comparison of phonophoresis and ultrasound

Background: Chronic neck pain is common. The value of various physiotherapy, phonophoresis, and ultrasound is not known.Objective: We determined the short-term effect of combined physiotherapy methods on pain intensity, disability, and quality of life in patients with chronic neck pain (CNP). We also compared the short-term effectiveness of phonophoresis (PP) and therapeutic ultrasound (US).Methods: Fifty-five patients (48 women, 7 men) aged 25 to 65 years who had neck pain at least twelve weeks participated in this study. The patients were randomly divided into two groups: US (n = 29) and PP (n = 26). The patients in both groups received the same combined physiotherapy treatment programme including thermotherapy, TENS, therapeutic massage, therapeutic exercises, and recommendations for daily living activities. Additionally, the patients in the PP group received phonophoresis (5% lidocaine), and the US group received ultrasound therapy. All patients received 14 sessions of treatment throughout three weeks. Pain intensity, disability, and quality of life were measured at baseline and after the treatment programme. Pain intensity was assessed by using a visual analog scale, the Neck Pain Disability Index was used to assess disability and the SF-36 Health Survey was used to assess quality of life. A Wilcoxon signed rank test, Mann Whitney U test, and effect size were used for statistically analysis.Results: In both groups, pain intensity, disability and quality of life scores were found to have improved after the treatment programme (p 0.05) and the effect sizes for pain intensity, disability, and quality of life were large in both groups.Conclusion: The results suggest that phonophoresis and ultrasound combined with physiotherapy methods can have positive effects in the management of patients with chronic neck pain. However, no superiority of phonophoresis or ultrasound was determined

overweight and obese women

BACKGROUND: Pilates is a popular exercise approach among women. Still there is poor empirical quantitative evidence indicating a positive effect of Pilates exercises on body composition. The aim of our study is to determine the effects of Pilates exercises on body composition in sedentary overweight and obese women

The effect of Pilates exercise on body composition in sedentary overweight and obese women.

BACKGROUND: Pilates is a popular exercise approach among women. Still there is poor empirical quantitative evidence indicating a positive effect of Pilates exercises on body composition. The aim of our study is to determine the effects of Pilates exercises on body composition in sedentary overweight and obese women. METHODS: Thirty-seven women, aged between 30 to 50 (43.79±4.88) years, included the study. Subjects are randomly divided into Pilates group (N.=19) and control group (N.=18). Pilates exercises was given for 90 minutes, 3 times/week, for 8 week with a gradual strength increase of 11-17 in the Rating of Perceived Exercise. Control group did not participate in any physical activity program. Bioelectric Impedance Analysis was used for determine the body composition of participants. Weight, Body Mass Index (BMI), body fat mass, lean body mass, waist, abdomen and hip circumference were measured at pre- and post-training period. RESULTS: In Pilates group, weight, BMI, fat percentage, waist, abdomen and hip circumference decreased significantly after training (P0.05). In control group, abdomen and hip circumference increased significantly (P<0.05) as the other parameters showed the tendency for an increase, but no significant difference (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study indicate that 8 weeks Pilates exercises have positive effects on body composition in sedentary overweight and obese women. Pilates exercises can be applied for improving body composition

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19314987PMCnul

DASH questionnaire for the analysis of musculoskeletal symptoms in industry workers: a validity and reliability study.

PURPOSE: The disabilities of the arm, shoulder and hand (DASH) questionnaire is a self-administered region-specific outcome instrument developed as a measure of self-rated upper-extremity disability and symptoms. The aim of this study was to evaluate the reliability and the construct validity of the DASH questionnaire by establishing its correlation to the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-36 (SF-36) in industry workers. Also we aimed to investigate whether the DASH can be used as a standardized questionnaire to evaluate the work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) in upper extremity in industrial settings and epidemiological studies. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The Turkish version's reliability and construct validity were evaluated in 240 industry workers with upper-extremity musculoskeletal complaints. Workers were asked to complete a packet that included the DASH and the SF-36. Test-retest reliability was assessed in all workers who filled in the DASH questionnaire 15 days later. Construct validity was evaluated by comparing the overall and work component DASH scores with SF-36 summary and subscales. RESULTS: The mean DASH score for the textile workers whose duties were confection, dyeing, sewing, quality control and packaging was calculated as 65, 55, 68, 54 and 67, respectively. As a result of this study, pain intensity in shoulder, wrist and hand was significantly associated with the DASH score (p<0.05). Internal consistency of the DASH was high (Cronbach alpha 0.91). Test-retest reliability was excellent for the overall DASH (intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) 0.92). Moderate correlations (p<0.05) were found between the overall and work component DASH and the SF-36 summary scales. Pearson correlation coefficients of the overall and work component DASH to the SF-36 subscales ranged from -0.33 to -0.82. CONCLUSION: These results support that DASH is a reliable and valid instrument to measure functional disability and investigate the ergonomic risk factors in textile workers with upper-extremity musculoskeletal complaints

mental health and well-being in sedentary adults: A pilot study

Objectives: Physical activity has a positive effect on people's mental health and well-being. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of hatha yoga and resistance exercises on mental health and well-being in sedentary adults.Design: Randomized controlled study.Methods: Fifty-one participants aged mean (SD) 25.6 (5.7) years were randomly divided into three groups: Hatha Yoga Group, Resistance Exercise Group and Control Group. The Hatha Yoga Group and Resistance Exercise Group participated in sessions three days per week for 7 weeks and the Control Group did not participate in any sessions. All the subjects were evaluated through the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, Beck Depression Inventory, Body Cathexis Scale, Nottingham Health Profile and Visual Analog Scale for fatigue pre- and post-session.Results: Significant improvements were found in terms of all outcome measures in the Hatha Yoga Group and the resistance exercise group. No improvements were found in the Control Group. Hatha yoga more improved the dimensions fatigue, self-esteem, and quality of life, whilst resistance exercise training more improved body image. Hatha yoga and resistance exercise decreased depression symptoms at a similar level.Conclusion: The results indicated that hatha yoga and resistance exercise had positive effects on mental health and well-being in sedentary adults. Hatha yoga and resistance exercise may affect different aspects of mental health and well-being. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

industry workers: A validity and reliability study

Purpose: The disabilities of the arm, shoulder and hand (DASH) questionnaire is a self-administered region-specific outcome instrument developed as a measure of self-rated upper-extremity disability and symptoms. The aim of this study was to evaluate the reliability and the construct validity of the DASH questionnaire by establishing its correlation to the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-36 (SF-36) in industry workers. Also we aimed to investigate whether the DASH can be used as a standardized questionnaire to evaluate the work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) in upper extremity in industrial settings and epidemiological studies.Material and methods: The Turkish version's reliability and construct validity were evaluated in 240 industry workers with upper-extremity musculoskeletal complaints. Workers were asked to complete a packet that included the DASH and the SF-36. Test-retest reliability was assessed in all workers who filled in the DASH questionnaire 15 days later. Construct validity was evaluated by comparing the overall and work component DASH scores with SF-36 summary and subscales.Results: The mean DASH score for the textile workers whose duties were confection, dyeing, sewing, quality control and packaging was calculated as 65, 55, 68, 54 and 67, respectively. As a result of this study, pain intensity in shoulder, wrist and hand was significantly associated with the DASH score (p<0.05). Internal consistency of the DASH was high (Cronbach alpha 0.91). Test-retest reliability was excellent for the overall DASH (intraclass correlation coefficient (CC) 0.92). Moderate correlations (p<0.05) were found between the overall and work component DASH and the SF-36 summary scales. Pearson correlation coefficients of the overall and work component DASH to the SF-36 subscales ranged from -0.33 to -0.82.Conclusion: These results support that DASH is a reliable and valid instrument to measure functional disability and investigate the ergonomic risk factors in textile workers with upper-extremity musculoskeletal complaints. Crown Copyright (C) 2008 Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Relationship between balance performance and musculoskeletal pain in lower body comparison healthy middle aged and older adults.

The purpose of this study was to determine relationship between balance performance and pain in lower body among healthy adults. Two hundred and forty volunteer subjects (125 middle aged and 115 elderly people) aged 50 years and above participated. The average age was 61.52+/-8.22 years (range 50-75 years). The functional reach test (FRT) was used to measure balance ability. The visual analog scale (VAS) was used to measure pain intensity. Subjects were also asked to indicate sites they experienced pain in their lower body (e.g., low back, hip, knee, ankle, toes). Falls history was also recorded. The elderly people had a lower FRT score as compared to the middle-aged adults (p<0.001). Knee, low back, and hip pain were most common in both groups. The elderly people reported more frequency of falls than the middle-aged adults. The score of the FRT was higher among men (20.67+/-7.16cm) than among women (18.77+/-6.59cm). In both groups; the women had a higher VAS score than those of matched the men. Although the middle-aged adults had higher and better scores than the elderly people, the data showed that the middle-aged adults are also at risk and should be prepared properly for healthy aging

of musculoskeletal pain in a group of older Turkish people

The aims of this study were (1) to show the effects of musculoskeletal pain on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and (2) to look at gender differences in this field in elderly people living in Turkey. Subjects were 900 men and women (65 years of age or above), with a mean of 70.93 +/- 5.6 years. The centers for disease control (CDC) HRQOL4 survey tool was used to measure HRQOL of the subjects. A visual analog scale (VAS) was used to determine pain intensity. The subjects were also asked to indicate sites where they experienced pain in their body. Of the subjects, 72.1% reported musculoskeletal pain. The prevalence of pain was higher among women (85.5%) than men (61.8%). Pain of lower extremities was the most common in both sexes. Whereas the majority of the subjects with musculoskeletal pain reported fair-poor self-rated health. those without pain reported excellent-very good-good health. Compared with subjects who did not report pain, those with pain had increased the number of physically and mentally unhealthy days in the previous 30 days (p = 0.0001). The investigators concluded that musculoskeletal pain interfered negatively with HRQOL, increasing the number of unhealthy days and decreasing physical and mental performance in the elderly participants. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved