Effects of the Graft Type Used for Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction on Isokinetic Muscle Strength and Quality of Life.

There is no consensus about which graft type should be used in patients who will undergo anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction so far. In this study, it was aimed to compare the quality of life, knee functions, and isokinetic muscle strength of patients who underwent ACL reconstruction with hamstring tendon (HT) and bone-tendon-bone (BTB) autografts. Total 40 patients with ACL reconstruction (20 in HT group and 20 in BTB group), at least 1 year after the operation, all injured during sports activity were included in this study. Flexor and extensor muscle groups of both affected and unaffected knees at angular velocities of 60 and 180 degrees/s were recorded. Lysholm knee score questionnaire and Short Form (SF)-36 were administered to all patients before the isokinetic tests. No statistically significant differences were found between the groups at any angular velocity in isokinetic evaluation. Furthermore, there was no statistically significant difference between the groups in regard to Lysholm score. However, there was a statistically significant difference between the groups in SF-36 physical function domain score (p < 0.01). The results demonstrated that the SF-36 questionnaire can easily be applied to this patient population. There was only one significant difference in the SF-36 physical function component scores between the two groups. The quality of life, knee functions, and isokinetic muscle strength were similar in patients who underwent ACL reconstruction with HT and BTB.

The effects of Clinical Pilates exercises on patients with shoulder pain: A randomised clinical trial.

AIM: The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of Clinical Pilates exercises on patients with shoulder pain. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Thirty-three patients, experiencing shoulder pain continuously for at least four weeks were selected as study subjects. The patients were randomly divided into two groups, namely Clinical Pilates exercise (n = 17) group and conventional exercise (n = 16) group. The patients were treated for five days a week, the total treatment being carried out for 10 days. The assessment of pain and disability amongst the patients were done at the baseline and at the end of the treatment sessions, using Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI). RESULTS: The clinical Pilates exercise group showed a significant improvement in all scores used for assessment (p < 0.05), while the conventional exercise group demonstrated a significant improvement only in the SPADI total score (p < 0.05). A comparison of scores for the VAS, SPADI-Pain and SPADI-Total between the two groups, revealed a significant improvement in the Clinical Pilates exercise group (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: It was demonstrated by the study that Clinical Pilates exercise is an efficient technique for patients experiencing shoulder pain, as it helps reduce pain and disability among them.

Investigating the effects of a multidimensional exercise program on symptoms and antiinflammatory status in female patients with ankylosing spondylitis.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of a multidimensional exercise program on symptoms and antiinflammatory status in female patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS). METHODS: The BATH Indexes, Dougados Functional Index (DFI), Health Assessment Questionnaire in Spondyloarthopathies (HAQ-S), Ankylosing Spondylitis Quality of Life (ASQoL) and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) were used to evaluate twenty-four female AS patients. ESR, CRP, TNF-α and IL-6 were also analyzed. All patients were assessed at baseline and with 3 weeks intervals till 12 week. A multidimensional exercise program was applied for three times a week. RESULTS: There were significant differences in Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Global Index (BAS-G) and Disease Activity Index (BASDAI), HAQ-S, ASQoL and BDI scores (p < 0.05). The level of the ESR, CRP and IL-6 fluctuated slightly. There was only significant difference at 3 and 12 weeks as compared to baseline levels in TNF-α values (p = 0.048, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: We concluded that multidimensional exercise program should be taken into consideration for AS patients due to its positive effects on symptoms and antiinflammatory effects.

The cross-cultural adaptation, reliability, and validity of the Copenhagen Neck Functional Disability Scale in patients with chronic neck pain: Turkish version study.

STUDY DESIGN: The study design was cross-cultural adaptation and investigation of reliability and validity of the Copenhagen Neck Functional Disability Scale (CNFDS). OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to translate the CNFDS into Turkish language and assess its reliability and validity among patients with neck pain in Turkish population. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: The CNFDS is a reliable and valid evaluation instrument for disability, but there is no published the Turkish version of the CNFDS. METHODS: One hundred one subjects who had chronic neck pain were included in this study. The CNFDS, Neck Pain and Disability Scale, and visual analogue scale were administered to all subjects. RESULTS: For investigating test-retest reliability, correlation between CNFDS scores, applied at 1-week interval, intraclass correlation coefficient score for test-retest reliability was 0.86 (95% confidence interval = 0.679-0.935). There was no difference between test-retest scores (P < 0.001). For investigating concurrent validity, correlation between total score of the CNFDS and the mean visual analogue scale was r = 0.73 (P < 0.001). Concurrent validity of the CNFDS was very good. For investigating construct validity, correlation between total score of the CNFDS and the Neck Pain and Disability Scale was r = 0.78 (P < 0.001). Construct validity of the CNFDS was also very good. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that the Turkish version of the CNFDS is a reliable and valid instrument for Turkish people.