EFFECT OF FLAMINGO EXERCISES ON BALANCE IN PATIENTS WITH BALANCE IMPAIRMENT DUE TO SENILE OSTEOARTHRITIS.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of flamingo exercise with or without KAT 2000 device on the balance problems due to senile OA. PARTICIPANTS: Ninety elderly osteoarthritic patients with balance impairment. INTERVENTIONS: Participants were randomly assigned into three groups; Kinesthetic ability trainer (KAT 2000) training group (Group 1) (n = 30), Flamingo training group (Group 2) (n = 30), Combined training group (Group 3) (n = 30) group. 45 minutes individualized training sessions as three times a week for 4 weeks were given to all participants. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Patients were evaluated with Berg balance scale (BBS), kinesthetic ability trainer (KAT 2000) static and dynamic scores, timed up and go test (TUGT), walking speed (WS), Activities Specific Balance Confidence (ABC) Scale and Functional Reach Test (FRT) at the baseline and at the end of 4 weeks. RESULTS: At the end of the therapy, there were statistically significant improvements in KAT 2000 static and dynamic scores, TUGT scores, WS and ABC Scale in all groups (p < 0.05). At the end of the therapy there were statistically significant differences in Group 3 for KAT 2000 static and dynamic scores, TUGT scores, WS and ABC Scale than the other groups (p < 0.05). But there were no statistical difference in BBS and FRT score between the groups (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Both flamingo and KAT2000 exercises device have positive effects on the balance problems due to senile OA. Combined with the KAT2000 device, the effects of flamingo exercises on balance disorder in senile osteoarthritis patients are more pronounced.

The effectiveness of Kinesio taping on pain and clinical features in chronic non-specific low back pain: A randomized controlled clinical trial.

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to investigate the effectiveness of Kinesio taping (KT) and sham KT on pain, lumbar range of motion (ROM) and disability in chronic non-specific low back pain. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This is a randomized, placebo controlled study. Sixty patients (22 males, 38 females; mean age 21.5±1.7 years, range, 19 to 25 years) with chronic low back pain were randomized into either intervention or placebo groups. Group 1 (n=30) was treated with KT and group 2 (n=30) was treated with sham taping six times by intervals of three days. Patients were evaluated according to pain, modified Schober's test value, hand-ground distance and lumbar ROM and disability at baseline and at the end of the first and sixth months of intervention. Pain was assessed by using Visual Analog Scale (VAS), while ROM was assessed by modified Schober's test value, hand-ground distance and lumbar lateral flexion ROM. Disability was assessed with Oswestry Disability Index (ODI). RESULTS: Statistically significant improvements for all parameters were found for both groups after one month of intervention (p<0.05). These effects were sustained after six months of follow-up for modified Schober's test, hand-ground distance and ODI. There were statistically significant differences between the groups for all outcome measures at the first month of intervention (p<0.05). However, at sixth-month follow-up, only modified Schober's test, hand-ground distance and ODI values were significantly different between groups (p<0.05) except VAS (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: Kinesio taping provided significant improvements in pain, ROM and disability at short term. These positive effects were sustained for ROM and disability at long term but not for pain.