Seher Özyürek

Altered movement strategies in sit-to-stand task in persons with transtibial amputation

Background: Sit-to-stand movement is an essential function for participation in many activities of daily living. Although this movement is one of the most important functional tasks, there is limited research investigating strategies of sit-to-stand movement in transtibial amputees. Objectives: To examine movement strategies of the sit-to-stand task in persons with transtibial amputation and healthy non-amputated individuals. Study design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: A total of 12 male unilateral transtibial amputees and 19 healthy male subjects participated in this study. Sit-to-stand movement was evaluated in terms of weight transfer time, weight-bearing symmetry, sway velocity, and rising index by using Balance Master System. Results: Participants in both groups exhibited similar weight-bearing transfer time (p > 0.05). Transtibial amputees demonstrated significantly greater weight-bearing asymmetry, higher sway velocity, and lower rising index than healthy subjects during the sit-to-stand transfer movement (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Transtibial amputees were unable to use the same movement strategies during a sit-to-stand task as healthy individuals; therefore, they had to develop new strategies to perform this task. Clinical relevance Little is known about the altered movement strategies during sit-to-stand task in transtibial amputees. The results of the study might provide some new insight into the motor components of the sit-to-stand movement in persons with transtibial amputation for both clinicians and researchers.

The immediate effect of patellar tendon strap on weight-bearing asymmetry during squatting in patients with unilateral knee osteoarthritis: A pilot study

Background: Knee osteoarthritis has commonly been associated with a symptom of pain resulting in an inter-limb weight-bearing asymmetry during functional tasks. Patellar tendon strap is one of the non-pharmacologic interventions to alleviate knee pain. Objectives: To investigate the immediate effect of a patellar tendon strap on weight-bearing asymmetry during squatting in people with unilateral knee osteoarthritis. Study design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: Ten patients with unilateral knee osteoarthritis and 10 healthy subjects were included in the study. Weight-bearing asymmetry of patients was assessed using a weight-bearing squat test during squatting at 30° and 60° both with and without patellar tendon strap. Pain intensity was assessed during squatting in unstrapped and strapped conditions with Visual Analog Scale. Results: The decrease in weight-bearing asymmetry values immediately after wearing patellar tendon strap during 30° (p = 0.006) and 60° (p = 0.011) of squatting tests was significantly higher in knee osteoarthritis patients than in healthy subjects. Reported pain intensity was similar in unstrapped and strapped conditions (p = 0.066). Conclusion: The results of this study showed improved inter-limb weight-bearing symmetry during squatting. Further research with larger sample sizes investigating the effect of patellar tendon strap on weight-bearing asymmetry during functional activities in people with knee osteoarthritis is warranted. Clinical relevance Patellar tendon straps (easily fit and cheap unlike knee braces) had more improvements in inter-limb weight-bearing symmetry during squatting in people with knee osteoarthritis compared to healthy subjects. This study is a new insight for future studies to investigate clinical benefits of wearing patellar tendon straps in this population.

The Turkish version of the MedRisk instrument for measuring patient satisfaction: measurement properties in physical therapy care among inpatients

Abstract Purpose: Our aim was to cross culturally adapt the MedRisk instrument for measuring patient satisfaction with physical therapy care for Turkish-speaking inpatients, provide information about its measurement properties, and determine the socio-demographic factors influencing satisfaction of Turkish patients. Method: This was a cross-sectional, measurement-focused study. The MedRisk instrument for measuring patient satisfaction was translated and adapted into Turkish. Two hundred four inpatients with different health conditions from different units of a large university hospital were assessed using the Turkish version of the MedRisk instrument for measuring patient satisfaction. Forty-two patients were reassessed after 72 h. Construct validity, internal consistency, convergent validity, criterion-referenced validity, floor and ceiling effects, and test-retest reliability were evaluated. Results: Factor analysis showed a two-factor structure. Cronbach’s alpha values for the internal consistency ranged between 0.49 and 0.81. Corrected item-total correlations ranged between 0.29 and 0.72. Intraclass correlation coefficients ranged between 0.67 and 0.97, standard errors of measurement ranged between 0.34 and 2.61 points, and substantially good agreement was achieved. Eleven of twelve items were positively correlated with the global measures. No floor or ceiling effects were detected. The satisfaction level of inpatients was high. Conclusions: Our results suggested that the Turkish version of the MedRisk instrument for measuring patient satisfaction is a quite reliable and valid measurement to evaluate patient satisfaction with physical therapy care in Turkish-speaking inpatients. We determined that Turkish inpatients are highly satisfied with their physical therapy care, and they consider the patient-physical therapist relationship important. Implications for rehabilitation The Turkish version of the MedRisk instrument for measuring patient satisfaction is a reliable and valid translation of the original MedRisk instrument for measuring patient satisfaction. However, it should be noted that three items from the original version were excluded. Clinicians and relevant researchers can use this instrument to evaluate satisfaction with physical therapy care among Turkish-speaking inpatients.

Three-dimensional evaluation of pelvic posture in adolescents with and without a history of low back pain

Background/aim: This study aimed to evaluate the three-dimensional (3D) profile of pelvic posture and postural displacements of the pelvis in adolescents with and without a history of low back pain (LBP). Materials and methods: Thirty-two adolescents participated in this study. Participants were asked if they had ever suffered LBP at some point in their lives. Participants were divided into two groups: with a history of LBP (LBP group) and without a history of LBP (control group). For 3D evaluation of pelvic posture, the PosturePrint system was used. Three digital photographs were obtained in an upright stance (anteroposterior, left-right lateral) and analyzed. Postural displacements of the pelvis were calculated as rotations in degrees and translations in millimeters. The posture index, which is the total postural displacements score, was recorded. Results: Overall, 40.6% of the participants reported a history of LBP, while 59.4% of the participants did not. Although the 3D profile of pelvic posture, postural displacements of pelvis, and posture index score were similar between groups, the majority of participants in both groups had altered pelvic and total body posture. Conclusion: The findings suggest that adolescents with LBP have a profile of pelvic posture similar to those of healthy adolescents without a history of LBP.

Are the alterations in body posture related to decreased trunk muscle endurance in healthy young adults

BACKGROUND Trunk muscle endurance exercises are commonly used for correcting the postural alterations. However, there is no study investigating the relationship between postural alignment and trunk muscle endurance in healthy young adults. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to examine whether the three-dimensional (3D) body posture is related to trunk muscle endurance in healthy young adults. METHODS Forty-two healthy young adults enrolled in this study. For 3D evaluation of the body posture, an internet-based postural assessment system was used. Alterations in posture (head, ribcage, and pelvis) were evaluated by using the Posture Index which represents the total score of postural displacements. The higher Posture Index scores indicate more severe displacements in the posture. Trunk muscle endurance measurements included side bridge, trunk flexors and trunk extensors endurance tests. Spearmans rho was used to evaluate the associations between measured parameters. RESULTS The median age of the participants were 22 (IQR: 21.0-23.0) years. The only significant correlation was detected between the side bridge endurance test and the total Posture Index score (rho =⁣-0.402, p= 0.008). CONCLUSIONS These results indicated that the alterations of the body posture was significantly related to lower lateral trunk muscle endurance scores. These findings support the importance of trunk muscles, especially lateral trunk musculature to have a better body posture.

The relationship between isometric trunk muscle endurance and physical activity related energy expenditure in healthy young adults

BACKGROUND Despite the popularity of core stabilization, there is limited evidence as to the relationship between performance on tests of isometric trunk muscle endurance and physical activity levels in adults. OBJECTIVE To investigate the relationship between isometric trunk muscle endurance and physical activity related energy expenditure in healthy young adults. METHODS A total of 51 participants (24 female) participated in the study. Median age and body mass index were; 22 years (Min-max: 18-26 years) and 21.8 kg/m2 (Min-Max: 18.59-28.98 kg/m2), respectively. Participants completed the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. Isometric trunk muscle endurance was assessed with holding times of isometric trunk flexor, extensor, and lateral side bridge tests. Collected data were summarized based on median and interquartile ranges. The Spearmans correlation test was used to ascertain the relationship between isometric trunk muscle endurance and physical activity related energy expenditure. RESULTS There were no gender differences in holding times of the trunk flexor and trunk extensor endurance tests (p> 0.05). Males showed higher endurance scores for side bridge test than females (p< 0.001). No difference was found in physical activity related energy expenditure between males and females. No correlation was observed between isometric trunk muscle endurance and physical activity related energy expenditure for either females or males (p> 0.05). CONCLUSIONS According to our findings, trunk muscle endurance is not related to physical activity related energy expenditure in healthy young adults.