Effects of Pilates-based telerehabilitation on physical performance and quality of life in patients with multiple sclerosis.

PURPOSE: It is known that clinical Pilates improves strength, core stability, balance, gait, fatigue, and quality of life (QOL) in patients with multiple sclerosis (PwMS). On the other hand, there is insufficient information about whether similar benefits can be achieved with Pilates-based telerehabilitation (Pilates-TR). We aimed to investigate the effects of Pilates-TR on physical performance and QOL in PwMS. METHODS: Thirty PwMS were recruited and randomly allocated into two groups. The Pilates-TR group received Pilates-TR via videoconferences three days per week during six weeks at home. The control group (CG) was a waitlist with no Pilates-TR treatment. Physical performance measures included extremity muscle strength, core endurance and power, balance, gait analysis, and functional exercise capacity. In addition, fatigue and QOL were evaluated. RESULTS: Extremity muscle strength, core endurance and power, balance, walking speed, cadence, distance, functional exercise capacity, and QOL were improved after Pilates-TR (p < 0.05). Fatigue level and the effects of fatigue on functions decreased in Pilates-TR, while fatigue level increased in CG (p < .05). The CG showed no changes in any other measurements (p > .05). CONCLUSION: Pilates-TR was effective in improving physical performance and QOL in PwMS. Pilates-TR can be recommended as an effective option, especially for patients with barriers to reaching the clinic.Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04838886)IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATIONPilates-based telerehabilitation (Pilates-TR) is an effective means of improving muscle strength, core stability, balance, walking, functional exercise capacity, and fatigue in patients with multiple sclerosis (PwMS).Pilates-TR seems like an appropriate option for improving both the mental and physical dimensions of quality of life in PwMS.Clinicians can safely use Pilates-TR to increase physical performance and quality of life in PwMS who have limitations to participate in clinical Pilates for various reasons.

Pre- and Post-Hemodialysis Cerebral Blood Flow Velocity in Patients With End-Stage Renal Disease.

BACKGROUND: This study assessed the consequences of hemodialysis (HD) on hemodynamic parameters of cerebral circulation by measuring middle cerebral artery blood flow velocities using transcranial Doppler ultrasound before and after a single dialysis session in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty clinically stable patients with ESRD undergoing HD and 40 healthy controls were recruited for the study. Blood pressure, heart rate, and body weight were measured. Transcranial Doppler ultrasound evaluations and blood analyses were performed immediately before and after a single dialysis session. RESULTS: The mean cerebral blood flow velocities (CBFVs) in the ESRD patients before HD was 65 ± 17 cm/second and did not differ from that of the normal controls (64 ± 14 cm/s) ( P = 0.735). The postdialysis CBFV also did not differ from that of the controls ( P = 0.054). CONCLUSION: Compensatory cerebral autoregulation and chronic adjustment to therapy may be the reason for the nondeviation of the CBFV values from normality observed in both sessions.

Effects of multi-task training on motor and cognitive performances in multiple sclerosis patients without clinical disability: a single-blinded randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the effects of multi-task training on motor and cognitive performance in People with Multiple Sclerosis (PwMS) without clinical disability compared to single-task training and a control group. METHODS: A total of 42 patients were randomly assigned to three groups labeled as Multi-Task Training Group (MTTG, n:14), Single-Task Training Group (STTG, n:14), and Control Group (CG, n:14). The STTG performed only motor tasks based on the task-oriented training program twice a week for 6 weeks while the MTTG performed the same tasks concurrently with additional motor and cognitive tasks. The CG performed relaxation exercises at home. Postural stability by posturography, walking by Timed Up-and-Go, manual dexterity by Nine-Hole Peg Test, mental tracking by Counting Backward, and verbal fluency by Word List Generation were assessed before and after the intervention under single and dual-task conditions. RESULTS: In the MTTG, both single cognitive and single motor task performances increased, and, moreover, the cognitive Dual-Task Costs (DTCs) decreased although the motor DTCs were not changed significantly. There were significant group-by-time interactions in favor of MTTG only on the mental tracking DTC during walking compared to the STTG. Moreover, the changes in postural and walking DTCs were associated with changes in single-motor task performance. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that multi-task training is effective in reducing cognitive DTC rather than motor DTC under dual-task conditions in PwMS without clinical disability. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT03512886.

Multiple Sclerosis: What Methods are Available for the Assessment of Subclinical Visual System Damage?

We aimed to assess the visual fields and optical coherence tomography (OCT) measurements in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) to detect subclinical visual system disease. The study included 15 MS patients with previous optic neuritis (Group I), 17 MS patients without previous optic neuritis (Group II), and 14 healthy controls (Group III). Each subject underwent standard automated perimetry (SAP), frequency doubling technology perimetry (FDTP), and OCT. The mean deviation of SAP in Group I was lower than those in Groups II (p = .018) and III (p = .001). The pattern standard deviation of SAP in Group I was higher than those in Group III (p < .0001). The mean deviation of FDTP in Groups I and II was lower than those in Group III (p = .0001 and p = .016, respectively). The temporal quadrant of the retinal nerve fibre layer in Group I was thinner than those in Groups II and III (p = .005 and p = .003, respectively). The mean macular volume in Group I was thinner than those in Groups II and III (p = .004 and p = .002, respectively). A single method is inadequate for establishing early and/or mild visual impairment in MS. All conventional and non-conventional techniques are complementary in demonstrating subclinical visual damage in MS.

Functional Performance, Leg Muscle Strength, and Core Muscle Endurance in Multiple Sclerosis Patients With Mild Disability: A Cross-Sectional Study.

This study aimed to investigate the relationship of sit-to-stand and walking performance with leg muscle strength and core muscle endurance in people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS) with mild disabilities. In this study, 49 PwMS (Expanded Disability Status Scale score = 1.59 ± 0.79) and 26 healthy controls were enrolled. The functional performances, including sit-to-stand and walking performances, were evaluated with the five-repetition sit-to-stand test, timed up and go test, and 6-min walking test. The PwMS finished significantly slower five-repetition sit-to-stand, timed up and go, and 6-min walking test than the healthy controls. In addition, the significant contributors were the weakest trunk lateral flexor endurance for five-repetition sit-to-stand; the Expanded Disability Status Scale score, and the weakest hip adductor muscle for timed up and go; the weakest hip extensor muscles strength for 6-min walking test. The functional performances in PwMS, even with mild disabilities, were lower compared with healthy controls. Decreases in both leg muscle strength and core muscle endurance are associated with lower functional performance in PwMS.

The reliability and validity of the Turkish version of the dual-task questionnaire in patients with multiple sclerosis.

BACKGROUND: Activities of daily living often require performing dual-task (DT). People with Multiple Sclerosis (PwMS) may have difficulties during dual-task and these difficulties negatively affect their quality of life. However, the number of validated questionnaires to assess DT difficulties in Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is very few. Therefore, the study aimed to translate and adapt the Dual-Task Questionnaire (DTQ) into Turkish, thereafter analyzing the psychometric properties in PwMS. METHODS: A total of 51 PwMS were recruited in the study. Cronbach's alpha coefficient was used to evaluate internal consistency. The test-retest reliability was determined using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Correlations of the DTQ with motor-dual task costs (DTCs) and cognitive-DTCs were used to assess construct validity. RESULTS: The mean age was 36.84±10.47 years. The internal consistency of the DTQ was acceptable (α= 0.780). The test-retest reliability of all items and the total score of the DTQ were excellent (ICC>0.90). The relationships of DTQ-Total between some parameters of motor-DTCs (ρ=-0.409-(-0.495) for walking-DTCs, ρ=-0.313 for manual dexterity-DTC during mental tracking, and ρ=-0.353 for balance-DTC during mental tracking) and cognitive-DTCs (ρ=0.328 for mental tacking-DTC during balance, ρ=0.290-0.342 for all verbal fluency-DTCs) were low to moderately significant. CONCLUSION: Turkish version of DTQ is a reliable and valid tool to measure DT difficulty in PwMS. Additionally, the questionnaire is a reliable and valid Patient Reported Outcomes Initiative for MS (PROMS) for Turkish-speaking PwMS.

The functional reach test in people with multiple sclerosis: a reliability and validity study.

BACKGROUND: Limits of stability (LOS) is a major component of balance dysfunction in people with multiple sclerosis (MS). The functional reach test (FRT) is a clinical LOS assessment; however, its psychometric properties have not been investigated in people with MS yet. Objectives: To investigate: (1) the intrarater, interrater, and test-retest reliability of the FRT in people with MS; (2) the minimum detectable change (MDC) in the FRT distances; (3) the concurrent and discriminant validity of the FRT; and (4) the cutoff distance that best discriminates people with MS from healthy people and fallers from non-fallers with MS. METHODS: Forty-three people with MS and 36 healthy people participated in this study. The FRT was administered along with the instrumented LOS test, Berg Balance Scale, Four Square Step Test, Timed Up and Go Test, and Expanded Disability Status Scale. The FRT was repeated by the same rater after 2 min from the first test session to determine the intrarater reliability and was simultaneously conducted by two independent raters to determine the interrater reliability. The FRT was also repeated after 7-10 days to determine the test-retest reliability. The reliability was quantified using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC), Bland-Altman plots, and the MDC. The validity was assessed by correlating the FRT distances with the scores of other measures and by comparing the FRT distances between the MS group and healthy people, and between the fallers and non-fallers in the MS group. RESULTS: The FRT demonstrated good to excellent intrarater, interrater, and test-retest reliability with an ICC (3,1) of 0.80-0.88 (p < .001), an ICC (3,2) of 0.94-0.97 (p < .001), an ICC (2,3) of 0.84-0.86 (p < .001), respectively. Bland-Altman analyses showed no systematic bias between the assessments. The MDC was 8.28 centimeters. The FRT was correlated with the other outcome measures (correlation coefficients ranged from 0.31 to 0.79, p < .05 for all). Significant differences in the FRT distances were found between people with MS and healthy people; however, no significant difference was found between the fallers and non-fallers with MS (p < .001 and p = .09, respectively). The cutoff distance of 35.5 centimeters best discriminates healthy people from people with MS while of 28.5 centimeters did not discriminate between the fallers and non-fallers with MS. CONCLUSIONS: The FRT is a reliable, valid, and easy-to-administer tool for assessing LOS in people with MS.

Dual-Task Cost and Related Clinical Features in Patients With Multiple Sclerosis.

This study aimed to investigate the dual-task cost of both motor and cognitive performances in patients with multiple sclerosis (PwMS) and in healthy controls and to determine their relationships with clinical features in PwMS. The participants performed motor tasks (postural stability, walking, and manual dexterity) and cognitive tasks (mental tracking and verbal fluency) under single- and dual-task conditions. The results showed that postural stability under dual-task conditions did not change, whereas walking and manual dexterity deteriorated, regardless of the concurrent cognitive task, in PwMS (median Expanded Disability Status Scale score: 1) and the healthy controls. Verbal fluency decreased during postural stability, whereas it increased during walking, and it was maintained during manual dexterity in both groups. Mental tracking did not change during walking; it declined during manual dexterity in both groups. Mental tracking during postural stability deteriorated in PwMS, while it did not change in the healthy controls. In general, dual-task costs were associated with baseline performances of tasks rather than clinical features. Therefore, baseline performances of both tasks should be increased for improving dual-task performance in PwMS.

Pre- and Post-stenting Cerebral Blood Flow Velocities in Patients with Carotid Artery Stenosis.

PURPOSE: This study evaluated the hemodynamic effects of carotid artery stenting (CAS) on cerebral blood flow velocity (CBFV) in patients with carotid artery stenosis, before, 3 d, and 3 months after the procedure using transcranial Doppler ultrasound (TCD). METHODS: The study included 36 patients with atheromatous carotid artery stenosis. Cerebral computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed in every patient, and carotid stenosis was evaluated using duplex sonography, CT, and MRI angiography before the procedure. To obtain baseline values, the CBFV was evaluated 1 d before CAS. Follow-up TCD evaluations were performed 3 d and 3 months postoperatively. RESULTS: The median degree of internal carotid artery (ICA) stenosis in the participants was 90% (range 50%-99%). The median CBFV at the anterior cerebral artery (ACA) was significantly lower on the ipsilateral side than on the contralateral side before stenting; however, there were no significant differences in CBFV in the ipsi and contralateral middle cerebral artery (MCA). The median CBFV in the ipsilateral MCA increased significantly 3 d after the procedure and remained higher than the basal values after 3 months. CONCLUSIONS: We observed significant increases in the median CBFV and pulsatility index (PI) in the MCA bilaterally, especially on the stented side, measured 3 d and 3 months after stenting in patients with severe ICA stenosis.

Reliability and validity of the timed 360° turn test in people with multiple sclerosis.

Objectives: To investigate (1) the intrarater, interrater, and test-retest reliability of the timed 360° turn test in people with Multiple Sclerosis (MS); (2) the minimum detectable change in the timed 360° turn test times; (3) the concurrent and discriminant validity of the timed 360° turn test times; and (4) the cut-off times that best discriminate people with MS from healthy people and fallers from non-fallers with MS.Method: Sixty-one people with MS (Expanded Disability Status Scale, EDSS, 0-6.5) and 34 healthy people were recruited in this cross-sectional study. The timed 360° turn test was administered along with the Timed Up and Go Test, Berg Balance Scale, Four Square Step Test, and EDSS by two independent raters.Results: The timed 360° turn test showed good intrarater, interrater, and test-retest reliability. Minimal detectable changes were 1.49 s and 1.53 s for the dominant and non-dominant sides, respectively. The timed 360° turn test was strongly correlated with other outcome measures. Significant differences in 360° turn times were found between people with MS and healthy people and between fallers and non-fallers with MS (p < .001 and p < .001, respectively). The cut-off times of 2.65 s on the dominant side and 2.42 s on the non-dominant best discriminated people with MS from healthy people, while 3.65 s on the dominant side and 3.75 s on the non-dominant best discriminated fallers from non-fallers with MS.Conclusions: The timed 360° turn test is a simple and reliable tool for assessing turning ability in MS.

Clinical features and physical performance in multiple sclerosis patients with and without cognitive impairment: a cross-sectional study.

The factors associated with cognitive functions in patients with multiple sclerosis (PwMS) are not yet clear. The aims of this study were (1) to compare clinical features and physical performance in healthy controls, and PwMS with and without cognitive impairment, and (2) to determine the relationship between cognitive domains and demographics characteristics, clinical features and physical performance in PwMS. A total of 112 PwMS and 25 healthy controls participated in this study. Cognitive functions were evaluated by Brief Repeatable Battery of Neuropsychological Tests (BRB-N). Based on cognitive performances by BRB-N, PwMS were divided into two groups as MS patients with impaired (MS-I, n: 57) and with normal (MS-N, n: 55) cognitive functions. For clinical features, fatigue, mood and sleep quality were evaluated by the Fatigue Impact Scale, Beck's Depression Inventory, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, respectively. For physical performances, balance and walking capacity were evaluated by posturography and Six-Minute Walking Test, respectively. The results showed that the education years, postural stability and walking capacity in MS-N and healthy controls were higher than in MS-I (P < 0.05). In addition, visuospatial memory was correlated with both postural stability under all sensory conditions and walking capacity; verbal memory was correlated with education years, postural stability on eyes closed-foam surface and walking capacity; verbal fluency was correlated with only walking capacity; information processing speed was correlated with education years, postural stability under all sensory conditions and walking capacity (P < 0.001). This study suggests that the interventions that aim to improve physical performance might protect and even improve cognitive functions in PwMS.

Combined exercise training improves cognitive functions in multiple sclerosis patients with cognitive impairment: A single-blinded randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Cognitive impairment is common in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). The effects of different exercise trainings on cognitive functions in patients with MS are promising. However, the effects are not yet clear in MS patients with cognitive impairment. This study aimed to investigate the effect of combined exercise training on different cognitive functions in MS patients with cognitive impairment. METHODS: Relapsing-remitting and mild disabled MS patients with cognitive impairment were randomly assigned to two groups: Exercise Group (EG, n:17) and the Control Group (CG, n:17). The EG received a combined exercise training consisting of aerobic and Pilates training in three sessions per week for 8 weeks while the CG performed the relaxation exercises at home. Cognitive functions, walking capacity, fatigue, mood, and quality of life were assessed at baseline and after eight weeks using the Brief Repeatable Battery of Neuropsychological Tests (BRB-N), Six-Minute Walk Test (6-MWT), Fatigue Impact Scale (FIS), Beck's Depression Inventory (BDI) and MS Quality of Life-54 (MSQoL-54), respectively. RESULTS: This study showed significant group-by-time interactions on long-term verbal memory, walking capacity, cognitive fatigue, and physical quality of life in favor of the EG (p<0.003). Moreover, verbal memory, visuospatial memory, verbal fluency, information processing speed, walking capacity, fatigue, and quality of life improved in the EG (p<0.05) while only verbal memory increased in the CG (p<0.05). Furthermore, the change in visuospatial memory was associated with the change in mental quality of life (r:0.352, p: 0.041) while the change in verbal fluency (r: -0.362, p:0.035) and processing speed (r: -0.356, p:0.039) were associated with the change in mood. CONCLUSION: Combined exercise training has beneficial effects on different cognitive functions in mild disabled RRMS patients with cognitive impairment. In addition, there is a mutual relationship in improvements in cognitive functions, mood, and quality of life after exercise.

Effect of task-oriented circuit training on motor and cognitive performance in patients with multiple sclerosis: A single-blinded randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Exercise training has positive effects on motor and cognitive performance which deteriorates over time in patients with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). The effects of task-oriented circuit training (TOCT) on motor and cognitive performance in patients with MS are not yet clear. OBJECTIVE: The aims of this study are to investigate the effects of TOCT on balance, walking, manual dexterity, cognitive performance, and to determine the extent to which patients are able to transfer changes in their performance to activities of daily living. METHODS: Twenty patients with MS (EDSS: 2-5.5), were randomly assigned to two groups; the task-oriented circuit training group (TOCTG, n:10) and the control group (CG, n:10). The TOCTG received TOCT twice a week for six weeks while the CG performed the relaxation exercises at home. All patients were assessed by using Modified Sensory Organization Test, Berg Balance Scale, Activities-specific Balance Confidence, Timed Up and Go, Functional Gait Assessment, 12-item Multiple Sclerosis Walking Scale, Nine-Hole Peg Test, Brief Repeatable Battery of Neuropsychological Tests, Multiple Sclerosis Neuropsychological Questionnaire. RESULTS: Balance and walking performance were improved after TOCT (p < 0.05), whereas manual dexterity and cognitive performance except for verbal memory did not change significantly (p > 0.05). The CG showed no changes in any measurements (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: TOCT is quite effective to improve balance and walking in patients with MS. However, further studies are needed to determine the effect of TOCT on cognitive performance.

Assessment of maternal cerebral blood flow velocity by transcranial Doppler ultrasound before delivery and in the early postpartum period.

OBJECTIVE: This prospective observational study aimed to identify the effects of labor on cerebral hemodynamics by measuring the middle cerebral artery (MCA) blood flow velocity by transcranial Doppler ultrasound (TCD), and the related factors just before delivery and within the 24 h after delivery. METHODS: The study included 35 healthy pregnant women with a gestational age of >37 weeks who were in labor and a control group including healthy, age-matched, nonpregnant women (n = 24). Demographic characteristics and significant clinical information of pregnant women were recorded. The MCA blood flow velocity was assessed by TCD just before and within 24 h after delivery. The parameters assessed by TCD were mean cerebral blood flow velocity (MCBFV), peak systolic velocity (PSV), pulsatility index (PI), resistance index (RI), and systolic/diastolic ratio. RESULTS: There was no significant difference between the pregnant and nonpregnant women regarding age (27 ± 5 years versus 28 ± 7 years; p = .751). The MCBFV, PSV, PI, and RI showed a significant increase within the 24 h after delivery as compared with those before delivery. Comparison of the pregnant women with the control group in terms of the values of all parameters related to the MCA blood flow velocity revealed that the values that were significantly low before delivery reached to the level of the control group after delivery Conclusion: The findings of this study demonstrated that the blood flow velocity of the MCA decreased during the late pregnancy period and increased in the early postpartum period to the level similar to that of the nonpregnant group.

Cognition, depression, fatigue, and quality of life in primary Sjögren's syndrome: correlations.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to investigate the prevalence and pattern of cognitive dysfunction observed in primary Sjögren's syndrome (PSS) and to examine the relationships between cognitive abilities, depression, fatigue, and quality of life. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-two subjects with PSS were compared with 19 healthy controls on comprehensive neuropsychological, depression, fatigue, health state, and daily-life activities tests. RESULTS: There was low performance in Clock Drawing, COWAT, Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test (PASAT), Colorless Word Reading (Stroop1) and Recognizing Colors (Stroop2) Patterns of STROOP test, SDLT, Auditory-Verbal Learning Test (AVLT), immediate and long-term verbal memory, Benton Judgment of Line Orientation Test (BJLOT), and in all the patterns of RCFT in PSS patients compared to the healthy control group (p < .05). It was observed an increased depression frequency and fatigue severity, impairment in health condition, and a decreased quality of life in PSS cases compared to the healthy controls (p < .05). All the depression, fatigue severity, and quality of life tests showed a significant positive correlation with each other (p < .05). A significant negative correlation between Clock Drawing and SF-36-BP (p = .031, r = -.382) and SF-36-GH (p = .027, r = -.392) was observed. CONCLUSIONS: Clock Drawing, PASAT, and AVLT are very useful tests to determine the subclinical and clinical cognitive dysfunction to evaluate attention, information processing speed, executive functions, and short-term and long-term verbal memory in PSS patients. Depression and fatigue may not affect the neuropsychological tests performance.

Olfactory functioning in early multiple sclerosis: Sniffin' Sticks Test study.

INTRODUCTION: Previous studies have shown that olfactory functioning is affected by multiple sclerosis (MS). This study assessed the level of the olfactory impairment in early MS by using the Sniffin' Sticks Test. METHODS: This study included 30 patients with MS and 30 healthy controls. We collected demographic and clinical data from participants and administered the Sniffin' Sticks Test. RESULTS: We found no differences between the MS and control groups in odor discrimination, odor identification, and threshold discrimination identification scores, but odor threshold (OT) scores were higher in the control group than in the MS group (P=0.49). In addition, we did not find any correlation between MS patients' olfactory test scores and their scores on the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS), disease duration, history of optic neuritis, or being on immunomodulatory therapy. CONCLUSION: In recent studies, odor threshold impairment seemed to be the most striking finding in patients with MS. Although the present study found a mild alteration in odor threshold, olfactory dysfunction appears to be a consequence of neurodegeneration in the higher order olfactory brain regions, which is thought to be a time-dependent process.

Primary Sjögren's syndrome is associated with significant cognitive dysfunction.

AIM: Cognitive dysfunction is a neurologic manifestation in primary Sjögren syndrome (PSS). On the other hand, several antibodies are related to cognitive dysfunction. The aim of this study is to assess the cognitive dysfunction of PSS patients via detailed neurologic tests. Moreover, its associations with antibodies were also evaluated. METHOD: Twenty-eight female patients with PSS and 17 healthy controls comprised the study groups. Short-term memory, long-term memory, verbal learning, visual memory, visual spatial perception, attention, verbal frequency function, executive functions and information processing speed were evaluated with neurologic tests in both of the study groups. Furthermore, anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) type anti-glutamate-receptor antibody, anti-ribosomal-p and antiganglioside antibodies were assessed in the study groups. RESULTS: The attention, data processing speed, verbal learning, short-term verbal memory and visuo-spatial perception performances were lower in the patients with PSS when compared to the healthy controls. The difference reached statistical significance in Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test (P < 0.01), Serial Digit Learning Test (P < 0.01), clock drawing (P = 0.03), Auditory Verbal Learning Test immediate verbal memory (P = 0.01) and Benton Judgement of Line Orientation Test (P = 0.03). Even if antiganglioside antibodies were more likely to be present in the PSS group when compared to the healthy controls, no relationship was found between its positivity and cognitive dysfunction. CONCLUSION: Results of this study suggest that cognitive dysfunction is quite prevalent in PSS patients without being associated with studied antibodies.

Does correcting position and increasing sensorial input of the foot and ankle with Kinesio Taping improve balance in stroke patients?

BACKGROUND: We thought that the application of Kinesio Tape (KT) on the foot and ankle in stroke patients may improve the quality of somatosensory information and may activate ankle muscles which have an important role in postural control and that ultimately balance could be improved in stroke patients. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of KT on balance in stroke patients. METHODS: Nineteen stroke patients and 16 healthy controls were included in the study. The study group was evaluated with and without KT. Balance of the all subjects was evaluated Sensory Organization Tests (SOT) by using the Computerized Dynamic Posturography. Equilibrium, Strategy Analysis and Composite Equilibrium Scores were investigated in SOT. RESULTS: Statistically significant differences were observed in all of the SOT parameters between stroke patients and healthy controls (p <  0.05). When the results with and without KT application were compared, the Equilibrium Scores in the conditions 3, 4, 6, Strategy Analysis Score in the conditions 2, 4, 6 and the Composite Equilibrium Score of the SOT were found to be improved in stroke patents (p <  0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The results obtained from KT application are promising in improving balance in stroke patients.