Why do manuscripts submitted to the Turkish Journal of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation get rejected?

Objectives: The study aimed to examine the reasons for the rejection of manuscripts, considering the increased rejection rates of our journal of up to 73% in 2022, and help authors realize what the editors and referees are paying attention to while assessing the manuscript.

Materials And Methods: In this retrospective study, original articles, case reports, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses submitted and rejected to the Turkish Journal of Physical Medicine Rehabilitation were searched between January 1, 2016, and June 30, 2022. After reviewing the referee's evaluations and editorial opinions for all rejected articles, the reasons for rejection were classified under three main headings: journal, manuscript, and ethical issues.

Applying the WHO ICF framework to long COVID patients with persistent respiratory symptoms.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate long COVID patients with persistent respiratory symptoms through the application of the World Health Organization (WHO) International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) framework.

Patients And Methods: This national, prospective, multicenter, cross-sectional study was conducted with 213 patients (118 females, 95 males; median age 56 years; range, 20 to 85 years) with long COVID between February 2022 and November 2022. The ICF data were primarily collected through patient interviews and from the acute medical management records, physical examination findings, rehabilitation outcomes, and laboratory test results.

Evaluation of the physical and emotional effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on patients with fibromyalgia and chronic low back pain: A multicenter cross-sectional controlled study.

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the physical and emotional effects of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic in patients with fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) and chronic low back pain (CLBP) patients.

Patients And Methods: The cross-sectional controlled study was performed with 1,360 participants (332 males, 1,028 females; mean age: 42.3±12.

Treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome by low-level laser therapy versus corticosteroid injection: a randomized, prospective clinical study.

To compare the effects of low level laser therapy (LLLT) and corticosteroid injection in patients with moderate carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). Eighty-seven patients (143 wrists) with moderate CTS were randomized to the corticosteroid or LLLT groups. 40 mg of triamcinolone acetate solution was applied to carpal tunnel of 44 patients (74 wrist).

Effects of lumbar lordosis increment on gait deteriorations in ambulant boys with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy: A cross-sectional study.

Background: Increment of lumbar lordosis, a frequent spinal finding in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD), is a compensatory mechanism secondary to muscle weakness. However, excessive lumbar lordosis may change the position of the center of mass, and lead to balance and walking difficulties.

Objective: To study the relationship between factors that may influence ambulatory function in boys with DMD and to investigate the effects of lumbar lordosis increment on gait and balance perturbations.

Restless legs syndrome in children with allergic rhinitis: A comparative study on frequency, severity and sleep quality.

Objectives: This study aims to investigate the frequency and severity of restless legs syndrome (RLS) and its relationship with sleep quality in children with allergic rhinitis (AR) with the hypothesis that comorbid RLS may be an additional causative factor of sleep disturbances in pediatric AR.

Patients And Methods: A total of 143 children with AR (aged 8-18 years) and 144 healthy control subjects (aged 8-18 years) were included. The diagnosis of AR was established on history, clinical examination and skin prick test according to the Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact on Asthma guidelines.

Mechanical Traction for Lumbar Radicular Pain: Supine or Prone? A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objective: The aim of the study was to compare the effects of mechanical lumbar traction either in the supine or in the prone position with conventional physical therapy (PT) in patients with chronic low back pain and lumbosacral nerve root involvement in terms of disability, pain, and mobility.

Design: Participants (N = 125) were randomly assigned to receive 15 sessions of PT with additional mechanical lumbar traction either in the supine position (supine traction group) or in the prone position (prone traction group) or only PT without traction (PT only group). Patients were assessed at baseline and at the end of the PT sessions in terms of disability, pain, and mobility.

Late-onset Hirayama disease presenting with ulnar neuropathy: A case report.

Hirayama disease (HD) was first reported by Hirayama et al. in 1959. The disease is considered as a type of benign focal motor neuron disease that primarily affects upper limbs of young males.

The effects of two different low level laser therapies in the treatment of patients with chronic low back pain: A double-blinded randomized clinical trial.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of two different laser therapy regimens on pain, lumbar range of motions (ROM) and functional capacity in patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP).

Methods: Forty nine patients with CLBP were randomly assigned into two groups. Group 1 (n= 20) received hot-pack + laser therapy 1 (wavelength of 850 nm Gallium-Aluminum-Arsenide (Ga-Al-As) laser); group 2 (n= 29) received hot-pack + laser therapy 2 (wavelength of 650 nm Helyum-Neon (He-Ne), 785 ve 980 nm Gal-Al-As combined plaque laser) for 15 sessions.

The effectiveness of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation in the management of patients with complex regional pain syndrome: A randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled prospective study.

Objective: To investigate the effect of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) on clinical recovery in the management of patients with complex regional pain syndrome Type I (CRPS Type I).

Material And Method: The study included 30 patients with stage 1 and 2 CRPS Type I in the upper extremities. The patients were randomly assigned into 2 groups, group 1 (n= 15) received conventional TENS therapy for 20 minutes, and group 2 (n= 15) received sham TENS therapy.

An evaluation of sleep quality and the prevalence of restless leg syndrome in vitamin D deficiency.

Vitamin D is known to increase levels of dopamine and its metabolites in the brain and also protects dopaminergic neurons against dopaminergic toxins. The aims of the study were to assess the frequency and symptom severity of restless leg syndrome (RLS) and sleep quality in vitamin D deficiency. A total of 102 patients were enrolled in this cross-sectional study, comprising 57 vitamin D deficient patients as Group 1 and 45 patients with normal levels of vitamin D as Group 2.

Comparison of efficacy of kinesiological taping and subacromial injection therapy in subacromial impingement syndrome.

The aim of the study was to compare the efficacy of kinesiological taping and subacromial injection therapy in patients with subacromial impingement syndrome (SIS). Seventy patients diagnosed with SIS were randomly assigned to group 1 (n = 35, injection group) or group 2 (n = 35, kinesiological taping group). Betamethasone plus prilocaine was injected to subacromial space in the patients in group 1.

Does Behcet's disease associate with neuropathic pain syndrome and impaired well-being?

Previously peripheral neuropathy signs have been reported in inflammatory chronic diseases but the presence of neuropathic pain syndrome (NPS) in Behcet's disease (BD) is unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the association of BD with NPS and impaired quality of life and sleep quality. A total of 111 patients diagnosed as BD and 52 healthy controls were included.

The utility of faces pain scale in a chronic musculoskeletal pain model.

Objectives: The main aim of this study was to investigate the clinical utility and sensitivity to change of faces pain scale (FPS) in patients with shoulder pain, chosen as a chronic pain model. The secondary aim was to determine the association of FPS with psychologic status and quality of life of these patients.

Methods: Thirty Turkish patients with chronic shoulder pain were included in the study.

Comparison of efficacy of different treatment methods in the treatment of idiopathic tinnitus.

Objectives: This study aims to detect whether any differences were present between betahistine dihydrochloride, transcutaneal electrical nerve stimulation and pure tone masking-tinnitus retraining therapy (TRT) methods in the effects on quality of life and treatment of the symptoms of the patients.

Patients And Methods: A total of 91 patients (42 females, 49 males; mean age 49.3±8.

The effectiveness of low laser therapy in subacromial impingement syndrome: a randomized placebo controlled double-blind prospective study.

Objectives: Conflicting results were reported about the effectiveness of Low level laser therapy on musculoskeletal disorders. The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of 850-nm gallium arsenide aluminum (Ga-As-Al) laser therapy on pain, range of motion and disability in subacromial impingement syndrome.

Methods: A total of 52 patients (33 females and 19 males with a mean age of 53.

The utility of the Faces Pain Scale in the assessment of shoulder pain in Turkish stroke patients: its relation with quality of life and psychologic status.

This study was planned to investigate the utility of the vertical Faces Pain Scale (FPS) in the assessment of pain in stroke patients using the shoulder pain model and to assess its utility in the Turkish patient population. The secondary aim was to analyze the association of FPS with the quality of life and depression in the study population.Thirty stroke patients (group I) and 30 controls (group II),all suffering from shoulder pain were included in the study.

Is low-level laser therapy effective in acute or chronic low back pain?

The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) on pain and functional capacity in patients with acute and chronic low back pain caused by lumbar disk herniation (LDH). LLLT has been used to treat acute and chronic pain of musculoskeletal system disorders. This study is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.

Adaptation of Turkish version of the questionnaire Quick Disability of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (Quick DASH) in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome.

The aim of this study was to assess the reliability and validity of the Turkish version of the Quick Disability of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (Quick DASH) scale in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). Sixty nine patients with idiopathic CTS were included. The Quick DASH questionnaire consists of three subscales including disability/symptom, and work and sports/performing arts.

Comparison the efficacy of phonophoresis and ultrasound therapy in myofascial pain syndrome.

The aim of this study is to compare the effect of phonophoresis, ultrasound and placebo ultrasound therapies in the treatment of myofascial pain syndrome (MPS). This is a randomized, double-blind placebo controlled study. Sixty patients (48 women, 12 men, mean age 37.

Assessment of the relatives or spouses cohabiting with the fibromyalgia patients: is there a link regarding fibromyalgia symptoms, quality of life, general health and psychologic status?

It was aimed to investigate the existence of the symptoms related to fibromyalgia in the first-degree relatives or spouses of the patients and to assess the psychologic and general health status of these individuals and the correlation of these with the patients' status. Thirty-seven patients with FS, 32 first-degree relatives or spouses of the patients and 30 healthy subjects as a control group were included. Symptoms related to FS were recorded in all subjects.

Comparison of three different approaches in the treatment of chronic low back pain.

Our aim is to investigate the effects of three therapeutic approaches in the chronic low back pain on pain, spinal mobility, disability, psychological state, and aerobic capacity. Sixty patients with chronic low back pain were randomized to three groups: group 1, aerobic exercise + home exercise; group 2, physical therapy (hot pack, ultrasound, TENS) + home exercise; group 3, home exercise only. Spinal mobility, pain severity, disability, and psychological disturbance of the patients were assessed before and after the treatment and at 1-month follow-up.