Zehra Güçhan Topcu

Background: Artificial intelligence (AI)- supported ergonomic assessments identify occupational musculoskeletal risks, though agreement with physiotherapist-based evaluations remains insufficiently studied to date. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between AI-assisted ergonomic risk analysis and physiotherapist-based ergonomic assessments among young adults performing desk-based work. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 133 desk workers aged 18–25 years who used electronic devices at their desks for more than 4 h per day. Ergonomic risk was evaluated using two methods: Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA) and OpenAI ChatGPT. Pain intensity was measured with the Visual Analog Scale (VAS). Pearson correlation analysis assessed the relationship between RULA and ChatGPT scores. Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) analysis was performed to assess discriminative performance and determine the optimal cutoff value for the AI-based assessment. Results: The participants’ (48.9% females and 51.1% males) mean age was 24.02 ± 6.34 years. The mean RULA and ChatGPT scores were 4.65 ± 1.31 and 45.71 ± 16.31. A statistically significant positive correlation was observed between ChatGPT and RULA scores (r = 0.304, p < 0.001). ROC analysis showed moderate discriminatory performance for the AI-based assessment (AUC = 0.659; 95% CI: 0.565–0.752; p = 0.002). The optimal cutoff for the ergonomic risk analysis using ChatGPT was 42.5, yielding 72.4% sensitivity and 56.0% specificity. Conclusions: AI-assisted ergonomic risk analysis showed moderate agreement with conventional physiotherapist-based assessments and may serve as a rapid, accessible screening tool for desk workers. Nevertheless, clinical interpretation by healthcare professionals remains essential for accurate ergonomic evaluation and decision-making.

Background/Objectives: Keeping physical activity (PA) at an optimal level is important for protecting independence and keeping quality of life at the highest level while adopting healthy aging. This study aimed to estimate the PA levels of the older population living in Northern Cyprus and to examine the relationship between barrier and facilitator factors and PA levels. This is a cross-sectional population-based study. Methods: Detailed sociodemographic information was recorded and the PA level of the participants was evaluated using the Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly (PASE). Facilitators and barriers to participation in PA were assessed by questionnaire. Results: A total of 387 older individuals (224 women and 163 men; mean age: 74.3 ± 3.12) were grouped as youngest-old (68.31 ± 3.05) and old (80.29 ± 3.21). PA frequency and PASE scores were low in the overall study population and they were higher in the youngest-old group (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Low PA levels were estimated in older adults living in Northern Cyprus and they were significantly higher in the youngest-old group compared with the old group. There is a relationship between PA level and barriers such as fear of falling, fear of injury, comorbidities, shortness of breath, heart palpitations, incontinence, not knowing the benefits of PA, financial problems, not driving, and doing PA alone. Facilitators such as weight loss; living in a walkable area; friendship with groups; and being active, energetic, happy, and safe are related to PA level. This study highlights the importance of increasing PA levels by increasing awareness of the importance of PA in the older adult population, removing the barriers and using facilitators.

Background: Numerous interventions exist for neck pain in all age groups, but novel manual approaches warrant further investigation to assess their applicability in pediatric populations. Objective: This study aimed to determine and compare the immediate effects of instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization (IASTM) and classical massage (CM) in children aged 10–11 years with chronic neck pain. Methods: IASTM or CM were applied to the neck regions of a total of 52 children with chronic neck pain. Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), universal goniometer, and digital pressure algometer were used to evaluate pain severity, Range of Motion (ROM), and pressure pain threshold (PPT). Results: Significant within-group improvements were observed in VAS scores and cervical ROM post-treatment (p < .001). Additionally, a significant difference was found only in the PPT value of the left cervical region in the CM group (W = –2.237; p = .025). Between-group differences at each time showed that significant differences were found in cervical flexion (U = 2.630, p = .009) and PPT left cervical (U = –2.326; p = .020) before treatment and also, significant differences were obtained in the PPT right cervical (U = –2.555; p = .011), PPT right upper trapezius (U = –2.545; p = .011), and PPT left upper trapezius (U = –1.968; p = .049), after treatment. Conclusion: Both IASTM and CM were equally effective in reducing pain severity, the study's primary outcome. When adjusted for time, differences emerged only in cervical lateral flexion, with region-specific variations. However, long-term outcomes remain unknown, and future trials should include follow-up periods, larger and more diverse samples, and control or placebo groups to clarify clinical effect.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effects of integrating motor imagery (MI) practice into traditional teaching methods on the motor imagery skills and motor learning performance of physiotherapy students. Methods: Twenty-four students were randomly assigned to two groups: the Motor Imagery Group (MIG; 21.15 ± 1.46 years) and the Control Group (CG; 21.91 ± 1.58 years). Both groups initially received traditional instruction on infantile colic massage. Following a familiarization session, the MIG additionally engaged in MI practice twice a week for two weeks. Outcome measures included the Motor Imagery Questionnaire-3 (MIQ-3) and mental chronometry tests. At the end of the intervention, qualitative feedback regarding the learning experience was also obtained from the MIG participants. Results: Baseline values did not differ significantly between groups (p > 0.05) except for the MIQ-3 Kinesthetic score (p = 0.003). Within-group analysis revealed a significant improvement in the MIG’s MIQ-3 Kinesthetic score from pre- to post-assessment (p = 0.003), while other parameters remained unchanged. Mental chronometry results showed a significant reduction in real-time performance duration in the MIG (p = 0.025). Qualitative findings indicated that most participants perceived MI as a useful and motivating strategy for enhancing self-learning and memory retention. Conclusion: Incorporating MI practice into traditional teaching improved students’ kinesthetic imagery ability and performance efficiency in learning infantile colic massage. MI may serve as an effective, low-cost, and student-centered pedagogical tool to support psychomotor skill acquisition in physiotherapy and rehabilitation education.

BACKGROUND: Appropriate arrangement of classroom ergonomics is necessary for maintaining health and improving academic performance, learning, and motivation. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to determine the anthropometric measurements and ergonomic risk levels of students during a handwriting activity on a fixed desk and chair and to analyze the mismatch and relationships between these factors. METHODS: This study included 149 university students (female:73, male:76). Anthropometric measurements (lower and upper extremity length, shoulder height, elbow-rest height, hip-popliteal length, popliteal height, knee height, the distance between tragus and wall, and between acromion and wall) were done with a tape measure. The Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA) tool was conducted to determine the ergonomic risk level while students wrote a standard text on a fixed desk and chair as if they were taking notes in the classroom. The mismatch was evaluated between backrest height and sitting shoulder height, seat height, and popliteal height. The Pearson Chi-Square and the Spearman Correlation test were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: The median values of the participants’ age, height, weight, and BMI were 22 years, 1.70 m, 68 kg, and 23.18 kg/cm2, respectively. Most students had inadequate ergonomic posture while writing on fixed furniture at the university (Median RULA grand score: 4). More mismatches for seat height (54.4%) were found in high ergonomic risk levels but mismatches for backrest height did not follow a similar result. CONCLUSIONS: More investigation should be conducted with prospective studies including interventions like adjustable furniture.

Purpose: This study aimed to assess the test-retest reliability and inter-rater reliability of a newly designed balance test named the Paediatric Tandem Balance (PTB) test. Materials and methods: 108 children (girls: 54) with a mean age of 4.08±0.78 were included in the study. Two raters measured the same children for inter-rater reliability, and the first rater retested the same children after two days for test-retest reliability. Time and sway numbers were recorded as the variables of the PTB test. Results: The inter-rater reliability was good in both parameters of PTB which were duration (r=0.836) and number of sways (r=0.840). The test-retest reliability was good in both duration (r=0.727) and number of sways (r=0.705). The PTB test is a reliable test to measure dynamic balance in 3-5 years old children. Conclusion: This test will bring a new point of view for tests of dynamic balance.

Aim: To determine the effects of mobile phone use on fine motor functions, neck, and upper limb disability values.Methods: Time duration of mobile phone use was recorded for a week. Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA) was used to determine the risk level about posture while texting message on phones. Neck Disability Index (NDI) for neck pain and functional disability of neck on activities of daily life, Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand-Function/Symptom (DASH-FS) for the limitation in the functions of upper limb, Jebson Taylor Hand Function test for fine motor function.Results: Two hundred and seventy individuals (141 women, 129 men) whose mean ages were 21,48±1,86 years were included. While a significant correlation between duration of phone use and NDI score was specified (r=0,172; p=0,005), no significant correlation was found between duration of phone use and DASH-FS scores (r=0,092; p=0,130). It was found that there was a negative significant relationship between the duration of phone use and the total function score of the left hand and throwing small objects (p0,05).Conclusion: Although increased duration of phone use could cause neck problems, manual ability may be positively affected. In addition, since most participants have a poor posture while using a mobile phone, it is thought that this may be a risk factor for more musculoskeletal problems in older ages.

Purpose: To compare the fatigue and dyspnea level, respiratory function, mental fatigue, sleep quality, and social influence of the COVID-19 pandemic in convalescent and controls and to explore the relationship between these characteristics in both groups. Methods: A total of 352 participants, including COVID-19 convalescent (n=176) and controls (n=176), participated in this study. The following instruments were used by online technologies: Visual Analog Scale (VAS) to investigate fatigue and dyspnea level, Single Breath Counting (SBC) test to measure respiratory function, Wood Mental Fatigue Inventory (WMFI) to evaluate mental fatigue, Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) to assess the sleep quality and Social Influences Survey Questionnaire (SISQ) to investigate social influences of the pandemic. Results: COVID-19 convalescents reported higher levels of tiredness, dyspnea, and mental fatigue than controls (p 0.05). Conclusion: Even after long-term COVID-19 recovery, symptoms like increased fatigue and dyspnea, mental fatigue, poor respiratory function, and sleep disturbances persist. Therefore, it is necessary to develop treatment strategies in order to alleviate these problems.