ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: This study aims to determine the period of reinnervation in patients with poliomyelitis. This research was conducted to identify the appearance of denervation potentials in patients with poliomyelitis as indicators for reinnervation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 246 male patients with poliomyelitis were assessed electrophysiologically between 1988 and 2007. The mean age was 22.8 (18-42). It has been an average of 19.9 ± 4.9 years since the beginning of complaints from the patients. RESULTS: The patients had no complaints of newly developing muscle weakness, fatigue, muscle and joint pain, and difficulties in breathing and swallowing. Neurological examinations revealed the absence of myotomal pain and sensory loss. Upon assessment of the patients' limbs, the following findings were revealed: two patients had left upper and lower limb involvement, two patients had left upper and right lower limb involvement, 6 patients had left upper limb involvement, 12 patients had both lower limb involvement, 105 patients had left lower limb involvement, 1 patient had both upper limb involvement, 2 patients had right lower and upper limb involvement, 12 patients had right upper limb involvement, 6 patients had both lower limb involvement, 95 patients had right lower limb involvement, and 3 had all the three extremities affected. The needle electromyography revealed the presence of denervation potentials in 25.2% (62) of the patients. CONCLUSION: When poliovirus attacks the motor neuron, this neuron may be completely destroyed, damaged, or unaffected. Reinnervation occurs when nearby functioning motor units send out terminal axon sprouts to reinnervate the damaged muscle fibers. As a consequence of poliomyelitis, several muscle fibers become atrophic and fibrotic, but others continue to survive. This study showed that patients with a history of poliomyelitis experienced denervation with subsequent reinnervation for many years.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: This study aims to investigate the effect of balneotherapy (BT) and physical therapy (PT) on sleep quality in patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA) aged 50 to 85 years. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 199 patients (76 males, 123 females; mean age 67.8±7.3 years; range 50 to 85 years) suffering from knee OA (Kellgren-Lawrence grade 2-3) for more than six months were enrolled. Sleep and functional status were assessed at baseline and after 19 sessions of BT and 15 sessions of PT by using Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index, respectively. RESULTS: A high prevalence of abnormal sleep quality in patients with knee OA was observed. The most common abnormality was sleep fragmentation (71%), with an increased sleep disturbance score. Patients reported significantly improved sleep, pain, stiffness, and functional status after BT and PT. CONCLUSION: Balneotherapy and PT improved self-reported sleep and functional status in patients with OA aged 50 to 85 years. We may conclude that BT and PT, which are used in the treatment of OA, not only reduce nocturnal pain, but also improve sleep quality.
