Objective: Osteoporosis (OP) is a skeletal disease characterized by decreased bone strength and increased fracture risk. Spinal cord injury (SCI) is accepted as a risk factor for OP. The aim of this study was to evaluate the OP knowledge and awareness level in patients with SCI. Materials and Methods: Seventy patients with SCI in the risk group for OP were included in the study. The clinical and demographic characteristics of the patients were evaluated. The OP knowledge and awareness level of the patients were evaluated with questions about OP knowledge and the osteoporosis awareness scale (OAS). Results: Fifty-three (75.7%) male and 17 female patients with a mean age of 40.8±16.5 (18-79) were included in the study. While 13 (18.6%) patients included in the study knew that they were in the risk group for OP, 57 (81.4%) had no information on this subject. There was a significant correlation between total OAS score and education level (r=0.537, p<0.001). No correlation was found between the OAS score and age and duration of disease. The total OAS score was found to be significantly higher in women (59.8±11.4 vs. 52.5±11.7) (p=0.031). Conclusion:It has been shown that patients with SCI have a low level of knowledge about OP. To reduce morbidity, mortality and treatment costs, more information should be given to ensure that patients in the risky group come to regular controls.

Aim: Stroke remains a massive public health burden, affecting approximately 795,000 individuals each year. It is the leading cause of long-term disability in adults and the third leading cause of death in developed countries. After a stroke, medical complications are common and can prolong hospital stay, worsen stroke outcomes, and increase the cost of care. The most common medical complications related to stroke are infections, including pneumonia and urinary tract infection (UTI). Intervention strategies previously investigated in these cases and other patient populations include prophylactic antibiotics, antiseptic-impregnated catheters, and quality improvement interventions to reduce inappropriate catheterization. In addition, in recent years, complementary and alternative medicine methods, such as Melaleuca viridiflora (also known as tea tree or Niaouli oil) have become increasingly popular. The primary uses of this oil have historically been associated with the antiseptic and anti-inflammatory effects of this plant. In this study, we investigated the efficacy of M. viridiflora (Niaouli) oil in the treatment of UTIs in stroke patients.Material and Method: We did not find any study in the literature on the effects of Niaouli aromatherapeutic oil on UTIs, which are common in hemiplegic patients; therefore, we planned the current study. The hospital records were screened to identify patients treated at the Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Unit of Health Sciences University Adana City Training and Research Hospital, who were diagnosed with UTIs during their follow-up and recommended Niaouli aromatherapy oil as a complementary treatment. The oil was supplied by the patients themselves. As the method of use, the patients were asked to prepare a washing solution by dripping 10 drops of Niaouli oil into 1 liter of water. The patients were recommended to wash the perineum area three times a day with this solution for 20 days.Results: The mean age of the hemiplegic patients evaluated in the study was 51.55±19.20 (min=18, max=77) years. Of the patients, 72.7% were male, 42.4% had an American Spinal Injury Association classification of C, 54.5% had spontaneous bladder emptying, and 30.3% had stage 1, 21.1% had stage 2, and 3.0% had stage 3 spasticity. Leukocyte esterase and leukocyte in urine and sedimentation values​ statistically significantly decreased in the post-treatment period compared to the pre-treatment period.Conclusion: UTI is a common complication in stroke patients. In this study, it was determined that the efficacy of the treatment of UTIs increased, and the use of antibiotics significantly decreased with the utilization of the fungicidal and bactericidal effects of M. viridiflora (Niaouli) aromatherapy oil.

Aim: This study aimed to evaluate patients with shoulder pain according to their sleeping positions based on their clinical and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings and to determine possible factors affecting shoulder pain. Material and Method: A total of 115 patients were included in the study. The severity of shoulder pain was evaluated with the visual analog scale (VAS), shoulder function was evaluated with the simple shoulder test, and the ability to perform physical activities was evaluated with the QuickDASH questionnaire. The biceps tendon, rotator cuff (RC), subacromial-subdeltoid bursa, glenohumeral joint (GHJ), and acromioclavicular joint (ACJ) were evaluated using MRI. Results: Of the patients with shoulder pain, 66.1% were female, 50.4% were primary school graduates, 53.9% were housewives, and 41.7% had a systemic disease. The mean age of the patients was 50.48±13.61 years while the median BMI and VAS values were 26.1 (18.2-41.4) and 8 (2-10), respectively. Considering the sleeping positions, it was found that 39.1% (most common) of the patients were sleeping in the fetus position, and considering the results of patients’ MRI examinations, the most common problem was related to the pathologies of the supraspinatus tendon (42.6%). It was found that sleep quality, which was poor in all patients, was worse in females (p=0.311), in those over 50 years of age (p=0.007), and those with a systemic disease (0.325). It was discovered that Pittsburgh's sleep quality index score was generally worse in those who slept in the soldier position and in the log position (p>0.05). The rates of pathologies of the supraspinatus tendon were found to be the highest in those that slept in the fetus position (p=0.931). It was also found that the rates of impingement, bicipital tendinitis, combined problems, and adhesive capsulitis did not differ significantly according to sleeping positions. Although occupational variables for supraspinatus degeneration remained significant in the model, having a desk job statistically significantly increased the probability of supraspinatus degeneration by 3.38 times when compared to being a housewife (95% CI=1.143-9.996; p=0.028) and it was identified that the probability of acromioclavicular degeneration increased by 1.16 times for every 1-unit increase in BMI. Conclusion: Different sleeping positions may predispose to different shoulder pathologies and shoulder pain, and shoulder pathologies may lead to deterioration of sleep quality, especially in older patients. For this reason, suggesting correct and appropriate sleeping positions may be a useful treatment method in reducing pain and disability and increasing sleep quality.