Ferdi Başkurt

ObjectiveSocial interaction is a key dimension of healthy agingand is thought to be related to activity levels, psychologicalwell-being, and quality of life. However, evidenceon the factors that remain independently associatedwith social interaction in community-dwellingolder adults is still limited. This study aimed to identifythe independent determinants of social interaction,including physical activity, depressive symptoms,health-related quality of life, and demographic characteristics,among community-dwelling older adults aged65 years and over.Material and MethodIn this cross-sectional study, 292 community-dwellingolder adults (≥65 years) were assessed. Social interactionwas measured using the Index of Social Interaction(ISI). Physical activity, health-related quality oflife, and depressive symptoms were evaluated withthe Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly (PASE), theSF-12 Health Survey, and the Beck Depression Inventory,respectively. Associations were examined usingPearson’s correlations, and independent correlates ofISI were explored with multiple linear regression.ResultsPoorer social interaction (higher ISI scores) was associatedwith greater depressive symptoms, lowerphysical activity, and worse physical health-relatedquality of life (all p

Objective: The aim of this study was to examine the effect of a research methods course on physiotherapy and rehabilitation students’ epistemological beliefs, tendencies toward scientific values, and attitudes toward scientific research.Methods: The study was conducted using a single-group pretest–posttest quasi-experimental design. A total of 85 undergraduate students who were enrolled in the research methods course during the relevant semester and voluntarily agreed to participate were included. Data were collected using a sociodemographic data form, the Epistemological Beliefs Scale, the Scientific Values Tendency Scale, and the Attitude toward Scientific Research Scale.Results: The findings indicated a significant increase in students’ tendencies toward scientific values following the course (p0.05). Change scores did not differ according to gender, reading habits, or frequency of reading scientific articles (p>0.05). Additionally, a low but statistically significant correlation was found between scientific values and epistemological beliefs (r=0.291; p=0.007).Conclusion: Research methods education appears to be effective in enhancing students’ orientation toward scientific values. However, longer-term and experience-based educational approaches may be required to achieve meaningful changes in deeper constructs such as epistemological beliefs and scientific attitudes.

The Visual Analog Scale (VAS) is widely used for assessing pain intensity in clinical practice; however, its subjective nature and limited scoring range may cause patient-related biases. This study aims to predict the error margin in pain severity estimation using the VAS through a machine learning-based model. Clinical data from 174 patients with chronic spinal pain were analyzed. Objective parameters including spinal function index (SFI), age, gender, and body mass index (BMI) were used as inputs for model training. Five machine learning algorithms; Gradient Boosting, XGBoost, AdaBoost, Support Vector Machine, and Random Forest were evaluated to estimate pain intensity at rest and during movement. The Gradient Boosting algorithm achieved the highest prediction accuracy of 83.50%, while AdaBoost showed the lowest accuracy at 67.90%. Comparison between predicted and patient-reported VAS values revealed estimation errors ranging from 16.5% to 32.1%. The findings suggest that machine learning-based approaches can provide a more objective and reliable method for pain intensity assessment, helping to reduce subjective bias in clinical evaluations.

Conventional synchronous online education may be less engaging than face-to-face instruction in physiotherapy education, particularly for practice-oriented

Background and Purpose: This study aims to investigate the effects of increasing handgrip strength by applying Kinesio taping to the wrist extensors on the functional level in patients undergoing lower extremity surgery who ambulate with a walker. Methods: This retrospective study analyzed data from 100 patients aged 65 years and older who underwent lower extremity surgery and ambulated with a walker. The patients were divided into two groups: a control group (CG) that was kept under the standard rehabilitation program and a Kinesio taping group (KT) in which Kinesio taping was applied to the forearm extensor muscles in addition to the group being under standard rehabilitation program. The patients' handgrip strength (HGS), pain, and functional levels (Functional Independence Measurements (FIM), Iowa Level of Assistance Scale (ILAS), and Iowa Walking Speed Scale (IWSS)) were retrospectively assessed before treatment and at discharge. Results: Compared to the CG group, the right and left HGS, functional levels, and IWSS of the patients increased significantly in the KT group, and their activity‐related pain levels decreased significantly ( p < 0.005). A significant positive correlation was observed between the change in HGS and the change in ILAS and FIM scores, and a statistically significant negative correlation was found between the change in HGS and the change in activity‐related pain and IWSS ( p < 0.05). Discussion: Our findings suggest that Kinesio taping application is a simple and cost‐effective method that increases HGS in patients and is an effective method in controlling pain, improving walking speed, and enhancing functionality in patients undergoing lower extremity surgery. Trial Registration: https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06072261

The objective of this study was to assess ChatGPT's responses to common office ergonomics and spine health questions. ChatGPT was asked the 50 most frequent questions about 'office ergonomics and spine health' and evaluated by 10 experts on a scale of 1-4 points. The consistency between the experts' ratings was calculated with the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). The Flesch-Kincaid reading level was used to evaluate the readability of answers. The results indicated that ChatGPT demonstrated the capacity to provide generally satisfactory information concerning ergonomics and spinal health in office workers, with good inter-rater reliability (ICC = 0.838) as well as a readability level equivalent to a middle school level. This study indicated that although the responses were considered adequate, that they cannot replace experts' clinical judgment, particularly in the personalization of exercise prescriptions and the provision of individualized and comprehensive approaches.

Balance disorders and falls represent significant problems in the elderly population, with underlying causes that include both physical health conditions a

SUMMARY OBJECTIVE: Flexibility of the plantar flexors is important for preventing musculoskeletal injuries and ensuring proper muscle function. Static stretching, kinesiotape, and foam rolling are commonly used to enhance muscle flexibility. The aim of this study was to evaluate the acute effects of static stretching, kinesiotape, and foam rolling on muscle stiffness, fascicle length, and range of motion. METHODS: This randomized controlled trial involved 42 physiotherapy students randomly assigned to static stretching, kinesiotape, or foam rolling. Range of motion, weight-bearing lunge test, and shear wave elastography were measured before and after the interventions. RESULTS: All three interventions significantly increased range of motion and weight-bearing lunge test and decreased Achilles tendon stiffness (p<0.01). Gastrocnemius medialis stiffness decreased only after kinesiotape (p=0.005). Soleus stiffness decreased after kinesiotape (p=0.005) and foam rolling (p=0.017). Gastrocnemius medialis fascicle length increased after static stretching (p=0.014) and foam rolling (p=0.008), and gastrocnemius lateralis fascicle length increased after kinesiotape (p=0.049) and foam rolling (p=0.045). No significant differences were found between the three treatments on direct comparison. CONCLUSION: Static stretching, kinesiotape, and foam rolling are all effective in acutely increasing range of motion and weight-bearing lunge test while reducing Achilles tendon stiffness. Each technique also has specific effects on muscle stiffness and fascicle length. No single technique was superior, so method selection can be based on ease of application, equipment availability, and patient comfort.