Validity and reliability study of the Turkish version of Spinal Cord Independence Measure-III.

STUDY DESIGN: This is a multicenter, prospective study. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to assess the validity and reliability of the Turkish version of Spinal Cord Independence Measure-III (SCIM-III). SETTING: This study was conducted in rehabilitation centers of three hospitals in Turkey. METHODS: Two-hundred and four (n=204) consecutive patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) were included in the study. Each patient was examined by two physicians. Neurologic impairment was measured according to the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) Impairment Scale (AIS) 2000 revised criteria. Backward and forward translation of SCIM-III was performed by native speakers in both languages. To measure the validity of SCIM-III, the scores were compared with patients' AIS grades, total motor scores and the Health Survey Short Form-36 (SF-36) subscale scores. SCIM-III was analyzed for test-retest reliability by the same rater on 49 patients during the follow-up evaluations. RESULTS: Total agreement values between raters changed between 75.9 and 100%. Kappa values were all above 0.6, and they were statistically significant. The Pearson's correlation values between the raters were very high and statistically significant. The Cronbach's α-values for the two consecutive raters were 0.865 and 0.896. Test-retest reliability was assessed by paired samples t-test, and no significant difference was observed. SCIM-III and SF-36 physical (r=0.339, P<0.005) and general health scores (r=0.200, P<0.005) showed correlation. All subscales of the SCIM-III, with the exception of self-care, had significant differences in comparison with the AIS grades. SCIM-III total and total motor scores showed correlation (r=0.585, P<0.001). CONCLUSION: The Turkish version of SCIM-III was found to be valid and reliable.

Active myofascial trigger points might be more frequent in patients with cervical radiculopathy.

BACKGROUND: Myofascial trigger points (MTrPs) are commonly observed in the neck, parascapular region, and upper back muscles of patients with cervical pathology. AIM: To assess the frequency of latent and active myofascial trigger point (aMTrP) in the neck and upper back muscles in patients with cervical radiculopathy and healthy subjects. DESIGN: Controlled clinical trials. SETTING: Outpatients and controls. POPULATION: Two hundred and forty four patients and 122 controls METHODS: The patients clinically diagnosed as cervical radiculopathy with positive Spurling's test and confirmed by MRI, were enrolled in this study. All subjects were examined for active and latent MTrP. In patients with cervical radiculopathy, an aMTrP was distinguished from a latent one when the referred pain elicited by exploration of the MTrP is recognized as familiar. RESULTS: The patients comprised of 128 female (52.5%) and 116 male (47.5%) patients. Mean age was 44.58(20-65 years). In 125 (51.2%) of patients with cervical radiculopathy were found an aMTrP at least one muscle from upper trapezius, multifidus, splenius capitis, levator scapulae, rhomboid major, minor and deep paraspinal muscles. Number and distribution of MTrPs in patients with 244 cervical radiculopathy and in healthy controls. aMTrPs were detected most common in levator scapula (16.3%), splenius capitis (14.7%), rhomboid minor (14.3%), upper part of trapezius (13.5%), rhomboid major (10.2%) and multifidus (8.6%) muscles. Patients with cervical radiculopathy showed latent MTrP in levator scapula (27%), splenius capitis (16.8%), rhomboid minor (24.6%), upper part of trapezius (33.2%), rhomboid major (9%) and multifidus (8.2%) muscles. There was significant difference in terms of distribution of active and latent MTrPs in patients with cervical radiculopathy (P=0.019). Number of latent MTrPs in upper trapezius muscles in patients with cervical radiculopathy was more than the expected distribution. None of the subjects of control group had aMTrP. However, healthy controls showed latent MTrP in levator scapula (33.6%), splenius capitis (16.4%), rhomboid minor (21.3%), upper part of trapezius (40.2%), rhomboid major (6.5%) and multifidus (17.2%) muscles. There was no significant difference in terms of distribution of latent MTrPs between cervical radiculopathy and control groups (P=0.249). The frequency of aMTrP was found to be significantly higher in CDH with median localization as compared to posterolateral herniations (P=0.041). After conservative treatment for two weeks, number of patients with active MTrP in cervical radiculopathy were decreased about 50%. CONCLUSION: Cervical root compression would be considered as the starting or maintaining factor of aMTrP. CLINICAL REHABILITATION IMPACT: The treatment of cervical radiculopathy might be facilitated the improving in aMTrPs located in aforementioned muscles.

Incidence of hip fracture and prevalence of osteoporosis in Turkey: the FRACTURK study.

UNLABELLED: The incidence of hip fractures in Turkey increased markedly from that reported in 1988/1989 so that FRAX® models for Turkey should be revised. INTRODUCTION: The MEDOS study in 1988/1989 reported that men and women from Turkey had exceptionally low rates of hip fracture. The aim of the FRACTURK study was to estimate current and future hip fracture risks and the prevalence of osteoporosis in Turkey. METHODS: Hip fracture cases in 2009 were identified from interviews of a population-based sample of 26,424 residents aged 50 years or more in 12 different regions of Turkey and in two hospital surveys. Bone mineral density was evaluated by DXA in an age-stratified sample of 1,965 men and women. RESULTS: Hip fracture incidence in the community-based survey was similar to that in the hospital survey. The age-specific incidence in men and women was substantially higher than that reported for 1988/1989. At the age of 50 years, the remaining lifetime probability of a hip fracture was 3.5% in men and 14.6% in women. In 2009, there were approximately 24,000 hip fractures estimated in Turkey, 73% of which were found in women. Assuming no change in the age- and sex-specific incidence, the number of hip fractures was expected to increase to nearly 64,000 in 2035. The prevalence of osteoporosis at the femoral neck was 7.5% and 33.3% in men and women, respectively, aged 50 years or more. CONCLUSION: Although Turkey is still among the countries with low hip fracture rates in Europe, the incidence has increased markedly in the last 20 years. This finding can be used to recalibrate fracture risk assessment models for Turkey.

Yoga might be an alternative training for the quality of life and balance in postmenopausal osteoporosis.

AIM: Osteoporotic vertebra and hip fractures are major causes of dysfunction, disability, mortality and impaired life quality in the ageing population. In the postmenopausal period, exercises prevent rapid bone loss and increase muscle strength, mobility and flexibility thereby decreasing the risk of falls and fractures. Yoga exercises, which have been an inseparable part of Eastern culture for hundreds of years, are now being used in the field of osteoporosis rehabilitation. Yoga has a positive effect on balance, posture, flexibility, and life quality resulting from its effects on balance, stretching, relaxation and strengthening. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of yoga exercises in postmenopausal osteoporotic women on balance and life quality and to compare the results with a classic osteoporosis exercise program. METHODS: Twenty-six postmenopausal osteoporotic women over 55 years of age were included in the study. A neuromuscular test battery and the QUALEFFO as a life quality index were used for the assessment of balance and life quality, respectively. RESULTS: The results showed that yoga education has a positive effect on pain, physical functions, social functions, general CONCLUSION: In conclusion, yoga appears to be an alternative physical activity for the rehabilitation of osteoporotic subjects.

Is BMD sufficient to explain different fracture rates in Sweden and Turkey?

Osteoporosis and consequent fractures have become an important health problem all over the World. However, there are quite different fracture rates among different populations. In this study, our aim was to obtain the bone mineral density (BMD) values at calcaneus in a healthy Turkish population and compare them with Swedish population data. BMD was measured at the calcaneus using a dual X-ray and laser Calscan (Demetech AB, Stockholm, Sweden) bone densitometer. The total number of subjects was 951 consisting of 639 women and 312 men and age ranged from 15 to 79 yr. Mean BMD value for healthy young women (20-39 yr old) was 0.411+/-0.058 g/cm2 and for healthy young men was 0.504+/-0.068 g/cm2. BMD values tended to decrease with age in both genders. In comparison between the Turkish and Swedish population data, the Turkish population has about 1 standard deviation lower BMD values than the Swedish population in both genders, for all ages. Considering that Swedes have high fracture rates and Turks have the lowest fracture rates in Europe, the opposite difference in BMD values in the calcaneus seems interesting. Further research is needed to explain the difference in fracture rates among different populations.

Correlation of back pain, compression fracture and quadriceps muscle strength with bone mineral density in renal insufficiency patients.

AIM: The purpose of this study was to evaluate bone mineral density (BMD), bone parameters, complete blood count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, electrolyte values, back pain, compression fracture and quadriceps muscle strength in mild and moderate renal insufficiency patients. METHODS: Thirty-six female, 3 male, patients with the diagnosis of osteoporosis in addition to mild or moderate chronic renal insufficiency who were followed in Istanbul University, Cerrahpasa Faculty of Medicine, Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Department, Osteoporosis and Nephrology Outpatient Clinics between March 2003 and March 2004, were included in the study. In the control group there were 17 female, 5 male patients with osteoporosis but without renal insufficiency. The inclusion criteria were to have osteoporosis, be aged between 40-70 with a creatinine clearance between 30-70 mL/min in the case group, >70 mL/min in the control group. The patients whose creatinine clearance was <30 mL/min, and whose BMD was normal or osteopenic even though creatinine clearance was >30 mL/min were excluded from the study. RESULTS: There was no significant difference with respect to back pain, compression fracture and quadriceps muscle strength between the 2 groups. The mean value of neck BMD, T and Z score were significantly lower in the case group (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: As a conclusion, PTH related bone disease had an important effect on BMD, although, the risk factors for osteoporosis were equally important. In various researches, the relationship between BMD values and history of fracture in renal osteodystrophy patients could not be shown. In our study, the history of prior fracture or fracture in the family were important risk factors for osteoporosis. Renal osteodystrophy patients had low BMD values in mild and moderate stages of the disease. Prior fracture as well as osteoporotic fractures in the family should be part of a comprehensive evaluation of the patient.