Background: The body mass index (BMI) is closely related to fat tissue, which may have direct or indirect effects on muscle function. Previous studies have evaluated BMI and muscle viscoelastic properties in vivo in older people or individual sexes; however, the relationship between BMI and muscular viscoelastic properties is still unknown. Aims: The purpose of this study was to determine the correlation of BMI with muscular viscoelastic properties, and to compare these properties in a young sedentary population with normal and overweight individuals. Methods: A total of 172 healthy sedentary individuals (mean age, 26.00 ± 5.45 years) were categorized by sex (male and female) and BMI classification (normal (BMI, 18.50–24.99 kg/m²), overweight (BMI = 25.00–29.99 kg/m²)). Body weight was evaluated using an electronic scale, while height was measured using a standard stadiometer. BMI was calculated by dividing the weight in kilograms by the square of height in meters. The viscoelastic properties (tone, stiffness, and elasticity) of the biceps brachii (BB) and biceps femoris (BF) muscles were measured bilaterally using the MyotonPRO device at rest. Results: The bilateral BF tone and stiffness, right BB stiffness, and elasticity showed weak correlations with BMI in all participants. Furthermore, the bilateral BF tone and stiffness, right BB stiffness and elasticity, and left BB stiffness were weakly positively correlated with male sex. Only the right BB elasticity was weakly positively correlated with BMI in females (p < 0.05). No correlation with BMI was determined for other viscoelastic properties (p > 0.05). The overweight group showed increased bilateral BF stiffness and tone, right BB stiffness, and reduced bilateral BB elasticity compared to the normal-weight group (p < 0.05), while other viscoelastic properties were similar (p > 0.05). Greater bilateral BB tone, BF tone and stiffness, and lower BF elasticity were observed in males than in females (p < 0.05), but other viscoelastic properties were not significantly different (p < 0.05). No effect of BMI–sex interactions was found on viscoelastic properties (p > 0.05). Conclusions: The BB and BF viscoelastic properties were weakly correlated with BMI. Males showed greater muscle tone and stiffness, and lower elasticity. The overweight individuals showed increased stiffness and tone, particularly in lower extremities, and reduced elasticity in upper extremities. The effect of BMI–sex interactions on the viscoelastic properties was not clear. Higher BMI (increased mechanical load) might cause the human body to develop different muscular viscoelastic adaptations in the extremities.

Introduction: This study aimed to establish normative values for stiffness, tone, and elasticity of lower extremity muscles and to determine age and sex differences.Methods: Overall, 389 participants (199 females, 190 males) were included. The mechanical properties of the tibialis anterior (TA), rectus femoris (RF), vastus lateralis (VL), vastus medialis obliquus (VMO), gastrocnemius lateralis (GL), and gastrocnemius medialis (GM) muscles were assessed bilaterally with the MyotonPRO device. The data were compared with respect to sex and age.Results: The mechanical properties were significantly higher bilaterally in males than females in all parameters (p < 0.05). Right TA stiffness and elasticity, GM tone and stiffness were higher than left in females (p < 0.05). Greater VMO elasticity and RF tone were found in left vs. right (p < 0.05). Right GL-VL stiffness and elasticity were greater than left in males (p < 0.05). VMO-RF tones were bigger in left compared with right (p < 0.05). Among age groups, right-left TA tone and stiffness were greater in group 1 (18–28 years old) (p < 0.05). Right-left VL-VMO tones, and left RF stiffness and tone were lower in group 2 (29–39 years old) (p < 0.05). Right GM-VMO stiffness, right-left TA-GL-GM-VMO and RF elasticity were greater in group 3 (40–50 years old) compared with others (p < 0.05).Conclusions: The mechanical properties of leg muscles were bilaterally higher in males. Different characteristics were observed of different muscles for both sexes. GL-GM-VMO-RF elasticity decreased, and TA stiffness and VMO tone increased with advancing age in both legs

Background/aim: In our study, it was aimed to investigate the relationship between the physical activity, sleep quality, depression severity and life satisfaction of university students during the Covid-19 pandemics. Materials and methods: 200 university students who agreed to participate in the study voluntarily were included. The students replied about the effects of pandemia process with Likert scale that 14 questions. The International Physical Activity Questionnaire (Short Form) (IPAQ-SF), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Beck Depression Scale (BDI), Life Satisfaction Questionnaire (SLWS) were applied to students. Results: According to the results of the study; During Covid-19, it was determined that students' sitting time were increased, physical activity and exercise habits were decreased. It has been found that a decrease in physical activity level. It was originated that depression, lowers life satisfaction and disrupts the circadian rhythm. Conclusion: The personal telerehabilitation programs prepared by the physiotherapist are necessary for the protection of physical and mental health and it may help to regular the circadian rhythm on pandemic process.

Background: The current pandemic has affected people's health multidimension-ally. This study aims to investigate musculoskeletal pain, sleep quality, depression levels, and their relationships in individuals belonging to different age groups during COVID-19 in Turkey. Methods: A web-based self-administered survey that consisted of demographic questions, The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and scores of musculoskeletal pain was sent to participants. Pearson cor-relation analysis was used for determining the statistical relationship between vari-ables. Results: The study includes 1,778 participants. The highest percentage for mild, moderate, and severe pain was in the head (49.8%), back (15.5%), and head (11.5%), respectively. The PSQI-total had shown a weak correlation with pain levels in all body parts. The highest correlation for sleep quality and pain levels was be-tween the PSQI-5 and lower back pain. There was a weak correlation between PSQI-2 and the BDI score, and a moderate correlation between the PSQI-1, PSQI-5, PSQI-7, PSQI-total, and BDI score. Pain in all body parts showed a weak correlation with depression level. Conclusions: This study showed that musculoskeletal pain was varied in body parts with different intensities according to age groups in Turkey during the pandemic. The most common pain was in the head, back, and lower back. Headache was found correlated with the parameters of sleep quality. Pain of the head, neck, back, lower back, and shoulder were correlated with sleep latency. Sleep quality was as-sociated with depression and musculoskeletal pain, while musculoskeletal pain was correlated with depression.