ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to assess and compare the effects of different electrotherapy methods and exercise therapy on pain, function and quality of life in shoulder impingement syndrome.MethodsEighty-three patients (66 females, 17 males; mean age: 48.2 ± 7.33 years) with shoulder impingement syndrome were selected and 79 of them were randomly allocated into four groups. Group 1 (n = 19, mean age: 47.89 ± 7.12 years) was given hot pack and exercises, Group 2 (n = 20, mean age: 47.70 ± 6.51 years) was given hot packs, exercises and interferential current, Group 3 (n = 20, mean age: 48.50 ± 8.34 years) was given hot packs, exercises and TENS and Group 4 (n = 20, mean age: 48.55 ± 7.89 years) was given hot packs, exercises and ultrasound three times a week for four weeks. Assessments were made before treatment, right after it and three months after that using the visual analog scale (VAS), Short Form-36 (SF-36) and the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) outcome measures.ResultsAt the fourth week and third month assessments, all groups showed significant improvements in terms of pain, DASH and SF-36 physical component scores (p < 0.05). In intragroup comparisons, a significant difference between pre- and post-treatment results was found only in SF-36 mental component scores of Group 2. No significant difference was observed between the groups in any stage of the study period (p > 0.05).ConclusionApplication of ultrasound, interferential current and TENS in addition to exercise therapy in shoulder impingement syndrome treatment had similar improvements in terms of pain, function and physical component of quality of life. However, interferential current treatment showed significantly better outcomes for the mental component of quality of life.Level of evidenceLevel I, Therapeutic study.

Objective: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a problem causing functional disability and impairing quality of life. The presence of factors that may cause functional disability is important for OA patients. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the relationship between pain, muscle strength and lower extremity function in patients with osteoarthritis.Methods: A total of 58 patients (5 male, 53 female) with a mean age of 60.63 ± 8.50 were included in the study. Pain level by Visual Pain Scale (VAS), muscle strength by Jamar Hand Held Dynamometer, and lower extremity functional level by Lower Extremity Functional Scale were evaluated.Results: The mean VAS value at rest was 3.54±0.33, while the mean VAS value during the activity was 6.28±0.28. The lower extremity functional scale results were 36.01±1.87 points. When comparing the muscle strength of the knee with and without OA, while there is a difference between the extension muscle strengths, no difference was found between flexion muscle strengths (p=.001, p=.580). Knee OA knee muscle strength was positively correlated with non-OA knee muscle strength and lower extremity functional scale (p<0.05). In addition, there was a negative correlation between functional level and activity pain (p<0.05). Conclusion:Knee muscle strength in osteoarthritis affects non-osteoarthritis knee muscle strength and lower extremity function. As muscle strength decreases, muscle strength and function level of the non-affected knee decreases. In addition, as the activity pain increases, the lower extremity functional level deteriorates. In the treatment of knee OA, reducing pain and increasing muscle strength may be important for improving function.