The effectiveness of telerehabilitation-based exercise combined with pain neuroscience education for patients with facet joint arthrosis: A randomized controlled study.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate the short-term effectiveness of exercise combined with PNE and exercise alone via telerehabilitation for patients with low back pain (LBP) caused by facet joint arthrosis (FJA). METHODS: This is a prospective, single-blind, randomized-controlled clinical trial. Forty-five patients with LBP caused by FJA were randomly allocated into three groups. The exercise (n = 15) and the exercise with PNE (n = 15) groups were provided interventions twice a week for six weeks via telerehabilitation. The control group (n = 15) was placed on the waiting list. The primary outcome measures were the numeric pain-rating scale (NPRS) at rest and with activity, The Oswestry disability index (ODI), the pain beliefs questionnaire (PBQ), and secondary outcome measures were short form-12v2 (SF-12v2) and the global rating of change score (GROC). RESULTS: The groups (52.00 ± 4.86, 46.7% female) were similar at baseline except for gender (p = 0.029). There was a significant group-by-time interaction for NPRS-rest (F = 4.276, p = 0.021), NPRS-activity (F = 12.327, p = 0.0001), the ODI (F = 23.122, p = 0.0001) and organic pain belief (F = 39.708, p = 0.0001). Further comparison with ANOVA showed that the exercise with PNE group showed better improvement in only organic pain belief (p = 0.0001). All groups reported improvements according to GROC, but it was higher in the intervention groups (p = 0.001). CONCLUSION: The patients who received exercise combined with PNE and exercise alone significantly improved pain intensity, disability and organic pain beliefs via telerehabilitation for patients with LBP caused by FJA compared to the control group. The PNE in addition to exercise may exhibit greater benefit in improving organic pain beliefs in short term. SIGNIFICANCE: This study highlights that combining exercise with PNE can lead to greater improvements compared to exercise alone or no intervention for FJA patients. The implementation of PNE in physiotherapy sessions has the potential to offer significant benefits. Furthermore, our results highlight the promising role of telerehabilitation as an effective method for delivering interventions to individuals with FJA.

The COVID-19 pandemic and perceived exercise benefits and barriers: A cross-sectional study on Turkish society perceptions of physical activity.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: With the emergence of a global pandemic, new challenges have arisen. Among them are issues relating to exercising, and perceived benefits of and barriers to exercising, particularly when many people find their opportunities for exercise limited by lockdowns. The aim of this study was to investigate how COVID­19 has affected Turkish society's perceptions of exercise and physical activity levels. METHOD: This descriptive and cross-sectional study of 410 eligible participants used an online demographic background survey, the International Physical Activity Questionnaire and the Exercise Benefits/Barriers Scale. RESULTS: The isolation period affects individuals' physical activity levels, with results indicating minimal activity levels in the general population. Higher levels of physical activity were associated with increases in the perception of exercise benefits and decreases in perceived barriers to exercise. DISCUSSION: Reducing the perception of barriers related to exercise can increase the feasibility and promote both physical and mental health through physical activity.

The Acute Effects of Different Intensity Whole-Body Vibration Exposure on Muscle Tone and Strength of the Lower Legs, and Hamstring Flexibility: A Pilot Study.

CONTEXT: The research on the change in properties of the lower leg muscles by different intensity sinusoidal vertical whole-body vibration (SV-WBV) exposures has not yet been investigated. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine effect of a 20-minute different intensity SV-WBV application to the ankle plantar flexor and dorsiflexor muscles properties and hamstring flexibility. DESIGN: Prospective preintervention-postintervention design. SETTING: Physiotherapy department. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 50 recreationally active college-aged individuals with no history of a lower leg injury volunteered. INTERVENTIONS: The SV-WBV was applied throughout the session with an amplitude of 2 to 4 mm and a frequency of 25 Hz in moderate-intensity vibration group and 40 Hz in a vigorous-intensity vibration group. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The gastrocnemius and tibialis anterior muscle tone was assessed with MyotonPRO, and the strength evaluation was made on the same lower leg muscles using hand-held dynamometer. The sit and reach test was used for the lower leg flexibility evaluation. RESULTS: The gastrocnemius muscle tone decreased on the right side (d = 0.643, P = .01) and increased on the left (d = 0.593, P = .04) when vigorous-intensity vibration was applied. Bilateral gastrocnemius muscle strength did not change in both groups (P > .05). Without differences between groups, bilateral tibialis anterior muscle strength increased in both groups (P < .01). Bilateral gastrocnemius and tibialis anterior muscle tone did not change in the moderate-intensity vibration group (P > .05). Flexibility increased in both groups (P < .01); however, there was no statistically significant difference between the groups (d = 0.169, P = .55). CONCLUSIONS: According to study results, if SV-WBV is to be used in hamstring flexibility or ankle dorsiflexor muscle strengthening, both vibration exposures should be preferred. Different vibration programs could be proposed to increase ankle plantar flexor muscle strength in the acute results. Vigorous-intensity vibration exposure is effective in altering ankle plantar flexor muscle tone, but it is important to be aware of the differences between the lower legs.