Objectives: This study aims to investigate the effects of high-intensity laser therapy (HILT) and epicondylitis bandage treatment in patients with lateral epicondylitis (LE). Patients and methods: Sixty-five patients with unilateral LE (18 males, 47 females; mean age 46.5±8.1 years; range 30 to 61 years) with unilateral complaints were included. Patients were randomly assigned into two treatment groups. The first group (n=31) was treated with HILT for 10 sessions, while the second group (n=34) used only LE bandage for treatment. The patients were assessed for handgrip strength, pain, disability, and quality of life at baseline and sixth week after treatment by using visual analog scale, the Disabilities of the Arm Shoulder and Hand questionnaire, and Short-Form 36 (SF-36). Results: Both groups showed significant improvement in all evaluated parameters including pain scores, hand grip strength, disability, and SF-36 scores at sixth week after the treatment (all p<0.05). A comparison of percentage changes in parameters between treatment groups did not show a significant difference, except for resting visual analog scale (p=0.036) and SF-36 physical component subscale (p=0.049) scores which indicated better improvement in HILT group. Conclusion: Our findings showed significant improvement in handgrip strength, pain, disability, and quality of life parameters in both groups. However, HILT produced better resting visual analog scale and SF-36 physical component subscale scores compared to LE bandage.

Objective. To investigate health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in mothers of children with cerebral palsy (CP) and to determine factors into HRQoL. Materials and Method. Participants comprised 137 mothers of children with spastic-type CP, and controls comprised 140 mothers with healthy children. Functional levels of children with CP were evaluated using Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMCFS). HRQoL of mothers with CP children and control groups was assessed with 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) and depression levels with Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Results. Social function, mental health, role limitation emotional, and vitality as subscale of mental component of SF-36 were found to be lower in CP children’s mothers than controls. BDI scores were higher in CP children’s mothers than controls. Among mothers with CP children, a negative correlation was detected between BDI scores and all subscale scores of SF-36 and age rate of mothers and physical function, bodily pain, and physical component scale scores, among subscales of SF-36. Conclusion. Our study indicates that HRQoL is impaired in CP children’s mothers, and depression is a significant symptom affecting HRQoL of mothers with CP children. Therefore, to increase HRQoL, mothers of children with CP should be motivated to join social activities related to their interests, and mothers with depressive symptoms should be psychologically supported.