Clinical trials

This randomized controlled trial will evaluate the effect of Teach-Back-supported discharge education on self-care agency, pain intensity, and comfort levels in patients undergoing surgery for pilonidal sinus disease. A total of 68 participants will be randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to either the intervention group or the control group. The intervention group will receive discharge education using the Teach-Back method, while the control group will receive routine discharge education and standard care. Self-care agency, pain intensity, and comfort levels will be assessed at baseline and on the tenth day after discharge.

Postpartum lumbopelvic pain may affect functional ability, daily activities, physical performance, psychological well-being, and health-related quality of life. The aim of this observational cross-sectional study is to investigate clinical, biomechanical, psychological, and biochemical factors associated with functional disability in women with postpartum lumbopelvic pain. Approximately 45 women aged 18 to 50 years who are 6 to 15 months postpartum and have persistent low back pain and/or pelvic girdle pain will be enrolled. General functional disability will be assessed using the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), and pelvic-girdle-specific symptoms and activity limitations will be assessed using the Pelvic Girdle Questionnaire (PGQ). Pain intensity during activity, at rest, and at night will be evaluated using visual analogue scales (VAS). Psychological status will be evaluated using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), and health-related quality of life will be assessed using the physical and mental component scores of the 12-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-12). Biomechanical assessments will include diastasis recti abdominis and trunk muscle endurance using flexor endurance, extensor endurance, prone plank, right side-plank, and left side-plank tests. Mode of delivery will also be recorded. Biochemical evaluation will include circulating C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-10 (IL-10), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), and cortisol. The study will examine the relationships between functional disability and these clinical, biomechanical, psychological, and biochemical variables.

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) is an intermittent combat sport that requires repeated high-intensity efforts and sustained gripping. This analytical cross-sectional study will examine whether respiratory muscle strength is associated with BJJ-specific anaerobic performance and static kimono grip endurance in adult male BJJ athletes. Forty athletes will attend three assessment visits separated by 48 to 72 hours. Maximal inspiratory pressure, maximal expiratory pressure, and spirometric indices (forced vital capacity \[FVC\], forced expiratory volume in 1 second \[FEV1\], FEV1/FVC ratio, and peak expiratory flow \[PEF\]) will be measured at the first visit. The Jiu-Jitsu Anaerobic Performance Test and the Maximum Static Kimono Grip Test will be completed at the other two visits in randomized order. The primary analysis will examine the association between maximal inspiratory pressure and the total number of valid repetitions completed during the Jiu-Jitsu Anaerobic Performance Test. Spirometric indices will be evaluated as secondary outcomes.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of spirulina supplementation on weight gain associated with menopause, changes in metabolic parameters, sleep quality, and markers of depression in mildly overweight postmenopausal women, and to evaluate the changes that occur in these parameters.

Menopause is a natural biological process characterized by the permanent cessation of the menstrual cycle in women. Hormonal changes associated with menopause commonly lead to mood swings, anxiety, depression, stress, and decreased sleep quality in women. While the current literature indicates that mindfulness-based interventions offer potential benefits in alleviating psychological and physical symptoms in postmenopausal women, the limited number of studies in the literature and methodological differences suggest a need for more randomized controlled trials in this area. The aim of this study is to examine the effect of mindfulness-based exercises on psychosomatic complaints such as anxiety, depression, and sleep quality in postmenopausal women. Designed as a randomized controlled experimental study, it was planned to include at least 20 women in the early postmenopausal period residing in Istanbul and Izmir between March and June 2026. The women included in the study will be randomized into Group 1 (n=10), which will perform mindfulness-based exercises, and Group 2 (n=10), which will receive no intervention as usual. The STAI I-II Form State and Trait Anxiety Scale and Beck Anxiety Inventory will be used to assess state and anxiety level, the Beck Depression Scale for depression level, and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Scale for sleep quality. Continuous variables will be presented as mean ± standard deviation, and qualitative variables as number and percentage (%). If parametric test assumptions are met, the Independent Samples t-test will be used to compare independent groups, and the Paired Samples t-test will be used to compare dependent groups. If parametric test assumptions are not met, the Mann-Whitney U test will be used to compare independent groups, and the Wilcoxon test will be used to compare dependent groups. Statistical significance will be set at p≤0.05. This study is expected to contribute to the literature by providing evidence-based data on the effectiveness of mindfulness-based exercises on common psychological symptoms in the postmenopausal period.

The goal of this observational study is to learn how respiratory function and respiratory muscle strength are related to hand use in children and teenagers with hemiparetic cerebral palsy (CP) aged 6 to 18 years. The main questions it aims to answer are: Is respiratory function related to hand function in children with hemiparetic CP? Is respiratory muscle strength related to hand function in children with hemiparetic CP? Is respiratory function related to how strong children can squeeze with their affected hand? Is respiratory muscle strength related to how strong children can squeeze with their affected hand? Is respiratory function related to how well children use their hands in daily activities? Is respiratory muscle strength related to how well children use their hands in daily activities? Is respiratory function related to children's hand skill level? Is respiratory muscle strength related to children's hand skill level? Participants will: Visit the clinic one time for a single assessment session. Do simple lung tests using a small portable device to measure respiratory function. Do tests that measure how strong their breathing muscles are. Complete hand and arm tests, including: A hand grip strength test, A simple block-moving test, A short questionnaire about using the hand in daily life, A standard hand skill rating. Researchers will look at how respiratory measures are related to hand strength, hand skills, and daily hand use. This study may help improve rehabilitation programs by showing whether respiratory muscle strength and hand skills should be trained together in children with hemiparetic CP.

The goal of this clinical trial is to compare the effects of an exergame-based exercise program and a home-based exercise program in women aged 30-70 years diagnosed with fibromyalgia (FM). The main questions it aims to answer are: Does an exergame-based program using the Nintendo Switch game Ring Fit Adventure improve pain, balance, and functional mobility in women with fibromyalgia? Is the exergame program more effective than a traditional home-based exercise program in improving physical and psychosocial outcomes? Researchers will compare the exergame group and the home-based exercise group to determine whether game-based exercises provide superior benefits in pain reduction, balance, and quality of life. Participants will: Be randomly assigned to either the exergame or the home-based exercise group. Exercise twice a week for four weeks under the supervision of a physiotherapist or via remote monitoring. Undergo evaluations before and after the 4-week training period, and again after a 4-week detraining period. Assessments will include: Pain intensity (Visual Analog Scale) Disease severity (Revised Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire, Widespread Pain Index, Symptom Severity Scale, Fibromyalgia Severity Scale) Lower extremity strength (Sit-to-Stand Test) Functional mobility (Timed Up and Go Test) Balance (Single-Leg Stance Test, Berg Balance Scale) Psychosocial status (Cognitive Exercise Therapy Approach Questionnaire - BETY-BQ) Quality of life (Short Form-12) Study findings are expected to provide evidence for the effectiveness of exergame applications as an enjoyable rehabilitation approach for individuals with fibromyalgia.

Achilles tendinopathy is a frequent overuse disorder caused by repetitive loading of the tendon, particularly observed in athletes and middle-aged men. It is typically characterized by mid-portion pain, stiffness in the morning, and functional limitations, with structural alterations such as thickening and disrupted collagen alignment. Chronic progression often compromises performance and quality of life. Eccentric training protocols, such as the Alfredson regimen, are commonly prescribed but their standardized nature does not fully address individual variability. Alternative approaches including Heavy Slow Resistance training and progressive loading models (e.g., Silbernagel protocol) have demonstrated clinical effectiveness and higher patient adherence, yet they still apply uniform loading across the triceps surae without accounting for architectural differences. Given the heterogeneous structure of the soleus and gastrocnemii, targeted loading strategies may be required to optimize tendon adaptation. To address this, the present study employs a muscle architecture-based exercise program tailored to the functional and structural properties of each muscle. Ultrasound imaging will be used to evaluate muscle-tendon morphology, while isokinetic dynamometry and functional performance tests will quantify outcomes. Pain (VAS) and functional capacity (VISA-A) will also be assessed. This randomized controlled trial aims to compare the effectiveness of an architecture-specific program with the Alfredson protocol on tendon remodeling, strength, endurance, functional performance, and symptom reduction in individuals with non-insertional Achilles tendinopathy.

The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate whether a virtual reality (VR) intervention based on the Symptom Management Model can reduce physical and psychosocial symptoms during hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) in adult patients undergoing allogeneic transplantation. The main questions it aims to answer are: Does the VR intervention reduce distress levels during HSCT? Does the VR intervention decrease state anxiety and symptom severity compared to standard care? Does the VR intervention positively affect physiological outcomes and engraftment times? Researchers will compare a group receiving standard clinical care plus a VR nature-themed video during HSCT to a group receiving standard care only to see if the VR intervention improves symptom management outcomes. Participants will: Be randomly assigned to either the intervention or control group. In the intervention group: Watch a 15-minute nature-themed VR video during stem cell infusion using Meta Quest 3. The video content will be specifically created by the research team based on the principles of Attention Restoration Theory (ART). In both groups: Complete pre- and post-intervention assessments including: Distress Thermometer State-Trait Anxiety Inventory Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale Physiological measures (vital signs) Engraftment tracking Satisfaction and open-ended feedback forms

Breast cancer is one of the most common types of cancer among women and one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality. With increasing survival rates, issues such as treatment-related morbidities and consequently upper extremity dysfunction, reduced body awareness, and decreased quality of life are frequently encountered. In the literature, the impact of treatment-related morbidities-particularly on upper extremity functions, body awareness, and quality of life-among women who have survived breast cancer treatment has not been sufficiently investigated. This gap constitutes a significant shortcoming in terms of clinical practices and the post-treatment period. This study aims to examine the effects of breast cancer treatment on upper extremity functions, body awareness, and quality of life in women who have survived breast cancer treatment, in comparison with a healthy control group. The study will be conducted at Yeditepe University Koşuyolu Hospital between May, 2025, and October, 2025. Participants will include women who have survived breast cancer treatment and a healthy control group matched based on criteria such as age and body mass index. In the study, three separate assessments will be conducted for upper extremity functions: the "Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand" (QuickDASH) questionnaire for upper extremity functionality, a hand dynamometer for grip strength, and the Clinometer device for shoulder joint position sense. The "Body Awareness Questionnaire" will be used to assess body awareness, and the "EORTC QLQ-C30" scale will be used for quality of life assessment. The IBM SPSS Statistics software package will be used for data analysis. In statistical analyses, a significance level of p\<0.05 will be considered.

The study aims to examine the effects of balance exercises applied with different visual stimuli on individuals with MS.