Inter and intra-examiner reliability of musculoskeletal ultrasound scanning of Anterior Talofibular Ligament and ankle muscles.

PURPOSE: Although the function of subjects with chronic ankle instability (CAI) has been examined, structural analysis by ultrasound scanning of the structures surrounding the ankle is limited. Before such structural comparisons between injured and uninjured people can be made it is important to investigate a reliable measurement protocol of structures possibly related to CAI. The aim of this study was to investigate the inter-intra examiner reliability of ultrasonic characteristics of selected structures in healthy subjects. METHODS: Eleven healthy participants were assessed by an experienced sonographer and inexperienced certificated examiner. Ultrasound images were collected of the ATFL length and ankle muscles of gastrocnemius medialis (GM), tibialis anterior (TA) and peroneals. Thickness was measured for the muscles, whilst cross-sectional area (CSA) was measured for the peroneals. Inexperienced examiner repeated the measurements a week later. RESULTS: Inter-examiner reliability was excellent for all structures (ICC3,1 = 0.91-0.98). Intra-examiner reliability shows excellent agreement for all structures (ICC3,1 = 0.92-0.98) except GM (good agreement) (ICC3,1 = 0.82). LoA, relative to structure size, ranged from 1.38 to 6.88% for inter-reliability and from 0.07 to 5.79% for intra-reliability. CONCLUSION: This study shows a high level of inter-intra examiner reliability in measuring the structures possibly related to CAI. Future research has been planned to investigate the structural analysis in CAI by using applied MSUS protocol.

Cross-cultural translation, validity, and reliability of the Turkish version of the Back Pain Attitudes Questionnaire.

BACKGROUND: As the Back Pain Attitudes Questionnaire (Back-PAQ), a validated instrument, could be performed to evaluate biopsychosocial dimensions of back pain, it has not been translated and adapted for Turkish population. OBJECTIVES: It was aimed to translate and cross-culturally adapt the Back-PAQ (versions of 34-item, 20-item, and 10-item) into Turkish language and analyse the validity and reliability of the Back-PAQ-Turkish version (Back-PAQ-Tr). STUDY DESIGN: Study of diagnostic accuracy/assessment scale. METHODS: The translation and cross-cultural adaptation process were carried out in several steps according to international best-practice guidelines. 173 participants with back pain were recruited. Turkish version of the Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia (TSK-Tr) and Fear Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire (FABQ-Tr) were used to investigate the convergent validity. RESULTS: Internal consistency of the Back-PAQ-Tr, Back-PAQ-Tr-20, and Back-PAQ-Tr-10 were 0.82, 0.78 and 0.68, respectively. Test-retest reliability was excellent for Back-PAQ-Tr (ICC = 0.95) and Back-PAQ-Tr-20 (ICC = 0.95), but weak for Back-PAQ-Tr-10 (ICC = 0.50). A weak correlation was found between all versions of Back-PAQ-Tr and TSK-Tr & FABQ-Tr, except for the moderate correlation between Back-PAQ-Tr-10 and TSK-Tr (r = -0.51) & the physical activity score of FABQ-Tr (r = -0.51). Back-PAQ-Tr, Back-PAQ-Tr-20, and Back-PAQ-Tr-10 accounted for 66.2%, 60.5%, and 78.2% of the variance in the data set, respectively. CONCLUSION: The versions of 34-item and 20-item Back-PAQ-Tr are reliable and valid questionnaire to assess Turkish populations' attitudes and beliefs regarding back pain. Since the reliability of the 10-item version was determined to be quite low, we particularly recommend the use of the versions of Back-PAQ-Tr and Back-PAQ-Tr-20.

Gender and age impact on plantar pressure distribution in early adolescence.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to investigate gender and age effect on dynamic plantar pressure distribution in early adolescence. METHODS: A total of 524 adolescents (211 women and 313 men; mean age: 12.58 ± 1.11 years (range: 11-14 years)) participated in pedobarographic measurements during gait at self-selected speed. Data of peak pressure (PP), maximum force (MaxF-Newton), body weight corrected maximum force (BW_MaxF), contact area (CA-cm2) were analyzed for total foot and four plantar regions (hindfoot, midfoot, forefoot and toes). RESULTS: Higher toes PP was found in the ages of 12-14 years in females compared to males (253.79 ± 104.93 vs 216.00 ± 81.12 for the age of 12, p = 0.011, 264.40 ± 65.02 vs 227.21 ± 83.4 for the age of 13, p = 0.044, 299.75 ± 140.60 vs 238.75 ± 103.32 for the age of 14, p = 0.005). Females' higher MaxF especially for toes (136.24 ± 48.54 vs 115.33 ± 46.03, p = 0.008) and smaller CA especially for forefoot (50.12 ± 5.79 vs 54.4893 ± 6.80, p = 0.001) were considerable in the late of early adolescence. Forefoot (305.66 ± 82.14 females p = 0.001, 281.35 ± 79.59 males p < 0.001) and total foot PP (374.08 ± 113.93 females, p = 0.035, 338.61 ± 85.85 males p = 0.009) at the age of 14 was significantly higher than in younger ages in both gender groups. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that especially the age of 14 years in early adolescence is a critical age for alteration in plantar pressure distribution. Interestingly females tended to increase their toe and forefoot plantar pressures compared to males by increasing age. We suggest that gender and age impact on toes plantar pressure alterations in early adolescence may be a possible risk factor for further foot impairments. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, Diagnostic Study.

Association between the physical activity level and the quality of life of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

[Purpose] Physical activity and regular exercise play an important role in glycemic control, which is considered an important part of the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus. This study evaluated physical activity level and its relationship with quality of life in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. [Subjects and Methods] We evaluated 129 subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus through a face-to-face interview using the short version of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire and Diabetes-39. Demographic data, diabetes symptoms, time of initial diagnosis, and treatment procedure/approaches were recorded. [Results] Of the study subjects, 51 (39.5%) had low, 67 had moderate (51.9%), and 11 (8.5%) had high activity levels. The mean weekly sitting duration was 302 minutes. The mean weekly walking time was 231.7 minutes. Except for the "diabetes control" domain, scores for all the subgroups and the total score in the quality-of-life assessment had a statistically significant negative correlation with physical activity level. [Discussion] Physical inactivity negatively affects the quality of life of diabetic patients. A planned exercise education program and incorporation of exercise into the lifestyle can improve the quality of life of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Kinesiophobia in relation to physical activity in chronic neck pain.

BACKGROUND: Little research is available concerning physical activity and its determinants in people with chronic neck pain. OBJECTIVE: To explore the relation between kinesiophobia and physical activity and gender effect on these relations in people with chronic neck pain. METHODS: Ninety-nine subjects (34 men and 65 women) with chronic neck pain were participated in the study. Pain intensity was assessed with Visual Analog Scale and kinesiophobia degree was determined by using Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia. Level of physical activity was assessed with short form of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. RESULTS: There was no statistically correlation between neck pain intensity and kinesiophobia degree (p= 0.246, r= 0.123) and physical activity level (p= 0.432, r= -0.083). It was also found that kinesiophobia degree was not correlated to physical activity level (p= 0.148, r= -0.153). There was a negative correlation between kinesiophobia degree and physical activity level only for women, not for men (p= 0.011, r= -0.318). CONCLUSIONS: Our results showed that although people with chronic neck pain reported higher pain intensity and fear of movement, pain intensity and kinesiophobia degree did not associate to their physical activity levels. It can be speculated that high kinesiophobia degrees cause low physical activity levels for women, but not for men.

Validity and reliability of the Turkish "Patient-Rated Wrist Evaluation" questionnaire.

OBJECTIVE: The Patient-Rated Wrist Evaluation (PRWE) scale is a self-administered outcome questionnaire used to determine level of pain and disability in wrist problems. The scale includes pain (PRWE-P) and function (PRWE-F) subscales, the latter consisting of specific function (PRWE-SF) and usual (PRWE-UF) function. This study aimed to evaluate the validity and reliability of the Turkish versionof the PRWE scale. METHODS: Permission was sought and received from the original author of the PRWE for a Turkish translation for use in the study. The study included 110 patients (85 female and 25 male; mean age: 50.8±1.53 years; range: 18 to 85) with distal radius fracture, carpal tunnel syndrome, wrist ganglion cyst, De Quervain syndrome, Kienböck disease, and connective lesions affecting the wrist, all of whom completed the Turkish version of both the PRWE (PRWE-T) and the Disabilities of the Arm Shoulder and Hand scale (DASH). Reliability and validity of the PRWE-T scale were evaluated via an internal consistency analysis and a factor analysis respectively. The level of correlation between PRWE-T and DASH scores was also examined. RESULTS: Cronbach's alpha coefficient was calculated as 0.86, 0.82 and 0.88 for PRWE-P, PRWE-F and PRWE-T respectively for the scale and all subscales. The PRWE-T scale was found to be highly reliable. A statistically significant correlation was found between PRWE-T and DASH in the criterion-related validity analysis (Spearman's rho=0.9). CONCLUSION: The PRWE-T was found to be valid and reliable. It is therefore suggested for use in evaluating patient-based pain and disability levels in routine clinical practice.

The application of matrix rhythm therapy as a new clinical modality in burn physiotherapy programmes.

PURPOSE: The aim of the present study was to investigate the use of matrix rhythm therapy (MRT) as one of the electrotherapeutic modalities in clinics. METHODS: This study was carried out in the Burn and Wound Treatment Department of Dr. Lütfi Kirdar Kartal Education and Research Hospital in Istanbul between October 2010 and August 2011. A treatment protocol including whirlpool, MRT and exercise was applied to a group of patients who had burn injury of upper extremity. The evaluation of each patient included assessment of pain, range of motion, muscle strength, skin flexibility and sensory function at pre- and post-treatment. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in values of pain, muscle strength and flexibility between pre- and post-treatment assessments (p>0.05). A significant increase was found in the range of motion and sensory function at pre-treatment according to post-treatment (p<0.01). CONCLUSION: The usage of MRT in order to maintain and improve the range of motion and to minimise the development of scar tissue was investigated in this study. We suggest conducting randomised controlled studies that carry out a comparison of the MRT with other treatment modalities with more cases and investigate the long-term effects of MRT.

A comparison of three different physiotherapy modalities used in the physiotherapy of burns.

The present study compared the effectiveness of matrix rhythm therapy, ultrasound treatment (UT), laser treatment (LT) used in the physiotherapy of burns. The study was conducted at the Wound and Burn Healing Center, Dr. Lütfi Kirdar Kartal Education and Research Hospital (Turkey) from June 2009 to January 2012. The case series comprised 39 individuals with second- and third-degree upper-limb burns, whose burn traumas ended approximately 1 to 3 months previously. Participants were separated into three groups: matrix rhythm treatment (MRT), UT and LT; each group was also applied a treatment protocol including whirlpool and exercise. Pain, range of motion (ROM), muscular strength, skin elasticity, and sensory functions were evaluated before and after the treatment. Pressure sense and passive ROM were higher in the MRT group than in the LT group (P < .05). Pain was lower in the LT group than in the UT group, and passive ROM was higher in the UT group than the in LT group (P < .05). Active ROM was found to increase in all treatment groups, whereas passive ROM increased only in the MRT and UT groups; pressure sense increased only in the MRT group, and pain decreased only in the LT group (P < .05). MRT was found to be more effective in the restoration of sensory functions than LT, whereas LT was more effective in reducing pain than UT. No significant difference was observed in terms of skin elasticity according to the results of three treatment modalities. It is suggested that further research with more cases should be conducted to examine the long-term effect of treatment modalities.

Effects of unilateral backpack carriage on biomechanics of gait in adolescents: a kinematic analysis.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to analyze the biomechanical alterations during unilateral backpack carriage in adolescents and to compare the kinematic parameters of the loaded and unloaded sides. METHODS: Twenty adolescents (mean age: 13 ± 1.2 years) were assessed during walking with no backpack and with a backpack on one shoulder. The kinematic parameters of a gait at a self-selected speed were analyzed using motion analysis. Specific kinematic peak points were compared between asymmetric walking; unloaded, loaded side and mean of unloaded walking. RESULTS: Peak ankle dorsal flexion, mean knee varum angle, peak value of hip extension and range of pelvic rotation decreased; and knee flexion at initial contact, hip adduction angle, mean pelvic anterior tilt and mean pelvic obliquity increased on the loaded side relative to the unloaded side and unloaded walking. Decreased maximum hip extension during late stance, increased hip adduction, elevated pelvis and increased anterior pelvic tilt were seen on the loaded side and the pelvis was lowered, ankle dorsal flexion increased and the hip was abducted on the unloaded side as a counter effect. CONCLUSION: Both the unloaded and loaded sides were affected by asymmetrical backpack carriage. The biomechanical alterations seen in asymmetrical backpack carriage may put some extra load on the lumbar vertebral joints and altered frontal knee biomechanics contribute to low back pain and pathologies in the knee joint.