Active video gaming in primary ciliary dyskinesia: a randomized controlled trial.

Primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) impairs pulmonary function, respiratory and peripheral muscle strength, and exercise capacity. We aimed to investigate the effects of active video games (AVGs) on pulmonary function, respiratory and peripheral muscle strength, exercise capacity, muscle oxygenation (SMO2), physical activity, activities of daily living (ADL), and quality of life (QOL) in PCD. Thirty-two PCD patients were randomly assigned to AVG group (n = 16) and the control group (n = 16). AVG group underwent AVGs using Xbox-Kinect-360 device for 40 min/day, 3 days/week for 8 weeks plus airway clearance techniques (ACT), and the control group was applied ACT only. Pulmonary function, respiratory and quadriceps muscle strength, exercise capacity (6-min walk test [6MWT], incremental shuttle walk test [ISWT]), and ADL (Glittre ADL test) were assessed. SMO2 during ISWT and ADL test was also recorded. Physical activity and QOL (PCD-QOL) were evaluated. Pulmonary function; respiratory and quadriceps muscle strength; 6MWT and ISWT distance; physical activity; ADL performance; SMO2; physical, emotional, and social functioning; treatment burden; and upper and lower symptom parameters of PCD-QOL significantly improved after 8 weeks in the AVG group (p < 0.05). There were no significant differences in measured parameters except emotional function and upper respiratory symptom scores of PCD-QOL in the control group (p > 0.05).    Conclusion: The AVGs positively affect pulmonary (pulmonary function, respiratory muscle strength) and extrapulmonary (peripheral muscle strength, exercise capacity, SMO2, physical activity, ADL, and QOL) characteristics in children with PCD. The AVGs may be added to the pulmonary rehabilitation program as an exercise training modality in patients with PCD.   Trial registration: This study registered at ClinicalTrials.gov with NCT03832491 on February 6, 2019. What is Known: • It is indicated that exercise capacity is increased with traditional exercise-training in a case report of Kartagener Syndrome. What is New: • No randomized controlled study investigated the effects of exercise-training in PCD. • 8-week moderate-intensity active video gaming (AVGs) improves pulmonary and extrapulmonary features in children with PCD. AVGs may be preferable due to being enjoyable, providing visual and audial feedback in the pulmonary rehabilitation programs of PCD.

Intensive physiotherapy versus home-based exercise and custom-made orthotic insoles in patients with plantar fasciitis: Pilot study.

BACKGROUND: This prospective pilot study assessed the feasibility of comparing intensive physiotherapy group (IPG), home-based exercise (HBEG) group, and insole group (IG) to find the most effective treatment program for plantar fasciitis. METHODS: Thirty-nine individuals with plantar fasciitis were selected to participate in this pilot study. The patients were randomly divided into 3 groups, as IPG (manual interventions, exercise, insoles), HBEG (exercise, insoles), and IG (insoles). The feasibility details including percentage of the enrollment and adherence to the groups were recorded. Pain was measured with a visual analog scale, and dorsiflexion range of motion (DROM), foot function, and health-related quality of life were evaluated at the baseline and week 6. One-way ANOVA analysis and Kruskal Wallis test were used to determine the differences of the percentage change of the parameters. RESULTS: Pain and functional evaluation results showed improvements clinically in all of groups and quality of life results were similar for all groups. There was no difference between the groups after 6 weeks of treatment (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The 3 treatment programs were found clinically applicable with high patient adherence. According to the data all intervention types were found moderately effective for pain and function. Insoles could be an option applied alone or with other treatments, and manual techniques gave better results in patients with limited ankle dorsiflexion. Although the results should be interpreted with caution because of the small sample size, these results were found promising and feasible to conduct a future RCT. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: RCT 06144834.

Subclinical Inflammation Is Associated With Reductions in Muscle Oxygenation, Exercise Capacity and Quality of Life in Adults With Type 2 Diabetes.

OBJECTIVES: Exercise capacity is related to both morbidity and mortality in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM). The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between subclinical inflammation level, exercise capacity, muscle oxygenation and quality of life in T2DM. METHODS: This study includes 28 patients with T2DM (mean age, 51.5±5.0 years; male-to-female ratio, 6:22). Exercise capacity was evaluated using an incremental symptom-limited maximal exercise test on a bicycle ergometer. Muscle oxygenation was investigated using a wearable lactate-measuring device. Diabetes-specific quality of life was assessed using the Diabetes Quality of Life Questionnaire (DQOL). Subclinical inflammation was assessed using C-reactive protein (CRP) levels. RESULTS: CRP level was negatively correlated with peak workload during the test (r=-0.588, p=0.002), muscle oxygenation (r=-0.465, p=0.019) and the psychological impact of treatment subscale of the DQOL (r=-0.540, p=0.017), and positively correlated with body mass index (r=0.519, p=0.008), waist circumference (r=0.426, p=0.038) and fat percentage (r=0.573, p=0.004). There was no correlation between CRP and fasting blood glucose or glycated hemoglobin level (p>0.05). Peak workload was inversely related to fat percentage (r=-0.467, p=0.016) and the DQOL worry about the future impact of diabetes subscale (r=-0.501, p=0.021). CONCLUSIONS: In our study, subclinical inflammation negatively affected muscle oxygenation, exercise capacity and quality of life independently of glycemic indicators. Our findings suggest that the degree of glycemic control is insufficient to explain lower exercise capacity. Further studies are needed to investigate subclinical inflammation-reducing interventions in T2DM.

Effects of robotic rehabilitation on walking and balance in pediatric patients with hemiparetic cerebral palsy.

BACKGROUND: The most prominent characteristics of hemiparetic cerebral palsy (hCP) children are structural and functional asymmetries. These children have low walking speeds, endurance and poor balance. The robotic walking devices repeat and experience symmetrical stepping at the corresponding speed and angles of the lower extremities. RESEARCH QUESTION 1: Are robotic walking devices effective in the development of walking in hCP children who can walk? RESEARCH QUESTION 2: How does the aerobic exercise experience with assisted and symmetrical movement affect the walking and local muscle, peripheral oxygenation of children with hCP? METHODS: This prospective, controlled study included 24 children with hCP. All children attended to a standard physiotherapy rehabilitation (PTR) program (three days a week for 12 weeks); those in the study group (n=12) also attended to an Robotic Gait Training (RGT) program three times a week. Evaluations performed before treatment, after treatment, and at the 3rd month after treatment included assessment of balance, functionality walking and measurements for oxygenation of vastus lateralis muscle and peripheral oxygenation. RESULTS: The evaluations were similar for both groups before treatment. After treatment, walking speed, endurance and peripheral O2 saturation were increased and balance abilities and functional performances improved in the RGT group as compared with the pre-treatment evaluations; these improvements in balance and functional performance were generally preserved after 3 months of treatment. An increase in 6-min walking distance and a partial increase in gross motor functions and functional muscle strength were observed in the control group; however, these abilities were not preserved after the treatment. SIGNIFICANCE: RGT can provide a faster and higher effect on the development of functional muscle strength, balance, walking speed and endurance than the standard PTR program. It improves functional walking performance. RGT can be used for aerobic exercise training in children with walking hCP.