Epidemiology and prevalence of deep venous thrombosis in patients with spinal cord injury

Pressure ulcers in patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) are associated with incredible financial cost and human sufferings. The aim of this retrospective study was to determine prevalence of pressure ulcers amongst patients with different levels of SCI

Prevelacne of pressure ulcers in patients with spinal cord injury; a retrospective study

Pressure ulcers in patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) are associated with incredible financial cost and human sufferings. The aim of this retrospective study was to determine prevalence of pressure ulcers amongst patients with different levels of SCI

NECK PAIN AMONG STUDENTS AND ITS ASSOCIATION WITH SMART PHONE AND LAPTOP USAGE

Introduction: In the modern era of advancement and technology, use of smart phones and laptops is common. Literature suggests that these digital devices have many negative effects on the health of humans. One of the most common adverse effects associated with prolonged use of mobile and laptop is neck pain. Material & Methods: A cross sectional study was carried out at Khyber Medical University (KMU) from July 2019 to December 2019. A total of 206 undergraduate physical therapy students having age 18 to 25 years participated in the study. For data collection, smart phone & laptop usage and neck pain questionnaire was used. For data analysis, SPSS version 20 was used. Results: The mean age of the subjects was 21.15 ±1.89 years. The prevalence of neck pain was 82.5% (n=170). Neck pain was significantly associated (P-value0.05) with different positions (standing/sitting/lying) in which students use smart phones for majority of the time, however, it had significant association (P-value< 0.05) with use of laptops in sitting position for majority of the time. Conclusion: The prevalence of neck pain is high in students who used smart phones and laptops for long hours

Barriers & facilitators to physical activity in people with depression and type 2 diabetes mellitus in Pakistan: A qualitative study to explore perspectives of patient participants, carers and healthcare staff

Background The health benefits of physical activity in adults with depression and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) are well established, however people with depression and T2DM do not generally reach recommended levels of physical activity. Evidence on how to support physical activity in this group is limited; this is particularly the case in low- and middle-income countries. To develop interventions to promote physical activity, it is important first to understand the barriers and facilitators in this population. Methods A qualitative study was conducted in Pakistan using semi-structured individual interviews. Adults diagnosed with depression and T2DM, their carers, and healthcare staff were included. Interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Inductive thematic analysis was used to identify themes. Results Twenty-three participants (12 male; 11 female) were recruited. Five themes were generated from the data: 1) Cultural and religious norms and practices influence physical activity behaviours 2) Availability of resources and the potential for incorporating physical activity into routine life determine physical activity behaviours 3) Available healthcare resources can be used to promote physical activity 4) Patients’ individual-level characteristics affect their physical activity behaviours 5) Technology-based interventions may be used to promote physical activity. Conclusion Individual, cultural, and healthcare system level barriers and facilitators can affect the participation of people with depression and T2DM in physical activity. Religious, social, cultural, domestic, and occupational activities provide opportunities to perform physical activities. Furthermore, harnessing routinely available healthcare resources and the use of technology-based interventions can facilitate the promotion of physical activity

Effects of psychological intervention on rehabilitation outcomes in patients with spinal cord injury; a systematic review

Introduction: Psychological issues are common in patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) which negatively affects rehabilitation outcomes. Therefore, early psychological interventions are as important as physical rehabilitation. The aim of the study was to systematically review literature regarding the effects of psychological interventions on rehabilitation outcomes in patients with SCI. Material & Methods: A systematic review was conducted according to the PRISMA guidelines. Literature was searched in PubMed and PEDro databases. Articles published in English language from earliest record to August 2020 were searched. Observational and interventional studies which assessed effects of different psychological interventions on rehabilitation outcomes in patients with SCI were included. Review articles, editorials, short communications and conference papers were excluded. Quality assessment of the interventional studies was assessed using PEDro scale while methodological quality of the observational studies was carried out using NIH quality assessment tools. Results: On the basis of eligibility criteria, 13 studies were included. Out of the total studies, 11 were observational studies and the remaining 2 were interventional studies. The included studies reported that psychological interventions improve rehabilitation outcomes such as functional independence, community participation and quality of life. Conclusion: Psychological treatment is an effective complement to physical rehabilitation interventions to improve functional status of patients with SCI

Perspectives of health workers engaging in task shifting to deliver health care in low-and-middle-income countries : a qualitative evidence synthesis

BACKGROUND: Low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) are experiencing growing demand for healthcare services yet face a persistent shortage in access to specialist health workers (SHWs). Task shifting is an approach used to address this gap in service provision. Specific healthcare tasks are shifted to other, larger cadres of non-specialist health workers (NSHWs), including lay health workers with SHWs potentially taking on supervisory roles. Previous studies demonstrate that task shifting is both clinically and economically effective, however the impact of task shifting on health workers (HWs) is not fully understood. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this synthesis is to generate new knowledge about what influences HWs perspectives of benefits and costs of engaging in task shifting. METHODS: A qualitative evidence synthesis (QES) of peer-reviewed literature using databases CINAHL, the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Psych INFO, MEDLINE, EMBASE, Epistimonikos, Web of Science (science and social science citation index), Scopus LILACS, the African Index Medicus and Google Scholar. Eligible studies were those that included qualitative data about HWs perspectives of task shifting in LMICs. Information from eligible studies was extracted into a Google Sheet, and the data gathered were analysed thematically. RESULTS: Fifty-four studies were included in the QES. Results were organised under three themes, 'the cultural environment in which task shifting is employed', 'access to resources for task shifting' and 'alignment with personal values and beliefs, self-efficacy and personal emotional resilience'. CONCLUSION: This is the first review bringing together views about task shifting from the perspective of different cadres of HWs drawn from diverse healthcare, geographical and country settings in LMICs. Task shifting is a complex process which relies upon the active engagement of HWs. Taking into consideration factors that influence HWs perspectives, such as their personal characteristics, preparatory training, and ongoing access to resources, is important for informing how task shifted healthcare initiatives are designed and delivered to successfully widen access to healthcare in LMICs

Pulmonary physical therapy techniques for the management of COVID-19 patients: a systematic review

Objective: To review studies reporting pulmonary physical therapy techniques for the management of coronavirus disease-2019 patients. Method: The systematic review was conducted according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines Comprised search of MEDLINE via PubMed, Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro), Excerpta Medica Database (EMBASE), Allied and Complementary Medicine Database (AMED) and Cumulated Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINHAL) for Observational and interventional studies published in English language between December 2019 and January 2022 describing pulmonary physical therapy techniques for the management of coronavirus disease-2019 patients. Google Scholar and reference lists of relevant studies were also searched to identify additional articles. Methodological quality of the included studies was assessed using either the Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) scale for interventional studies or the National Institutes of Health quality assessment tool for observational studies. Results: Of the 3767 studies found, 17(0.45%) were analysed; 13(76.5%) observational and 4(23.5%) interventional. The most common pulmonary physical therapy techniques used were active cycle of breathing techniques, positive expiratory pressure device, breathing exercises, percussions, and chest abdomen muscle exercises. However, majority of the studies applied prone positioning and suctioning as priority treatment. During mechanical ventilation, mucus clearance and alveolar recruitment manoeuvres were commonly applied. Conclusion: There was scarcity of high-quality studies regarding the use of different pulmonary physical therapy techniques in coronavirus disease-2019 patients. Based on available literature, different techniques can be used, depending on stage and severity of the disease. Key Words: COVID-19, Physical therapy, Pulmonary, Rehabilitation, Techniques

Comparison of dual task specific training and conventional physical therapy in ambulation of hemiplegic stroke patients: A randomized controlled trial

Objective: To compare the effectiveness of dual task specific training and conventional physical therapy in ambulation of patients with chronic stroke. Methods: The randomised controlled trial was conducted at the Habib Physiotherapy Complex, Peshawar, Pakistan, from January to August 2017, and comprised patients with chronic stroke. The patients were randomly assigned to two treatment groups. Group A received dual task training, while Group B received conventional physiotherapy. Dual task training included activities such as slowly walking backward, sideways, and forward on a smooth surface while holding a 100gm sandbag. The conventional physiotherapy included mat activities, stretching and strengthening exercises and gait training. Pre-test and post-test data was taken for both spatial and temporal variables for both groups using Time Up and Go Test and 10-meter walk test. Step length, stride length, cycle time and cadence were also calculated before and after treatment. SPSS 23 was used to analyse the data. Results: Of the 64 patients, there were 32(50%) in each of the two groups that both had 17(53%) males and 15(47%) females. Mean age in Group A was 58.28 ± 7.13 years, while in Group B it was 58.87 ± 6.13 years. Baseline parameters had no significant differences between the groups (p>0.05). Post-treatments scores revealed significant improvement of spatial and temporal variable of gait, 10-meter walk, cadence, step length, stride and cycle time in Group A compared to Group B (p<0.05 each). Continuous..