05). CONCLUSIONS The most effective angle for curl-up was 30∘. Although there is no difference in the direction of muscle contraction, eccentric curl-up at 30∘ could be considered the most effective posture for abdominal strengthening considering the importance of TrA.BACKGROUND Damage on the somatosensory system could cause sensation of dizziness, a condition known as cervicogenic dizziness (CD). Manual physical therapy has shown beneficial effects, relieving the symptoms of cervicogenic dizziness. However, the effect of upper cervical spine manipulation is unknown, as this is a technique that respects the International Federation of Orthopedic Manipulative Physical Therapists (IFOMPT) safety criteria. https://www.selleckchem.com/products/melk-8a-hydrochloride.html OBJETIVE To assess the effects of upper cervical spine traction-manipulation in subjects with cervicogenic dizziness. METHODS This was a descriptive case series study. Treatment focused on the upper cervical spine manipulation procedure. Evaluation was performed before and after the treatment. Variables recorded include upper and lower cervical range of motion, Cervical Flexion-Rotation Test (CFRT), dizziness intensity and cervical pain (VAS), self-perceived dizziness measured with Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI) and subjective perception of outcome (GROC-scale). RESULTS Ten subjects were recruited. After the treatment protocol, there was an increased range of movement towards the most restricted side, as measured by the CFRT (p less then 0.001), decreased intensity of dizziness (p less then 0.001) and intensity of pain (p less then 0.001). Functional capacity also improved after the intervention (p less then 0.011). CONCLUSION Upper cervical spine manipulation may decrease dizziness intensity and cervical pain and improve functional ability and upper cervical spine mobility in patients with cervicogenic dizziness.BACKGROUND Adaptation to Turkish language and validation studies of Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score - Physical Function Short Form (KOOS-PS) and Hip Disability and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score - Physical Function Short Form (HOOS-PS) were done previously but responsiveness to changes of these questionnaires could not be tested in these studies. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to assess the responsiveness of the Turkish versions of the KOOS-PS and HOOS-PS in a patient group who underwent knee or hip joint arthroplasty operation. METHODS Sixty-three patients who underwent total knee arthroplasties and sixteen patients who underwent total hip arthroplasties for primary osteoarthritis were included in this study. The preoperative and 3-month postoperative KOOS-PS, HOOS-PS, and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities (WOMAC) Osteoarthritis Index hip and knee scores were collected from the hospital records, and the effect sizes (ESs) and standardized response means (SRMs) were calculated. RESULTS The ESs and SRMs, respectively, were as follows -1.954 and -2.156 for the KOOS-PS, -1.833 and -2.464 for the HOOS-PS, -4.848 and -4.210 for the WOMAC-knee, and -3.835 and -4.625 for the WOMAC-hip. CONCLUSIONS The Turkish versions of the KOOS-PS and HOOS-PS exhibited strong responsiveness to change in the arthroplasty patients.BACKGROUND There are few evidences on intra-articular (IA) treatment in knee osteoarthritis (KOA) and a lack of long-term follow-up studies. OBJECTIVE To assess the long-term effectiveness and safety of IA oxygen-ozone (O2O3) and hyaluronic acid (HA) in terms of functioning in KOA patients over a 31-week period. METHODS Patients aged ⩾ 60 years with KOA were randomly allocated to receive 4 IA knee injections (1/week) of O2O3 or HA (T0-T3) and a follow-up visit 4 weeks after the fourth injection (T4). In this extension study we assessed VAS and safety in patients with Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) ⩾ 4 at the at 6-month follow-up visit (T5), undergoing a second treatment cycle (T5-T8) and 1-month follow-up visit (T9). RESULTS Forty-two patients (aged 70.5 ± 5.8 years) were randomly allocated to O2O3 (n= 22) or HA group (n= 20). Twenty-three underwent another IA cycle 12 (54.6%) in the O2O3 group and 11 (55.0%) in the HA group. Both groups showed significant reduction in VAS (p less then 0.013) compared to baseline during both cycles. At follow-up visits (T4 and T9), VAS was significantly lower in the HA group (p less then 0.013). There were no differences in adverse events occurrence between groups. CONCLUSIONS IA O2O3 might be comparable to HA in terms of effectiveness and safety in reducing pain in KOA patients, although at both follow-up visits (T4 and T9) VAS was significantly lower in the HA group.BACKGROUND Low back pain (LBP) is a common problem that causes pain, disability, and gait and balance problems. Neurodynamic techniques are used in the treatment of LBP. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to compare the effects of electrotherapy and neural mobilization on pain, functionality, gait, and balance in patients with LBP. MATERIALS AND METHODS A total of 41 patients were randomly assigned to either the neural mobilization group (NMG, n= 20) or electrotherapy group (ETG, n= 21). Assessment tools used were Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for pain, Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) for functionality, straight leg raise test (SLRT) for neural involvement, and baropedographic platform (Zebris FDM-2TM) for gait and static balance measurements. RESULTS Both groups showed a significant decrease in pain and functional disability, while only the NMG group showed a significant increase in SLRT scores (p less then 0.05). However, there were no statistically significant pre- to post-treatment changes in gait or static balance parameters in either group (p less then 0.05). CONCLUSION Neural mobilization was effective in reducing pain and improving functionality and SLRT performance in patients with LBP, but induced no change in gait and static balance parameters. Neural mobilization may be used as self-practice to supplement standard treatment programs.BACKGROUND Up to now there is not enough evidence that supports the use of electrotherapy in the treatment of Bell's palsy. OBJECTIVE Through a systematic review, we aimed to verify whether the use of electrotherapy is effective for treating Bell's palsy or peripheral paralysis. METHODS Publications were searched in PubMed, EBSCO and Web of Science. The present systematic review included studies that analyzed the electrotherapy as a therapeutic method for treating individuals with Bell's palsy, in order to recover the function of facial muscles. RESULTS Seven studies involving a total of 131 cases and 113 controls were included in this systematic review. In the studies analyzed, patients received electrotherapy combined with other treatments such as hot-wet facial napkins, massages and muscle reeducation. Although the effect of electrotherapy alone was not evaluated, the use of electrotherapy combined with other treatments produced a significant improvement in the individuals evaluated. CONCLUSIONS Due to the diverse methodologies used and the small number of individuals included in the studies, we could not fully prove the efficacy of electrotherapy for treating Bell's Palsy.