Ebru Yilmaz Yalcinkaya

Effects of age, gender, and cognitive, functional and motor status on functional outcomes of stroke rehabilitation.

Our objective was to evaluate the relation between age, gender, initial functional, cognitive and motor condition, spasticity, diabetes mellitus, and functional outcome after rehabilitation of stroke patients. Eighty-eight patients who had suffered stroke were administered in this study. Participants were stroke patients undergoing rehabilitation in Istanbul Physical Treatment and Rehabilitation Training and Research Hospital. Functional condition (Functional Independence Measurement (FIM)), spasticity (Ashworth Scale), cognitive condition (Mini Mental State Evaluation (MMSE)), post-treatment FIM were measured. A significant positive association between MMSE at admission and the functional discharge measures was observed. A significant positive association Brunnstrom (upper lower extremity assessment) scores and the functional discharge measures was observed. A significant positive association between spasticity at admission and the functional discharge measures was observed. In conclusions, the admission functional, motor, cognition condition, age, spasticity were a significant predictors of total and motor FIM score at discharge, but not gender and diabetes mellitus.

Rehabilitation Outcomes of Children with Cerebral Palsy

[Purpose] To evaluate the results of Bobath-based rehabilitation performed at a pediatric cerebral palsy (CP) inpatient clinic. [Subjects and Methods] The study subjects were 28 children with CP who were inpatients at a pediatric service. Inclusion criteria were: being an inpatient of our hospital aged 2–12 with a diagnosis of CP; having one permanent primary caregiver; and the caregiver having no medical or psychotic problems. All of the patients received Bobath treatment for 1 hour per day, 5 days a week. The locomotor system, neurologic and orthopedic examination, Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM) of the patients, and Short Form-36 (SF-36) of permanent caregivers were evaluated at the time of admission to hospital, discharge from hospital, and at 1 and 3 months after discharge. [Results] Post-admission scores of GMFM at discharge, and 1 and 3 months later showed significant increase. Social function and emotional role subscores of SF-36 had increased significantly at discharge. [Conclusion] Bobath treatment is promising and randomized controlled further studies are needed for rehabilitation technics.

Low Back Pain Prevalence and Characteristics in Caregivers of Stroke Patients: A Pilot Study

Abstract Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine the frequency and features of low back pain (LBP) among stroke caregivers. Method: Participants included 64 caregivers of stroke survivors in our inpatient clinic. Age, gender, body weight, FIM™, and Brunnstrom Scale of patients and low back pain history, Short Form-36 (SF-36), Beck Depression Measure (BDM), and Oswestry Disability Scale (ODS) of caregivers were reported. Descriptive statistics, Spearman correlation, and Mann-Whitney U test were used. Results: Fifty-three (82.8 %) of caregivers had LBP. Stroke survivors of caregivers with LBP (group 1) had significantly lower FIM™ scores when compared with stroke survivors of caregivers without LBP (group 2) (P < .05). All SF-36 subscores and total score of group 1 except mental health were significantly lower than SF-36 scores of group 2. Discussion: The lifetime, 12-month period, and point prevalence of LBP were 44.1%, 34.0%, and 19.7%, respectively, in our country. Caregivers had a higher frequency of LBP in this study. However it was a study with a small number of participants. There are many studies about stroke caregivers’ depression and life quality. LBP should also be investigated.

Validity and reliability of a Turkish Brief Pain Inventory Short Form when used to evaluate musculoskeletal pain

BACKGROUND The Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) is both a questionnaire and an outcome measure that is used widely in clinical trials to assess pain associated with many conditions. The BPI Short Form has been extensively translated into foreign languages. The aim of this study was to assess the validity and reliability of a Turkish Brief Pain Inventory Short Form (BPI-TR) to evaluate musculoskeletal pain. METHODS In total, 297 patients with musculoskeletal pain participated in the study. Demographic characteristics and brief medical histories were recorded. Pain intensity was assessed using a visual analogue scale (VAS) and quality-of-life was assessed using the Short Form 36 (SF-36). Pain was evaluated using the BPI-TR in all patients. Internal consistency and test-retest analysis were used to assess reliability. The internal consistency of the scale items was assessed by calculating Cronbachs α value, which was expected to be > 0.7. The criterion validity of the BPI-TR was assessed by correlation with VAS scores. RESULTS Pain intensity, pain interference, and other components of the Turkish version were consistent with validity thereof. Cronbachs α was 0.84 for pain intensity and 0.89 for pain interference. The extent of BPI-TR and VAS correlation was statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS The BPI-TR may be used for assessment of musculoskeletal pain.

The Effects of the Pilates Exercises on Rectus Abdominis Thickness and Balance in Healthy Female Health Worker: Prospective, Single Blind Study with Controlled Group

Pilate’s exercises were originally designed for and used by performance artists, but have enjoyed wider popularity in recent years [1]. Joseph H. Pilates developed a comprehensive program known as the Pilates method in the 1920’s. Over the last decade, the popularity of this set of exercises has grown and Pilates is now used as a form of fitness and holistic health [2]. The Pilates method can offer significant improvement in personal autonomy, static balance and quality of life in elderly females [3]. The abdominal muscles flex the lumbar spine, where rectus abdominis is particularly powerful muscle. Acting collectively, the abdominal muscles not only increase intra-abdominal pressure but also affect forced expiration, sneezing and coughing [4]. Rectus abdominis muscle is one of the anterior abdominal muscles. This muscle is originated from pubic crest and pubic symphysis and inserted in xiphoid process and costal cartilages 5-7. It is innervated by intercostal nerve (T7-T11) and subcostal nerve (T12). Function of rectus abdominis is to depress ribs and flex trunk [5].

The quality of life analysis of knee prosthesis with complete microprocessor control in trans-femoral amputees

Objective The aim of this study was to analyze the patient demographics, etiology of limb loss as well as reporting SF-36 scores for microprocessor prosthesis users in Turkish population. Methods We reviewed 72 patients (61 male and 11 female; mean age: 37.7 ± 10.7) with uni-lateral, above knee amputation and a history of regular and microprocessor prosthesis use. All patients were called back for a last follow-up and they were asked to fill a self-administered general health status questionnaire (SF-36). Results According to the SF-36 results; physical component score (PCS) score was 46 ± 7.3 and mental components summary (MCS) score was 46.5 ± 9.1. These scores have statistical similarity with Turkish healthy controls, except SF (social functioning) sub-dimension. PCS score for women microprocessor users were significantly lower than men (43.3 vs. 48.7, p = 0.03), but MCS scores were similar in between genders (46 vs. 48.2, p = 0.13). Conventional prostheses usage time was positively correlated with physical function (PF) scores (r = 0.322, p = 0.010). Microprocessor prosthesis usage time was negatively correlated with role limitations due to emotional problem (RE) scores (r = −0,313, p = 0.009). Conclusion The quality of life surveys were showed that the loss of an extremity have higher physical and psychological impact on womens physical scores. Overall, SF-36 results were similar in microprocessor using amputees and Turkish normal controls. Level of evidence Level IV, therapeutic study.

Influence of patient training on persistence, compliance, and tolerability of different dosing frequency regimens of bisphosphonate therapy: An observational study in Turkish patients with postmenopausal osteoporosis

Objective In our study, we aimed to evaluate the influence of training on compliance and persistence with bisphosphonate treatment given on a weekly vs. monthly basis in postmenopausal osteoporosis patients. Methods A total of 979 patients with postmenopausal osteoporosis (mean age: 63.2 ± 7.2 years) were included in this national, multicenter, prospective non-interventional observational cohort registry study. Patients were randomized into training (n = 492, 50.3%, mean age: 63.4 ± 7.2 years) and control (n = 487, 49.7%, mean age: 63.0 ± 7.1 years) groups. Patients in each intervention group were given weekly (44.9% and 44.6% for training and control subjects, respectively) or monthly (55.1% and 55.4%, respectively) bisphosphonate regimens. After the initial visit, patients were followed up at three-month intervals throughout 12 months of treatment for evaluation of persistence, compliance and adverse events. Results On average, 79.4% of the patients were persistent with the treatment with a mean of 350.4 days of duration during the 12-month follow-up period. The mean compliance in the compliant and fully compliant group remained at an average of 86.6%. No significant difference was detected between the training and control groups in terms of compliance and persistence. Significantly longer persistence (360.0 ± 89.0 vs. 345.0 ± 108.0 days; p = 0.035), higher percentage of persistent patients (83.4% vs. 74.2%; p = 0.012) and higher compliance rates (88.8% vs. 83.3%; p = 0.002) were noted in monthly regimen patients in comparison to those given weekly regimen. Conclusion Our findings revealed remarkably high rates for persistence and compliance with bisphosphonate treatment in postmenopausal osteoporosis, with no impact of training on compliance and persistence rates. Longer persistence and better compliance rates were achieved with the monthly bisphosphonate regimen when compared to the weekly regimen.