Gul Baltaci

Initial effects of kinesio® taping in patients with patellofemoral pain syndrome: A randomized, double-blind study

The purpose of this randomized, double-blind study was to determine the acute effects of kinesio ® taping on pain. strength, joint position sense and balance in patients with patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS). Twenty-two subjects with PFPS participated in the study. Subjects were separated into two groups; kinesio ® taping (KT) and placebo kinesiotaping (PKT). All subjects were assessed before and 45-min after the applications. Muscle strength, joint position sense, static and dynamic balance and pain intensity were used as the main outcome measures. Among all outcome parameters significant differences were found between strength of quadriceps muscle at 60 and 180°/s, and static and dynamic balance scores before and 45-min after application of KT. There was also a significant difference between strength of quadriceps muscle at 60°/s and static balance scores before and 45 minutes after application of the PKT. Therefore KT application does not seem to be an effective treatment method for both decreasing pain and improving joint position sense for patients with PFPS.

Comparison of slow and accelerated rehabilitation protocol after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair: pain and functional activity

OBJECTIVES In this study, we sought to compare the effects of the slow and accelerated protocols on pain and functional activity level after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair. METHODS The study included 29 patients (3 men, 26 women) who underwent arthroscopic repair of stage 2 and 3 rotator cuff tears. Patients were randomized in two groups: the accelerated protocol group (n=13) and slow protocol group (n=16). Patients in the accelerated protocol group participated in a preoperative rehabilitation program for 4-6 weeks. Patients were evaluated preoperatively and for 24 weeks postoperatively. Pain was assessed by visual analog scale, and functional activity level was assessed by The Disabilities of The Arm Shoulder and Hand (DASH) questionnaire. The active range of motion was initiated at week 3 after surgery for the accelerated rehabilitation protocol and at week 6 for the slow protocol. The rehabilitation program was completed by the 8th week with the accelerated protocol and by the 22nd week with the slow protocol. RESULTS There was no significant difference between the slow and accelerated protocols with regard to pain at rest (p>0.05). However, the accelerated protocol was associated with less pain during activity at weeks 5 and 16, and with less pain at night during week 5 (p<0.05). The accelerated protocol was superior to the slow protocol in terms of functional activity level, as determined by DASH at weeks 8, 12, and 16 after surgery (p<0.05). CONCLUSION The accelerated protocol is recommended to physical therapists during rehabilitation after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair to prevent the negative effects of immobilization and to support rapid reintegration to daily living activities.

Isokinetic performance at diagonal pattern and shoulder mobility in elite overhead athletes

The purpose of this study was to measure isokinetically glenohumeral joint movement peak torque and work in professional basketball, volleyball, handball and baseball players and determine whether significant differences exist between the dominant and non‐dominant extremity in athletes and controls. Eighty healthy professional overhead athletes (basketball, volleyball, handball and baseball players) and 20 controls were tested bilaterally on a CYBEX 6000 isokinetic dynamometer at 60° and 180° s−1 for diagonal pattern of the glenohumeral joint. A standardized protocol and testing guidelines were strictly followed. The range of motion of internal rotation (IR) on the dominant side of baseball players was significantly smaller than those on the dominant side of basketball, handball and volleyball players, and controls (P<0.01). Flexion/abduction/external rotation were consistently higher on the dominant arm (8.5%) for peak torque at 60° s−1 in baseball players, and bilateral ratios were lower on the dominant arm (14.8%) for peak torque at 180° s−1 in basketball players. The results of this study are important for the application and interpretation of isokinetic data and flexibility and mobility characteristics on unilaterally dominant overhead athletes. Functional weakness in external rotators, mobility impairments in IR and muscle imbalance have been shown in the dominant arm of these overhead athletes.

Does kinesiotaping increase knee muscles strength and functional performance

Context: Knee injuries which are the most common disabling injuries in both athletic and physically active people, can be expected to occur with all sporting activities especi ally contact sports. Therefore, knee braces and taping techniques are widely used to reduce and/or prevent the severity and incidence of knee injuries in sports. Objective: To determine which application, knee brace, kinesiotaping (KT) or both, is more effective regarding muscular strength and functional performance. Design: A prospective, criterion-based controlled study. Setting: University research laboratory. Patients or other participants: Twenty (11 F, 9M) healthy subjects with no previous history of lower extremity injuries and using knee brace and KT were included in this study. Main Outcome measures : Muscular strength, and jump performance were tested with knee brace, kinesiotaping and both applications. Repeated measures ANOVA was performed to determine if there were differences between braced, taped and both conditions. Participants filled in a questionnaire regardi ng demographic and lower extremity problems. Results: Kinesiotape application brought about a significant incre ase in hop distance (p = 0.015, P = 0.018) in both the dominant and non-dominant extremity and in isokinetic knee extension peak torque (p = 0.034) at 180 � /s. Conclusion: KT application was more effective in terms of muscular strength and jump performance than knee brace and KT plus knee brace. Physical therapists and athletic trainers may apply KT to a patient during or after treatment and rehabilitation to support knee musculature, to encourage the tissue healing process, and to avoid limiting the enhancement of improved knee muscle performance.

The effect on neuromuscular stability, performance, multi-joint coordination and proprioception of barefoot, taping or preventative bracing

OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to assess the effects of taping and preventive bracing on functional balance, jumping performance, multi-joint coordination and proprioception on comparison to barefoot and each other. DESIGN Controlled trial as an experiment with the independent variable testing in 3 trials: control (barefooted), preventive bracing, and taping. SETTING The sports physiotherapy research laboratory. PARTICIPANTS Twenty physically active male university students aged between 20 and 28 who had been free from lower extremity pathology for 12 months and had no previous history of ankle sprain served as participants. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Single leg balance (s), jumping performance (cm), coordination and proprioception assessments by the Functional Squat System. The software automatically calculated the absolute average error (cm) and the standard deviation (SD) of the average error. Average errors were independently quantified as a function of the action mode (concentric versus eccentric) and of the lower limb (dominant versus non-dominant). RESULTS There was no significant difference among the groups for balance tests (p>0.05). For vertical jump performance of bilateral and the dominant leg there were significant differences that the barefoot group had better results compared to the other groups (p=0.059; 0.017). According to the coordination results of Functional Squat System participants were better in brace and tape situations since the deviations were less for all concentric and eccentric positions. Deviation results for the proprioception test were different for first visual and non-visual deviations for dominant leg (p<0.05). CONCLUSION In conclusion, bracing and taping may play an important role in preventing injury or rehabilitation of the injured ankle by improving concentric and eccentric coordination, proprioception with the ability of reproducing motion in closed kinetic chain while decreasing vertical jump performance. No superiority of brace over tape or vice versa was found in this study.

The effectiveness of manual therapy in supraspinatus tendinopathy

OBJECTIVES The aim of this randomized controlled study was to assess the efficacy of manual therapy in the treatment of patients with symptomatic supraspinatus tendinopathy. METHODS Seventy-seven patients (age range, 30 to 55 years) with supraspinatus tendinopathy, were randomly assigned to one of the three treatment groups: a supervised exercise program (Group 1), a supervised exercise program combined with joint and soft tissue mobilization (Group 2), or a home-based rehabilitation program (Group 3). All patients had rehabilitation for 12 weeks. Pain level was evaluated with a visual analogue scale (VAS) and the range of motion (ROM) was measured with a goniometer. The Modified American Shoulder and Elbow Surgery (MASES) score was used in functional assessment. Flexion, abduction, internal and external rotation strengths were measured with a manual muscle test. All patients were evaluated before, and at the 4th and 12th week of the rehabilitation. RESULTS All groups experienced significant decrease in pain and an increase in shoulder muscle strength and function by both the 4th and 12th weeks of treatment (p<0.05). There was no significant difference between the groups in terms of function (p>0.05). However, the greatest improvement in functionality was found in Group 2. CONCLUSION Supervised exercise, supervised and manual therapy, and home-based exercise are all effective and promising methods in the rehabilitation of the patients with subacromial impingement syndrome. The addition of an initial manual therapy may improve the results of the rehabilitation with exercise.

The effects of Kinesio Taping on body functions and activity in unilateral spastic cerebral palsy: a single‐blind randomized controlled trial

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of Kinesio Taping (KT) on the body functions and activity of children with unilateral spastic cerebral palsy (CP).

The effect of prophylactic knee bracing on performance: balance, proprioception, coordination, and muscular power

PurposeProphylactic knee braces are largely used in the prevention of ligament injuries, but their effectiveness on performance are still controversial. The aim of this study was to determine which brace was the most effective on functional performance.MethodTwenty-four healthy subjects (14 men and 10 women), between the age of 18 and 22 with no prior history of lower limb injury and brace use, voluntarily participated in this study. Five different prophylactic knee braces were used. The test protocol consisted of dynamic balance, jumping performance, proprioception, coordination, and maximal force. Balance was assessed by the Y balance test; jumping performance was assessed by vertical jump and one-leg hop tests; maximal force, proprioception, and coordination were assessed by using functional squat testing. Proprioceptive test was performed by using the functional squat system machine that the participants were instructed to keep the crosshair on the line, even after the visual aid had disappeared. The subjects without a brace and with the brace by using 5 different braces (DonJoy-USA) were evaluated by five different therapists.ResultsHinged “H” buttress for the support of the knee brace was found to be more effective than the others in terms of balance. Drytex economy hinged knee brace had the best result in terms of proprioception and maximal force. There were no significant differences in vertical jump and one-leg hop tests (n.s.).ConclusionIn conclusion, the hinged “H” buttress for support of the knee brace and Drytex economy hinged knee brace produced the best results on the performance parameters. The other three braces demonstrated more variable and less optimal results. Prophylactic knee braces can be used for both healthy subjects and athletes to enhance proprioception, coordination, maximal force, and balance, but it is important to choose the best proper brace to the individuals according to their fitness level.Level of evidence(Economic and decision analysis—developing an economic or decision model), Level II.

The effects of two different closed kinetic chain exercises on muscle strength and proprioception in patients with patellofemoral pain syndrome

OBJECTIVES The effects of two different closed kinetic chain exercises were compared in patients with patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS). METHODS Forty female patients with unilateral PFPS were randomly divided into two groups to receive exercises with the hip internally rotated (n=20, mean age 39.1 + or - 8.0 years) or externally rotated (n=20, mean age 36.1 + or - 8.7 years) with the use of the Monitored Rehab Functional Squat (MRFS) System. The duration of exercises was four weeks with a total of 20 sessions. Both groups were evaluated before therapy, after four weeks of exercises, and after six weeks of home exercise program with the MRFS System for muscle strength and proprioception, with a visual analog scale for pain, and with the Kujala questionnaire for functional assessment. RESULTS Among baseline features, the only significant difference between the two groups was in the mean height (p<0.05). Pain severity decreased significantly in both groups after treatment and home exercises (p<0.05). Concentric and eccentric peak forces, concentric proprioceptive deficit, and Kujala scores improved significantly in both groups after treatment (p<0.05), whereas improvements after home exercises were not significant in this respect (p>0.05). Eccentric proprioceptive deficit, however, did not change significantly both after treatment and home exercises (p>0.05). No significant differences were observed between the two groups during the study period with respect to the parameters assessed (p>0.05). CONCLUSION Our results show that functional knee squat exercises with internally and externally rotated hip positions provide similar improvements in muscle strength and proprioception in patients with PFPS.

Rehabilitation of avulsion fracture of the tibial tuberosity following Osgood-Schlatter disease

A sixteen-year-old boy suffered from sharp pain in the knee during a jump while playing basketball. He had a positive history of Osgood Schlatter disease. Radiographic evaluation demonstrated an avulsion fracture of the tibial tuberosity Type III according to the classification of Watson-Jones. Rehabilitation after avulsion fracture of the tibial tuberosity is an important consideration for this relatively uncommon adolescent injury. In such avulsion fractures, landing on the ground with the knee fully extended after a jump is the most likely cause. This case report reviews the rehabilitation program, and selected functional outcome measures after rehabilitation are reported. The patient returned to sporting activity after 12 months.