The home-based exercise therapy recommended to the patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a simply applicable and cheap method. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of home-based exercise therapy on pain, mobility, function, disease activity, quality of life, and respiratory functions in patients with AS. Eighty patients diagnosed with AS according to the modified New York criteria were included in the study. Home-based exercise program including range of motion, stretching, strengthening, posture, and respiratory exercises was practically demonstrated by a physiotherapist. A training and exercise manual booklet was given to all patients. Patients following home-based exercise program five times a week at least 30 min per session (exercise group) for 3 months were compared with those exercising less than five times a week (control group). Visual analog scale pain (VASp) values at baseline were significantly higher in the exercise group. The exercise group showed improvements in VASp, tragus-wall distance, morning stiffness, finger-floor distance, modified Schober's test, chest expansion, the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index, the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index, Ankylosing Spondylitis Quality of Life Questionnaire (ASQoL), forced expiratory volume in first second, and forced vital capacity at third month. There was significant difference in ASQoL scores between the two groups in favor of the exercise group at third month. Regular home-based exercise therapy should be a part of main therapy in patients with AS. Physicians should recommend that patients with AS do exercise at least five times a week at least 30 min per session.
Summary objectives:Myofascial pain syndrome (MPS) is a complex pain syndrome characterized with trigger points (TP) in skeletal muscles. We aimed to assess the efficacy of ultrasound (US) therapy, which is one of the main devices used in physical medicine and rehabilitation, for the treatment of TP in MPS. Methods: Fifty nine patients (49 females, 10 males) with active TP on the upper trapezius fibers were randomized into the treatment (n=30) and the control groups (n=29). The treatment group received conventional US therapy for 6 minutes, on 1.5 Watt/cm 2 dose with 1 MHz frequency for 15 days whereas a placebo US therapy was administered to the control group. Prior to the treatment, immediately and 3 months later pain severity during rest and physical activity was assessed with visual analog scale (VAS), TP tenderness was measured with 0-5 scale, pressure pain threshold (PPT) was analyzed with algometer and the depression level was evaluated with Beck's depression questionnaire (BDP) by a clinician blinded to the groups. Results: The mean age of the patients were 37.43±9.07 and 35.83±5.68 years, in the treatment and control groups, respectively. Compared to the pre-treatment values VAS, 0-5 scale and BDP scores decreased (p<0.01) along with an increase in PPT (p<0.01) in both groups at the follow-up visits. 0-5 scales and BDP scores were significantly lower and PPT was significantly higher in the treatment group, compared to the control group (p<0.001). conclusion: Our results revealed that US treatment is effective on MPS.Keywords: Myofascial pain syndrome; placebo ultrasound; ultrasound. Özet amaç:Miyofasiyal ağrı sendromu (MFAS), çizgili kas içinde tetik noktalar ile karakterize bir kompleks ağrı sendromudur. Ça-lışmamızda, fizik tedavide kullanılan temel cihazlardan biri olan ultrasonun (US) tetik nokta tedavisindeki etkinliği araştırıldı. Gereç ve Yöntem: Trapez kası üst liflerinde saptanan tetik noktalara bağlı MFAS tanısı konulan 59 hasta (49 kadın, 10 erkek) randomize olarak tedavi (n=30) ve kontrol grubu (n=29) olarak iki gruba ayrıldı. Tedavi grubuna 15 gün boyunca, günde bir kez 6 dakika süreyle 1.5 Watt/cm 2 dozunda, 1 MHz devamlı konvansiyonel US tedavisi, kontrol grubuna ise aynı sürede plasebo US tedavisi uygulandı. Tedavi öncesi, tedavi sonrası ve tedaviden üç ay sonra vizüel analog skala ile olguların istirahat ve aktivite sırasındaki ağrı düzeyi, sıfır-beş skalası ile tetik nokta hassasiyeti, algometre ile tetik nokta üzerindeki basınç ağrı eşiği ve Beck depresyon ölçeği ile depresyon düzeyleri, tedavi grubunu bilmeyen bir klinisyen tarafından değerlendirildi. Bulgular: Olguların yaş ortalaması tedavi grubunda 37.43±9.07, kontrol grubunda 35.83±5.68 idi. Tedavi öncesi değerlerle karşılaştırıldığında, tedaviden sonra ve üç ay sonraki kontrollerde her iki grupta da ağrı yakınmaları, tetik nokta hassasiyeti ve depresyon düzeyinde anlamlı bir azalma (p<0.01), basınç ağrı eşiğinde anlamlı artış (p<0.01) saptanmakla birlikte, grupların birbiriyle karşılaştırılmasında ağrı, tetik nokta hassasiyeti ve...
Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is known to be involved in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In order to elucidate the association between VEGF levels and RA disease activity, VEGF concentrations were measured in RA patients at different phases and severity levels. Thirty-eight healthy subjects and 40 patients with RA were prospectively included in the study. Subjects were further categorized into four subgroups (high, moderate, low, or remission) using the disease activity score-28 (DAS28) scoring system. VEGF levels were significantly higher in patients than controls (p < 0.001). VEGF levels differed significantly in controls, early and late-phase RA patients (p = 0.002). A significant difference was found between controls and patients with high RA disease activity scores (p < 0.0001). VEGF levels were not correlated with age (r = -0.016; p = 0.921) or sex (r = 0.209; p = 0.921). VEGF values were correlated with erythrocyte sedimentation rate (r = 0.445; p = 0.004), but was not correlated with serum rheumatoid factor levels (r = -0.130; p = 0.424) in the patient group. In conclusion, higher VEGF levels are associated with late phase and high disease activity in RA, independent of age and sex.
The position of MCP joints seems to be an important factor for the treatment of CTS and should be considered while prescribing a splint to the patients with CTS.
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