Clinical Research Directory

Hip Abduction and Adduction During Neurodynamic Stretching

Neurodynamic mobilization techniques are widely applied in rehabilitation and physiotherapy to enhance the mobility and function of peripheral nerves. Two main approaches are distinguished : Nerve tensioning and nerve flossing. They both involve proximal and distal joint movements to induce greater neural sliding while avoiding excessive tensile stress. However, contradictory findings following neurodynamic stretching highlighted the current lack of consensus regarding the position that should be used. Moreover, neurodynamic techniques are of interest for patients, it appeared it could also be applied in healthy individuals and more particularly in athletes. Accordingly, the primary objective of the present study was to determine the immediate effect of two hip positions (adduction vs. abduction) during neurodynamic flossing techniques on the sciatic nerve and hamstring tissues using the shear wave elastography (SWE, a form of ultrasonography).

The Effect of Home-Based Walking on Symptoms and Health Profile of Hemodialysis Patients

This study aims to evaluate the effect of 8 weeks of home-based moderate-speed walking on hemodialysis symptoms and health profile while patients are receiving hemodialysis treatment. Due to permanent deterioration in kidney function, patients need hemodialysis treatment, which is the most commonly used treatment method among renal replacement therapies. Hemodialysis treatment causes a series of physical and psychological problems. Problems such as hypotension, headache, nausea, muscle cramps, itching and pain are physical problems, while depression, anxiety, cognitive disorders and stress are psychological problems. In addition, it has been reported that long-term hemodialysis treatment and all the resulting problems increase the tendency to a sedentary lifestyle in this patient group, leading to a decrease in physical function and activity, and indirectly to a low quality of life and low survival rates. For this reason, hemodialysis patients have difficulty meeting their daily activities and needs, and their dependency and healthcare burden increase. Adopting a sedentary lifestyle by these patients prevents them from managing both the physical and psychological problems of hemodialysis and their conditions such as hypertension and diabetes mellitus, and causes the disease to progress. Physical exercises, which are considered among the useful therapeutic suggestions in addition to pharmacological treatments in the management of the negative situations that arise, are considered as an easy, useful and effective intervention method. Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) recommends 30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical exercise at least 5 days a week. Additionally, it should not be overlooked that whether patients have places to do physical activity and what their facilities are are a detail that should be questioned by health professionals. Patients without suitable accommodations should be encouraged to engage in physical activity, especially in indoor spaces like home. Home-based walking exercise is known to be easy, inexpensive, and safe, and is also advantageous when the weather is not favorable. When we examined the studies in which home-based walking exercise was performed, it was determined that its effect on functional capacity was generally investigated, but its effect on the health outcomes and symptoms of patients receiving hemodialysis treatment was not evaluated. There was no evidence that home-based walking exercise had any effect on symptoms in patients receiving HD treatment. Therefore, it was planned to conduct a study to evaluate whether home-based walking exercise has an effect on patient health outcomes.

Manual Therapy Techniques for Cervical Pain: Algometric Evaluation

The main objective of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of different manual therapy techniques in the treatment of cervical pain related to the upper trapezius muscle. The intervention will compare the effects of superficial massage, deep massage, and pressure release technique on pain intensity, assessed through algometry. Additionally, the study aims to determine whether the application of passive stretching following manual treatment leads to a significantly greater reduction in pain compared to groups that do not receive stretching. Finally, the persistence of treatment effects will be evaluated one and two weeks after the intervention.

Active and Passive Exercise Training in Improving Vascular Function: Local vs Systemic Vascular Effect.

Maintaining an adequate state of vascular function is an important element for the maintenance of cardiovascular well-being. Several training plans involving both active and passive engagement by the muscles have been proposed with the aim of improving vascular function. At local level, i.e., at the level of the arteries that supply the muscles directly involved in training, significant improvements in vascular function have been found. These improvements are more noticeable after active training than with a passive training regimen, such as passive static stretching. On the contrary, at the systemic level the effects of active or passive training are less clear and, above all, it is not evident whether there is a difference in the effects induced at the level of vascular function in arteries supplying muscles not directly involved in training. The aim of the study is to clarify the local and systemic effect of an active training protocol (single leg knee extension, SLKE) and of a passive training protocol (passive static stretching training, PST) applied to the lower limbs lasting 8 weeks on the local (femoral artery) and systemic (brachial artery) vascular function.