Lamia Pinar

Comparison of Pressure Pain Threshold, Grip Strength, Dexterity and Touch Pressure of Dominant and Non-Dominant Hands within and Between Right- and Left-Handed Subjects

This study was done to evaluate differences in pressure pain threshold, grip strength, manual dexterity and touch pressure threshold in the dominant and non-dominant hands of right- and left-handed subjects, and to compare findings within and between these groups. Thirty-nine right-handed and twenty-one left-handed subjects participated in the study. Pressure pain threshold was assessed using a dolorimeter, grip strength was assessed with a hand-grip dynamometer, manual dexterity was evaluated using the VALPAR Component Work Sample-4 system, and touch pressure threshold was determined using Semmes Weinstein monofilaments. Results for the dominant and non-dominant hands were compared within and between the groups. In the right-handed subjects, the dominant hand was significantly faster with the VALPAR Component Work Sample-4, showed significantly greater grip strength, and had a significantly higher pressure pain threshold than the non-dominant hand. The corresponding results for the two hands were similar in the left-handed subjects. The study revealed asymmetrical manual performance in grip strength, manual dexterity and pressure pain threshold in right-handed subjects, but no such asymme-tries in left-handed subjects.

The effects of exercise and exercise-related changes in blood nitric oxide level on migraine headache

Objective: To observe the effects of moderate aerobic exercise on migraine headache, to assess exercise-related changes in blood nitric oxide (NO) levels, and to examine the impact of such changes on migraine attacks. Design: Controlled clinical trial. Setting: School of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation. Subjects: Forty women with general migraine attending the Neurology Department of the Faculty of Medicine Faculty of Dokuz Eylül University. Intervention: Patients were assigned alternately into two groups: exercise group undertaking 1 hour aerobic exercise three times weekly, and a control group. Main outcome measures: Patients were assessed before and after treatment using three clinical scales – visual analogue scale for headache, Pain Disability Index and Quality of Life Scale – and chemiluminescence analysis for plasma nitric oxide. Results: After the eight-week therapy period, patient complaints concerning the intensity, frequency and duration of pain had decreased significantly in both groups; however, visual analogue scale scoring showed better pain relief in the exercised group than in the controls (from 8.8 ± 1.7 to 4.0 ± 1.4 and from 8.5 ± 0.8 to 7.0 ± 0.9 respectively). Quality of life measures also revealed better migraine relief in the exercised women than in those who received medical treatment only. Blood NO rose significantly from pre to post-therapy in the exercised group, but the change was not significant in the control group. Conclusion: The study showed that regular long-term aerobic exercise reduced migraine pain severity, frequency and duration possibly due to increased nitric oxide production.

Can we use nerve gliding exercises in women with carpal tunnel syndrome

This study investigated the effectiveness of nerve gliding exercises used in combination with conservative treatment approaches in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome. A total of 35 hands of 26 patients with carpal tunnel syndrome were divided into 2 groups. Static volar wrist splints were applied to 16 hands in the control group, and these patients were trained to modify their functional activities in accordance with conservative treatment. In the experimental group, nerve gliding exercises were applied to 19 hands that were also treated conservatively. A day-and-night splint, together with the conservative training program, was applied for 6 weeks to both groups. Subsequently, a night splint only was used in both groups, and nerve gliding exercises were continued in the experimental group for the remaining 4 weeks. Pretreatment and posttreatment assessments of pain, sensation, muscle strength, and grip and pinch strength, along with Tinel and Phalen tests, were performed in all cases; electrophysiologic measurements were recorded. Significant progress was detected in both control and experimental groups during the posttreatment phase compared with the initial phase (P < .05). However, when the 2 groups were compared, the experimental group in which nerve gliding exercises were added to conservative therapy approaches demonstrated more rapid pain reduction; these patients also showed greater functional improvement, especially in grip strength (P < .05).

Influences of Acute and Chronic Aerobic Exercise on the Plasma Homocysteine Level

Background and Aims: Elevated plasma homocysteine (PH) levels have been identified as a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. The aims of this study were to investigate the influences of submaximal acute aerobic exercise and aerobic training on PH levels and lipid profiles. Methods: 69 volunteersubjects (21.12 ± 2.08 years) were randomized to three groups as acute, training and control groups. Examination and blood samples were collected before and immediately after exercise in the acute group and before and 6 weeks later in the training and control groups. Results: A significant increase in PH concentration was recorded immediately after aerobic exercise, compared with baseline values (p = 0.001). Although, in the training group, total cholesterol (p = 0.00) and LDL cholesterol (p = 0.001) decreased significantly after training, no significant changes in PH concentration, HDL cholesterol (p = 0.087) and triglyceride (p = 194) levels were found. Conclusions: It can be said that the PH level increases following submaximal acute aerobic exercise, but does not alter after submaximal aerobic training due to training duration or intensity. Therefore, submaximal aerobic training decreases lipid profiles independent of the PH level.

Interleukin-6 and hepcidin expression changes in cardiac tissue of long-term trained and untrained rats after exhaustive exercise*

Background/aim: Exercise benefits the cardiovascular system, but strenuous exercise can cause cardiac damage and induce cytokine production, particularly that of interleukin-6 (IL-6). Hepcidin, which is primarily regulated by IL-6, increases after exercise. Hepcidin is a possible protective factor against the adverse effects of strenuous exercise such as oxidative stress. The aim of the study is to reveal that training increases hepcidin and attenuates increased levels of IL-6 in the hearts of exhaustively exercised rats by comparing the IL-6 and hepcidin mRNA expression levels in trained and untrained groups.Materials and methods: Thirty male Wistar albino rats were assigned to the following groups: sedentary controls (Con); untrained animals that acutely completed exhaustive exercise and were sacrificed immediately after exhaustion (UT-i) or 1 day after exhaustion (UT-1); and long-term trained animals that completed exhaustive exercise and were sacrificed immediately after exhaustion (T-i) or 1 day after exhaustion (T-1). mRNA levels were examined by reverse transcription PCR. Results: IL-6 levels significantly increased in the UT-i, T-i, and T-1 groups compared to the Con group (P = 0.000, P = 0.024, P = 0.001), with maximal IL-6 expression found in the UT-i group. Hepcidin levels significantly increased in the T-1 group (P = 0.000) compared to the control. Conclusion: Increased IL-6 levels in rats show that exhaustive exercise can cause cardiac inflammation. However, long-term training attenuated the severity of the inflammation. The possible protective effect of increased hepcidin in the trained groups can be explained by the antiinflammatory effects of IL-6 and long-term training.

Effects of Exercise-Altered Immune Functions on Neuroplasticity

Regular physical exercise affects many aspects of health, metabolism, mental capacity, and motivation by influencing the cytokine system and supporting neuroimmunological status. The beneficial effects of exercise on the mental capacity of the brain emerge through stimulation of neural plasticity, which is the basis for learning, memory, and neurogenesis. Regular exercise increases neurotrophic factors, such as nerve growth factors, and some immune mediators, such as interleukins. Because aging is a trigger for increased inflammation in the central nervous system, exercise may influence this process and facilitate the emergence of a beneficial anti-inflammatory state. In addition to preventing cognitive decline, an appropriate regular exercise program may also play a neuroprotective role in some neurodegenerative disorders.