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BACKGROUND: Hemiplegic shoulder pain (HSP) is a common morbidity of stroke. Different treatment modalities can be used for optimizing the results and limiting the possible side effects. This research compares the effects of two therapies used to reduce the pain and improve the quality of life of the patients with HSP. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to compare the effects of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) and suprascapular nerve blockage (SSNB) in patients with HSP. METHODS: In this clinical research, 24 patients with HSP who participated in a conventional rehabilitation program were randomized into TENS or SSNB treatment groups. A 100 mm visual analogue scale was used to assess the severity of pain. Passive range of motion (ROM) of the shoulder was measured. The Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS) was used to evaluate spasticity of the upper extremities, and the Modified Barthel Scale was used to assess activities of daily living (ADL). Quality of life was measured using the Stroke-specific Quality of Life (SS-QoL) questionnaire. RESULTS: The pain scores of the SSNB group decreased more significantly (p < 0.05) than in the TENS group. SS-QoL scores at the 3rd week in both groups were significantly higher than before treatment (p < 0.05). MAS scores and Barthel scores after treatment did not differ significantly between the groups. CONCLUSION: TENS and SSNB were beneficial in relieving pain and increasing passive shoulder ROM and ADL in all patients. The alleviating of pain was faster in patients who underwent SSNB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This study aims to investigate the relationship between serum levels of bone-specific alkaline phosphatase and functional status in patients with symptomatic knee osteoarthritis (OA). Patients and methods: Seventy patients (57 females, 13 males; mean age 57.5±9.3 years; range 48 to 67 years) diagnosed with knee OA based on the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria and 30 age- and gender-matched healthy controls (mean age 56.4±7.5 years) were enrolled in the study. Patients were evaluated using clinical, laboratory and radiographic methods. Bone-specific alkaline phosphatase and 24-hour urinary calcium and phosphorus levels were tested to assess bone metabolism. The Lequesne index was used for the severity of disease and the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) was used for the functional status. Results: The mean bone-specific alkaline phosphatase value was 13.69±4.76 mg/dl in the patient group. No statistically significant difference was found between the patient group and the control group in terms of bone-specific alkaline phosphatase values (p=0.584). The bone formation rate was high in 28.5% of the patients. A significantly positive correlation was found between the bone-specific alkaline phosphatase and the WOMAC stiffness scores (p=0.07, r=0.340). No significant correlation was found between the bone-specific alkaline phosphatase and the pain, physical function, and the total scores of the WOMAC and Lequesne index (p=0.590, r=0.090, p=0.489, r=0.107, p=0.413, r=0.139, p=0.285, r=0.70 respectively). Conclusion: In this study, an increase was shown in the bone formation rate in approximately 1/4 of the patients with symptomatic knee osteoarthritis. A significant positive correlation was found between bone formation rate and knee stiffness. However, no relationship was observed between the bone formation rate and pain, physical function, when they were compared with severity of the disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]