Recovery from pneumonia takes around 3–6 months in individuals with severe COVID-19. In order to detect the isolated damage caused by COVID-19, the 6-month period must pass after the recoveries. However, to our knowledge, no published study analyzes a comprehensive evaluation of individuals with severe COVID-19 after 6 months. We aimed to evaluate long-term consequences of severe COVID patients by comparing respiratory function, functional capacity, quality of life, fatigue, and balance 6 months after the intensive care unit (ICU) discharge with healthy individuals. Method: 26 post-COVID adult patients and 26 healthy individuals (control group) were included in this study. Physical characteristics of both groups and patients’ ICU data, including APACHE II scores, were recorded. Lung function, respiratory, and peripheral muscle strength were measured. The lower limit of normal (LLN) cutoff points for forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV₁) were calculated. A 6-minute walk test (6MWT) was used to assess functional capacity. Time Up and Go test (TUG) with a stadiometer was performed for balance evaluation. Quality of life was evaluated using Nottingham Health Profile (NHP) and St George Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ). Results: Percent predicted FVC and FEV₁, 6MWT distance, change in oxygen saturation (SpO₂) during 6MWT, were lower and NHP, SGRQ, FSS scores and TUG findings were higher in the COVID group than the control group (p < 0.05). The FVC of nine individuals and the FEV₁ value of seven individuals in the COVID-19 group were below the LLN values. A moderate correlation was found between ICU length of stay and APACHE II scores with FVC, FEV₁, 6MWT distance, and change in SpO₂ values in the COVID-19 patients (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Respiratory function, functional capacity, quality of life, and fatigue levels of the individuals with severe COVID-19 infection are impaired at 6 months after ICU discharge. Impaired lung function might be associated with severe inflammation, which starts during the acute infection process and the fibrous tissue during the healing process, impairing lung compliance and diffusion capacity. Infiltration of coronavirus and inflammatory cytokines into the cerebrum and muscle might have increased fatigue and decreased functional capacity. Overall, our study suggests that severe COVID patients need post-discharge care even after 6 months of recovery.

Objective: To investigate the effects of breathing and relaxation exercises performed via telerehabilitation on fear, anxiety, sleep quality, and quality of life of individuals without coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) during the ongoing pandemic. Design: A prospective, randomized, controlled single-blind study. Methods: Fifty participants who had not been exposed to the COVID-19 virus earlier were randomly divided into experimental (n = 25) and control groups (n = 25). Both groups received an information session about COVID-19 once at the start of the study via a mobile phone video application. The experimental group also performed a breathing and relaxation exercise program twice daily (morning and evening), 7 days per week, for 4 weeks; one session of the program was conducted under the remote supervision of a physiotherapist as telerehabilitation, and the remaining sessions were performed as a home program. The Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19S), which was the primary outcome measure, The Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAMA), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and EQ-5D-3L were administered to both groups. Results: The FCV-19S, HAMA, and PSQI were statistically significantly improved to compare the controls, with a large effect size (η_p² = 0.135, 0.313, and 0.200, respectively). The EQ-5D-3L index and EQ-5D-3L visual analog scale were not statistically significantly different compared with the controls; however, a small effect size was detected for the differences between the two groups (η_p² = 0.056 and 0.013, respectively). Conclusion: Breathing and relaxation exercises appear to be an effective and feasible approach to support mental health and sleep quality during the COVID-19 pandemic. Especially in highly contagious diseases such as COVID-19, telerehabilitation approaches may be useful for safely reaching individuals by eliminating human-to-human contact. Clinical Trial Registration number: NCT04910932.

This prospective single-blinded study was performed to evaluate general movements (GMs) in group of high-risk, low-birth-weight and preterm infants and to compare results with neurologic examination. All infants' neurologic examinations, Gross Motor Function Measurement (GMFM) and Bayley-III Scale were performed at the corrected age of 12 months. A total of 22 infants were included. Eight infants (group-1) (mean: 31.6±3.29 weeks, range: 25-36 weeks) had normal GMs in all recordings and were ultimately evaluated as "normal"; 12 (group-2) (mean: 31.6±3.29 weeks, range:2 5-35 weeks) had abnormal GMs during writhing movements period but had normal GMs in subsequent recordings and were evaluated as "normal"; and 2 infants (group-3) (mean:29.5±7.78 weeks, range:24-35 weeks) with consistent abnormal GMs who were evaluated as "abnormal." Complete agreement (kappa=1) was found between GMs and neurologic examination and significant agreement between GMs and cranial ultrasonography (kappa=0.76). When results of GMFM and Bayley-III were compared; statistically significant differences were found between group-1 and group-2 in "standing" parameter of GMFM (p < 0.05) and "cognitive" parameter of Bayley-III (p < 0.05). GMs assessment can help determine neurologic disorders in high-risk infant populations as an adjunct to other diagnostic techniques.

Objective Cervical proprioception plays a crucial role in posture and movement control. This study aimed to determine the relationships of cervical proprioception, cervical muscle strength and endurance with manual dexterity and hand strength in individuals with idiopathic Parkinson’s disease (PD).Methods Twenty individuals with PD (mean age: 63.9 years) and 20 healthy individuals as a control group (mean age: 61.9 years) were recruited. Cervical joint position error (JPE), static endurance of neck muscles, activation of deep cervical flexor muscles (Craniocervical Flexion Test, CCFT), manual dexterity (Purdue Pegboard Test, PPT), cognitive and motor tasks of the PPT, finger tapping test (FTT), pinch strength, and grip strength were assessed.Results Cervical JPE was significantly higher in individuals with PD than in controls (p < 0.05). The strength and endurance of the cervical muscles were significantly decreased in individuals with PD (p < 0.05). Cervical JPE measurements were negatively correlated with PPT, cognitive and motor tasks of the PPT in individuals with PD (all p < 0.05). The endurance of cervical flexor muscles was negatively correlated with PPT and cognitive PPT scores in the PD group (p < 0.05). In addition, a significant positive correlation was found between cervical flexor endurance and hand strength in the PD group (p < 0.05).Conclusion Cervical proprioception and the strength and endurance of cervical muscles decrease in individuals with PD compared to healthy individuals. Impairment of cervical proprioception appears to be associated with poorer upper extremity performance. Detailed evaluation of the cervical region in PD may help determine the factors affecting upper extremity function.

Objective: The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between pregnancy-related low back pain, kinesiophobia, and physical activity during the third trimester of pregnancy. Methods: Fifty-one pregnant women between the ages of 18-40, at the gestational age of 27 weeks and above were included in the study. The intensity of pregnancy-related low back pain was assessed with the Numerical Pain Scale, kinesiophobia with the Tampa Kinesiophobia Scale, and physical activity levels with the short form of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. Results: Only 4 (7.8%) subjects had high levels of physical activity, 12 (23.5%) had moderate, and 35 (68.6%) had low levels of physical activity. A strong positive correlation was found between low back pain and kinesiophobia in the third trimester of pregnancy (r = 0.796; p < 0.001). There was no statistically significant relationship between low back pain and physical activity or between kinesiophobia and physical activity (r=– 0.097; p= 0.498 and r= – 0.212; p= 0.135 respectively). Conclusion: Pregnancy-related low back pain can cause kinesiophobia during pregnancy, and kinesiophobia may cause limitations of movements. Considering the negative effects of pregnancy-related low back pain and kinesiophobia during pregnancy, the evaluation of pain, and kinesiophobia by health professionals is important during this period.