Environmental characteristics of older people attending physical medicine and rehabilitation outpatient clinics.

OBJECTIVE: A residential environment refers to the physical and social characteristics in a neighbourhood. The physical characteristics include interior housing qualities, exterior neighbourhood characteristics, and the accessibility of essential facilities and services outside the neighbourhood. Older adults especially may be vulnerable to the negative impacts of the residential environment. The aim of this study is to elucidate the problems ageing people face in their neighbourhoods, buildings and public areas. METHODS: The study group consisted of a total of 1,001 people over the age of 65 who were admitted to physical medicine and rehabilitation clinics in Turkey and consented to participate. A questionnaire covering demographic, social and environmental information was used. RESULTS: Of the study group, 58.6% was living in an apartment building, but only 23.6% of these buildings had an elevator, and the stairs were inconvenient in 46.7% of the buildings. Only 49% of the elderly people went for a walk regularly. The most frequent complaint about the hospitals, community health centres and other public areas was the inappropriate restroom conditions. Eighty-six percent of the study group were not members of an organization, a foundation or a group, and 73.6% did not have personal hobbies. CONCLUSIONS: The layouts of buildings and surroundings are inappropriate for older people, and the opportunities for them to participate in social activities are limited. Health and social programmes and governmental and local policies for older people are needed, and public awareness about this issue should be raised.

The effects of head posture on nerve conduction studies in patients with ankylosing spondylitis.

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic inflammatory disease which effects cervical posture of patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate AS patients according to the degree of cervical disorder and was evaluate them electrophysiologically, functionality, and disease parameters. Our study comprised 64 AS patients and 30 healthy controls. The head posture of patients was evaluated by craniovertebral angle (CVA) measurement. Nerve conduction of bilateral median, radial, ulnar, and medial antebrachial cutaneous (MAC) nerves were studied in all patients. The most important nerve conduction differences in AS patients who have severe forward head posture (FHP) were decrease in sensory nerve action potential (SNAP) amplitude and compound muscle action potential amplitudes of median nerves, a decrease in the SNAP amplitude of ulnar nerves, a delay in the F response latency of ulnar nerves, and prolongation in the SNAP latency of the MAC nerve. The FHP disorder that develops in AS patients may have electro physiological effects, similar to those of thoracic outlet syndrome In addition, the functional status of these patients is worsened as severity of FHP increases.

Comparison of 2 methods of neuropathic pain assessment in carpal tunnel syndrome and hand functions.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effectiveness of the Leeds Assessment of Neuropathic Symptoms and Signs Scale (LANSS) to the painDETECT questionnaire (PD-Q) in Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS), and determine if there are any differences between hand related functions in the 2 questionnaires. METHODS: This prospective clinical trial was conducted from April to July 2014. Ninety patients with a positive Tinel or Phalen sign were recruited. Hands were evaluated by electromyography and grouped according to mild, moderate or severe involvement. Neuropathic pain was analysed by the LANSS and the PD-Q; hand functions were evaluated by the Duruoz Hand Index (DHI), Semmes Weinstein monofilaments and grip strength. RESULTS: Electromyographic findings revealed 32.9% of hands had mild, 61.8% had moderate and 5.3% had severe CTS. There was a correlation between the LANSS scores and the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) pain, while the PD-Q scores were correlated with the VAS pain, DHI and Semmes Weinstein Monofilaments (SWM). Comparison of the hand related parameters of the questionnaires showed there was a statistically significant difference between the 2 groups with respect to the DHI and SWM tests in the PD-Q. However, there was no difference in the LANSS. CONCLUSION: Although there was a significant correlation between the LANSS and PD-Q scores, the PD-Q scores revealed better correlation coefficients in VAS pain, DHI scores and SWM tests. In conclusion, the PD-Q seems to be better than the LANSS both in neuropathic pain and in detecting functions related to hand abilities.

A Multicenter Pilot Study of Burden Among Caregivers of Geriatric Rehabilitation Patients With Neuromusculoskeletal Diseases.

PURPOSE: In this study, we aimed to describe the sociodemographic characteristics of caregivers of patients in a geriatric unit and to clarify the relationship between caregiver burden and specific clinical variables in the patients and the characteristics of the caregivers. DESIGN: Cross-sectional multicenter study. METHODS: One hundred twenty-three patients and 123 caregiver dyads, with mean ages of 72.5 ± 7.7 years and 51 ± 14.7 years, respectively, were included. The functional, psychological, and cognitive statuses of the patients were determined, and the sociodemographic characteristics of the caregivers as well as the type and duration of caregiving were recorded. Caregivers completed the Caregiver Burden Inventory (CBI) to measure the perceived burden of care. Most patients were female and generally lived with their family. FINDINGS: Most of the caregivers were family members (90%), female (73.2%), primary school graduates (52.8%), and first-degree relatives (73.1%). The average CBI score was 33, and the highest CBI subscores were for time, developmental, and physical burdens. Caregiver burden correlated with the patient's ambulatory, psychological, and cognitive status and with the caregiver's age, gender, income level, and duration of caregiving. CONCLUSIONS: We have highlighted the relationship between caregiver and patient characteristics in a cohort of elderly Turkish patients with neurological and musculoskeletal disorders. In particular, we have highlighted the heavy caregiver burden in a developing country. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Our results may guide the nurses to understand the requirements of caregivers and to help them find suitable resources that would meet their needs to cope with their burden.

Effect of rheumatoid arthritis on strength, dexterity, coordination and functional status of the hand: the relationship with magnetic resonance imaging findings.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) on strength, dexterity, coordination and functional status of the hand and to determine the relation with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty eight patients with RA and thirty three controls were included in the study. There were five drop-outs in RA group. Pain was assessed by visual analog scale. Painful and swollen joints of the dominant hand were recorded. Hand deformities of the patients were noted. Hand grip strength and pinch strength of the dominant hand were evaluated. Hand disability was assessed by Duruoz hand index (DHI) and the Purdue pegboard test was used for assessment of coordination and dexterity. MRI of the dominant wrist and hand was performed in RA group. MRI scans were evaluated for synovitis, tenosynovitis, bone erosion and bone edema. RESULTS: Demographic characteristics were similar between groups. While DHI scores were significantly higher (p=0.000), Purdue pegboard test scores were significantly lower in RA group in comparison to control group (p=0.000). Bone edema and synovitis scores were significantly higher in patients with longer disease duration (p=0.025, p=0,006 respectively). There were significant negative correlation between grip strength, pinch strength subgroups and tenosynovitis scores (p=0.001, p=0,001). When the Purdue pegboard scores were lower, tenosynovitis scores were significantly higher (p=0.019, p=0,013, p=0,043). There was a significant positive correlation between DHI score and tenosynovitis score (p=0.003). CONCLUSION: This study showed that RA has significant negative impact on hand function and dexterity and the parameters used in the evaluation of hand function are mainly associated with tenosynovitis scores. Since tenosynovitis is a common pathology in RA, MRI can be used as a supportive method in early diagnosis of tenosynovitis and may be useful in identification of patients requiring aggressive treatment.

Fibromyalgia syndrome: is it related to vitamin D deficiency in premenopausal female patients?

There are a number of studies that have evaluated the relationship between fibromyalgia (FM) and vitamin D deficiency with conflicting results. The aim of this study was to assess vitamin D deficiency in patients with FM and to evaluate the relationship with the common symptoms of FM and levels of serum vitamin D. Forty premenopausal female fibromyalgia patients and 40 age- and sex-matched control subjects were included in the study. The demographic characteristics of all subjects, including age, sex, and body mass index, were recorded. The number of tender points was recorded, and the intensity of the widespread pain of the subjects was measured by the visual analog scale. The activities of daily living component of the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ-ADL), was used to assess physical functional capacity. Serum vitamin D was measured in both groups, and vitamin D levels <37.5 nmol/L were accepted as vitamin D deficiency. The vitamin D levels and clinical and laboratory characteristics of the patient and control groups were comparatively analyzed. The relationship between vitamin D levels and clinical findings of the FM patients were also determined. The mean age was 41.23 ± 4.8 and 39.48 ± 4.08 years for the patient and control groups, respectively. The pain intensity, number of tender points, and FIQ-ADL scores were higher in FM patients than in control subjects. The mean levels of vitamin D in the patient and control groups were determined to be 31.97 ± 15.50 and 28.97 ± 13.31 nmol/L, respectively (p > .05). The incidence of vitamin D deficiency was similar between the patient and control groups (67.5% vs. 70%). Vitamin D levels significantly correlated with pain intensity (r = -0.653; p = .001) and FIQ-ADL scores in the FM group (r = -0.344; p = .030). In conclusion, the results of this study indicate that deficiency of vitamin D is not more common in premenopausal female patients with FM than in control subjects without FM. However, the association between pain and vitamin D levels in FM patients emphasizes that hypovitaminosis of vitamin D in the FM syndrome may have an augmenting impact on pain intensity and functional status. Future studies are needed to show the effect of vitamin D supplementation in the reduction of pain intensity and disability in patients suffering from this chronic condition.

Hand function in female patients with hand osteoarthritis: relation with radiological progression.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to investigate the effect of hand osteoarthritis (HOA) on hand strength, dexterity, and upper extremity functional scores, as well as to determine the relation of radiological severity of HOA with these parameters. METHODS: Sixty patients and 40 controls were enrolled in the study. The presence of hand pain, nodes, and tenderness in hand joints was determined. Grip and pinch strengths were measured by Jamar dynamometer and pinch meter, dexterity was assessed by Purdue pegboard test, and upper extremity function was determined by disabilities of arm, shoulder and hand (DASH) test. Hand radiographs were evaluated according to the Kallman grading scale. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients and control subjects were 58.9 ± 4.8 and 56.6 ± 5.8 years, respectively. The level of hand pain and tenderness, and the number of nodes were significantly higher in the patient group than in control subjects. The mean grip and pinch strengths were lower in the patient group,: however, the difference was significant only in left lateral and left three chuck pinch. In hand dexterity, all scores except Purdue 1 were significantly lower in the patient group. In the functional evaluation DASH outcome, questionnaire scores of the patient and control groups were 48.3 ± 26.3 and 39.5 ± 23.5, respectively (p > 0.05). In the patient group, Kallman scores indicating radiological severity were found to be correlated with age, DASH scores, grip and pinch strengths, and Purdue scores (except Purdue assembly). Pain by visual analog scale was significantly higher in the patient group and correlated significantly with DASH scores. CONCLUSION: In patients with HOA, using standardized tests for evaluations may not be adequate. The determination of grip-pinch strength, dexterity and functional disability will lead to a clearer definition of the needs of the patients and will likely increase the gains from the rehabilitation programs.

Pain and quality of life (QoL) in elderly: the Turkish experience.

PURPOSE: The aims of this study were to evaluate the effects of demographic and clinical determinants on pain and to investigate the possible risk factors that disrupt QoL. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The design of this research was a prospective study performed in tertiary care hospital-based physical medicine and rehabilitation departments. A comprehensive geriatric pain assessment (Geriatric Pain Scale, GPS) and health-related quality of life (HR-QOL) assessment (Nottingham Health Profile, NHP) were performed. RESULTS: Of the 275 patients, 76% were female and 59.6% were older than 70 years of age. Two hundred seventy four patients (99.7%) had various levels of pain. The mean age of the patent group was 72.77 ± 5.7 (min: 65, max: 96) years. The overall GPS was 60.41 ± 22 (min: 0, max: 99.9), and the total NHP score was 49.01 ± 22.4 (min: 0, max: 100). Correlation analyses showed that for the total GPS score, female gender, lower education, and economic status were significant determinants of higher levels of pain. The multiple linear regression analysis showed that the NHP, GPS, Self-Reported Disability Index (SRDI), and Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) were significant determinants of poorer HR-QOL. CONCLUSIONS: There was a high prevalence of pain and being female, having low income, having low social support, having a higher rate of disability with related multiple comorbidities, and depression as related factors of HR-QOL. Strengthening these negative predictors of HR-QOL might enhance the efficiency of pain therapies in this population.

The effect of additional therapeutic ultrasound in patients with primary hip osteoarthritis: a randomized placebo-controlled study.

To the best of our knowledge, there is no study in the English literature about the usefulness of ultrasound therapy in degenerative hip osteoarthritis. The aim of this study was to examine its short- and long-term efficacy in patients with primary hip osteoarthritis with regard to pain, functional status, and quality of life (QoL). Forty-five patients with primary hip osteoarthritis were enrolled into the study. Demographic and clinical characteristics including age, sex, duration of disease, and pain on activity and at rest using visual analogue scale (VAS) were recorded. Functional status was determined by a 15-m timed walking test and Western Ontario McMaster Osteoarthritis Questionnaire. QoL was determined by the Short Form-36 survey (SF-36). Each patient was randomly assigned to either group I (standard physical therapy including hot pack and exercise program), group II (sham ultrasound in addition to standard physical therapy), or group III (ultrasound and standard physical therapy). The main outcome measures of the treatment were pain intensity by VAS; functional status measurements that were evaluated at baseline, at the end of the therapies, and at the first and third month of follow-up; and QoL scores that were determined at baseline and at the end of the first and third months. Twelve male and 33 female patients (mean age, 65.3 ± 6.7 years; mean disease duration, 2.5 ± 1.7 years) were included in the study. There were no differences between the groups regarding demographic variables on entry to the study. There were 15 patients in each group. Pain and functional outcome measures were determined to have improved significantly in all of the groups at the end of the therapies, but these improvements continued at the end of the first and third months only in group III (p < 0.001) The physical subscores of SF-36 were improved at the end of the first month and were maintained at the end of the third month only in patients receiving additional ultrasound therapy (group III, p < 0.001), while mental subscores of SF-36 did not change significantly in any group. In conclusion, addition of therapeutic ultrasound to the traditional physical therapy showed a longitudinal positive effect on pain, functional status, and physical QoL in patients with hip osteoarthritis. The use of therapeutic ultrasound in the treatment of hip osteoarthritis should be encouraged, and it seems worthy to continue with large clinical trials on ultrasound in order to standardize the treatment modality in this patient group.

Ultrasonographic evaluation of hand and foot tendons in Behçet's disease.

BACKGROUND: There have been few studies in the literature evaluating the effect of Behçet's disease (BD) on tendons. Thus, we planned to search for the involvement of hand and foot tendons in BD by using ultrasonography and to determine the relation of tendon involvement with clinical measurements. METHODS: The study consisted of 33 randomly selected BD patients and 36 voluntary healthy controls matched by age and body mass index. Sonographic evaluations were performed from hands (flexor digitorum süperficialis (2-5), flexor digitorum profundus (2-5), flexor carpi radialis) and Achilles tendons of the nondominant extremities using an 8-10 MHz linear array probe. Grip strength and crepitation were also measured on the nondominant side. RESULTS: Mean hand and foot tendon thickness values of BD patients were significantly higher than in control group (p=0.00). Disease duration, age, and presence of crepitation were not correlated with tendon thickness in the BD group (all p values>0.05). Grip strength values were lower in the BD group than in control group but the difference was not statistically significant (p=0.344). Grip strength values were not correlated with hand tendon thicknesses in BD groups (all p values>0.05). CONCLUSION: Because tendons tears and thicknesses are associated with inflammation, awareness of tendon pathologies is very important in rheumatic diseases. It would be of value to investigate this relationship in future studies in order to determine if this increment in tendon thickness is an indicator of disease activity and affects prognosis. The physician should be on alert about tendon involvement even if the patient has no complaints.

Evaluation of iontophoresis and local corticosteroid injection in the treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of local corticosteroid injection with iontophoresis of corticosteroids in the treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome. DESIGN: This study was a prospective, randomized, unblinded clinical trial with follow-up at 2 and 8 wks. Thirty patients (48 median nerves) with clinical and electrophysiologic evidence of carpal tunnel syndrome were included in the study. Patients were evaluated by use of clinical variables, a functional status scale, a symptom severity scale, and visual analog scale. A total of 48 median nerves were randomly assigned to one of two groups; group 1 received 40 mg of methylprednisolone acetate injected locally in the carpal tunnel, and group 2 received iontophoresis of dexamethasone sodium phosphate. Clinical variables and scales were evaluated at regular intervals: at the beginning and at the end of therapy in the second and eighth week. RESULTS: Twenty-seven patients (90%) were women and three patients (10%) were men. The mean age of patients was 48.0 +/- 8.2 (range, 29-61) yrs. There was a statistically significant improvement in the clinical examination variables, visual analog scale, symptom severity scale, and functional status scale scores of the patients in both of the treatment groups posttreatment (at 2 and 8 wks) compared with baseline (P < 0.05). However, there was a statistically significant difference between the values of the two group. A significant difference in mean symptom severity scale, functional status scale, and visual analog scale scores was found in second week and eighth week in the injection group compared with iontophoresis. CONCLUSION: Our study comparing a standardized treatment protocol for incorporating local corticosteroid injection and iontophoresis of dexamethasone sodium phosphate in carpal tunnel syndrome revealed success of both iontophoresis of dexamethasone sodium phosphate and injection of corticosteroids, but symptom relief was greater at 2 and 8 wks with injection of corticosteroids.

Grip strength: effect of hand dominance.

AIM OF THE STUDY: Reliable and valid evaluation of hand strength is important for determining the effectivity of treatment strategies and it is accepted that grip and pinch strength provide an objective index for the functional integrity of upper extremity. This study was designed to evaluate the grip and pinch strength differences between sides for the right and left handed population. METHODS: The study included 128 right and 21 left hand dominant volunteers. Grip strength of the participants were measured by using a Jamar dynamometer. Pulp pinch strength measurements were performed by manual pinchmeter. RESULTS: When the study group was totally evaluated, a statistically significant difference was found between the grip and pinch strengths of dominant and nondominant hands in favour of the dominant hand. For further information we grouped 149 participants as right and left handed and investigated the number of subjects with stronger nondominant hand for each group. The percentage of stronger nondominant hand grip was 10.93% and 33.33% for right and left handed groups respectively. The results were less significant for pinch strength with 28.12% and 28.57% for right and left handed subjects respectively. CONCLUSION: We concluded that the dominant hand is significantly stronger in right handed subjects but no such significant difference between sides could be documented for left handed people.