Objectives: The aim of this research was to examine whether high-frequency whole-body vibration activates the tonic vibration reflex (TVR). Patients and methods: The experimental study was conducted with seven volunteers (mean age: 30.8±3.3 years; range, 26 to 35 years) between December 2021 and January 2022. To elicit soleus TVR, high-frequency (100-150 Hz) vibration was applied to the Achilles tendon. High-frequency (100-150 Hz) whole-body vibration and low-frequency (30-40 Hz) whole-body vibration were applied in quiet standing. Whole-body vibration-induced reflexes were recorded from the soleus muscle using surface electromyography. The cumulative average method was used to determine the reflex latencies. Results: Soleus TVR latency was 35.6±5.9 msec, the latency of the reflex activated by high-frequency whole-body vibration was 34.8±6.2 msec, and the latency of the reflex activated by low-frequency whole-body vibration was 42.8±3.4 msec (F _{(2, 12)} =40.07, p=0.0001, ƞ ² =0.87). The low-frequency whole-body vibration-induced reflex latency was significantly longer than high-frequency whole-body vibration-induced reflex latency and TVR latency (p=0.002 and p=0.001, respectively). High-frequency whole-body vibration-induced reflex latency and TVR latency were found to be similar (p=0.526). Conclusion: This study showed that high-frequency whole-body vibration activates TVR.

Introduction: Lipedema is a chronic and progressive adipose tissue disorder that predominantly affects women. However, despite its high prevalence and severe negative impact on quality of life, it remains significantly underdiagnosed. The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge and awareness of medical doctors in Turkey regarding lipedema. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 508 medical doctors working in different clinical specialties in Turkey. A questionnaire was designed and validated by a panel of physical medicine and rehabilitation specialists. A total of 22 questions were asked to assess physicians’ age, specialty, clinical experience, and institutional characteristics, as well as their knowledge of the clinical features, diagnostic criteria, and treatment modalities of lipedema. Results: 47.6% of the physicians were between 31 and 40 years of age. 29.3% of the participants had been practicing medicine for 0-5 years. 51% were familiar with the term “lipedema”, but only 29.9% had seen or referred patients with lipedema. 51.4% of the participants answered “no idea” when asked about the lipoedema clinic and 50.9% answered “no idea” when asked about lipoedema treatment. Conclusion: This study identifies significant gaps in medical professionals’ knowledge and awareness of lipedema in Turkey. The findings emphasize the necessity to incorporate lipedema-specific content in medical education and continuing professional development programs. Moreover, the establishment of multidisciplinary models of care, the dissemination of standardized clinical guidelines, and the promotion of public awareness campaigns are imperative to enhance early recognition and effective management of lipedema, which is often overlooked.

Background: Chronic plantar fasciitis (CPF) is a prevalent cause of heel pain, often refractory to conservative treatments. Corticosteroid injections (CSIs) are frequently used for symptom relief but may provide only transient benefits and are associated with potential adverse effects. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) has gained attention as an alternative because of its regenerative properties. This study compares the effectiveness of PRP injections (n = 75) and CSI (n = 77) in reducing pain and improving function over six months in patients with CPF. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted on 152 patients diagnosed with CPF who received ultrasound-guided injection therapy at a tertiary university hospital between September 2021 and September 2024. Patients were divided into CSI (n = 77) and PRP injection (n = 75). Pain intensity was measured using the visual analog scale (VAS), and functional status was assessed with the Foot Function Index (FFI). Evaluations were performed at baseline and 1, 3, and 6 months postinjection. Results: At baseline, VAS ( P = .449) and FFI ( P = .462) scores were comparable between groups. At 1 month, no significant differences were found for VAS ( P = .368) and FFI ( P = .392). At 3 months, VAS ( P = .586) and FFI ( P = .578) scores remained similar. At 6 months, PRP showed significantly lower VAS scores (1.98 ± 0.35) compared with corticosteroids (2.79 ± 1.13; P < .001); however, the difference did not exceed the MCID threshold (0.9 cm), suggesting limited clinical significance. Conversely, FFI scores improved more in the PRP group (22.3 ± 4.1) than in the corticosteroid group (29.8 ± 5.5; P < .001), exceeding the MCID threshold (7 points), confirming clinical relevance. Conclusion: PRP injections were associated with superior 6-month functional improvement over corticosteroids in CPF, with statistically significant gains that met the MCID threshold. Although both treatments were effective in the short term, only functional improvements reached clinical significance. These findings support PRP’s role in providing a modest functional advantage and highlight the need for future trials to optimize injection protocols and assess long-term outcomes.

Objective: Our aim was to examine the effectiveness of acupuncture in post-stroke depression/anxiety disorders and to determine whether it reduces the need for anxiolytic and sedative drug use. Methods: This study included 54 stroke patients with depression and/or anxiety disorder. Patients were randomly assigned to the acupuncture treatment group (n = 27) or the control group (n = 27). A conventional rehabilitation program was applied to all patients and acupuncture was performed twice a week for 4 weeks. Patients were evaluated blindly by a psychiatrist at baseline (week 0), week 4 and week 8, using the Hamilton depression rating scale (HAM-D) and Hamilton anxiety rating scale (HAM-A), and drug doses were adjusted when necessary. The HAM-D and HAM-A scores at week 4 were pre-specified as the two primary outcome measures. Results: Within each group, there was a significant decrease in the mean scores of HAM-D and HAM-A at weeks 4 and 8. No between-group differences in HAM-A or HAM-D scores were seen at 4 weeks but there was a significant decrease in HAM-D scores in favor of the acupuncture group at week 8 (p < 0.025). At week 4, the number of cases whose selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) dose was increased was found to be significantly higher in the control group. Conclusion: While the study was negative with respect to its primary outcomes, the findings with respect to certain secondary outcomes suggests further research is warranted to determine if acupuncture treatment is an effective/safe treatment to alleviate post-stroke depression/anxiety. Trial registration number: NCT04283591 (ClinicalTrials.gov).

Introduction: The increasing reliance on Internet search engines for health-related queries requires a thorough evaluation of the public’s engagement with medical information. This study aims to analyze global trends in interest in lymphedema over the past decade using Google Trends (GT). Methods: A physiatrist with expertise in lymphedema management identified and analyzed 12 key search terms according to the International Society of Lymphology (ISL) guidelines. These terms included ‘lymphedema swelling’, ‘lymphedema treatment’, ‘lymphedema stages’, ‘compression therapy for lymphedema’, ‘manual lymphatic drainage (MLD)’, ‘complete decongestive therapy (CDT)’, ‘pneumatic compression pump’, ‘lymphovenous anastomosis (LVA)’, ‘lymphedema surgery’, ‘liposuction for lymphedema’, ‘lymphedema prevention’ and ‘post-cancer lymphedema’. GT data was collected using filters set to ‘web search’, ‘all categories’, and ‘worldwide’ to provide a comprehensive overview. The analysis was conducted for two five-year intervals: 1 September 2014 to 31 August 2019 and 1 September 2019 to 31 August 2024. Relative search volume (RSV) was calculated for each term and compared to quantify changes over time. Results: Significant increases in search activity were observed for ‘lymphedema swelling’, ‘lymphedema treatment’, ‘lymphedema stages’, ‘manual lymphatic drainage’, ‘lymphedema surgery’, and ‘post-cancer lymphedema’ in the second period ( p = 0.001 for each). The average GT score increased from 19 in 2014-2019 to 29 in 2019-2024 ( p = 0.001), reflecting a significant increase in public awareness and interest. Conclusion: The study shows a significant increase in global public interest in lymphedema and its minimally invasive treatments over the past 5 years, suggesting a growing awareness of the condition. These findings highlight the need for improved patient education and research to meet the increasing demand for lymphedema care.