Comparative Effect of Forward and Backward Stair Climbing on Cardio-respiratory Parameters of Apparently Healthy Young Adults

Forward stair climbing (FSC) is associated with cardiovascular fitness benefits, but the training effects of backward stair climbing (BSC) have not been reported in the literature. This study compared the effects of 8 weeks of FSC and BSC on the cardiovascular parameters of apparently healthy young adults. Forty apparently healthy young adults, aged 18-30 years were recruited consecutively and assigned to FSC and BSC training groups. Thirty-one subjects (16 FSC and 15 BSC) completed the study. The FSC subjects climbed a stepladder in the forward direction while the BSC subjects did so in the backward direction. Each paced ascent and descent lasted 8 seconds for both FSC and BSC groups. Systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DPB), heart rate (HR) and cardiovascular endurance (CE) were evaluated at baseline, and at the end of the 4th and 8th weeks of the study. Data was analysed using mean, standard deviation, percentages, one-way of variance (ANOVA) and independent t-test. Level of significance was set at 0.05. The groups were not significantly different (p> 0.05) in their cardiovascular parameters at weeks 0, 4, and 8. The FSC group had significant improvement (p = 0.045) in CE. The percentage change in CE by FSC (11.06 ± 11.44%) was significantly greater (p = 0.006) than that by BSC (-0.60 ± 10.41%). Both interventions had no significant effect on the participants’ systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure and heart rate. Forward stair climbing is more effective in improving the CE of apparently healthy young adults and, hence, for improving cardiovascular endurance in rehabilitation and athletic training

Adolescent low back pain among secondary school students in Ibadan, Nigeria

Background: Adolescent low back pain (ALBP) can be considered a signal or precursor of a serious organic disease or telltale sign of future incidence of low back pain in adulthood. Published articles on ALBP in Nigeria are not readily available.Objectives: The study’s objectives were to investigate the prevalence of Adolescent Low Back Pain (ALBP) among secondary school students in Ibadan, Nigeria and the prevalence’s association with some socio-demographic variables.Methods: Participants were adolescent students from 15 secondary schools in Ibadan. Data was collected using a respondent- administered, validated questionnaire on low back pain in adolescents. Participants (Female: 298; Male: 273) aged 14.23 ±2.27 years (range 10-19) were recruited through multi-stage random sampling. Five hundred and seventy-one (83.97%) of the 680 copies of the questionnaire administered were returned. Data was analysed using mean, standard deviation, frequency, percentages, and Chi-square test with alpha level at 0.05.Result: Lifetime, twelve-month, one-month and point prevalence rates of ALBP were 58.0%, 43.8%, 25.6% and 14.7% respectively. Age at first experience of ALBP was 11.86 ± 2.36 years. Gender was not significantly associated with any rate (p ≥0.317). Age (p ≤ 0.043) and engagement in commercial activities (p ≤ 0.025) were significantly associated with all period prevalence rates while injury to the back was significantly associated with all period prevalence rates except point prevalence (p = 0.087).Conclusion: Adolescent low back pain is common among secondary school students in Ibadan and its prevalence is significantly associated with age and engagement in commercial activities, but not with gender.Key Words: Adolescent, low back pain, school childre

Low Back Pain At Work: Knowledge and Attitude of Sectional Heads at the University College Hospital, Ibadan

The purpose of this study was to find out the knowledge and attitude of sectional heads towards managing low back pain (LBP) at work at the University College Hospital, Ibadan. It was also aimed at identifying the difficulties encountered and the organizational needs required in the management of LBP at work. Twenty-nine sectional(16 male and 13 female) heads at the University Teaching Hospital participated in this cross-sectional survey. The participants completed a self-administered questionnaire, adapted from the Management of LBP in the Workplace Questionnaire. Data was analysed using descriptive statistics of mean, standard deviation, frequency, percentages and inferential statistics of Chi square. Level of significance was set at 0.05. Twenty-six (89.7%) of the participants reported no difficulty in managing staff members with low back pain. Seventeen (58.6%) participants had poor knowledge, while 37.9% had fair to good knowledge of managing LBP at work. Twenty-two participants had a positive attitude towards managing staff members with low back pain. There was no significant association (p=0.307) between respondents’ knowledge and attitude towards managing workers with LBP. Organizing workshops for workers was the most frequently reported organizational support required for the management of LBP. Sectional heads at the University College Hospital, Ibadan have poor knowledge but a positive attitude towards managing workers with LBP

Quality of life of mothers of children with cerebral palsy and their agematched controls

Background Caring for a child with cerebral palsy (CP) could negatively impact the quality of life (QoL) of the mothers who are usually the primary caregivers. Studies on the impact of caring for Nigerian children with cerebral palsy on the mothers’ quality of life are not common hence the quality of life of mothers of children with cerebral palsy (MCCP) and age-matched mothers of typically developing children (MTDC) were compared in this study.Methods Eighty mothers (40 MCCP and 40 MTDC) participated in this cross-sectional survey. Participants in both groups had their quality of life assessed using the World Health Organization Quality of Life BREF (WHOQoL-BREF). Data were analyzed using independent t-test, Chi-square and Mann-Whitney U tests with alpha level set at 0.05.Results The two groups were not significantly different in their ages (p = 0.14). The mean overall QoL score of the MCCP (62.83±17.83) was significantly lower than that of the MTDC (68.87±8.51) (U=590.0; p=0.04) just as scores for overall health perception (U=576.5; p=0.03). Religion, educational status and occupational status had no significant influence on the QoL scores of mothers of children with cerebral palsy.Conclusion Caring for a child with CP significantly impacted on the QOL and health of the mothers, irrespective of their socio-economic status. Measures to improve quality of life and health of mothers of children with cerebral palsy should be incorporated in the management of CP with emphasis on identified areas of need.Key words: Caregivers, Cerebral Palsy, Quality of Life, Typically Developing Childre

Blood pressure and pulse rate of apparently healthy adults on land and in water: A comparative study

Objective: The study compared cardiovascular parameters of apparently healthy adults in erect standing posture on land and whilst immersed in water at rest.Methods: One hundred and ninety-three apparently healthy adults were purposively recruited to participate in the study. An electronic blood pressure monitor was used to measure participants’ systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and pulse rate (PR) in erect standing posture on land and whilst immersed to xiphisternum level at a critical temperature both on land (26oC) and in water (29oC). Data were summarized using descriptive statistics of mean and standard deviation. Cardiovascular parameters on land and in water were compared using paired t-test. Alpha values were considered significant at p<0.05.Results: The mean age of participants was 22.4±2.7 years whilst their mean weight and height were 60.7±10.4 kg and 1.6±0.1m respectively. The SBP during immersion in erect standing (123.0±20.3 mmHg) was significantly lower (p<0.001) than on land (126.0±14.9 mmHg). Similarly, DBP in water (72.0±15.6) was significantly lower (p<0.001) than on land (78.0±10.1). Participants’ PR measured in water (74.0±14.5 bpm) was also significantly lower (p<0.001) than on land (80.0±14.7 bpm).Conclusion: Blood pressure and pulse rate in erect standing were significantly lower in water than on land. The outcome should thus serve as a guide during hydrotherapy procedures in clinical practice

Differences in back extensor muscles fatigability for smoking and non-smoking athletes

Background and objective: Empirical research on the influence of smoking on musculoskeletal health in athletes is sparse. The objective of this study was to compare back extensor muscles' strength (BEMS) before and after a fatigue induction protocol among smoking and non smoking male athletes. A pretest-posttest design was used to determine the difference in BEMS between smoking (N=52) and non smoking (N=52) athletes aged 18 and 30. A back and leg dynamometer was used to quantify BEMS while repetitive prone chest raise test was used to induce fatigue of the back extensor muscles. The smoking (23.1 ± 2.9 years) and non-smoking athletes (23.2 ± 2.37 years) were comparable in age (p= 0.855). Smoking athletes exhibited a significantly higher rating of perceived exertion (p=0.007) and fatigue index (10.76% vs. 5.07%); and significant reduction in BEMS following fatigue induction (p < 0.05) compared with their non smoking counterparts. Smoking athletes have higher rates of muscular fatiguability and decreased back strength following back extensors tasks. Smoking is associated with increased muscle fatiguability and impairment of back strength in athletes

Nosocomial infections: knowledge and source of information among clinical health care students in Ghana

Ajediran I Bello1, Eunice N Asiedu1, Babatunde OA Adegoke2, Jonathan NA Quartey1, Kwadwo O Appiah-Kubi1, Bertha Owusu-Ansah11Department of Physiotherapy, School of Allied Health Sciences, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana; 2Department of Physiotherapy, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, NigeriaBackground: This study determined and compared the knowledge of nosocomial infections among clinical health care students at the College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana.Methods: Two hundred undergraduate health care students from four academic programs participated in the study. The study sample was drawn from each academic program by a simple random sampling technique using the class directory from each course. The Infection Control Standardized Questionnaire (ICSQ) was used to assess the knowledge of students about three main domains, ie, hand hygiene, nosocomial infections, and standard precautions. A maximum score of 50 was obtainable, and respondents with scores &amp;ge;70% were classified as having a satisfactory knowledge. The response on each item was coded numerically to generate data for statistical analysis. Comparison of knowledge on the domains among categories of students was assessed using the Kruskal&amp;ndash;Wallis test, while associations between courses of study and knowledge about nosocomial infections were determined using the Chi-square test. All statistical tests had a significant level of 5% (P &amp;lt; 0.05)Results: Overall mean percentage score of the participants on ICSQ was 65.4 &amp;plusmn; 2.58, with medical, physiotherapy, radiography, and nursing students recording mean percentage scores of 70.58 &amp;plusmn; 0.62, 65.02 &amp;plusmn; 2.00, 64.74 &amp;plusmn; 1.19, and 61.31 &amp;plusmn; 2.35, respectively. The main source of information about the prevention of nosocomial infections as cited by participants was their routine formal training in class. There was no significant association (P &amp;gt; 0.05) between course of study and knowledge of students about preventive measures for nosocomial infections.Conclusion: The students sampled demonstrated moderate knowledge of nosocomial infections and this was acquired largely through formal classroom training. These findings underscore the need for more emphasis on education about this important source of infection in the clinical training curriculum.Keywords: knowledge, prevention, nosocomial infection