Usak University

This randomized controlled study aims to examine the effects of breast massage and virtual reality applications on breastfeeding in women after cesarean delivery. The study will include mothers aged 18-45, who have delivered a healthy baby via cesarean section at an Obstetrics and Gynecology Department of a University Training and Research Hospital located in the Aegean Region. Participants will have no health issues preventing breastfeeding, will have previously received breastfeeding counseling, and will be included after providing informed consent following the explanation of the study's objectives.
The primary research questions addressed in this study are as follows: Does breast massage applied to women after cesarean delivery affect breastfeeding? Does the application of virtual reality to women after cesarean delivery affect breastfeeding?
The research groups will be randomly assigned into three groups-virtual reality, breast massage, and control-before any interventions are applied. Randomization will be performed using the website www.randomizer.org to determine the group allocation for each participant.
In this study, 32 mothers in the virtual reality group will be shown a 15-minute virtual reality video, depicting a river and forest, viewed through a virtual reality headset, in order to create a relaxing and calming environment. This will be done on post-operative day 0, at the 3rd hour, and at the 24th hour. In the breast massage group, 32 mothers will receive breast massage for 15 minutes, administered by the researchers at the same time points (post-operative day 0, 3rd hour, and 24th hour). After the interventions, mothers will be asked to breastfeed their babies, and the babies will be weighed both before and after breastfeeding.
The control group will receive no intervention and will receive standard care. Infant weight measurements will also be taken at the same times in the control group. After the interventions, the LATCH Breastfeeding Charting System and Documentation Tool, along with the Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale, will be applied to all groups on post-operative day 0, at the 3rd hour, and at the 24th hour.
A descriptive information form will be used to determine the sociodemographic and obstetric features of the participants in the study.

After a cesarean section, postpartum women may experience pain, fatigue, and various negative mood disturbances. These effects pose a significant public health concern by threatening both maternal and infant health. To prevent these public health problems, it is essential to improve maternal health and well-being. This randomized controlled trial aims to conduct a comparative investigation into the effects of kinesiological taping and foot massage on postpartum pain, fatigue, and mood in women who have undergone cesarean delivery.
The primary research questions are as follows:
Does the application of kinesiological taping to postpartum women after cesarean section influence pain, fatigue, and mood? Does the application of foot massage to postpartum women after cesarean section influence pain, fatigue, and mood? To address these questions, the study will involve postpartum women who meet the inclusion criteria and provide informed consent. Participants will be randomly assigned to three groups: one group will receive kinesiological taping, another will receive foot massage, and the control group will not receive any intervention. In postpartum women, pain levels will be assessed at postoperative hours 8, 9, 33, and 34. Fatigue and mood will be evaluated at postoperative hour 8 (prior to the intervention) and hour 34.

Introduction and aim; Low functionality of respiratory muscles is frequently observed in various diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cystic fibrosis, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, and rheumatological diseases such as ankylosing spondylitis. Strengthening the respiratory muscles is a part of the treatment in such disease groups, and it has been reported that the quality of life of patients increases with the improvement in the respiratory muscles. Stavrou et al. In a study published in 2021, they achieved an increase in VO2max and maximum respiratory power in athletes after an exercise program with the AirOFit PRO™ (AirOFit, Copenhagen, Denmark) branded mobile breathing exercise device, which they introduced as a new technology. However, there is no study yet reporting the use of this device in rheumatological diseases.
The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of personalized breathing exercises with the AirOFit PRO™ (AirOFit, Copenhagen, Denmark) branded mobile breathing exercise device on respiratory muscles and functional exercise capacity, as well as on specific outcomes of the disease, in patients with ankylosing spondylitis.
Hypotheses of the study;
a) Hypothesis H1: Personalised breathing exercises applied with a mobile respiratory exercise device in patients with ankylosing spondylitis have a positive effect on respiratory capacity and activities of daily living in patients.