The objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that dry needling is more effective than sham dry needling in the treatment of myofascial pain syndrome (MPS). This was a prospective, double-blinded, randomized-controlled study conducted in an outpatient clinic. Thirty-nine subjects with established myofascial trigger points were randomized into two groups: study group (N = 22) and placebo group (N = 17). Dry needling was applied using acupuncture needles, and sham dry needling was applied in the placebo group. The treatment was composed of six sessions which were performed in 4 weeks; the first four sessions were performed twice a week (for 2 weeks) and the last two, once a week (for 2 weeks). The visual analog scale (VAS) and Short Form-36 (SF-36) were used. When compared with the initial values, VAS scores of the dry needling group following the first and sixth sessions were significantly lower (p = 0.000 and p < 0.000, respectively). When VAS scores were compared between the groups, the first assessment scores were found to be similar, but the second and third assessment scores were found to be significantly lower in the dry needling group (p = 0.034 and p < 0.001, respectively). When SF-36 scores of the groups were compared, both the physical and mental component scores were found to be significantly increased in the dry needling group, whereas only those of vitality scores were found to be increased significantly in the placebo (sham needling) group. The present study shows that the dry needling treatment is effective in relieving the pain and in improving the quality of life of patients with MPS.

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a systemic chronic inflammatory disease primarily affecting the axial skeleton. Work disability can be one of the major consequences of AS, and the knowledge about the burden of AS to the patient and society is not well-established yet. The objective of this study was to investigate work disability among patients with AS in the national service and to put forward the related factors and differences among disabled and nondisabled groups. A total of 121 male AS patients were included in the study. Patient demographics and duration of disease were noted, and employment status and disability were questioned. Measures of functionality, axial mobility, health-related quality of life, and depression were used. It was found that 38 patients (31.4%) continued their work lives with no change, 54 patients (44.6%) changed to a lighter job, and 29 patients (24%) were retired due to AS. Differences in age at onset of the disease, time since the diagnosis, C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, and hip involvement were statistically significant. The mean retirement age of the patients was 36 +/- 4.2 years. Frequency of hip involvement was higher in the work-disabled group. Spine was evidently affected more seriously, and CRP values were higher in the work-disabled group. Older age at onset, longer time since the diagnosis, longer diagnosis delay, and some physical impairments like decrease in spinal mobility and hip involvement may preclude AS patients from leading a productive work life.

The standardization of patient evaluation and monitoring methods has a special importance in evaluating the effectiveness of therapeutic methods using drugs or rehabilitative techniques in stroke rehabilitation. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationships between clinical instruments and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)-evoked neurophysiological parameters in stroke patients. This study included 22 chronic post-stroke patients who were clinically assessed using the Motricity Index (MI), finger-tapping test (FTT), Motor Activity Log (MAL) 28, Brunnstrom motor staging and Ashworth Scale (ASH). Motor-evoked potential (MEP) latency and amplitude, resting motor threshold (rMT) and central motor conduction time (CMCT) were measured with TMS. Shorter MEP-latency, shorter CMCT, higher motor-evoked potential amplitude, and diminished rMT exhibited significant correlations with clinical measures evaluating motor stage, dexterity, and daily life functionality. rMT exhibited a negative correlation with hand and lower extremity Brunnstrom stages (r = -0.64, r = -0.51, respectively), MI score (r = -0.48), FTT score (r = -0.69), and also with amount of use scale and quality of movement scale of MAL 28 scores (r = -0.61, r = -0.62, respectively). Higher MEP amplitude and diminished rMT showed positive correlations with reduced ASH score (r = -0.65, r = 0.44, respectively). The TMS-evoked neurophysiologic parameters including MEP latency, amplitude, rMT and CMCT generally have positive correlation with clinical measures which evaluate motor stage, dexterity and daily life functionality. Additionally, spasticity has also remarkable relationships with MEP amplitude and rMT. These results suggest that TMS-evoked neurophysiological parameters were useful measures for monitoring post-stroke patients.

Enthesitis was found to be associated with higher disease activity, higher fatigue, worse functional status and lower disease duration. As enthesitis was correlated with BASDAI, we conclude that enthesitis can reflect the disease activity in patients with AS.

ÖZAmaç: Bu çalışmada omuz ağrısı olan hastalarda kör ve floroskopi rehberli eklem içi omuz enjeksiyonlarının doğruluğu ve etkinliği araştırıldı. Hastalar ve yöntemler: Çalışmaya üç aydan uzun süredir omuz ağrısı olan 17 hasta (6 erkek, 11 kadın; ort. yaş 52.6±9.9 yıl; dağılım 36-66 yıl) dahil edildi. İlk eklem içi enjeksiyonlar ön yaklaşım ile kör olarak uygulandı. Enjeksiyon sonrası iğne ucunun eklem içerisinde olduğu floroskopi ve kontrast dağılımı ile doğrulandıktan sonra işlem 3 mL lokal anestezik (prilokain ve bupivakain) ve 1 mL steroid (40 mg metilprednizolon) ile tamamlandı. İlk uygulamada kontrast dağılımının eklem dışı olduğu gözlendiğinde, ikinci enjeksiyona floroskopi eşliğinde devam edildi. İşlemin devam ettirilmesi ile tüm enjeksiyonlar eklem içi oldu. Ağrı yoğunluğu görsel analog ölçeği (GAÖ) ile ölçüldü. Bulgular: Floroskopi ile bakılan kontrast dağılımına göre, 17 omzun 11'inde (%64.7) birinci kör enjeksiyonlar eklem içi idi. Başlangıç GAÖ skoru ortalaması 7.11 idi. Klinik takiplerde birinci saatte (ortalama GAÖ: 2.35), üçüncü günde (ortalama GAÖ: 2.64) ve birinci ayın sonunda (ortalama GAÖ: 2.23) ağrıda iyileşme gözlendi. Kör ve floroskopi rehberli uygulama için hasta hazırlanma süresi dışındaki ortalama süre sırasıyla 0.8 dakika ve 4.2 dakika idi. Sonuç: Kör eklem içi omuz enjeksiyonları ucuz ve kolay uygulanabilir olsa da iğnenin eklem çevresinde değil eklem içinde olduğundan emin olmak için enjeksiyonlar floroskopi ya da başka bir rehber eşliğinde yapılmalıdır.Anahtar sözcükler: Enjeksiyon; eklem içi; ağrı; omuz. ABSTRACT Objectives:This study aims to investigate the accuracy and effectiveness of blind and fluoroscopic-guided intra-articular shoulder injections in patients with shoulder pain. Patients and methods: The study included 17 patients (6 males, 11 females; mean age 52.6±9.9 years; range 36 to 66 years) with shoulder pain more than three months. First intra-articular joint injections were performed with anterior approach blindly. Following the injection and after confirming that the needle tip was intra-articular with fluoroscopy and contrast distribution, the procedure was completed using 3 mL of local anesthetic (prilocaine and bupivacaine) and 1 mL of steroid (40 mg methylprednisolone). When the contrast distribution was observed to be extra-articular at the first administration, a second injection was continued under fluoroscopy guidance. All of the injections were intraarticular with the continuation of the procedure. Pain intensity was measured with visual analog scale (VAS). Results: According to the contrast distribution viewed with fluoroscopy, first blind injections were intra-articular in 11 of the 17 shoulders (64.7%). Mean of initial VAS score was 7.11. Improved pain was observed in the clinical follow-ups at the first hour (mean VAS: 2.35), third day (mean VAS: 2.64), and at the end of the first month (mean VAS: 2.23). The mean durations for blind and fluoroscopic-guided procedures excluding patients' preparation time were 0.8 minutes and 4.2 minutes, respectively. Con...