Does kinesiology taping improve muscle strength and function in knee osteoarthritis? A single-blind, randomized and controlled study

Objectives: This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of kinesiology taping (KT) on pain, movement restriction, walking speed, daily living activities, and isokinetic muscle performance in female patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA). Patients and methods: The study included 61 female patients (mean age 53.5±3.5 years; range 50 to 60 years) who were admitted to Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Outpatient Clinic with complaints of mechanical knee pain. Knee OA was diagnosed according to the clinical/radiological criteria of the American College of Rheumatology and patients with Kellgren-Lawrence grade 2 and 3 were included. Patients were randomly divided into two groups. Both groups received transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation for 30 minutes, hot pack for 30 minutes, and therapeutic ultrasound for 10 minutes in a day for three weeks (five days in a week). Also, one group was treated with KT (KT group, n=31) while the other group was treated with sham-KT (sham-KT group, n=30) one time a week for three weeks. A home program of around the knee strengthening exercises was recommended for all patients. All patients were evaluated with Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Western Ontario and McMaster Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) values, goniometric measurement of active knee range of motion, 50-meter walking distance, and isokinetic knee extensor muscle peak torque measurements before treatment, at the end of treatment, and at one month and three months after treatment. Results: There was a significant improvement in after treatment and first month VAS values in the KT group compared to the sham-KT group (p<0.05). In the KT group, the WOMAC pain and WOMAC total scores decreased significantly after treatment compared to the sham-KT group (p<0.05). VAS values were significantly decreased after treatment in both groups (p<0.05). In both groups; WOMAC pain, stiffness, physical function, and total values decreased significantly after treatment (p<0.05). In both groups, isokinetic quadriceps peak torque measurements were increased after treatment (p<0.05). Conclusion: The application of KT to females with knee OA appears to be a method that may be effective on pain and functional capacit

The effect of anti-tumor necrosis factor-alpha treatment on muscle performance and endurance in patients with ankylosing spondylitis : a prospective follow-up study

Objectives: This study aims to evaluate muscle performance by using isokinetic dynamometer before and at third month of anti-tumor necrosis factor-alpha treatment in ankylosing spondylitis patients.Patients and methods: Thirty ankylosing spondylitis patients (23 males, 7 females; mean age 39.3&plusmn;8.6 years; range 18 to 45 years) starting on antitumor necrosis factor-alpha treatment and 30 healthy controls (23 males, 7 females; mean age 39.1&plusmn;8.8 years; range 18 to 48 years) with similar age, body mass index, and sex were enrolled. The clinical anthropometric measurements of chest expansion, lumbar Schober test, hand-finger floor distance and visual analog scale-global, C-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score-C-reactive protein and Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score-erythrocyte sedimentation rate, Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index, Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Metrology Index, Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index, Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Metrology Index were determined before and at third month of the treatment.Results: There was no statistically significant difference in age, sex and, body mass index between the groups (p&gt;0.05). A statistically significant difference was detected between 60?/second and 180?/second peak torque in angular velocity of flexor and extensor muscles (p&lt;0.05). A significant difference was detected in respect to total work of patients with 180?/second peak torque in angular velocity of flexor and extensor muscles (p&lt;0.05). There was a statistically significant difference between the findings of 60?/second and 180?/second peak torque in angular velocity of flexor and extensor muscles (p&lt;0.05). Isokinetic test results were better at third month after treatment than before treatment.Conclusion: The results of this study showed that both functional limitations and performance and endurance of muscles may be improved with anti-tumor necrosis factor-alpha treatment in ankylosing spondylitis patients.Objectives: This study aims to evaluate muscle performance by using isokinetic dynamometer before and at third month of anti-tumor necrosis factor-alpha treatment in ankylosing spondylitis patients.Patients and methods: Thirty ankylosing spondylitis patients (23 males, 7 females; mean age 39.3&plusmn;8.6 years; range 18 to 45 years) starting on antitumor necrosis factor-alpha treatment and 30 healthy controls (23 males, 7 females; mean age 39.1&plusmn;8.8 years; range 18 to 48 years) with similar age, body mass index, and sex were enrolled. The clinical anthropometric measurements of chest expansion, lumbar Schober test, hand-finger floor distance and visual analog scale-global, C-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score-C-reactive protein and Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score-erythrocyte sedimentation rate, Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index, Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Metrology Index, Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index, Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Metrology Index were determined before and at third month of the treatment.Results: There was no statistically significant difference in age, sex and, body mass index between the groups (p&gt;0.05). A statistically significant difference was detected between 60?/second and 180?/second peak torque in angular velocity of flexor and extensor muscles (p&lt;0.05). A significant difference was detected in respect to total work of patients with 180?/second peak torque in angular velocity of flexor and extensor muscles (p&lt;0.05). There was a statistically significant difference between the findings of 60?/second and 180?/second peak torque in angular velocity of flexor and extensor muscles (p&lt;0.05). Isokinetic test results were better at third month after treatment than before treatment.Conclusion: The results of this study showed that both functional limitations and performance and endurance of muscles may be improved with anti-tumor necrosis factor-alpha treatment in ankylosing spondylitis patients

Spinal cord stimulation may improve not only intractable pain but also necrotic wounds

Spinal cord stimulation (SCS), an implantable neuromodulation modality, is one of the most exciting developments in chronic pain syndromes. In addition, SCS may improve intractable pain and may help ischemic wound healing. Herein, we report a 59-year-old female patient with persistent neuropathic pain and peripheral arterial disease in the lower limb which was treated successfully with SCS

Does kinesiology taping improve muscle strength and function in knee osteoarthritis? A single-blind, randomized and controlled study

Objectives: This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of kinesiology taping (KT) on pain, movement restriction, walking speed, daily living activities, and isokinetic muscle performance in female patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA). Patients and methods: The study included 61 female patients (mean age 53.5±3.5 years; range 50 to 60 years) who were admitted to Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Outpatient Clinic with complaints of mechanical knee pain. Knee OA was diagnosed according to the clinical/ radiological criteria of the American College of Rheumatology and patients with Kellgren-Lawrence grade 2 and 3 were included. Patients were randomly divided into two groups. Both groups received transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation for 30 minutes, hot pack for 30 minutes, and therapeutic ultrasound for 10 minutes in a day for three weeks (five days in a week). Also, one group was treated with KT (KT group, n=31) while the other group was treated with sham-KT (sham-KT group, n=30) one time a week for three weeks. A home program of around the knee strengthening exercises was recommended for all patients. All patients were evaluated with Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Western Ontario and McMaster Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) values, goniometric measurement of active knee range of motion, 50-meter walking distance, and isokinetic knee extensor muscle peak torque measurements before treatment, at the end of treatment, and at one month and three months after treatment. Results: There was a significant improvement in after treatment and first month VAS values in the KT group compared to the sham-KT group (p<0.05). In the KT group, the WOMAC pain and WOMAC total scores decreased significantly after treatment compared to the sham-KT group (p<0.05). VAS values were significantly decreased after treatment in both groups (p<0.05). In both groups; WOMAC pain, stiffness, physical function, and total values decreased significantly after treatment (p<0.05). In both groups, isokinetic quadriceps peak torque measurements were increased after treatment (p<0.05). Conclusion: The application of KT to females with knee OA appears to be a method that may be effective on pain and functional capacity

Assessment of the Relationship between Physical Activity Levels and Isokinetic Muscle Performance

Objective: To evaluate the association between physical activity levels and isokinetic muscle strength of knee. Materials and Methods: Thirty amateur athletes and 30 healthy volunters (aged between 20-24) were included in the study. Participants were divided into two groups as amateur athletes (group 1) and healthy controls (group 2). Physical activity levels of the participants were assessed by International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). Dominant knee flexion and extension muscle strength of the participants were measured with an isokinetic dynamometer at 60°/s and 180°/s angular velocities. Results: There were no statistically significant difference between the groups in age, sex, weight, height, body mass index and, smoking status (p>0.05). There was a statistically significant difference in IPA scores between the groups (p<0.05). IPAQ scores were higher in group1I. There were no statistically significant difference between the knee extensor and flexor peak torque values in both groups (p>0.05). Group 1 was divided into subgroups according to IPA scores. In patients with high activity level, peak torque values at the angular velocities of 60°/s and 180°/s for knee muscles were significiantly higher (p<0.05). Conclusion: Further studies that evaluating of the many factors that determining and affecting muscle strength are with larger groups will be benefici