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.

Effects of Aqua-Lymphatic Therapy on Lower Extremity Lymphedema: A Randomized Controlled Study.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of the aqua-lymphatic therapy (ALT) on unilateral lower extremity lymphedema in the maintenance phase. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a randomized controlled trial with a blinded assessor. The study was completed with 30 ALT and 27 control group participants. Foot volume was assessed by a water displacement device, limb volume by circumference measurements, functional capacity by a 6-minute walk test, quality of life by Short Form-36, and social appearance by Social Appearance Anxiety Scale and hopeless by Beck Hopeless Scale. The ALT and the control group had group sessions twice in a week for 6 weeks directed by a physiotherapist. RESULTS: The mean age of ALT patients was 44.50 ± 13.69 years, whereas that of the control patients was 47.66 ± 16.82 years. After the intervention, both groups' measurement of edema, functional level, quality of life, as well as social and future concerns improved significantly but this improvement was higher in the ALT group (p < 0.05, p ≤ 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: ALT was found to be a safe effective method for unilateral lower extremity lymphedema patients during the maintenance phase of Complex Decongestive Physiotherapy.

Effects of Clinical Pilates Exercises on Patients Developing Lymphedema after Breast Cancer Treatment: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to compare the effects of clinical Pilates exercises with those of the standard lymphedema exercises on lymphedema developing after breast cancer treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study comprised 60 female patients with a mean age of 53.2±7.7 years who developed lymphedema after having breast cancer treatment. The patients were randomized into two groups: the clinical Pilates exercise group (n=30), and the control group (n=30). Before, and at the 8th week of treatment, the following parameters were measured: the severity of lymphedema, limb circumferences, body image using the Social Appearance Anxiety Scale, quality of life with the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) quality of life questionnaire (QLQ-BR23), and upper extremity function using the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) outcome measure. Both groups performed one-hour exercises three days a week for 8 weeks. RESULTS: After treatment, the symptoms recovered significantly in both groups. Reductions in the severity of lymphedema, improvements in the social appearance anxiety scale scores, quality of life scores, and upper extremity functions scores in the clinical Pilates exercise group were greater than those in the control group. Clinical Pilates exercises were determined to be more effective on the symptoms of patients with lymphedema than were standard lymphedema exercises. CONCLUSIONS: Clinical Pilates exercises could be considered a safe model and would contribute to treatment programs.