Short foot exercises have additional effects on knee pain, foot biomechanics, and lower extremity muscle strength in patients with patellofemoral pain.

BACKGROUND: Patellofemoral pain (PFP) is a common knee problem. The foot posture in a relaxed stance is reported as a distal factor of PFP. However, the effects of short foot exercise (SFE) on the knee and functional factors have not yet been investigated in patients with PFP. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the additional effects of SFE on knee pain, foot biomechanics, and lower extremity muscle strength in patients with PFP following a standard exercise program. METHODS: Thirty patients with a ‘weak and pronated’ foot subgroup of PFP were randomized into a control group (ConG, n= 15) and a short foot exercise group (SFEG, n= 15) with concealed allocation and blinded to the group assignment. The program of ConG consisted of hip and knee strengthening and stretching exercises. SFEG program consisted of additional SFE. Both groups performed the supervised training protocol two times per week for 6 weeks. Assessment measures were pain visual analog scale (pVAS), Kujala Patellofemoral Score (KPS), navicular drop test (NDT), rearfoot angle (RA), foot posture index (FPI), and strength tests of the lower extremity muscles. RESULTS: Both groups displayed decreases in pVAS scores, but it was only significant in favor of SFEG. NDT, RA, and FPI scores decreased in SFEG whereas they increased in ConG. There was a significant group-by-time interaction effect in hip extensor strength and between-group difference was found to be significantly in favor of SFEG. CONCLUSIONS: An intervention program consisting of additional SFE had positive effects on knee pain, navicular position, and rearfoot posture. An increase in the strength of the hip extensors may also be associated with improved stabilization by SFE

Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis and Exercise

Arthritis, pain, muscle weakness, bone tissue defficiency, growth and developmental deficits, functional loss and inactivity are the most important problems in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis. However, it is stated that the growing physical inactivity over time, leads fatigue, muscle weakness and dysfunction, bone resorbtion and motor control deficiency. The physical exercise has an important role in solving all these problems . The exercise protocols in literature diversified in terms of duration, frequency, time, intensity, environment and type/composition. In all studies, it was reported that exercise improves joint swelling, pain scores, range of motion, muscle strength , aerobic capacity, functional ability and quality of life. In conclusion, the optimal exercise program for children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis should be combined with aerobic and neuromuscular training. Besides that, it should be aimed reducing pain and biopsychosocial models with active participation of child, and provided functional and developmental support. The child should be encouraged to participate in recreational and sports activities, so that exercise plan should be integrated in to life plan

The effects of clinical pilates exercises on patients with shoulder pain: A randomised clinical trial

WOS: 000419158200017PubMed ID: 29037638Aim: The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of Clinical Pilates exercises on patients with shoulder pain. Material and methods: Thirty-three patients, experiencing shoulder pain continuously for at least four weeks were selected as study subjects. The patients were randomly divided into two groups, namely Clinical Pilates exercise (n = 17) group and conventional exercise (n = 16) group. The patients were treated for five days a week, the total treatment being carried out for 10 days. The assessment of pain and disability amongst the patients were done at the baseline and at the end of the treatment sessions, using Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI). Results: The clinical Pilates exercise group showed a significant improvement in all scores used for assessment (p < 0.05), while the conventional exercise group demonstrated a significant improvement only in the SPADI total score (p < 0.05). A comparison of scores for the VAS, SPADI-Pain and SPADI-Total between the two groups, revealed a significant improvement in the Clinical Pilates exercise group (p < 0.05). Conclusion: It was demonstrated by the study that Clinical Pilates exercise is an efficient technique for patients experiencing shoulder pain, as it helps reduce pain and disability among them

Altered cyclin D1 genotype distribution in human sporadic pituitary adenomas.

Background: The cyclin D1 gene (CCND1) is a proto-oncogene playing a critical role in the transition through the G1 ot the S phase of the cell cyle and is overexpressed in many tumors. G870A plymorphism at the exon4/intron4 splicing region of the CCND1 gene may play a role in pituitary tumorigenesis and invasiveness. The objective of this study was to examine CCND1 polymorphism i patients with different types sporadic pituitary adenomas