[Purpose] The aim of this study was to investigate the efficiency of Nintendo® Wii games in addition to neurodevelopmental treatment in patients with cerebral palsy. [Subjects and Methods] Thirty hemiparetic cerebral palsy patients (16 females, 14 males; mean age, 6–15 years) were included in the study and divided into two groups: a neurodevelopmental treatment+Nintendo Wii group (group 1, n=15) and a neurodevelopmental treatment group (group 2, n=15). Both groups received treatment in 45-minute sessions 2 days/week for six weeks. Use of the upper extremities, speed, disability and functional independence were evaluated using the Quality of Upper Extremity Skills Test, Jebsen Taylor Hand Function Test, ABILHAND-Kids test, and Pediatric Functional Independence Measure (self-care) before and after treatment. [Results] There were statistically significant improvements in all parameters for group 1 and group 2 (except quality of function) after six weeks of treatment. Intergroup analysis showed that group 1 was superior to group 2 in mean change differences in the Jebsen Taylor Hand Function Test. [Conclusion] Our results showed that neurodevelopmental treatment is effective for improving hand functions in hemiplegic cerebral palsy. To provide a enjoyable, motivational, safe, and effective rehabilitation program, the Nintendo® Wii may be used in addition to neurodevelopmental treatment.

In conclusion, we could report that kinesio taping has significant immediate effects after a single kinesio taping application on range of motion, pain and functional status in patients with knee osteoarthritis. We could also report that KT in addition to conventional treatment is not superior to conventional treatment alone in terms of clinical outcomes over 3 weeks later.

Objective. In this study, we compared the effects of intermittent pneumatic compression along with conventional treatment with cold-pack treatment along with conventional treatment on clinical outcomes in patients with knee osteoarthritis. Methods. Eighty-nine patients with knee osteoarthritis participated in this study. One group received ultrasound, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, electrical stimulation, exercise, and cold packs. The second group received ultrasound, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, electrical stimulation, exercise, and intermittent pneumatic compression. Range of motion, muscle strength, knee swelling, pain intensity, and functional status were measured at baseline and 4th week. Results. We found significant improvements in range of motion, muscle strength, pain intensity, and functional status after the treatment in both groups (p<0.05). When comparing the effects of these two treatment programs, it was observed that the intermittent pneumatic compression treatment group had a better outcome in terms of knee swelling (p=0.028). Conclusions. According to the results, we could report that intermittent pneumatic compression therapy in addition to conventional treatment has significant positive effects on clinical outcomes in patients with knee osteoarthritis. We could also report that intermittent pneumatic compression therapy along with conventional treatment is superior to cold-pack therapy along with conventional treatment in terms of knee swelling in patients with knee osteoarthritis. This trial is registered with NCT03806322.

BackgroundThe link between foot structure and low back pain (LBP) has been investigated recently because of biomechanical abnormalities are widely believed to be the likely causes of LBP (1, 2). Back and spine impairments were more common in women (3) and women slightly more often reported some kind of consequences due to spinal pain (4). Despite of detected gender differences arising from spinal pain, there has been no study that investigates the effect of foot posture on LBP among men and women separately.ObjectivesThe aim of this study to investigate the gender differences in foot posture and back pain intensity and to explore relation between foot posture and level of pain in men and women suffering from chronic LBP.Methods50 subjects of age 51.02±12.41years who admitted with chronic LBP to Physiotherapy Clinics between December 2014-March 2015 participated in this study. Foot posture of dominant side was determined by using Foot Posture Index (FPI). Higher positive FPI scores indicates a pronated foot posture, negative scores indicates a supinated foot posture (5). Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and Oswestry back pain scale was used for pain assessment. Mann Whitney U test was used to compare FPI scores and pain intensity according to VAS and Oswestry back pain scale. Spearman correlation test was used to determine the relationship between foot posture scores and level of LBP for men and women separately.ResultsThere was no statistically difference between men and women for FPI scores (p=0.552) and LBP pain intensity according to VAS (p=0.579) and Oswestry back pain scale (p=0.890). While there was no statistically correlation between FPI scores and LBP pain intensity among men (p>0.05), a positively moderate correlation was detected between FPI scores and LBP pain intensity according to VAS among women (r=-0.393, p=0.019).ConclusionsIn the literature, excessive pronation of foot was detected more frequently in individuals with LBP (6). Similarly in this study, women with pronated foot posture have higher level of LBP, not men. Therefore, clinicians should be interpreted the link between foot posture and LBP by considering gender.ReferencesBird, A. R., & Payne, C. B. (1999). Foot function and low back pain. The Foot,9(4), 175–180.O'Leary, C. B., Cahill, C. R., Robinson, A. W., Barnes, M. J., & Hong, J. (2012). A systematic review: the effects of podiatrical deviations on nonspecific chronic low back pain. Journal of back and musculoskeletal rehabilitation, 26(2), 117–123.Andersson, G. B. (1999). Epidemiological features of chronic low-back pain.The lancet, 354(9178), 581–585.Leboeuf-Yde C, Fejer R, Nielsen J, Kyvik KO, Hartvigsen J. (2011). Consequences of spinal pain: do age and gender matter? A Danish cross-sectional population-based study of 34,902 individuals 20–71 years of age. BMC musculoskeletal disorders, 12(1):39.Redmond, A. C., Crosbie, J., & Ouvrier, R. A. (2006). Development and validation of a novel rating system for scoring standing foot posture: the Foot Posture Index. Clinical Biomechanics, 21(1), ...

Background One of the most common musculoskeletal diseases, osteoarthritis (OA) is characterized by the progressive loss of articular cartilage in synovial joints (1). One of the first and most widely seen symptoms among patients with knee OA is muscle weakness (2). In the patients with OA, some symptoms like the decrease in the quality of life and in the ability to move, functional limitation in daily life activities might be seen frequently (3). The taping method is a physiotherapy approach that is recommended by clinic guides for patients with knee osteoarthritis (4). Objectives While studies investigating the effect of taping applied on patellar tendon in the patients with knee OA are available in the literature, no study investigating the effect of kinesiologic taping applied on quadriceps femoris and hamstring muscles has been found.Our study aim was to investigate the effects of kinesiologic taping applied on two muscle groups on pain, range of motion, muscle strength, postural balance, functionality and effusion in patients with knee OA. Methods A total of 54 patients with knee OA, who applied to the Private Meditepe Medical Center for treatment, were included in the study between the dates of November, 2012-February, 2013. Pain levels were measured with a visual analog scale, range of motion was calculated with a universal goniometer, effusion was measured with a tape measure, muscle strength was measured with a digital muscle strength dynamometer, functional condition was measured with a KOOS scale, and postural balance level was taken with a Libra EasyTech Balance device. Patients were separated into two groups randomly. A total of 28 people were included in the study group, the remaining 26 people were included in the control group. The treatment started after the first assessment and was applied as 15 sessions for a total of three weeks, five sessions per week. Results It was found that there were significant improvements in all measurements for post-treatment compared to pre-treatment in the control group (p<0.05). It was also found that there were significant increases in all measurements except hamstring muscle strength value for post-treatment compared to pre-treatment in the study group (p<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference between post-treatment values of two groups (p>0.05). Conclusions According to the results of the study, kinesiologic taping applied on quadriceps and hamstring muscles in addition to physiotherapy programme has no effect on range of motion, muscle strength, postural balance, pain level, and functionality. References Sezgin M, Erdal ME, Altintas ZM, Ankarali HC, Barlas IO, Turkmen E, Sahin G. Lack of association polymorphisms of the IL1RN, IL1A, and IL1B genes with knee osteoarthritis in Turkish patients. Clin Invest Med. 2007;30(2):E86-92. Stensrud S, Risberg MA, Roos EM. Knee function and knee muscle strength in middle-aged patients with degenerative meniscal tears eligible for arthroscopic partial meniscectomy. Br J Sports Med. 2012 Dec...