravity sway) of the HT group were slightly higher than those of the Non-HT group under conditions 1 (HT group=0.3°/sec, Non-HT group=0.2°/sec), 2 (HT group=0.8°/sec, Non-HT group=0.4°/sec) and 4 (HT group=4.5°/sec, Non-HT group=3.5°/sec), but no statistically significant differences were found between the HT and Non-HT groups under any sensory condition. [Conclusion] The result of this study indicate that controlled hypertension in elderly adults is not a cause of worse balance performance than controls on stable or unstable surfaces with the eyes open or closed.

Objectives: This study aims to investigate the effects of t'ai chi and qigong (TCQ) training on severity of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).Design: A prospective, 12-week, single-center, double-blinded, randomized controlled trial.Setting: Sleep Disorders Center of Medical Faculty in Istanbul, Turkey. Subjects: Fifty adult patients with mild and moderate OSA.Interventions: Patients were randomly allocated into either an intervention group or a control group. The intervention group (n = 25) received TCQ training under physiotherapist supervision for 1 h, three times per week, for 12 weeks and a home exercise program was provided for another 2 days. The control group (n = 25) received only a home exercise program for 12 weeks, 5 days per week.Outcome measures: All patients were assessed before and after the exercise program. Objective parameters of sleep were measured by polysomnography, while subjective parameters of sleep were assessed using the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) and the 3-factor Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Pulmonary functions were assessed with a pulmonary function test; health-related quality of life was evaluated through the Short Form-36.Results: In the intervention group, there was a statistically significant decrease in the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) ( p = 0.001) and percentage and duration of stage N2 sleep ( p = 0.041 and p = 0.037, respectively), while there was a statistically significant increase in percentage and duration of stage N3 sleep when compared with the controls ( p = 0.048 and p = 0.043, respectively). There was a statistically significant decrease in the ESS, PSQI sleep efficiency, and total scores ( p = 0.001, p = 0.003, and p = 0.003, respectively).Conclusions: Our study results suggest that TCQ training may reduce AHI and daytime sleepiness, while improving subjective sleep quality, in patients with mild and moderate OSA.

Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) is used not only in the treatment of pain but also in the examination of sensory functions. With aging, there is decreased sensitivity to somatosensory stimuli. It is essential to examine the effect of TENS application on the sensory functions in the brain by recording the spontaneous electroencephalogram (EEG) activity and the effect of aging on the sensory functions of the brain during the application. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of the application of TENS on the brain's electrical activity and the effect of aging on the sensory functions of the brain during application of TENS. A total of 15 young (24.2 ± 3.59) and 14 elderly (65.64 ± 4.92) subjects were included in the study. Spontaneous EEG was recorded from 32 channels during TENS application. Power spectrum analysis was performed by Fast Fourier Transform in the alpha frequency band (8-13 Hz) for all subjects. Repeated measures of analysis of variance was used for statistical analysis (p < 0.05). Young subjects had increased alpha power during the TENS application and had gradually increased alpha power by increasing the current intensity of TENS (p = 0.035). Young subjects had higher alpha power than elderly subjects in the occipital and parietal locations (p = 0.073). We can, therefore, conclude that TENS indicated increased alpha activity in young subjects. Young subjects had higher alpha activity than elderly subjects in the occipital and somatosensory areas. To our knowledge, the present study is one of the first studies examining the effect of TENS on spontaneous EEG in healthy subjects. Based on the results of the present study, TENS may be used as an objective method for the examination of sensory impairments, and in the evaluative efficiency of the treatment of pain conditions. How to cite this article Yıldırım E, Güntekin B, Hanoğlu L, Algun C. 2020. EEG alpha activity increased in response to transcutaneous electrical nervous stimulation in young healthy subjects but not in the healthy elderly. PeerJ 8:e8330

Handball is a popular sport in many countries. There is lack of knowledge about handball athlete’s functional movement capacity. The aim of this study is to investigate the Functional Movement Screen (FMS) scores, to evaluate the injury risks of handball athletes and to determine its relationship with athletic performance. A total of 51 professional handball players were included in this study. The sport-specific features and demographic data were recorded. The functional movement analysis was performed, agility and balance and force were evaluated. 37 were females and 14 were males. The mean age 21.00±4.50 years (range, 16–35 years). The mean FMS scores of handball athletes were 12.86±2.57. In addition, asymmetries were found between the left and right side FMS scores. There was a statistically significant poor correlation between the FMS and agility (r=0.292, P=0.038) and balance (right: r=0.224, P=0.024; left: r=0.228, P=0.022). Handball is a risky sport for injuries; therefore, athletes, coaches, and medical staff should recognize about the removal of functional deficiency before performance training. The FMS is a useful and cost-effective approach to identify these deficiencies. It is necessary not only to prevent injuries, but also to improve performance. These tests must be done before every season and, then, corrective, medical, or conservative approaches may be applied to athletes before performance training. (Clinical Trial ID: NCT03468569)

Bu çalışma rotator manşet lezyonu tanısı alan olgularda proprioseptif nöromusküler fasilitasyon (PNF) tekniğinin ağrı, fonksiyonellik ve yaşam kalitesi üzerindeki etkisini incelemek amacıyla yapıldı. Yöntem: Çalışmaya rotator manşet lezyonu tanısı alan 40 olgu dahil edildi. Olgular randomize olarak iki gruba ayrıldı. PNF grubuna konservatif tedaviye ek olarak üst ekstremite ve skapular PNF tekniği, Kontrol grubuna ise, sadece konservatif tedavi uygulandı. Hastalar haftada üç gün altı hafta süre ile tedaviye alındı. Olguların ağrı değerlendirmesi için Vizüel Analog Skalası (VAS), normal eklem hareketi değerlendirmesi için gonyometre, fonksiyonellik ve aktivite düzeyinin değerlendirmesi için Kol, Omuz ve El Sorunları Anketi ve Constant Skoru (CS), yaşam kalitesinin değerlendirmesi için ise, SF-36 anketi kullanıldı. Değerlendirmeler başlangıçta ve altıncı haftada yapıldı. Sonuçlar: Her iki grupta da anlamlı düzeyde ağrının azaldığı ve eklem hareket açıklığının arttığı belirlendi (p<0,05). PNF grubunun aktivite (p<0,001) ve gece (p=0,013) VAS skoru ve omuz eksternal rotasyon eklem açıklığı (p=0,003) sonuçlarında, kontrol grubuna göre daha fazla iyileşme görüldü. Fonksiyonellik ve genel sağlık durumu değerlendirme sonuçlarında her iki grupta da anlamlı gelişme gözlendi (p<0,05). CS (p=0,046) ile SF-36 enerji (p=0,016) ve mental sağlık (p=0,014) alt parametreleri PNF grubu lehine anlamlıydı. Tartışma: Rotator manşet lezyonunda PNF tekniğinin ağrıyı azaltmak, fonksiyonelliği ve yaşam kalitesini iyileştirmek açısından klinikte etkin şekilde kullanılabilecek bir yöntem olduğu saptandı. Omuz rehabilitasyonunda özellikle skapular PNF patern ve tekniklerinin ihmal edilmemesi gerektiği sonucuna ulaşıldı.

Ge liş ta ri hi/Re cei ved: 24.07.2011 Ka bul ta ri hi/Ac cep ted: 08.03.2012 © Nö rop si ki yat ri Ar şi vi Der gi si, Ga le nos Ya yı ne vi ta ra f›n dan ba s›l m›fl t›r. / © Arc hi ves of Neu ropsy chi atry, pub lis hed by Ga le nos Pub lis hing. 13-16 Ekim 2010 tarihlerinde İsveç, Göteborg'ta düzenlenmiş olan "26 th Congress of the European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ECTRIMS), 15 th Annual Conference of Rehabilitation in MS (RIMS)"de poster olarak sunulmuştur. ABS TRACTOb jec ti ve: To explore the effects of 12-week supervised exercise program (SEP) on quality of life (QoL), walking abilities, balance impairment and fatigue in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and to compare these outcomes according to the severity of the disability. Met hods: Demographic characteristics and medical history of a total of 24 MS patients were recorded. Disability [The Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS)], functional balance [TheBerg Balance Scale (BBS)], balance confidence [The Activities-pecific Balance Confidence (ABC)_Scale], walking difficulties [The 12-Item Multiple Sclerosis Walking Scale (MSWS-12)], fatigue [The Fatigue Impact Scale (FIS)], QoL [The MS International Quality of Life (MUSIQOL)]were evaluated before, at the end of the treatment (3rd month) and at the 6th month. Additionally, the effectiveness rate of the physiotherapy was calculated according to the disability and disease duration. Re sults:The outcome results of the 17 participants with a mean age of 45.2±8.6 years (seven patients were excluded because of acute attacks) showed that the differences between the mean scores of MSWS-12, BBS and ABC_Scale were resulted from the 2nd assessment (p<0.001), and this differences remained at the follow-up measurements (p<0.001, p=0.003, p=0.001, respectively). The differences between the MUSIQOL scores were resulted from the 3rd assessment at the follow-up (p=0.014). There were statistically significant and positive correlation between the scores of MUSIQOL significantly positively correlated with scores of FIS-total and subgroups, in addition, MSWS-12 significantly positively correlated with MUSIQOL, BBS, ABC_Scale, FIS-total and subgroups, and EDSS scores (p<0.05). Conc lu si on: 12-week SEP was resulted in similar improvements in QoL and walking abilities in both patients with low and severe disabilities. Additionally, these findings strongly suggest that treatment for walking abilities may also extend to improvements in QoL. Therefore, the rehabilitation team should consider the benefits of regular exercise and should focus and encourage people with MS to participate in exercise independent from the disease severity. (Arc hi ves of Neu ropsy chi atry 2013; 50: 23-29) Conflict of interest:The authors reported no conflict of interest related to this article ÖZET Amaç: Multipl Skleroz (MS) hastalarında, 12 haftalık gözetimli egzersiz programının (GEP) yaşam kalitesi, yürüme yeteneği, denge bozukluğu ve yorgunluk üzerine etkisini saptamak ve hastaların yeti yitimi şiddetine gö...

Activities of daily living were evaluated on 30 unilateral upper limb amputees. Although independence was more obvious in the amputees who have had distal amputations, all the amputees reached an adequate functional level in the activities of daily living. The treatment period for upper extremity amputees was shorter for distal than for more proximal amputations.