Clinical trials

The purpose of this study is to investigate the acute effects of active and passive break applications during work hours on cervical and shoulder range of motion (ROM), neck functionality, pain intensity, and fatigue levels among office workers. Participants are randomly assigned to either an Active Break Group, performing structured exercises, or a Control Group with passive rest over a 5-day protocol.

This randomized controlled study aims to investigate the effects of diaphragmatic breathing exercises on core stabilization muscle strength, peak expiratory flow (PEF), and chest expansion in women performing equipment-based Pilates. A total of 44 healthy women aged 20 to 50 years who regularly participate in equipment-based Pilates exercises will be recruited and randomly assigned to one of two groups. The intervention group will receive equipment-based Pilates training combined with diaphragmatic breathing exercises, while the control group will receive equipment-based Pilates training only. Both groups will participate in supervised exercise sessions twice weekly for 8 weeks. Core stabilization muscle strength, peak expiratory flow, and chest expansion measurements will be assessed before and after the intervention period. The findings of this study may contribute to a better understanding of the additional effects of diaphragmatic breathing exercises on respiratory function and core stabilization in women performing Pilates.

This randomized controlled trial aims to investigate the acute effects of diaphragmatic breathing exercises added to soft tissue mobilization and percussive therapy on pain intensity, functional disability, and pressure pain threshold in operating room nurses experiencing upper trapezius pain after surgery-related work activities. Participants will be operating room nurses working in a hospital operating theater who report upper trapezius pain and tenderness within 30 minutes after completing a surgical procedure. Eligible participants will be randomly assigned to either an intervention group receiving soft tissue mobilization, percussive therapy, and diaphragmatic breathing exercises, or a control group receiving soft tissue mobilization and percussive therapy alone. Pain intensity will be assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), functional disability using the Neck Disability Index (NDI), and mechanical pain sensitivity using Pressure Pain Threshold (PPT) measurements. Assessments will be performed immediately before and after a single treatment session. The study aims to determine whether the addition of diaphragmatic breathing exercises provides additional benefits in reducing pain and improving function in the acute postoperative working period of operating room nurses.

The aim of the study is to determine the effect of technology-supported interactive teaching in ethics education on nursing students' ethical sensitivity and ethical decision-making levels.

This study aims to evaluate the effects of respiratory physiotherapy combined with progressive muscle relaxation exercises on dyspnea, anxiety, hemodynamic status, and delirium symptoms in patients after cardiac surgery. This randomized controlled trial will include 116 patients who will be randomly assigned to an intervention group or a control group. The intervention group will receive respiratory physiotherapy and progressive muscle relaxation exercises in addition to routine postoperative care for 30 minutes per day over three consecutive days, while the control group will receive routine care only. Outcome measures will include dyspnea assessed by the Modified Borg Scale, anxiety assessed by the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, hemodynamic parameters obtained from vital signs, and delirium symptoms assessed using the Nursing Delirium Screening Scale. It is hypothesized that the combined intervention will reduce dyspnea and anxiety levels, improve hemodynamic stability, and decrease delirium symptoms. The findings are expected to contribute to improved postoperative recovery and reduced complication risks following cardiac surgery.

Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is the most common peripheral vestibular disorder. Although the pathophysiology of BPPV is mainly attributed to the displacement of otoconia within the semicircular canals, recent studies suggest that psychological stress and anxiety may be associated with the onset or recurrence of the disease. However, the biological mechanisms underlying this relationship remain poorly understood, and objective evaluation of autonomic nervous system function in patients with BPPV is limited. Heart rate variability (HRV) is a non-invasive method widely used to assess autonomic nervous system activity. Short-term HRV measurements provide information about autonomic balance and vagal tone. In particular, parameters such as the root mean square of successive differences (RMSSD) and the coefficient of variation of RR intervals (COV RR/R) are considered indicators of parasympathetic activity. The aim of this prospective case-control study is to evaluate vagal tone in patients with BPPV using short-term HRV analysis and to compare the findings with age-, sex-, and body mass index-matched healthy controls. Participants will undergo standardized HRV measurements at rest and during controlled breathing. Perceived stress levels will also be assessed using the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10). The primary outcomes of the study are RMSSD and the coefficient of variation of RR intervals (COV RR/R), obtained from short-term HRV recordings. These parameters will be compared between BPPV patients and healthy controls, and their associations with perceived stress levels will also be explored. The findings of this study may provide insights into the role of autonomic regulation and stress-related mechanisms in the pathophysiology of BPPV.

This study aims to evaluate the effects of progressive muscle relaxation exercises on depression and fatigue levels in patients undergoing hemodialysis treatment. Progressive muscle relaxation is applied as an individualized non-pharmacological intervention, and its potential contribution to psychological well-being is investigated. The study seeks to determine whether regular relaxation exercises can reduce depressive symptoms, alleviate fatigue, and improve overall emotional well-being in hemodialysis patients. Findings from this research are expected to provide evidence for the use of relaxation-based interventions as supportive care methods in the management of psychological symptoms associated with chronic kidney disease and hemodialysis.

This study aims to investigate the relationship between physical activity levels and posture, sleep quality, depression, and musculoskeletal system problems among academic staff working in the health sciences field at Istanbul Aydın University. Modern technological developments and sedentary work patterns have significantly reduced daily physical activity levels. Academic personnel often spend long hours sitting, preparing lectures, conducting research, and using computers, which may negatively affect posture and increase the risk of musculoskeletal pain. Reduced physical activity has also been associated with poor sleep quality and increased depressive symptoms. This cross-sectional study will include academic staff aged 23-65 years working in the Faculty of Health Sciences. Participation will be voluntary. Data will be collected using a sociodemographic information form and validated assessment tools, including the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form (IPAQ), New York Posture Rating Chart, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire. The primary objective is to evaluate whether physical activity levels are associated with posture, sleep quality, depression levels, and musculoskeletal complaints. The findings are expected to contribute to the development of preventive strategies aimed at improving occupational health, well-being, and quality of life among academic personnel.

This pilot observational study aims to examine the relationship between pain beliefs, pain intensity, and functional performance in individuals who have undergone cosmetic lower limb lengthening surgery using the Lengthening Over Nail (LON) technique. Seventeen healthy male participants aged between 20 and 50 years who have undergone bilateral lower limb lengthening with the LON method will be included in the study. All evaluations will be performed during a face-to-face clinical visit at the fourth postoperative week. Pain intensity will be assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS). Pain beliefs will be evaluated using the Pain Beliefs Questionnaire. Functional performance will be measured with the 6-Minute Walk Test (6MWT). The study aims to better understand how patients' beliefs about pain may influence their perceived pain level and physical performance after cosmetic limb lengthening surgery. Findings may contribute to improving postoperative rehabilitation planning and patient management.

Brachial plexus birth injury (BPBI) is a condition that occurs when the nerves controlling the arm are injured during birth, leading to weakness, limited movement, and sensory problems. These motor difficulties may also affect cognitive processes related to movement. BPBI requires long-term follow-up and rehabilitation. This study will compare two treatment approaches in children with BPBI: * virtual reality (VR)-based exercises, and * motor-cognitive dual-task exercises. We will examine their effects on brain adaptation (cortical activation), muscle strength, joint motion, proprioception, and upper-limb function. Fourteen children aged 7-14 years will be randomly assigned to one of the two programs, each delivered for 12 weeks. Afterward, participants will continue a 9-month home program. Assessments will be conducted at baseline, after treatment, and at 12 months, including functional MRI (fMRI). This study will be the first to evaluate long-term brain changes and functional outcomes after these two rehabilitation approaches in children with BPBI.

Previous studies have demonstrated that obesity negatively affects the human vestibular system. However, whether improvement in vestibular function occurs following the resolution of obesity remains an area requiring further investigation. Therefore, the investigators aimed to assess and analyze vestibular system functions in patients scheduled for bariatric surgery, both before the surgery, after the surgery, and following significant weight loss. Participants aged between 18 and 60 years who meet the inclusion criteria will be enrolled in the study. Initially, participants will undergo medical history assessment and Body Mass Index (BMI) measurement. The enrolled participants will be evaluated using the following tests at three different time points-preoperatively, at the 1st month postoperatively, and at the 6th month postoperatively: Video Head Impulse Test (vHIT), static posturography test, Berg Balance Scale, SF-12 Quality of Life Scale, and the Activity-specific Balance Confidence (ABC) Scale. Although obesity has been shown to be associated with impaired postural balance, studies evaluating the direct effect of BMI on postural sway are limited. The aim of our study is to assess the vestibular system in obese patients before and after bariatric surgery. Through this, the investigators hope to contribute to the literature by providing balance assessments in individuals with obesity

Caffeine is a widely consumed substance worldwide and is often used to increase alertness and improve cognitive functions. Caffeine stimulates brain activity by binding to adenosine receptors, which increases alertness instead of sleepiness. Studies on the effects of caffeine on cognitive functions have shown that it improves basic cognitive functions such as attention, reaction time, and alertness, while a less pronounced effect is seen on sensory functions such as vision and hearing. However, no study has been found investigating the effect of caffeine consumption on understanding speech in noise. Understanding speech in noise is a skill that includes not only auditory functions but also cognitive functions. This skill is affected by cognitive elements such as selective attention and executive functions. In this context, it is thought that this study, which aims to examine the relationship between caffeine and understanding speech in noise, will contribute to the literature. 60 participants between the ages of 18-30 will be included in this study. Participants will consist of individuals without hearing loss (SSO\<25 dB nHL), no history of neurological or psychological disorders, non-smokers, and those who do not use ototoxic drugs. Participants will be randomly divided into a placebo group that consumes decaffeinated coffee and a study group that consumes coffee containing 300 mg caffeine. The Turkish Matrix Test will be administered 30 minutes after coffee consumption. In addition, participants will be asked to keep a caffeine diary for one week to determine their daily caffeine consumption and will be asked to fill out the Caffeine Use Disorder Scale. Thus, they will be divided into low and high caffeine consumption groups and their speech understanding skills in noise will be compared.

The effectiveness of upper extremity focused neuromuscular exercise training in early stage people with MS will be investigated. People with MS enrolled in the study will be randomly assigned to three groups: Neuromuscular Exercise Group (NEG), Conventional Exercise Group (CEG), and Control Group (CG). All three groups will be assessed with primary and secondary outcome measures at baseline, week 8, and week 12. NEG, CEG, and CG will be initially assessed for upper extremity function, cognitive function, lower extremity function, grip strength, proximal muscle strength, sensation, coordination, fatigue, postural sway, and core muscle strength and endurance. Then, NEG will receive clinically supervised upper extremity focused neuromuscular exercise training with a minimum of 60 minutes of session time, 2 days a week for 8 weeks. This exercise training includes steps for postural control, weight transfer, proximal and distal muscle strengthening, proprioception, coordination and reaction speed. Similarly, CEG will receive clinically supervised traditional upper extremity exercise training, twice a week for 8 weeks, with a minimum of 60 minutes of session time. This exercise training includes strengthening with the band and manuel dexterity exercises. In both groups, stretching and mobility exercises will be added to the warm-up and cool-down exercises before and after the program. During this process, CG will be on the waiting list. At the end of 8 weeks, all three groups will be re-evaluated. After the exercise training, follow-up will be done and evaluations will be repeated in the 12th week. This study will provide evidence on the effects of upper extremity-focused neuromuscular exercise training on physical and cognitive functions in early-stage people with MS compared to traditional treatment approaches.