The addition of RMT to chest physiotherapy after pulmonary resection can have positive effects on respiratory muscle strength, exercise capacity, and length of hospital stay.

[Purpose] Breast cancer-related upper extremity lymph edema is known to cause physical, functional and psychological impairments in women after modified radical mastectomy. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of phase I Complex Decongestive Physiotherapy (CDP) on physical functions and depression levels in women with breast cancer-related upper extremity lymph edema. [Subjects and Methods] Fifty-eight subjects with breast cancer-related upper extremity lymph edema were the subjects of this study. The arm circumference, shoulder range of motion (ROM), muscle strength and depression levels of the subjects were assessed before and after phase I CDP treatment. [Results] After phase I CDP, there was a statistically significant reduction in circumference measurements at all levels of the affected arm. There was not any statistically significant difference in muscle strength after CDP. The shoulder ROM improved after treatment. There was a significant reduction in the Beck Depression Inventory score. A significant positive correlation was found between depression levels and circumference measurement. [Conclusion] Based on the results we suggest that by reducing limb volume, beside improving physical functions, phase I CDP can affect psychological status, especially depression which is very common in women with breast cancer-related upper extremity lymph edema.

No abstract

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is an inflammatory rheumatic disease affecting mainly the axial skeleton and sacroiliac joints. The aim of the current study was to investigate the effects of inspiratory muscle training (IMT) on respiratory muscles and functional exercise capacity, as well as on the specific outcomes of the disease in AS patients. A total of 32 AS patients (mean age 37.37 ± 10.41 years) were randomly assigned as the Training Group (TG) (n = 16, mean age = 35.62 ± 8.18 years) who received IMT + conventional exercise, and the Control Group (CG) (n = 16, mean age = 39.12 ± 12.26 years) who only performed the conventional exercise program. All the subjects were evaluated at baseline and at the end of the 8th week. Respiratory muscle strength was assessed by measuring the maximal inspiratory pressure (PImax) and maximal expiratory pressure (PEmax). Functional exercise capacity was measured using the 6-min walk test (6MWT). The Bath AS Disease Activity Index (BASDAI), Bath AS Disease Function Index and Bath AS Metrology Index were used for activity, function and basic measurements of the disease. A statistically significant improvement was determined in the PImax (p = 0.000), PEmax (p = 0.002), 6MWT (p = 0.041) and BASDAI (p = 0.049) values in the TG after training. There was a significant difference between baseline and after conventional exercise in terms of PEmax (p = 0.017) in the CG. The PEmax (p = 0.001) and the 6MWT (p = 0.053) values were significantly better in the TG. The results of this study demonstrated that IMT in addition to conventional exercises increased inspiratory muscle strength, functional exercise capacity and positively affected the disease activity in AS.

Bilgisayar kullanan masa başı çalışanlarında kas iskelet sistemi rahatsızlıkları, işin engellenmesi ve risk faktörlerinin incelenmesi Amaç: Bu çalışma bilgisayar kullanan masa başı çalışanlarında kas iskelet sistemi rahatsızlıklarının sıklığını, bu durumun işi engelleme durumu, kişisel ve bilgisayar ile ilişkili olası risk faktörlerini incelemek amacıyla planlanmıştır. Yöntem: Çalışmaya masa başında görev yapan 79 kişi (51 kadın, 28 erkek) dahil edildi. Kas iskelet sistemi rahatsızlıklarının sıklığını ve işin engellenmesini değerlendirmek için Cornell Musculoskeletal Discomfort Questionnaire ve ağrı şiddeti için Görsel Analog Skalası kullanıldı. Kişisel ve bilgisayarla ilişkili risk faktörleri kaydedildi. Bulgular: Kas İskelet Sistemi rahatsızlıklarının en sık sırt (%69,6), bel (%68,4), boyun (%67,1) ve sağ omuzda (%50,6) olduğu belirlendi. Bu bölgelerde ki rahatsızlığa bağlı işin engellenme oranı sırasıyla; %62, %62, %60,8 ve %55,7 idi. Günlük bilgisayar kullanım süresinin 4 saatten fazla olması bel bölgesi için, bilgisayar kullanılırken hissedilen fiziksel rahatsızlık hissi ve kadın olmak dört bölge için anlamlı farklılık oluşturdu. Sonuç: Masa başı çalışanlarında bilgisayar kullanımı ile en sık sırt, bel, boyun ve sağ omuz bölgeleri etkilenmiştir. Günlük bilgisayar kullanım süresi, bilgisayar kullanılırken hissedilen fiziksel rahatsızlık hissi ve kadın olmanın kas iskelet sistemi rahatsızlıkları üzerine etkili olduğu ve bu rahatsızlığa bağlı olarak çalışanlarının iş veriminin etkilendiği görülmüştür.