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Objective: To investigate the relationships between grip/pinch strengths, wrist flexion-extension strengths, wrist active joint position sense (AJPS), manual dexterity, and bimanual coordination. Material and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted with 25 healthy young adult participants. The AJPS and flexion-extension strengths of the wrist were assessed using an isokinetic dynamometer. Additionally, grip strength, key pinch, tip pinch, and palmar pinch strengths were evaluated using a dynamometer. The Purdue Pegboard Test was used to assess manual dexterity and bimanual coordination. Results: Statistical analyses revealed a significant negative correlation between bimanual coordination and wrist flexion and extension strengths of both the dominant and nondominant wrists (respectively: Dominant: CC=-0.401; CC=-0.475. Nondominant: CC =-0.427; CC=-0.4). A significant positive correlation was found between bimanual coordination and nondominant manual dexterity (CC=0.472). Wrist flexion strength showed significant positive correlations with extension, grip and pinch strengths (respectively: CC=0.701; CC=0.435; CC=0.424; CC=0.404; CC=0.447). No significant correlations were found between AJPS and other parameters. Conclusion: Non-dominant manual dexterity may play a key role in improving bimanual coordination. Strengthening grip/pinch or wrist movements may increase overall strength but may not improve manual dexterity or bimanual coordination. AJPS alone may not predict functional parameters, suggesting the need for a multifactorial approach to proprioception in clinical settings.

Aims: This study aimed to compare the immediate effects of different stretching methods for the pectoralis minor (PM) muscle on acromial distance (AD), pectoralis minor length, Pectoralis Minor Index (PMI) and scapular upward rotation (SUR) in individuals with shoulder protraction. Methods: The study included 12 individuals with shoulder protraction. Manual stretching, unilateral corner stretching and modified contract-relax proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) stretching were applied to the PM muscle in a single session randomly. Before and after stretching, AD, PM muscle length, PMI and SUR were recorded. Results: It was determined that three stretching methods improved the AD, PM length and PMI values (p<0.05), modified contract-relax PNF stretching method was superior to unilateral corner stretching (p0.05). Conclusion: According to these results, adding any of the manual stretching, unilateral corner stretching or modified contract-relax PNF stretching methods for the PM muscle to the shoulder protraction treatment program may optimize the AD, PM length and PMI values affecting the scapular position. Especially, modified contract-relax PNF stretching technique is more effective than unilateral corner stretching. Therefore, it is recommended that the first preferred stretching method should be modified contract-relax PNF stretching for shoulder protraction treatment program.

Aims: The aim of this study was to evaluate the pressure pain threshold (PPT), hand grip strength, neck disability, functional status, and quality of life in symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals with and without chronic neck pain, and to determine the differences in these parameters between the groups. Methods: A total of 47 individuals aged 21 to 49 years, including 24 with at least 3 months of neck pain and 23 without neck pain, were included in the study. PPT of the upper trapezius, sternocleidomastoid (SCM), levator scapula, and suboccipital muscles was assessed using a dolorimeter. Hand grip strength was measured with a Jamar® Hydraulic Hand Dynamometer. Neck disability were evaluated using the Bournemouth Questionnaire (BQ). The disability level associated with upper extremity functional status was assessed with the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand Questionnaire (DASH). Quality of life was evaluated with the Nottingham Health Profile (NHP). Results: PPT values, except for SCM, were significantly lower in symptomatic individuals (p< 0.05). Neck disability, upper extremity function-related disability level, and quality of life were significantly worse in symptomatic individuals (p< 0.05). There were no significant differences between the groups in hand grip strength, PPT of the SCM, or NHP emotional reactions and social isolation scores (p> 0.05). Conclusion: It was found that PPT, neck functions, quality of life, and upper extremity function-related disability levels were more affected in symptomatic individuals with chronic neck pain without a specific diagnosis compared to asymptomatic individuals. Although hand grip strength was not affected in symptomatic individuals with chronic neck pain, other functional impairments may still be present.

Bu çalışmanın amacı; ileri baş postürü olan bireylerin servikal propriosepsiyon ve servikal kas enduransının el-göz koordinasyonu ve postüral kontrol ile olan ilişkisini incelemek ve normal baş postürü olan kontrol grubu ile karşılaştırmaktır. Kesitsel bir çalışma olarak planlanan bu araştırmaya, yaş ortalaması sırayla 21,59 yıl ve 22 yıl olan ileri baş postürüne sahip 22 kişi (Grup 1) ve normal baş postürü olan 13 kişi (Grup 2) dahil edilmiştir. Bireylerin servikal propriosepsiyonu sağ ve sol rotasyonun için eklem repozisyon testi ile, el-göz koordinasyonu alternatif duvara top atma testi ile, postural kontrolü (postüral stabilite testi, stabilite limiti testi ve modifiye sensori organizasyon) Biodex-BioSwayTM cihazı ile, servikal endurans ise fleksör ve ekstansör endurans testi ile değerlendirilmiştir. Bu çalışmanın sonuçlarına göre, Grup 1’de yer alan bireylerin servikal sağ ve sol rotasyon propriosepsiyon, servikal fleksör ve ekstansör kas enduransı ile el-göz koordinasyonu skorlarının daha düşük olduğu saptanmıştır (p 0,05). Ek olarak, ileri baş postürü olan bireylerin servikal propriosepsiyon ve fleksör kas enduransı el-göz koordinasyonu ile iyi derecede ilişkili bulunurken (p 0,05). Baş postürünün düzgünlüğünde gerekli olan sensorimotor fonksiyonun düzenlemesi için ileri baş postürü olan bireylerin egzersiz programında propriosepsiyon, servikal kas enduransı ve el-göz koordinasyonu paramatreleri göz önünde bulundurulmalıdır.