Background: The aim of this study was to compare the lower limb muscle strength in terms of gender and limb dominancy in prepubescent swimmers. Material and Methods: Seventy-four prepubescent swimmers (mean age: 11.01±1.58 years; 42 boys; 32 girls) who were training for at least 8 hours a week and without current lower limb pain participated in the study. Isometric muscle strength of lower limb was measured by hand-held dynamometry. Independent samples-t test was used to determine the difference between genders, while paired samples-t test was used for dominant-nondominant side comparison. The significance level was accepted as p<0.05. Results: Knee flexion (p<0.001), extension (p<0.001) and ankle dorsiflexion (p=0.003) muscle strength were stronger on the dominant side than on the non-dominant side. Knee flexion/extension strength ratio was similar (p=0.957); while ankle plantar flexion/dorsiflexion strength ratio was significantly different (p=0.011). Boys swimmers had stronger isometric muscle strength in the dominant side together with knee flexion (p=0.018) and knee flexion extension strength ratio (p=0.007) than girls swimmers. Conclusion: Boys swimmers had higher dominant side knee flexion muscle strength compared to female peers. Gender and lower limb dominancy might be important for lower limb muscle strength to show varieties in prepubescent swimmers before planning a training program.

Objective: The total rotational range of motion (TRROM) difference in right-left side shoulder glenohumeral joint and muscle strength imbalance in the dominant-nondominant side have been reported to be associated with injury in swimmers. The purpose of this study was to investigate the shoulder isometric muscle strength of young swimmers with and without TRROM asymmetry. Methods: Assessments of passive TRROM were measured with a goniometer. Hand-held dynamometry was used for the shoulder isometric muscle strength measurements in young swimmers. Thirty-two female swimmers (age: 11.1±1.5 years; body weight: 39.8±9.6 kg) and 42 male swimmers (age: 10.9±1.6 years; body weight 38.1±8.3 kg) were divided into two groups according to TRROM asymmetry in glenohumeral joint. Results: Isometric strength of shoulder muscles (flexion , extension , external rotation (ER) , internal rotation (IR) , Flexion: Extension and External rotation: Internal rotation) were similar between the groups with TRROM asymmetry (n=30) and without TRROM asymmetry (n=44) in both dominant and non-dominant sides (p>0.05). Additionally, while external rotation: internal rotation of dominant side was greater in female (p=0.04), other isometric muscle strength and ratio were similar in both gender (p>0.05). Conclusions: TRROM asymmetry is one of the many factors affecting muscle strength in overhead sports (basketball, volleyball) but it is not effective in these ages range in the swimming.

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between kinesiophobia and functional performance with the ability to forgetthe artificial joint in patients with total hip arthroplasty (THA).Methods: Fifty-seven volunteer patients aged between 40-65 years who have undergone THA surgery in the last 1-3 years were included in this study. The Forgotten Joint Score (FJS-12) for evaluating the ability to forgetting the artificial joint, the 6-Minute Walk Test for determining the functional performance, and the Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia (TSK) for evaluating kinesiophobia were used.Results: There was a moderate correlation between the FJS-12 and TSK (r= -0.571; p<0.001) scores; and moderate correlation between the FJS-12 and the 6-Minute Walk distances (6-MWD) (r= 0.408; p<0.001). The ability to forget the artificial joint in patients with THA was found to be related to kinesiophobia and functional performance. Conclusion:The results of this study demonstrated that the awareness of artificial joint should be taken into consideration when performing physiotherapy and rehabilitation practices to decrease kinesiophobia and increase functional performance. Additionally, complementary approaches aiming to reduce the awareness of artificial joint should be added to the rehabilitation program of the patients with total hip arthroplasty.

Objectives:The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between joint awareness, muscle strength, return to sports and quality of life in patients with anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACL-R) with hamstring tendon autografts.Patients and Methods:Aged between 18-40 years 23 patients with ACL-R at least one year after the surgery participated in the present study. Muscle strength was measured with ISOMED 2000 isokinetic dynamometer. Joint awareness, quality of life and return to sport were evaluated respectively by using Forgotten Joint Score (FJS), Anterior Cruciate Ligament-Quality of Life Questionnaire (ACL-QoL) and Anterior Cruciate Ligament-Return to sport after Injury (ACL-RSI).'Results:There was a moderate correlation between FJS-12 with ACL-RSI (r=0.441; p=0.035), and ACL-QoL scores (r=0.505; p=0.014). A strong positive correlation was found between ACL-RSI and ACL-QoL scores (r=0.827; p<0.001). There was no correlation between muscle strength and FJS-12, ACL-RSI, and ACL-QoL scores in the patients with ACL-R (p>0.05). Conclusion:This current study showed that joint awareness was related to return to sports and quality of life in the long term following ACL-R. In conclusion, we recommend minimizing joint awareness for a better quality of life and returning to sports.

Purpose: There is a lack of evidence about trunk muscle endurance, range of motion (ROM), flexibility and quality of life (QoL) in subjects with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) following posterior instrumentation and fusion (PIF) surgery. The study aimed to compare trunk muscle endurance, ROM, flexibility, and QoL of the AIS subjects with lumbar or thoracic level after surgery. It also investigated the relationship between trunk muscle endurance, ROM, flexibility, and QoL in subjects with AIS. Methods: Twenty subjects aged between 10-18 years (mean age=15.55±1.46 years) who underwent PIF surgery before 1-3 years were included. The subjects were divided into two groups as a thoracic (n=10) and lumbar group (n=10) according to the PIF surgery level. The ROM was assessed using a universal goniometer, flexibility with sit and reach test and lateral bending, trunk extensor muscle endurance assessed with Biering-Sorensen test, trunk flexor muscle endurance with the Kraus-Weber test, and the QoL through the Scoliosis Research Society-22 revised (SRS-22r) scale. Results: There was significant difference between the two groups in lateral flexion ROM and lateral bending results (p<0.05). Thoracic group showed better results in the lateral flexion ROM and lateral bending test. Trunk flexor muscle endurance was found correlated with extension ROM (r=0.718, p=0.001), flexion ROM (r=0.414, p=0.007), right lateral flexion ROM (r=0.721, p=0.001), and left lateral flexion ROM (r=0.581, p=0.007). Trunk extensor muscle endurance was found correlated with right rotation ROM (r=0.511, p=0.021), left rotation ROM (r=0.410, p=0.073), SRS-22r total score (r=0.677, p=0.001) and SRS-22r pain score (r=0.554, p=0.011). Conclusion: Trunk muscle endurance is essential for body posture and QoL after surgery. These subject's physiotherapy and rehabilitation programs should focus on developing trunk muscle endurance and flexibility to increase QoL following PIF surgery.