Kubra Alpay

Background/Objectives: Knee osteoarthritis (OA) significantly impairs physical function and quality of life, particularly in women. Although muscle strength and postural stability are known to influence functional outcomes, their independent contributions after controlling for age, body mass index (BMI), and pain remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the differential roles of lower extremity muscle strength and postural stability on functional status, evaluated through both performance-based tests and patient-reported outcomes, in women with bilateral knee OA. Methods: Sixty-four women with bilateral knee OA (mean age: 55.71 ± 5.99 years) were included in this study. Lower extremity muscle strength was assessed using the five-times sit-to-stand test, and postural stability was evaluated with the Biodex Balance System. Performance-based function was measured using the Six-Minute Walk Test (6MWT) and the stair climbing test (SCT), while self-reported function was assessed using the WOMAC function subscale (WOMAC-F). Hierarchical linear regression analyses were conducted, controlling for age, BMI, and pain. Results: Muscle strength emerged as the strongest independent predictor of performance-based outcomes, significantly contributing to both SCT (β = 0.330, p = 0.005) and 6MWT (β = −0.409, p = 0.001). In the 6MWT model, the effects of age and BMI became non-significant after the inclusion of muscle strength, indicating a mediating role. In contrast, self-reported function (WOMAC-F) was primarily associated with pain (β = 0.385, p = 0.001) and postural stability (β = 0.243, p = 0.040), while muscle strength showed no significant contribution. Conclusions: Muscle strength is the primary determinant of objective functional performance, whereas pain and postural stability are more influential in shaping perceived functional limitations. These findings highlight a dissociation between actual performance and patient-reported function. Rehabilitation strategies should prioritize strength training to improve physical performance, while also addressing pain and balance to enhance patients’ perceived function.

Purpose: Muscle fatigue is known to alter the proprioceptive system, the central proprioception process, and power generation capacity. This study aims to determine the effect of anaerobic fatigue on lower-extremity proprioception in adolescent female basketball players. Methods: The study included licensed female basketball players (n=30) between the ages of 12 and 16. Their dominant lower extremities were evaluated for knee joint position-sense measurements. Active and passive knee joint position senses were measured with an isokinetic dynamometer at 30° and 60° degrees prior to, immediately after anaerobic fatigue, and finally after 10 minutes of the recovery period. The Wingate Anaerobic Strength Test was used to induce anaerobic fatigue. We documented the knee joint position sense of each participant. Results: Following a 30-second anaerobic fatigue, a significant reduction in the sense of active joint perception at 30° and 60° knee flexion was observed compared to baseline values (p> 0.017). The knee joint's proprioception at 30° and 60° flexion returned to baseline levels after a 10-minute recovery from fatigue. The passive joint perception did not show any statistical changes. Conclusion: Anaerobic fatigue reduces knee proprioception in adolescent female basketball players. Moreover, proprioceptive sensitivity can return to baseline levels with a recovery time of as little as 10 minutes.

Background and Objectives: Rotator cuff tendonitis (RCT) is one of the most common shoulder pathologies. It causes pain, limits shoulder joint movements, and impairs function. Despite various treatment methods, there are currently no specific guidelines regarding the most effective intervention for RCT. To the best of our knowledge, no studies have compared the effects of Kinesio taping (KT) and cold therapy (CT) on individuals with RCT. To this end, this study aimed to investigate and compare the short-term effects of KT and CT on pain relief and upper extremity functionality in individuals with RCT. Materials and Methods: One hundred and fourteen individuals were assessed for eligibility. Fifty-two individuals with RCT who met the inclusion criteria and agreed to participate were randomly allocated into either the KT or the CT group. A standardized home exercise program was given to all the participants. Their pain intensity, upper extremity function, shoulder range of motion (ROM), and grip strength were evaluated initially and after the three days of KT or CT applications. Results: All the assessment values significantly improved in the KT group. In the CT group, only the pain scores (except for the numerical rating scale (NRS) pain score during activity) were significantly improved in the CT group at the end of the third day of application compared to the initial values (p < 0.05). For all the measurement outcomes, the effects of time × group interactions were statistically significant (p < 0.05) in favor of the KT group, except for the resting pain (p = 0.688). Conclusions: The findings suggest that KT and CT could be used as adjunctive modalities to exercise for resting and night pain relief in patients with RCT. KT also had positive effects on the activity pain, function, ROM, and grip strength. The use of KT along with an exercise program could be a more effective therapeutic choice than the use of CT for improving night pain, activity pain, and upper extremity function during the short-term rehabilitation of RCT patients.

Aim: Unilateral exercise training is an effective and useful technique, especially in immobilization and neurological conditions, but the effect of unilateral muscle exercise training on muscle strength is modest. Therefore, the aim of this study is to detect the acute concomitant effect of mirror therapy and unilateral exercise training on muscle strength and joint position sense in healthy adults. Method: Thirty-one participants were randomly enrolled in two groups the mirror (n=16) and control groups (n=15). Hand grip (HG), pinch grip (PG) strengths, and joint position sense (JPS) of the wrist were assessed in both hands before and after a single exercise session which include 300 repetitive ball squeezing exercises by right (exercised) hand for all groups. The participants in the mirror group were asked to watch the mirror to see the reflection of their exercised hands, the control group only watched their exercised and unexercised hands without any visual feedback support during the exercise session. Repeated Measure ANOVA and Mixed ANOVA tests were performed to analyze in- and between-group differences. Results: The statistically significant differences were determined in unexercised hand HG and PG strength in the mirror group (F=10,105; p=0,006, ηp2=0,403; F=5,341; p=0,035; ηp2=0,263, respectively). However, any group×time interaction was found in JPS, HG, or PG tests (p<0;05). Additionally, no difference was shown in JPS in-group comparisons (p<0;05). Conclusion: The result of the study suggested that unilateral exercise training should apply concomitant with visual feedback. Further studies are needed to compare the effect of different sensory feedbacks on unilateral exercise training.

This study aimed to investigate the effects of basic body awareness therapy (BBAT) on pain, balance, muscle strength, and functionality in knee OA.Forty patients (mean age: 55.20 ± 6.40 years) with... Basic Body Awareness Therapy in addition to a home exercise program can be effective on muscle strength, and functionality in patients with knee osteoarthritis.A decrease in knee extension muscle s...