Purpose: The purpose of this study was to translate the Swallow Quality of Life Questionnaire (SWAL-QOL) into Turkish and to test its reliability and validity among patients with neurogenic swallowing disorders. Methods: One hundred and five patients (mean age= 57±15.4 years, mean weight= 69.5±16.3 kg, mean height=162.8±22.4 cm) completed the Turkish version of the SWAL-QOL (T-SWAL-QOL) and short form of the World Health Organization Quality of Life Questionnaire (WHO QOL-BREF). The internal consistency, test-retest reliability and criterion validity of T-SWAL-QOL as psychometric analysis were explored. Reliability was estimated using tests of internal consistency and test– retest reliability. The correlation between T-SWAL-QOL and WHO-QOL-BREF was calculated to evaluate criterion validity. Results: The internal consistency of T-SWAL-QOL was found to be high with 0.88 Cronbach’s alpha value for test and 0.91 Cronbach’s alpha value for retest. General burden, eating duration, eating desire and social subscales were found to have good test-retest reliability (r=0.696, r=0.790, r=0.787, r=0786, p<0.001; respectively) and, food selection, fear of eating, sleep, fatigue, communication and mental health were found to have excellent test-retest reliability (r=0.832, r=0.833, r=0.841, r=0.839, r=0.883, r=0.847, p<0.001; respectively). A weak/moderate correlation was found between the T-SWAL-QOL and WHO-QOL-BREF (p<0.05). Discussion: The T-SWAL-QOL was shown to be a valid and reliable questionnaire in dysphagia evaluation. This study will contribute to solve the problem about the lack of a scale to measure the dysphagia specific quality of life in Turkey.

Study Design: Controlled laboratory study using within-group comparisons. Objectives: To compare scapular kinematics between active and resisted shoulder elevation performed in the sagittal (flexion), frontal (abduction), and scapular (scapular abduction) planes. Background: Several studies have documented scapular kinematics during arm elevation against an external load; however, there is little information on how scapular kinematics change with loading provided by elastic bands, an exercise approach often used in the clinic. Methods: Thirty-two men without shoulder pathology participated in the study. The level of resistance to be used for each individual was determined prior to data collection and standardized by perceived effort on a Borg scale. Three-dimensional scapular kinematics were recorded with an electromagnetic tracking device in all 3 planes of shoulder elevation for both the unloaded (active) and loaded (resisted) conditions. Data for scapular kinematics were analyzed at 30°, 60°, 90°, and 120° of humerothoracic elevation and lowering. Comparisons between loading conditions were made using analysis-of-variance models. Results: In general, for all 3 planes of movement, the scapula was more downwardly rotated and anteriorly tilted during the elevation phase and more so during the lowering phase of shoulder elevation when performed against elastic resistance. While some of the statistically significant differences might not have been large enough to be considered clinically meaningful, some values were of a magnitude similar to previously reported differences between healthy and symptomatic individuals. Conclusions: The changes in scapular motion during the loaded condition were relatively small in this population with normal scapular motion, but they were in a direction that would be considered to have potential to lead to injuries, suggesting caution when using these exercises in individuals with poor scapular control. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2013;43(10):735–743. Epub 13 September 2013. doi:10.2519/jospt.2013.4466