[Purpose] To investigate the effect of vitamin D supplementation on rehabilitation
outcomes and balance in patients having hemiplegia due to ischemic stroke. [Subjects and
Methods] Vitamin D levels of 132 patients hospitalized for hemiplegia rehabilitation due
to ischemic stroke were tested. Consequently, 86/132 patients had low vitamin D levels, 72
of which met the inclusion criteria and were included in the study. Patients were divided
into two groups: Group A (injected with 300,000 IU vitamin D), and Group B (injected
intramuscularly with saline). Each patient was tested at the baseline and at the third
month using the Brunnstrom recovery staging, functional ambulation scale, modified Barthel
index, and Berg balance scale. The findings were compared between the groups. [Results] By
the end of the third month, The Berg balance scale results and modified Barthel index
scores significantly differed between the two groups, whereas Brunnstrom recovery staging
and functional ambulation scale test results did not. [Conclusion] This study found that
vitamin D administration increased the activity levels and accelerated balance recovery
but did not significantly affect ambulation or motor recovery. These results warrant
confirmation by longer follow-up studies with a larger number of participants.
Purpose: This randomized, placebo-controlled study examined the effect of vitamin D replacement therapy on neuropathic symptoms and balance in patients with diabetic neuropathic pain and low vitamin D levels. Patients and Methods: Among the 258 patients, the results in a total of 57 volunteers (32 in the treatment and 25 in the control arm) meeting the inclusion criteria are reported. Symptoms of neuropathic pain were assessed using Douleur Neuropathique 4 (DN4) questionnaire, and presence of polyneuropathy (PNP) was determined by performing electromyography (EMG). Balance was assessed using Berg balance test (BBT). After undergoing these examinations, the patients in the treatment group were intramuscularly (IM) injected with 300,000 IU vitamin D in a liquid formulation and those in the placebo group were IM injected with physiological saline. The DN4 and BBT were repeated after 12 weeks, and the results were compared. Results: The patients in the treatment group showed a significant decrease in total DN4 scores from baseline to the study endpoint compared with the patients in the placebo group (p=0.008). The patients in the treatment group also showed a significant increase in BBT scores from baseline to the study endpoint compared with the patients in the placebo group (p=0.001). Furthermore, in subgroup analysis, these patients showed a significant decrease in electric shock and burning sensation scores from baseline to the study endpoint compared with the patients in the placebo group (p=0.006, p=0.001, respectively). Conclusion: In patients with diabetic neuropathic pain, vitamin D levels should be measured and vitamin D replacement therapy should be administered as required to resolve neuropathic symptoms and to improve balance.
Background/aim: Clinicians associate the changes in cervical lordosis with neck pain, but there is no clear consensus on this. We aimed to investigate the relationships of cervical angles, neck pain, disability, and the psychological status of the patients with acute and chronic neck pain.Materials and methods: A total of 110 patients with neck pain were included in this study. Demographic and clinical characteristics of the patients were recorded. The lordosis angle was determined by the posterior tangent method. A visual analog scale (VAS), the Neck Disability Index (NDI), and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression (HAD) scale were administered to all patients.
Results:The mean cervical lordosis angle was 23.10 ± 8.07 degrees. A statistically negative correlation was detected between cervical angle and duration of disease (P < 0.05). The cervical angle of the acute neck pain group was higher than that of the chronic pain group (P < 0.05). There was no difference between the acute and chronic neck pain groups with respect to VAS, NDI, and HAD scores (P > 0.05).
Conclusion:We found that the cervical angle was significantly lower in chronic neck pain patients when compared to acute patients, and patients with higher pain scores had more severe disability and that disability increased with the duration of disease.
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