Bolu Merkez

This research aims to study the immediate effects of using Dynamic Ankle-Foot Orthoses DAFOs on balance and gross motor functions in children with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy aged 4 to 15 years who have mild to moderate motor impairment GMFCS levels 1 and 2. Diplegic cerebral palsy mainly affects the lower limbs, causing movement difficulties and abnormal gait patterns. The study plans to contribute valuable knowledge to cerebral palsy rehabilitation by evaluating motor skills and balance with and without DAFO use. Children participating in the study will be assessed using various classification systems for motor, communication, manual, and eating abilities. Their gross motor functions and balance will be measured using tests such as the Gross Motor Function Measure GMFM-88, Pediatric Berg Balance Scale, functional reach test, and Wii Balance Board. The evaluations will occur both while wearing custom-made DAFOs and barefoot, comparing the immediate impact of the orthoses. Participants will have their age, height, and weight recorded along with assessments like the GMFCS, MACS, CFCS, and EDACS. The study uses standardized balance and motor function tests on day 1 to measure outcomes. Data analysis will be performed by a blinded statistician using appropriate statistical methods. The study is observational and will include children and their families who agree to participate at a specialized rehabilitation center, with all assessments completed during the study period.

Researchers are investigating the use of 3D resin printed models in anatomy education, focusing on how fractured bone models affect students decision-making and quiz results. This study aims to evaluate the practicality of these high-quality, detailed resin models compared to standard anatomical models, enhancing hands-on training for wrist fracture rehabilitation. The research is sponsored by Abant Izzet Baysal University and targets educational problems related to anatomical pathological conditions. Participants will receive a 60-minute theoretical lesson on wrist anatomy and fracture pathophysiology. Then, they are randomly assigned to one of two groups one practices with 3D resin printed fractured wrist models, while the other uses standard anatomical wrist models. Both groups have 2-hour practical sessions scheduled during morning hours to reduce fatigue. The study compares the effectiveness of learning with these two types of models. During the study, participants undergo various assessments including a one-hour clinical test as the primary outcome. Secondary measures include academic motivation, test anxiety, and ease of use questionnaires, each taking about one hour. The study involves training sessions, practical handling of models, and evaluations to understand educational impact. The total study duration and follow-up details are as scheduled by the research team, concluding by October 30, 2025.

Researchers are investigating the presence and clinical importance of two oral protozoa, Entamoeba gingivalis and Trichomonas tenax, in patients visiting a university dental clinic. This observational study focuses on how these parasites might contribute to inflammation and tissue damage in gum diseases such as gingivitis and periodontitis. The study includes 120 adults 18 years and older with various periodontal health statuses to better understand the parasites role in oral health. Participants will complete a questionnaire about their demographics and oral hygiene habits. A trained examiner will perform detailed periodontal exams measuring plaque levels, gum inflammation, bleeding, pocket depths, attachment loss, and gum recession, following established classification guidelines. Samples of unstimulated saliva and subgingival plaque will be collected from periodontal pockets and examined under a microscope to identify live protozoa. Throughout the study, researchers will analyze the correlation between parasite presence and periodontal health. Participants will undergo clinical assessments and provide biological samples during one visit. The primary outcome is the detection rate of these oral protozoa at the time of examination. This study aims to expand knowledge of these parasites prevalence and impact on gum disease in the local population.

Researchers are conducting a study to understand bladder and bowel functions, participation, and quality of life in children aged 5 to 12 years with intellectual disabilities compared to typically developing children. This condition involves a range of urinary and bowel symptoms that often affect children with developmental challenges, impacting their daily life and well-being. The study aims to fill a gap in knowledge by evaluating these functions together along with child participation and parental quality of life. The study involves two groups children diagnosed with mild to severe intellectual disabilities and typically developing children within the same age range. Data will be collected through questionnaires assessing bladder and bowel dysfunction, child participation, and quality of life for both children and their parents. The study will be conducted as a cross-sectional observational assessment without any intervention. Participants will provide sociodemographic information and complete various validated questionnaires including the Childhood Bladder and Bowel Dysfunction Questionnaire, Dysfunctional Voiding and Incontinence Scoring System, and Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory. Parental quality of life will also be assessed. The study will help researchers understand how bladder and bowel issues affect participation and quality of life in these children. The total study duration extends until December 2026, with assessments occurring at baseline.

Chronic nonspecific low back pain is a persistent condition lasting 12 weeks or longer, causing ongoing discomfort that affects physical and psychological health. This research aims to compare the effectiveness of the abdominal drawing-in maneuver performed with real-time ultrasound biofeedback versus conservative physical therapy in patients with this type of pain. The study is designed as a prospective, randomized clinical trial to better understand treatment options for chronic low back pain. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups. The first group will receive conservative physical therapy combined with the abdominal drawing-in maneuver assisted by real-time ultrasound imaging biofeedback, where patients can see their muscle activity during exercises. The second group will receive the same conservative physical therapy and perform the abdominal drawing-in maneuver with verbal instructions only. Conservative physical therapy includes treatments like transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation TENS, hot packs, and therapeutic ultrasound. During the trial, participants will be assessed before treatment and again in the third week of treatment. Evaluations will include pain levels using the Visual Analogue Scale, muscle thickness, balance using the Berg Balance Scale, disability with the Oswestry Disability Index, lumbar range of motion, and quality of life measured by the EQ-5D-3L General Quality of Life Scale. This comprehensive monitoring will help determine the impact of the two exercise methods on chronic low back pain over the course of treatment.

Neck pain is a common issue among adults and often leads to medical visits. Modern lifestyles have increased its prevalence, and while some people recover quickly, about 30% develop chronic neck pain lasting 12 weeks or more. This study evaluates the effects of Interferential Current Therapy on pain, disability, and quality of life in patients with chronic neck pain, comparing two types of electrodes vacuum electrodes versus carbon-silicon pad electrodes. Participants receive one of three treatments over two weeks with ten sessions total. One group receives a sham vacuum treatment without actual current followed by a hot pack the other two groups get Interferential Current Therapy applied with either vacuum electrodes or carbon-silicon pad electrodes, each for 10 minutes, also followed by a hot pack. Treatments occur five days a week, one session per day. During the study, researchers assess pain levels and disability before treatment and two weeks after treatment using tools like the Numerical Pain Rating Scale, Pressure Pain Threshold, Neck Bournemouth Questionnaire, and Neck Disability Index. This helps measure changes in pain and function. The study is randomized with single masking and runs from August 2024 to April 2025, allowing close monitoring of participants responses to the different therapy methods.

This research aims to compare the effectiveness of two methods of suprascapular nerve block treatment for patients experiencing hemiplegic shoulder pain, a common complication after stroke. Hemiplegic shoulder pain significantly affects rehabilitation, and the suprascapular nerve plays a major role in shoulder sensation. The study focuses on patients who have had shoulder pain for at least three months following a stroke and evaluates which nerve block method may better manage this pain. The study involves two groups of patients with post-stroke hemiplegic shoulder pain. One group receives an ultrasound-guided suprascapular nerve block, where a specific solution is injected near the nerve under ultrasound imaging to guide placement. The other group receives the nerve block based on anatomical landmarks without ultrasound. Both groups receive injections while sitting with their arm by their side, using a mixture of lidocaine, betamethasone, and saline. The study is randomized and includes 50 patients divided equally by age and sex. Participants are assessed before treatment and then at 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months after the injection. Evaluations include shoulder joint range of motion, pain level using the Visual Analogue Scale, stroke recovery stages, daily living activities, muscle tone, and depression inventory. Researchers collect demographic and medical history data at the start. The goal is to measure improvements in shoulder function and pain relief over time, with safety monitored throughout the study period.

Researchers are evaluating how rapid dehydration-induced weight loss affects sleep quality, cognitive skills, and muscle strength in male combat athletes aged 17 to 28. The study aims to document both benefits and risks of rapid weight-cutting methods used in weight-class sports, providing guidance for safer athlete weight management and potential updates to international weigh-in rules. This research is sponsored by Abant Izzet Baysal University and contributes important insights to sports science. The study involves competitive senior male combat athletes undergoing a randomized crossover design with three trials two experimental trials involving 3% body weight loss through sauna-induced dehydration, and one control trial without dehydration. In the experimental trials, dehydration is achieved by repeated sauna sessions until the target weight loss. Measurements before and after dehydration include body weight, body composition, total body fluid, resting heart rate, body temperature, cognitive tests, and surface electromyographic sEMG responses during isokinetic leg strength testing. One experimental trial includes a night without rehydration to assess sleep quality effects, while the other allows rehydration overnight. Participants will undergo multiple assessments during each trial, including sleep monitoring, cognitive tests such as the Stroop test and Montreal Cognitive Assessment, sEMG recordings, and leg strength measurements. Sleep quality is recorded overnight using a sleep tracker. Measurements occur before dehydration, after dehydration, the next morning, and after rehydration when applicable. All tests repeat across three sessions spaced one week apart according to the randomized design. This thorough monitoring evaluates how dehydration and rehydration impact physical and cognitive performance, sleep, and muscle activity over time.

Researchers are investigating the effects of three-dimensional immersive virtual reality IVR therapy compared to motor imagery and conventional physiotherapy on upper extremity functional recovery after stroke. The study focuses on stroke patients who have experienced the condition within the last two years and aims to understand how these different therapies impact brain function and recovery. The trial explores whether imagining movements or interacting with virtual environments can enhance rehabilitation outcomes. Participants are randomly assigned to one of three groups immersive virtual reality therapy, motor imagery, or conventional physiotherapy. The IVR group uses Oculus Rift and Leap Motion devices to engage in task-oriented games for 45 minutes, three days a week over six weeks. The motor imagery group watches videos of these games and imagines performing the movements with eyes closed, also three days a week for six weeks. The physiotherapy group receives routine rehabilitation including joint movements, muscle strengthening, balance, and daily activity exercises five days a week for six weeks. Throughout the study, participants undergo assessments before treatment, immediately after, and at six weeks. These include the Modified Ashworth Scale, Functional Independence Scale, self-care questionnaires, Action Research Arm Test, and Fugl-Meyer upper extremity motor evaluations. Primary outcomes measured at six weeks include the Jebsen Hand Function Test and Action Reach Arm Test. Secondary outcomes involve the Stroke Impact Scale and Kinesthetic and Visual Imagery Questionnaire. The study monitors functional progress and safety, aiming to provide detailed data on the effectiveness of these rehabilitation methods over the six-week period.

Researchers are evaluating the effect of music therapy on anxiety levels among family health personnel, including nurses and midwives, working in primary health care centers during the COVID-19 pandemic. This randomized controlled study aims to address the heightened anxiety and psychological challenges faced by healthcare workers who are at increased risk due to their close contact with infected patients. The study intends to contribute to the limited research on music therapys impact on healthcare professionals anxiety during pandemic conditions. Participants will be randomly assigned to either an intervention or control group. Those in the intervention group will select from four types of instrumental musicClassical, Turkish Classical, Turkish Folk, or Sufi musicat 70 decibels, which they will listen to for 15 minutes once daily for five consecutive days using headphones in a setting of their choice. The control group will not receive any music therapy. Anxiety levels will be assessed using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory before the intervention on day one and after on day five. Participants will complete an introductory questionnaire and the anxiety inventory online via Google Forms. Data will be collected at the beginning and end of the treatment period, and analyzed using SPSS software. The primary outcome measure is anxiety level assessed two months after the intervention. The study period runs from December 8, 2021, to December 31, 2026, with no blinding and random allocation of participants. This online format allows participants to participate conveniently from their own environment.