The effect of rheumatoid arthritis on upper extremity functions: A kinematic perspective.

AIM: To examine the global upper extremity kinematics in 3D while performing "jar opening motion" in Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) and to compare these with healthy individuals. METHOD: Twenty-four women (12 healthy, 12 RA) were included. Evaluations were made with a JAMAR dynamometer, Health Assessment Questionnaire, and 3D kinematic analysis of global upper extremity during "jar opening motion." The time taken during "jar opening motion" was analyzed in 2 parts (Part 1, Part 2), with total time: part 1 + part 2. In addition, shoulder-to-table distance; elbow flexion angle; wrist extension angle; the area scanned and angular rotation by arm, forearm and hand were used in the analysis. RESULTS: Between groups, there was a statistical difference in: bilateral hand grip strength; part 1, part 2, total time; shoulder-to-table distance; elbow flexion angle; the area scanned by hand; angular rotation of arm and hand in favor of the healthy group (P < .05). In stepwise multiple regression analysis, the most predictive variable for disability was elbow flexion, explaining 53.9% of disability. CONCLUSION: Compared to healthy individuals, individuals with RA have slower motion, more elbow flexion, less hand grip strength, circular pattern in hand, rotation in arm and hand. Increased disability may result in greater load on elbow flexion.

The effects of pilates on posture and physical fitness parameters in 5-6 years old children: A non-randomized controlled study.

BACKGROUND: Inactivity is a public health problem. Physical activity is beneficial at any age, but is even more critical in childhood for healthy development and growth. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this non-randomized controlled study was to investigate the effects of Pilates on posture and physical fitness parameters in 5-6 years old healthy children. METHODS: Four preschool classes were divided into two groups. Five-six years old 66 preschool children were assigned to the Pilates (n = 31) and control (n = 35) groups. The Pilates group received a Pilates program twice a week for 10 weeks. The control group continued their daily routines. Postural assessment was evaluated using the New York Posture Rating Chart test and physical fitness was evaluated with the Eurofit test battery. Children were blinded to assignment. The Mann-Whitney U test was used for comparisons between groups, and the Wilcoxon Signed-Rank test was used for within-group comparisons. RESULTS: In this study, within-group comparisons showed statistically significant improvements in the New York Posture Rating chart test (p < 0.001), Flamingo Balance, Sit and Reach, Standing Broad Jump, 30-Second Sit-Up, Bent Arm Hang, and 20-Meter Shuttle Run test scores (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Pilates has positive effects on physical fitness parameters and postural evaluation in preschool children. This study suggests that Pilates can be an entertaining alternative physical activity in children aged 5-6 years. NUMBER: NCT05210426.

The effects of face masks on cardiopulmonary capacity in healthy young individuals.

BACKGROUND: Due to the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic that affected the world in a short time, face masks were recommended by all authorities and started to be used widely. Few studies have reported the effects of face masks on cardiopulmonary capacity. In this critical period, there is a need to contribute to the literature to clarify the effects of face masks. The aim of the study was to examine the effect of face masks on cardiopulmonary capacity. METHODS: In this prospective cross-over study, the effect of wearing nomask (nm), surgical mask (cm) and FFP2/N95 (ffpm) mask was examined in 16 healthy individuals (age: 23.12±1.4, BMI: 22.91±12.8, 8 women). Forty-eight tests were performed randomly with the standard cycle ergometer. Time to exhaustion, maximum power, heart rate, dyspnea, respiratory frequency and oxygen saturation were evaluated. Ten domains of the comfort/discomfort levels of wearing mask were evaluated by questionnaire. RESULTS: Time to exhaustion were 383±118, 348.25±106 and 338.62±97 seconds (nm, cm and ffpm, respectively; P<0.001). The maximum power was 125±31.62 Watt in all measurements. There was no significant differences in physiological parameters except dyspnea (P=0.004). A significant difference was found between the masks in terms of tightness and breathing resistance in terms of mask comfort/discomfort (P=0.001, P=0.02, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Cardiopulmonary exercise capacity was reduced in healthy young individuals due to surgical mask and ffpm/N95. In addition to this effect, breathing resistance and tightness should be considered in face masks recommendations during exercise.

The effect of smartphone addiction on physical activity level in sports science undergraduates.

BACKGROUND: Smartphones are thought to have many negative effects on interpersonal relationships, physical-mental health, and general functionality as well as bring many conveniences to our daily lives. This study aimed to determine the effect of smartphone addiction on physical activity level in sports science undergraduates. Secondly, comparing the physical activity level in students by gender was aimed. METHOD: A total of 300 (134 female, 166 male) healthy university students were included in this study. The mean age of the subjects was 21.36 ± 2.33 years. The universe of the study consisted of volunteer students (Coaching Education, Physical Education and Sports Teaching, Sports Management, Recreation Departments) at the Faculty of Sport Sciences. Participants' demographic information was obtained and their physical activity levels were questioned with International Physical Activity Questionnaires (IPAQ) and smartphone addictions with the Smartphone Addiction Scale- Short Version (SAS-SV). The significance level was accepted as p < .05 in statistical evaluations. RESULTS: According to IPAQ scores, physical activity levels of the participants were as follows; 65.3% were adequate, 32.7% low and 2% inactive. One-hundred and twenty-six participants (42%) were smartphone addicts according to the SAS-SV results. When the departments were examined within themselves, it was found that IPAQ and SAS-SV scores were negatively correlated for Physical Education and Sports Teaching (r = - 0.262; p = .021) and Sports management (r = - 0.295; p = .01).

The sub-acute effects of high-intensity interval training in healthy young adults: respiratory parameters, aerobic capacity and perceived stress.

BACKGROUND: Although the effects of sub-maximal continuous aerobic training (SCT) and high-intensity interval training (HIIT) are well studied in performance athletes and in several patient groups, there is not much evidence about the effects of these exercises in sedentary healthy young population. The aim of the study was to compare the effects of these two different types of aerobic exercises on respiratory parameters, aerobic capacity and perceived stress in healthy university students. METHODS: Thirty-six healthy, young subjects with a mean age of 20.83±0.97 years were included in the study (N.=19 in HIIT and N.=17 in SCT). Pulmonary function tests (PFTs) and respiratory muscle strength (RMS) assessments were done using a desktop spirometer. Aerobic capacity was estimated with the Bruce treadmill exercise test. The Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) was used for the assessment of stress perception. All participants exercised 3 times per week for 4 weeks (a total of 12 sessions). RESULTS: After 12 sessions, the peak expiratory flow parameter (a PFT value) of both groups showed significant increases, but there was no difference between the groups. The RMS of the subjects increased significantly in both the groups (P<0.05), but there was no significant difference between the groups. Both groups showed significant increases in terms of aerobic capacity (P>0.05), and the improvement was significantly higher in the HIIT group. Perceived stress values showed a significant increase in the SCT group. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the results of this study, the two exercise types were found to have similar effects on RMS. Also, when compared with SCT, HIIT was found to have more effect on aerobic capacity.

Reliability of the Modified Four Square Step Test (mFSST) in patients with primary total knee arthroplasty.

Purpose: The aim of the present study was to determine the test-retest reliability of the modified four square step test (mFSST) in patients with primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA).Methods: Twenty-eight patients with primary TKA were included in this study. Patients performed two mFSST trials on the same day.Results: The mFSST showed excellent test-retest reliability in this study. Intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC(2,1)] for FSST was 0.97. Standard error of measurement and smallest real difference at the 95% confidence level for mFSST were 0.80 and 2.24, respectively.Conclusions: The mFSST has an excellent test-retest reliability in patients with primary TKA. It is an effective and reliable tool for measuring dynamic balance and mobility in patients with primary TKA. As a clinical test, the mFSST is easy to score, quick to administer, requires little space, has no cost and needs no special equipment.

Effect of body mass index percentile on skeletal maturation of cervical vertebrae and hand-wrist and dental maturation.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between age- and gender-specific body mass index (BMI) percentile and skeletal and dental maturation in Turkish adolescents.Materials and methods: A sample of 429 patients (171 males, 258 females aged between 7 and 17 years) was selected. Skeletal maturation was identified in the hand-wrist radiography by Björk, Grave and Brown (BGB), and the cervical vertebrae maturation (CVM) method defined by Hassel and Farman in lateral cephalometric radiography. Dental maturation was determined by the Demirjian method. BMI was calculated by reference curves used for Turkish children. A regression model was used for the relationship between BMI percentile and skeletal and dental maturation.Results: There was no significant correlation between BMI and skeletal maturation of cervical vertebrae and dental maturation. A one-percentile increase in BMI percentile accelerates the increase of period (likelihood of being post-pubertal period) to 1.016 times (p < .05). Skeletal maturation of hand-wrist and cervical vertebrae and dental maturation were more prominent in females compared to males (p < .05). Males and females were not statistically significantly different in BMI percentile (p = .52).Conclusions: BMI may be considered before deciding to estimate the skeletal and dental maturation in an individual by the relevant methods.

Reliability of 3-m Backward Walk Test in Patients with Primary Total Knee Arthroplasty.

The 3-m backward walk test (3MBWT) is used to evaluate neuromuscular control, proprioception, protective reflexes, fall risk, and balance. The aim of the present study was to determine the test-retest reliability of the 3MBWT in patients with primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Twenty-eight patients with primary TKA, operated by the same surgeon, were included in this study. Patients performed trials for 3MBWT twice on the same day. Between the first and second trials, patients waited for an hour on sitting position to prevent fatigue. The 3MBWT showed an excellent test-retest reliability in this study. Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) for 3MBWT was 0.97. The standard error of measurement and smallest real difference at the 95% confidence level for 3MBWT were 1.06 and 2.94, respectively. The 3MBWT has an excellent test-retest reliability in patients with primary TKA. It is an effective and reliable tool for measuring dynamic balance and participant falls. As a clinical test, the 3MBWT is easy to score, requires little space, has no cost, needs no special equipment, and can be applied in a short time as part of the routine medical examination.

Effects of Kinesio tape application to trunk isokinetic strength in female participants.

The purpose of this study is to analyse the effects of KT on trunk strength with respect to different angular speeds when applied to the trunks of healthy women. Forty healthy female participants were randomly distributed into two groups: the placebo group (PG) in which placebo KT was applied and the experimental group (EG). Participants' trunk concentric flexion and extension muscle strength were measured using an isokinetic dynamometer in two different angular speeds (60°/s - 180°/s). In both PG and EG groups, there was no significant difference measured immediately after taping at the two angular speed values. In the measurements taken 48 h later, as regards PG trunk flexion, extension muscle strength increased significantly (p = 0.0001) at 60°/sc. angular speed while, for the EG only, the strength of trunk extension muscle increased significantly (p = 0.002). It was observed, that to ensure an increase in strength, waiting for a certain length of time was required. Lower angular speeds and short-term applied KT improved the strength of the trunk extension muscle.

Hemorheological alterations following an acute bout of nordic hamstring exercise in active male participants1.

BACKGROUND: The Nordic hamstring exercise (NHE) has been proven to be an effective preventive technique for hamstring injuries. Hemorheological parameters (erythrocyte deformability and aggregation) play a critical role in exercise influencing oxygenation. Although previous studies presented hemorheological alterations induced by different types of exercise, changes in red blood cell (RBC) deformability and aggregation following NHE remain unknown. Present study was designed to explore possible alterations in hemorheological and oxidative parameters after an acute bout of NHE. METHODS: 10 healthy, male, active students (mean age 19.9±0.23, BMI: 21.56±0.54) participated to the study. They performed a single session of seven-repetitions of NHE followed by a familiarisation period. Blood samples were obtained before and immediately after the exercise from the antecubital vein. Hemorheological parameters were measured by an ektacytometer. RESULTS: NHE did not change deformability, hematocrit and oxidative stress but, increased RBC aggregation index (AI, p = 0.011) and decreased RBC aggregation half time (t½, p = 0.009). CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that, increased RBC aggregation following an acute bout of NHE may result in increased plasma skimming and thus ease the flow of blood.

Increased erythrocyte aggregation following an acute bout of eccentric isokinetic exercise does not exceed two days.

BACKGROUND: Isokinetic exercise is used to reduce strength imbalance and to enhance performance. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the acute effects of a single bout of eccentric isokinetic exercise on hemorheology (erythrocyte deformability and aggregation), total oxidant/antioxidant status (TOS/TAS) and oxidative stress index (OSI) in active individuals. METHODS: The study comprises 11 active, healthy, male subjects (mean age of 19.45 ± 0.31 years, BMI 22.05 ± 0.51 kg/m2). They performed single, unilateral eccentric contractions of knee flexors and extensors with dominant leg on a dynamometer. Isokinetic hamstring, quadriceps strength were recorded at eccentric (30, 120° s-1) angular velocities. Eight active age-matched healthy male subjects were included as a control group, who did not receive exercise. Blood samples were obtained before, immediately after and two days after the exercise session. Hemorheological parameters were measured by an ektacytometer. TOS/TAS were determined using a commercial kit. RESULTS: A session of eccentric isokinetic exercise did not affect erythrocyte deformability and oxidative stress indices, whereas red blood cell (RBC) aggregation was increased initially and returned to pre-exercise levels after two days following exercise. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that, increased RBC aggregation following an acute bout of isokinetic exercise may result in increased plasma skimming that augments tissue perfusion and clearance of metabolites within a period of two days following exercise.