Upper extremities and spinal musculoskeletal disorders and risk factors in students using computers

To examine the effects of computer usage on the musculoskeletal system discomforts [MSD] of Turkish university students, the possible risk factors and study implications [SI]. The study comprised a total of 871 students. Demographic information was recorded and the Student Specific Cornell Musculoskeletal Discomfort Questionnaire [SsCMDQ] was used to evaluate musculoskeletal system discomforts. The neck, lower back and upper back areas were determined to be the most affected areas and percentages for SI were 21.6%, 19.3% and 16.3% respectively. Significant differences were found to be daily computer usage time for the lower back, total usage time for the neck, being female and below the age of 21 years [p<0.05] had an increased risk. The neck, lower back and upper back areas were found to be the most affected areas due to computer usage in university students. Risk factors for MSD were seen to be daily and total computer usage time, female gender and age below 21 years and these were deemed to cause study interference

impact of chronic low back pain on physical performance, fear avoidance beliefs, and depressive symptoms: a comparative study on Turkish elderly population

Objectives: The purposes of this study were: [1] to show the impact of chronic low back pain [CLBP] on physical performance, fear avoidance behavior and depressive symptoms in older adults; [2] to describe the relationships between outcome measurements obtained in this study

Methodology: Ninety-one participants with or without chronic low back pain were included in this study. Only four tests in the Back Performance Scale were used to assess the physical performance of the participants. A Fear Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire related to physical activity and the Geriatric Depression Scale were also used to examine each subject

Results: The level of performance shown by elderly adults with low back pain was worse than elders without low back pain in the sock test and the pick-up test [p < 0.05]. Little correlation between the finger-to-floor test and fear avoidance behaviour related to physical activity was found [p < 0.05]. There was little/poor correlation between all performance tests and depressive symptoms [p < 0.05]

Conclusions: The findings indicate that CLBP decreases physical performance, but increases fear avoidance behavior and depressive symptoms in elderly adults. At the same time, it was determined that performance level of elderly adults with back pain was related especially with depressive symptoms

Reliability and validity of the Turkish version of the CDC Hrqol-4 scale in patients with chronic low back pain

This study investigates reliability and validity of Turkish version of CDC Core Healthy Days Measures assessing health related quality of life [CDC HRQOL-4] in chronic low back pain [CLBP] patients. One hundred eighty nine CLBP patients and 117 healthy controls participated. All respondents filled the following scales; the CDC HRQOL-4, Rolland Morris Questionnaire [RMQ], and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale [HAD]. Cronbach's alpha of CDC HRQOL-4-items in CLBP patients was 0.69. Of 57.1% CLBP patients and 13.7% healthy controls defined their health status as fair or poor. The number of physically and mentally unhealthy days, and activity limitation days was found to be higher in the CLBP patients than the healthy controls [p<0.05]. The CLBP patients with fair or poor health reported more physically unhealthy days, mentally unhealthy days, and activity limitation days than the CLBP patients with excellent, very good, or good health [p<0.05]. Correlation coefficients between physically unhealthy days [r=0.30] and activity limitation days [r=0.22], and RMQ scores were significant, but low in magnitude. Moderate correlations between mentally unhealthy days and HAD scores [r=0.41 for anxiety; r=0.39 for depression] were found. The results of this study indicate that the Turkish version of the CDC HRQOL-4 is a short, reliable and valid tool to assess HRQOL in CLBP patients

Upper extremities function in patients undergoing hemodialysis treatment

To determine the effects of hemodialysis treatment on upper extremities functional ability. This study was carried out from June 2003 to March 2004 at Pamukkale University School of Physical Therapy, Denizli, Turkey. One hundred patients with chronic renal failure [CRF] undergoing hemodialysis treatment for at least 2 months participated in the study, and were compared with a control group [N=40 healthy subjects]. The 100 patients were divided into 4 groups according to the length of hemodialysis duration: 19 patients dialyzing for less than one year [Group 1]; 42 patients dialyzing for 1-4 years [Group 2]; 21 patients dialyzing for 4.1-8 years [Group 3]; 18 patients dialyzing for 8.1 or more years [Group 4]. All participants were evaluated for range of motion by goniometry, muscle strength by manual muscle testing, sensation disturbances by Semmes-Weinstein monofilaments, static grip strength by hand dynamometer, and functional status of upper limbs by the Disabilities Arm Shoulder Hand Questionnaire [DASH-T]. The results showed that the patients with CRF had significantly more functional problems associated with CRF and hemodialysis treatment than the healthy controls. In addition to these results, the scores of the DASH-T also showed that the most independent group was the control group with a mean score of 0.72 +/- 0.86, whereas, the most dependent group was the 3rd group of the hemodialysis groups [mean score of 2.70 +/- 1.77]. Musculoskeletal or functional problems decreasing functional ability of the upper limbs are a common complaint in hemodialysis patients