To describe the rheumatic and musculoskeletal symptoms at hospitalization as well as their persistence/severity after discharge with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and to identify whether age, sex, body mass index (BMI), and length of hospital stay are associated with persistence of these symptoms. In this single-center cohort study, comprising 300 participants, two phone interviews were conducted (2-week and 1-month after hospitalization) and symptoms were queried with a standardized form. This form included musculoskeletal symptoms and other COVID-19 symptoms. Considering all symptoms (musculoskeletal and other), 100.0%, 86.7%, and 72.0% of patients reported one or more symptoms, at hospitalization, 2-week, and 1-month, respectively. Considering only musculoskeletal symptoms, 92.3%, 72.7%, and 56.3% of patients reported any musculoskeletal symptom at hospitalization, 2-week, and 1-month, respectively. The musculoskeletal symptoms were fatigue (44.3% of patients reported), back pain (22.7%), arthralgia (22.0%), myalgia (21.0%), low back pain (16.3%), and neck pain (10.3%); the other symptoms were shortness of breath (26.3%), loss of taste (15.0%), cough (14.0%), loss of smell (12.3%), loss of appetite (10.3%), headache (8.7%), sore throat (3.0%), diarrhea (1.3%), dizziness (1.3%), and fever (0.3%) at 1-month. Increasing BMI was associated with higher odds of persistence of fatigue (OR: 1.08, 1.03 to 1.13), myalgia (OR: 1.08, 1.01 to 1.14), and arthralgia (OR: 1.07, 1.02 to 1.14, p = 0.012) at 1-month. Nearly three-quarters reported one or more symptoms, with more than half of patients reported any musculoskeletal symptom at 1 month. The most common musculoskeletal symptom was fatigue, followed by back pain, arthralgia, myalgia, low back pain, and neck pain. The persistence of fatigue, myalgia, and arthralgia was related to BMI. The study results increase our understanding of the spectrum of COVID-19, which, in turn, may lead to more efficient and better care for COVID-19 survivors. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00296-021-04882-8.

No abstract

[Purpose] Currently, there are a limited number of amputee-specific instruments for measuring prosthesis-related quality of life with good psychometric properties in Turkey. This study translated the Prosthetic Evaluation Questionnaire to Turkish and analyzed as well as discussed its construct validity and internal consistency. [Subjects and Methods] The Prosthetic Evaluation Questionnaire was adapted for use in Turkish by forward/backward translation. The final Turkish version of this questionnaire was administered to 90 unilateral amputee patients. Second evaluation was possible in 83 participants within a median 28 day time period. [Results] Point estimates for the intraclass correlation coefficient ranged from 0.69 to 0.89 for all 9 Prosthetic Evaluation Questionnaire scales, indicating good correlation. Overall Cronbach’s alpha coefficients ranged from 0.64 to 0.92, except for the perceived response subscale of 0.39. The ambulation subscale was correlated with the physical functioning subscales of Short Form-36 (SF-36) (r=0.48). The social burden subscale score of the Prosthetic Evaluation Questionnaire was correlated with social functioning subscales of SF-36 (r= 0.63). [Conclusion] The Turkish version of the Prosthetic Evaluation Questionnaire is a valid and reliable tool for implementation in the Turkish unilateral amputee population.

The aim of this study is to determine the effectiveness of balneotherapy plus physical therapy versus only physical therapy in patients with chronic low back pain. In this trial, 81 patients with low back pain were followed up in two groups. Patients in group I (n = 44) were treated with physical therapy alone. Patients in group II (n = 37) were treated with balneotherapy in addition to the same physical therapy protocol in group I. Patients in both groups were given a home-based standardized exercise program. The following parameters were measured: visual analog scale (0-10 cm), fingertip-to-floor distance (cm), Oswestry Disability Index, and Short Form 36 quality of life scale. First evaluations were done at the time of enrollment, and second evaluations were done after accomplishment of a 3-week treatment program. There were no significant differences between the two groups for the sociodemographic features. All of the measured parameters improved in both groups. However, improvements in pain, functionality, and quality of life scores were found to be superior in the balneotherapy plus physical therapy group. For the patients with chronic low back pain, balneotherapy plus physical therapy is more effective, compared to physical therapy alone.

No abstract

Objective:To evaluate botulinum toxin serotype A (BoNT-A) effects on sleep problems in children with cerebral palsy (CP) and on mothers’ sleep quality and depression at multiple time points.Methods:This is a single center, cross sectional, and observational study was conducted to assess children with CP who were admitted. We recruited children with CP who were admitted to Ministry of Health Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey between September 2012 and April 2014 for the BoNT-A injection for lower limb spasticity. Sleep quality of children with CP were determined at baseline and at the first, third and sixth month after the BoNT-A injection. Sleep quality Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and depression (by Beck Depression Inventory-II Turkish version) in mothers were also assessed.Results:Twenty-four children with CP (7.05±2.69 years) underwent final assessment. Their bedtime resistance (11.71±3.26 versus (vs) 10±2.75, p<0.01), sleep anxiety (8.00±2.57 vs. 7.13±2.27, p=0.046) and daytime sleepiness (11.67±2.14 vs. 10.25±1.96, p<0.01) were significantly improved in the first month after the BoNT-A injection. In accordance with this, PSQI and BDI scores of the mothers decreased in the first month after the BoNT-A injection. Thereafter, BDI scores continued to decrease, whereas PSQI slightly increased in the third month.Conclusions:The BoNT-A injection for spasticity in children with CP may have the potential to improve sleep quality in children with CP and their primary caregiver, the mother, as well as to reduce depression in the mother.

The purpose of the study was to investigate the quality and reliability of YouTube videos as a source of information in water treatments. We searched videos on YouTube ( www.youtube.com ) using the following keywords: “health resort medicine,” “spa treatment,” “spa therapy,” “hydrotherapy,” “thermal medicine,” “balneology,” and “balneotherapy” on June 17th, 2021. The global quality scale (GQS) was used to evaluate the quality of the videos. The assessment of reliability was evaluated using the modified DISCERN tool. Some other video parameters and sources of the videos were also recorded. One hundred twenty-one (121) videos were analyzed. The most common video source was advertisement (46.3%). GQS and modified DISCERN median scores were generally low. They were superior for “hydrotherapy” and “balneotherapy” and were also higher in videos uploaded by health-related persons or organizations (physicians, health-related professionals, and health-related websites). A statistically significant positive correlation was found between investigated parameters (like view ratio, number of likes, video power index, video length) and GQS. Only video length was correlated with modified DISCERN for investigated parameters. The median video power index scores were statistically higher for “spa therapy” and “spa treatment.” The YouTube content linked with water treatments has poor quality and reliability most of time. The hydrotherapy and balneotherapy keywords have the best quality and reliability. We think that designers of water treatment videos should involve health professionals more often so that the content of their video will better explain the details of medical conditions or interventions. The scientific experts should ensure a consensus in terminology to straighten the awareness of water treatments for patients and physicians.

No abstract