No abstract

Aim The aim of this randomized controlled study was to investigate the effect of soft‐tissue mobilization in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Method Twenty‐one patients (mean age 44.57 ± 10.40 years) were randomly divided into two groups. There were 13 patients (11 females, 2 males, age 43.69 ± 9.94 years) in the intervention group and 8 patients (5 females, 3 males, age 46.00 ± 11.67 years) in the control group. In the intervention group, soft‐tissue mobilization therapy and 20 spinal mobility exercises were applied. The control group received only 20 spinal mobility exercises. The Bath AS Disease Activity Index (BASDAI), Bath AS Functional Index (BASFI), and Bath AS Metrology Index (BASMI) were used for assessment of disease activity, functional level, and mobility, respectively. Nottingham Health Profile (NHP) for quality of life and Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ) were used to determine disability levels. Results We found significant differences between pretreatment and post‐treatment scores of BASDAI (P = 0.049); BASFI (P = 0.009; lateral lumbar flexion (P = 0.005), maximal intermalleolar distance (P = 0.001) and total score (P = 0.001) of BASMI; pain subtest (P = 0.036) and total score (P = 0.036) of NHP; and RMDQ score (P = 0.004) in the intervention group. However, in the control group the BASMI score (P = 0.049) was observed to worsen significantly. Delta values were compared and differences in BASFI (P = 0.039), and in lateral lumbar flexion (P = 0.027), maximal intermalleolar distance (P = 0.045) and total score (P = 0.001) of BASMI were significant in favor of intervention group. Only tragus‐to‐wall distance (P = 0.039) of BASMI was observed to worsen significantly in the control group. Conclusion We recommend the use of soft‐tissue mobilization in addition to the exercises to treat AS patients.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effect of sociodemographic characteristics on the level of mobility in the elderly with good cognitive levels. Materials and Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out with 521 participants (mean age: 71.81 ± 6.29) over the age of 65 living in 2 Family Health Center regions of Merkezefendi district in Denizli. The sociodemographic information form and the Elderly Mobility Scale (EMS) were used to collect data. Results: In the elderly with good cognitive level, it was determined that the mobility score decreased (p < 0.001) as the age increased, and the mobility score increased as the education level increased (p < 0.001) significantly. It was determined that the mobility score of the female elderly was lower than the male (p=0.043), and the mobility score of the married elderly participants was higher than the singles (p < 0.001). While Body Mass Index smoking and alcohol consumption had no effect on mobility level (p ˃ 0.05), mobility levels of the elderly with regular exercise habits were higher than those without (p < 0,001). The mobility scores of the elderly, who had a high history of falls (p < 0,001) and who had a high daily amount of medication (p=0,001), were lower. Conclussion: Being 80 years of age and above, female gender, single marital status, having low education level, and not having an exercise habit are the factors that negatively affect the mobility levels in elderly.

Increasing demand for residential aged care has strained already tight healthcare budgets. Identifying novel strategies to optimize best-practice use in these settings may improve quality and efficiency of care and reduce caregiver burden. The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of peer-based and paper-based reminders targeting direct care providers to sustain a mobility innovation with older adults in residential care facilities. START (Sustaining Transfers through Affordable Research Translation) was a 23-site cluster-randomized controlled trial that took place in Alberta, Canada. A mobility intervention was introduced to 23 study sites; between March 2014 and April 2015, 11 sites were randomly assigned to receive paper reminders and a peer reminder intervention either monthly (n=5) or quarterly (n=6) for 1 year. The remaining 12 sites were randomly assigned to receive paper-reminders only either monthly (n=6) or quarterly (n=6) for 1 year. Direct care staff daily documented the uptake of the mobility intervention for 1 year in all 23 sites. Uptake data were analyzed using linear mixed models that mirrored the clustered repeated-measures factorial trial design. A statistically significant improvement was detected in sustainability of the mobility intervention in the sites receiving peer and paper reminder interventions, compared with sites receiving paper-only interventions (p = 0.007). No significant difference was detected in sustainability between monthly or quarterly implementation of either the paper or peer intervention (p = 0.72). This peer reminder intervention is an effective knowledge translation strategy to change and sustain care provider behaviour in residential care. Behavioral symptoms of dementia (BSDs) such as restlessness, agitation, aggressive behavior, yelling, and nighttime awakenings, exhibited by more than 85% of nursing home residents, result in distress for the person with dementia (PWD) and fear and avoidance in caregivers. Teaching direct care staff (DCS) calming interventions (CALM), specifically therapeutic touch and the use of therapeutic communication skills, can potentially promote social "bonding" between residents and staff, strengthen relationships, decrease staff burnout and turnover and improve the quality of care. This pilot study tested the effect of the use of the CALM protocol by DCS on DCS urine oxytocin and mutuality. Seven of the 10 DCS who began completed the study. DCS training was completed over 4 months. Four of 7 (57%) showed an increase in urine oxytocin (30 -60 min post treatment), and 5 0f 7 (71%) showed an increase in mutuality compared to baseline, Indicating increased social bonding. Direct care staff interview data supported positive experiences of relaxation during a resident treatment for the DCS and a reported decrease in BSD for the residents after treatment. CHANGES IN OXYTOCIN AND MUTUALITY IN DIRECT CARE STAFF USINGThis pilot study provides beginning evidence for the effect of CALM on the DCS, increasing bonding and mutuality with person...