Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
Turkish Journal of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, cilt.36, sa.2, ss.164-176, 2025 (ESCI, Scopus)
Purpose: This study aimed to investigate short-, mid-, and long-term effects of interferential current (IFC) therapy combined with clinical Pilates exercises (CPE) in primary Sjogren’s syndrome (pSS). Methods: Thirty-six pSS were included. The participants were randomly divided into 2 groups [intervention group (active IFC therapy + CPE) n=18; control group (sham IFC therapy + CPE) n=18]. Unstimulated salivary flow rate measurement (unstimulated SFRM); Stimulated salivary flow rate measurement (stimulated SFRM); health assessment questionnaire (HAQ); Oral Health Impact Profile-14 (OHIP-14); oral health-related quality of life-United Kingdom questionnaire (OHRQOL-UK); Beck Depression Inventory (BDI); Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI); short form-36 (SF-36), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) were used for evaluation. Assessments were conducted pre-treatment and at 8, 20, 32, and 44 weeks post-treatment. Both treatments were applied 3 times weekly for 8 weeks. Results: When the pre-and post-treatment data were compared, improvement was observed in unstimulated SFRM and Stimulated SFRM values in the intervention group (p<0.001). The improvements were also recorded in HAQ, OHIP-14, OHRQOL-UK, BDI, BAI, SF-36 (physical and mental component), and PSQI in both groups (p<0.05). When the difference values of all parameters were compared post treatment, they were significant in favor of intervention group (p<0.05). Analysis of stimulated and unstimulated SFRM, HAQ, OHIP-14, OHRQOL-UK, BDI, BAI, SF-36, and PSQI revealed significant group and time-by-group interaction effects (p<0.05). Conclusion: IFC therapy is an effective non-pharmacological treatment method that can be safely applied in the short-term, med-, and long-term in disease activity and symptoms. CPE contribute positively to the improvement of psychosocial factors in pSS.