Background: The aim of research is to investigate the effectiveness of inspiratory muscle training (IMT) on exercise capacity, lower muscle strength, dyspnea, anxiety-depression, quality of life, physical activity and fatigue in individuals with respiratory effects involvement who have had COVID-19. Materials and Methods: Twenty-six patients were seperated to 2 groups as treatment group (TG) (breathing exercise, resistance training, IMT) and control group (CG) (breathing exercise, resistance training). All patients were evaluated at baseline and 6 weeks later in terms of exercise capacity, lower muscle strength, dyspnea, quality of life, fatigue, physical activity and anxiety-depression. Results: Significant difference was found in all parameters within the group after treatment. (p<0.05). TG was found superior to CG for increasing exercise capacity (p<0.05), lower muscle strength (p=0.001), anxiety-depression (p<0.05). Conclusions: IMT improves exercise capacity and lower muscle strength and decreases anxiety-depression in the patients.

Background/Objective: Core muscle endurance (CME), which is the ability of sustaining the activity of trunk muscles, has been shown to be lower in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS). The aim was to investigate the possible relationship between CME times and balance, fatigue, physical activity (PA) level, and thoracic kyphosis angle.Methods: Fifty-one patients with AS with a mean age of 41.0 years (interquartile range, 25/75 years; 29.0/51.0 years) were included in the study. Core muscle endurance times were assessed by using trunk extension, trunk flexion, and side bridge tests. Overall stability index, anteroposterior stability index, mediolateral stability index, and limits of stability were evaluated with the Biodex Balance System. Fatigue and PA levels were surveyed using Fatigue Severity Scale and International Physical Activity Questionnaire, respectively. Thoracic kyphosis angle was measured by using a digital inclinometer. Additionally, CME times were compared for "high-fatigue" versus "low-fatigue" and as "low PA" versus "moderate/high PA" groups. Spearman correlation coefficients and Mann-Whitney U test were used for statistical analysis.Results: Significant correlations were detected between overall stability index, anteroposterior stability index, Fatigue Severity Scale, International Physical Activity Questionnaire, and all CME tests (p < 0.05) and between mediolateral stability index and side bridge test (p < 0.05). Limits of stability correlated only with side bridge test (p < 0.05). Core muscle endurance significantly differed between high-fatigue and low-fatigue groups (p < 0.05), except trunk flexor test (p > 0.05). No significant differences were observed between low PA and moderate/high PA groups (p > 0.05), except side bridge test (p < 0.05).Conclusions: Core muscle endurance times seem to be related to PA level, fatigue, and balance but not with thoracic kyphosis angle. Assessing CME in patients with AS might help in planning individualized exercise programs.

Aim: The aim of this study was to translate and adapt the Mouth Handicap in Systemic Sclerosis (MHISS) Questionnaire into the Turkish language and evaluate its validity and reliability in Turkish systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients. Method: The MHISS was translated according to Beaton guidelines. Patients being diagnosed with SSc, being between 18-65 years old and receiving no treatment between test-retest assessments were included to study. Test-retest reliability was evaluated, comparing the results of two administrations, with Spearman's correlation. Internal consistency was assessed by Cronbach's α. Validity of the questionnaire was assessed by comparison with mouth opening, total scores of Disabilities of Arm, Shoulder and Hand Questionnaire (DASH) and Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ). Construct validity was tested by factor analysis. Results: Forty-five SSc patients were included in the study. The Turkish version of the MHISS (MHISS-T) met set criteria of reliability and validity. Internal consistency (Cronbach's α = 0.863) and test-retest reliability were excellent (r = .88). The correlations between MHISS-T and inter-incisor distance, MHISS-T and HAQ and MHISS-T and DASH were negatively and statistically significant (r = −0.739, P < .001), very good and statistically significant (r = .664, P < .001), good and statistically significant (r = .570, P < .001), respectively. Regarding factor analysis, MHISS-T has three subscales. Conclusion:Our results demonstrated that the Turkish version of the MHISS-T has excellent test-retest reliability and very good validity. As a result of this study we determined that MHISS-T is a valid and reliable instrument to measure mouth disabilities in Turkish-speaking SSc patients. K E Y W O R D S disability, mouth, questionnaire, systemic sclerosis, Turkish version

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Up to 98% of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients experienced fatigue. It is an important physical and cognitive symptom which has overwhelming, uncontrollable, and unpredictable affects throughout their whole life. RA fatigue composes of complex and multi-dimensional components which are pain, stress, depression, inflammation, and disability. The acknowledgement of fatigue is important, and fatigue should be measured in all RA trials alongside the core set. The aim of this study was to determine reliability and validity of Turkish version of Bristol Rheumatoid Arthritis Fatigue Multi-Dimensional Questionnaire in RA patients. One hundred RA patients were evaluated in the study. Exclusion criteria were determined as patients with cognitive impairment, illiterate patients, unable to understand and speak Turkish, under the age of 18, and over the age of 75. To validate Turkish version of Bristol Rheumatoid Arthritis Fatigue Multi-Dimensional Questionnaire (BRAF-MDQ) (BRAF-MDQ-T), all participants answered BRAF-MDQ-T, Multidimensional Assessment of Fatigue (MAF) scale, and Short Form-36 vitality (SF-36 VT). BRAF-MDQ-T was applied again 7 days later for test-retest reliability. Validity, internal consistency, and test-retest results were based on a sample of 100 patients. Internal consistency reliability of BRAF-MDQ-T was Cronbach α = 0.95 which was excellent. The correlation between the total scores of the BRAF-MDQ-T scale and the total scores of MAF-T was statistically significant (r = 0.82, p < 0.001). The correlation between the total scores of the BRAF-MDQ-T scale and the subscale scores of SF-36 VT was statistically significant (r = - 0.64, p < 0.001). The BRAF-MDQ-T is a valid and reliable scale for the assessment of fatigue in Turkish rheumatoid arthritis patients.