Virtual walking integrated physiotherapy reduces pain and kinesiophobia, and improved function in patients with subacute and chronic non-specific low-back pain in short term.

[Purpose] The aim of this study was to translate the Pregnancy Physical Activity Questionnaire into Turkish and test its reliability and validity among Turkish pregnant women. [Subjects and Methods] The subjects were 204 healthy, single pregnant women between the ages 18 and 40 who volunteered to participate in this study. Reliability was evaluated by measuring the one-week test-retest reliability with the intraclass correlation coefficient and Pearson’s correlation analysis. Concurrent validity was examined by comparing the Pregnancy Physical Activity Questionnaire with the long form of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire and step counts with pedometer. [Results] The mean age of the participants was 28.23±4.94 years, and the mean for BMI was 26.09±4.40. For test-retest reliability, r values were respectively 0.961, 0.934, 0.957 and 0.981 for self-reported sedentary, light, moderate, and vigorous activity, respectively. Intraclass correlation coefficient scores ranged from 0.924 to 0.993. For validity, the Pearson’s correlation coefficients between the Pregnancy Physical Activity Questionnaire and long form of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire ranged from moderate (r = 0.329) to high (r = 0.672). The correlation value between the total score of the Pregnancy Physical Activity Questionnaire and the step counts was 0.70. [Conclusion] The Turkish version of the Pregnancy Physical Activity Questionnaire is a valid and reliable tool for measurement of the physical activity level of pregnant women.

ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to investigate the immediate effect of manual therapy (MT) on respiratory functions and inspiratory muscle strength in patients with COPD.Participants and methodsThirty patients with severe COPD (eight females and 22 males; mean age 62.4±6.8 years) referred to pulmonary physiotherapy were included in this study. The patients participated in a single session of MT to measure the short-term effects. The lung function was measured using a portable spirometer. An electronic pressure transducer was used to measure respiratory muscle strength. Heart rate, breathing frequency, and oxygen saturation were measured with a pulse oximeter. For fatigue and dyspnea perception, the modified Borg rating of perceived exertion scale was used. All measurements were taken before and immediately after the first MT session. The ease-of-breathing visual analog scale was used for rating patients’ symptoms subjectively during the MT session.ResultsThere was a significant improvement in the forced expiratory volume in the first second, forced vital capacity, and vital capacity values (P<0.05). The maximal inspiratory pressure and maximal expiratory pressure values increased significantly after MT, compared to the pre-MT session (P<0.05). There was a significant decrease in heart rate, respiratory rate (P<0.05), and dyspnea and fatigue perception (P<0.05).ConclusionA single MT session immediately improved pulmonary function, inspiratory muscle strength, and oxygen saturation and reduced dyspnea, fatigue, and heart and respiratory rates in patients with severe COPD. MT should be added to pulmonary rehabilitation treatment as a new alternative that is fast acting and motivating in patients with COPD.

Background/aim: Vascular risk factors play an important role in the progression of Alzheimer disease (AD). Mean platelet volume (MPV) is a determinant of platelet functionality and increased MPV is associated with an increased risk of vascular inflammation. Here we aimed to examine whether MPV could be used as a marker of vascular damage in AD and to discuss the relation between MPV and other vascular risk factors. Materials and methods:A total of 109 outpatients with AD and 81 healthy controls were included in this study. Diagnosis of AD was made according to defined criteria. The Turkish version of the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) was used for cognitive assessment. According to the test results, patients were divided into 2 subgroups, mild (MMSE ≥ 18) and moderate (MMSE < 18), and their MPV levels were compared.Results: MPV levels were higher in the AD group. There was no statistically significant difference between the moderate group and the mild group according to MPV values. Conclusion:Increased MPV in patients with AD may point to platelet dysfunction. MPV is an indicator of increased in vivo platelet activation. Hence, platelets could be the link between vascular risk factors and AD. The assessment of MPV in patients with AD may help identify the patients that could benefit from additional antiplatelet therapy.

The PABS-PT-TR appears to have good test-retest reliability, acceptable to good internal consistency, and acceptable construct validity.