To determine the effects of ultrasound therapy and neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) application on the muscle architecture and functional capacity in patients with knee osteoarthritis. A randomized study. A total of 60 patients with knee osteoarthritis. Participants were randomized into one of the following two intervention groups, five days a week, for three weeks: the combination of NMES application, hot pack, and exercise therapy was applied to the NMES group. The combination of therapeutic ultrasound, hot pack and exercise therapy was applied to the ultrasound therapy group. Subjects were evaluated for pain and functional capacity with the use of the visual analog pain scale (VAS), Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (WOMAC), and 15 meter walking test. The muscle architecture (muscle thickness, pennation angle and fascicle length) was assessed from vastus lateralis and quadriceps femoris muscles bilaterally by ultrasonography. Two groups presented significant improvements in all outcome measures before and after treatment (P < 0.01). There were significant improvements in VAS rest pain (P < 0.05), VAS activity pain (P < 0.05), WOMAC pain (P < 0.05), WOMAC stiffness score (P < 0.05), and WOMAC physical function (P < 0.05) for the ultrasound therapy group in comparison to the NMES group. NMES group exhibited more increases in the muscle thickness and fascicle length values when compared to ultrasound therapy group (P < 0.05). Ultrasound therapy appears to be an effective treatment in reducing pain and improving functional capacity. NMES application has more effects on the muscle architecture.

Objectives: In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effect of gender on clinical findings, disease activity, functional status and quality of life in patients with axial involvement in Turkey. Methods: Patients with PsA who met the CASPAR classification criteria were enrolled consequently in this cohort. Turkish League Against Rheumatism (TLAR)-Network was formed with the participation of 25 centres. The demographic variables, fatigue, diagnostic delay, the beginning of peripheral arthritis, enthesitis, dactylitis and spine involvement, inflammatory low back pain, BASFI, HAQ, HAQ-s, visual analog scale-pain (VAS-pain), anxiety, depression and disease activity parameters (ESR, DAS28, BASDAI) were recorded. Axial involvement was assessed according to clinical and radiological data according to modified New York (MNYC) or SpondyloArthritis International Society Assessment (ASAS) criteria (AC). Results: A total of 1018 patients with PsA were included in this study. Of the 373 patients with axial involvement, 150 were male (40.2%) and 223 (59.8%) were female. Spondylitis was detected in 14,7% of men and 21,9% of women in all patients. Pain score (VAS) (p< 0,002), fatigue (p <0.001), ESR (p <0.001), DAS28 (p <0.001), BASDAI score (p <0.001), PsAQoL (p <0.001), HAQ score (p < 0,01), HAQ-S score (p< 0.001), anxiety (p <0.001), depression (p < 0,024), FACIT (p <0.001) and FiRST (p <0.001) scores were statistically significantly worse in women than males with axial PsA. However, quality of life was better (p <0.001) and PASI score (p< 0.005) were statistically worse in male patients than in female patients with axial involvement. Conclusion: This study has shown that the burden of disease in axial PsA has significant difference between genders. Disease activity, physical disability, functional limitation, depression and anxiety scores were higher in female patients, while quality of life were better and PASI score were higher in male patients. Therefore, we suggest that new strategies should be developed for more effective treatment of axial PsA in female patients.

[Purpose] The aim of the present study was to investigate and compare the effects of whirlpool bath and neuromuscular electrical stimulation on complex regional pain syndrome. [Subjects and Methods] Sixty outpatients (30 per group) with complex regional pain syndrome participated. They received 15 treatment 5 days per week for 3 weeks. The outcome measures were the visual analogue scale for pain, edema, range of motion of the wrist (flexion and extension), fingertip-to-distal palmar crease distance, hand grip strength, and pinch strength. All parameters were measured at baseline (week 0) and at the trial end (week 3). [Results] There were significant improvements in all parameters after therapy in both groups. The whirlpool bath group showed significantly better improvements in the visual analogue score, hand edema, hand grip strength, wrist range of motion (both flexion and extension), fingertip-to-distal palmar crease distance, and the three-point and fingertip pinch strengths than the neuromuscular electrical stimulation group; however, the lateral pinch strengths were similar. [Conclusion] Both whirlpool bath and neuromuscular electrical stimulation are effective in the treatment of complex regional pain syndrome, but the efficacy of the whirlpool bath treatment was better.