The effect of home exercises with kinesiotaping on pain, functionality, and work performance in bus drivers with non-specific neck pain.

BACKGROUND: Clinical research on the management and rehabilitation of work-related upper spinal pain in bus drivers is sparse, indicating a gap in knowledge and treatment strategies. This highlights the growing need for innovative approaches to rehabilitation programs in this area. OBJECTIVE: To examine the effects of kinesio taping (KT) on pain, functionality, and work performance in bus drivers experiencing neck pain. METHODS: The study involved 44 participants who were randomised into two different groups: the exercise group (n= 22) and the kinesio tape group (n= 22), with participants in both groups undertaking exercise interventions. Evaluations were made before and after 6 weeks of treatment. At the end of the 6-week, the participants' ROM, pain evaluations and functional scales were evaluated with disability, and work functionality. RESULTS: Neck pain severity decreased in both groups (p< 0.001 for each value), but there was no difference between the groups (p: 0.071). When disability scores were evaluated, improvement was noted in both groups (p: 0.001 for each value), but no statistically significant difference was found (p: 0.754). When the improvements in ROM values before and after the treatment were examined, the difference between the groups was recorded only in the neck extension ROM value (p: 0.011). Significant improvement was noted in all sub-steps of job performance in both groups (p< 0.05). CONCLUSION: KT added to ergonomic training and home exercise programmes is effective in controlling work-related musculoskeletal pain in drivers with neck pain. However, the addition of KT to exercise therapy was found to be no more effective than exercise therapy alone in improving pain control, functionality and work performance.

Effects of neuromuscular electrical stimulation combined with resistance exercises on muscle strength in adult hematological cancer patients: A randomized controlled study.

OBJECTIVE: We compared the effects of resistance exercise (REx) and resistance exercise combined with neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES+REx) on muscle strength, functional lower extremity strength, and mobility in hematological cancer patients during chemotherapy. METHODS: Forty-three adult patients were recruited and randomized into the REx group versus personalized and progressive NMES+REx. The lower extremity muscle strength (digital hand dynamometer) test and functional and mobility tests [30-s sit-to-stand test, Timed Up and Go test (TUG)] were performed pre-and postintervention. RESULTS: The Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group-Performance Score (ECOG-PS) of 90% of all patients was ≥2. Increases in steroid dose after transplantation were associated with decreases in hip flexion and knee extension muscle strength values (respectively; rs:-0.468, p:0.008; rs:-0.527, p: 0.002). There was a significant improvement in strength measurement, functional and mobility tests, and ECOG-PS in both groups (p<0.05). The NMES+REx group had significantly higher hip flexion and knee extension values than the REx group (respectively; p=0.001; p=0.048). CONCLUSION: REx training given to hematological cancer patients receiving intensive chemotherapy after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation improved muscle weakness. The combination of NMES training with resistance exercises resulted in significant results comparable to REx training alone in adult hematological patients with moderate-low ECOG-PS.

Translation and cross-cultural adaptation of the extended version of the Nordic musculoskeletal questionnaire into Turkish.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to translate and culturally adapt the Extended Version of the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ-E) for use in Turkey. METHODS: The cross-cultural adaptation was achieved by translating the items from the original version, with back-translation performed by independent mother-tongue translators, followed by committee review. Reliability (internal consistency and test-retest) was examined for 132 students (97 females, 35 males; mean±SD age: 19.91±1.24 years, mean±SD body mass index: 21.77±3.31 kg/m2) who completed the NMQ-E twice (with a 1 week interval). Construct validity was analyzed with the Cornell Musculoskeletal Discomfort questionnaire. Cronbach alpha was used to assess internal consistency. Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and prevalence-adjusted bias-adjusted kappa (PABAK) were used to estimate the test-retest reliability. All of the statistical analyses were performed by using SPSS (version 22.0). RESULTS: The Turkish version of the NMQ-E showed adequate internal consistency (Cronbach coefficient α=.78). The test-retest reliability was examined with PABAK and all items showed moderate to almost perfect reliability (PABAK=0.610-0.955), excellent ICC= 0.88 and good construct validity (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The Turkish version of the NMQ-E has applicable psychometric properties, including good test-retest reliability, internal consistency and construct validity.