Short term effects of classic massage compared to connective tissue massage on pressure pain threshold and muscle relaxation response in women with chronic neck pain: a preliminary study.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the short-term effects of classic massage (CM) and connective tissue massage (CTM) on pressure pain threshold and muscle relaxation response in women with chronic neck pain. METHODS: Participants included 45 female volunteers (ages between 25 and 45 years) presenting to the Köroglu State Hospital Neurosurgery Polyclinic who had experienced neck pain for 3 to 6 months. The volunteers were randomly assigned to 2 groups (CM or CTM to the thoracic spine and the neck). Each treatment was carried out for 1 session. Outcome measures were obtained before and after treatment, which included pressure pain threshold that was measured with an algometer and muscle relaxation response that was evaluated with electromyography biofeedback (EMG-BF). RESULTS: Pressure pain threshold of the sternocleidomastoid muscle was significantly different for the CM (P < .05) group. The EMG-BF values were significantly different for the CTM group (P < .05). Comparing the results of CM and CTM, EMG-BF averages favored the CTM group (P < .05). CONCLUSION: For the group of women with chronic neck pain that were included in this study, 1 treatment of CTM demonstrated relaxation responses and 1 treatment of CM demonstrated pain reduction.

The relationship between physical, functional capacity and quality of life (QoL) among elderly people with a chronic disease.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between physical and functional capacity and quality of life (QoL) among elderly people who have a chronic disease. The study included 100 elderly individuals aged 65 years and older, who have a chronic disease. The study examined the marital and educational status, social security status, kind of chronic disease, number of chronic diseases and whether participants use assistive devices for walking. The Nottingham health profile (NHP) was used to evaluate QoL related to health; the physical mobility scale (PMS) was used to evaluate mobility in daily life and the functional independent measure (FIM) was used to evaluate functional independence in daily activities. In both female and male individuals, a statistically significant difference was found between the number of chronic diseases, kind of chronic disease, educational status, marital status, total FIM, PMS and NHP values (p<0.05). In males, there was a correlation between number of chronic illnesses and total NHP, FIM (p<0.05), but in females, there were no correlation between number of chronic illnesses and total NHP, FIM (p>0.05). There were no correlations between kind of chronic disease and PMS, NHP, FIM (p>0.05) in either of genders. It was found that there are differences among elderly female and male individuals with a chronic disease in terms of the number of chronic diseases, types of chronic disease, mobility level, functional status and QoL; and mobility level is related to functional capacity and QoL in females. It is thought that the rehabilitation programs to improve physical and functional capacity in elderly people and applications that increase participation in activities and reduce pain may improve QoL.

Effectiveness of a wheelchair skills training programme for community-living users of manual wheelchairs in Turkey: a randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: To test the hypothesis that, in comparison with those in a control group, community-dwelling wheelchair users in Turkey who have completed the Wheelchair Skills Training Program have better total percentage performance and safety scores on the Wheelchair Skills Test. DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial. SUBJECTS: The study group comprised individuals (n = 24) who have to use a wheelchair for mobility in daily life. The subjects were randomly allocated to training (n = 14) and control groups (n = 10). INTERVENTIONS: The training group attended a skill training session three times a week for four weeks. The control group did not participate in the training. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: At the beginning of the study, subjects underwent a Wheelchair Skills Test (version 4.1), which evaluated their performance and safety for a range of skills. The test was repeated at the end of the study. RESULTS: The mean ± SD total percentage Wheelchair Skills Test performance scores increased significantly in both the training group (P = 0.002) and control group (P = 0.01), although the training group increased to a greater extent (P = 0.034). The training group's mean ± SD total percentage Wheelchair Skills Test safety scores increased significantly (P = 0.001), but there was no significant change in the control group. A statistically significant improvement was found between the total percentage Wheelchair Skills Test safety scores in the training group compared with the control group (P = 0.001). CONCLUSION: Community-living wheelchair users who received wheelchair skills training increased their total performance and safety scores to a greater extent than a control group.

The effect of functional mobility and balance on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among elderly people living at home and those living in nursing home.

The present study examined the effect of functional mobility and balance on HRQoL among elderly people living at home and those living in nursing homes. The study included 122 elderly people aged 65 and over. With regard to the individuals whose socio-demographic data were collected in the scope of the study, balance and functional mobility levels were evaluated using the timed up and go test (TUG) and Berg balance scale (BBS); HRQoL was evaluated using the Nottingham health profile (NHP); physical independence in daily activities was evaluated using the Barthel index (BI); and basic mobility in daily life was evaluated using the Rivermead mobility index (RMI). Statistically significant differences were found between the TUG, BBS and NHP values of the elderly people living in a home environment and those living in nursing homes (p<0.05). However, no statistically significant difference could be found between the BI and RMI values (p>0.05). A statistically significant relationship was found between the NHP and TUG, RMI, BI and the use of assistive devices in daily life activities (p<0.05). It is thought that the inclusion of functional mobility and balance training in elderly care and rehabilitation programs would be useful for the elderly people to develop functional independence and in increasing their HRQoL.

[The relation between health-related quality of life and pain, depression, anxiety, and functional independence in persons with chronic physical disability]. / Kronik fiziksel özürlü bireylerde agri, depresyon, anksiyete ve fonksiyonel bagimsizlik ile yasam kalitesi arasindaki iliski.

OBJECTIVES: This study was designed to investigate the relation between health- related quality of life and pain, depression, anxiety, and functional independence. METHODS: The study included 82 healthy subjects aged 38.18+/-11.06 and 89 physically disabled subjects aged 37.72+/-16.40. Physical and social characteristics of the subjects such as age, height, length, weight, gender, occupational and marital status, and level of education were recorded. Visual Analogue Scale, Beck Depression Inventory, Beck Anxiety Inventory, Nottingham Health Profile, and Functional Independence Measure were used to evaluate pain, depression, anxiety, quality of life, and functional independence, respectively. RESULTS: Compared to healthy individuals, chronically disabled subjects had higher pain, depression and anxiety and lower quality of life scores. Between-group comparison showed that there was a significant difference in pain, depression, anxiety levels and health-related quality of life (p<0.05). Similarly, both healthy and disabled individuals indicated a negative correlation between pain, depression, anxiety and quality of life (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: In individuals with chronic disabilities, pain may induce serious psychological problems, negatively affecting quality of life. This study showed that in chronically disabled individuals, there is a strong correlation between pain, depression, anxiety, and quality of life. These results should be considered carefully when planning assessment and rehabilitation programs for individuals with chronic disabilities.