"Perceived Job Transition Readiness" of Physical Therapy Students in Abha, Saudi Arabia

Students gaining professional education in physical therapy and other related health care professions often have high stress associated with a fear of practice. This study tries to examine the “perceived job transition readiness” of physical therapy students in a single cross-sectional study. An ANOVA details the different perceptions among first year students and final year students of physical therapy education. The study points out that, final level students lack role identity in their chosen profession and, they have less confidence about their professional readiness to practice physical therapy than the junior students. The study provides an in depth understanding for the graduates to be that such stress they experience is only momentary and that it is a positive stress that would help them to excel in future

The Use of Technology in Vestibular Rehabilitation and Balance Assessment

Background study 1: Individuals with vestibular disorders usually complain of dizziness and visual vertigo in visually complex environments. Habituation exercises using visually provocative stimuli have been shown to be useful during vestibular rehabilitation. Virtual reality based therapy (VRBT) is an emerging technology that can be used in vestibular rehabilitation to provide visual habituation exercises for individuals with vestibular disorders. The purpose of the study was to explore the use of VRBT in the treatment of individuals with vestibular disorders and to examine the difference in self report and performance measures between VRBT and customized physical therapy (PT). Methods: Forty subjects with vestibular disorders participated in the study; subjects were assigned into two groups (VRBT or PT). Both groups had six treatment sessions for six weeks, and were assessed using self-report and performance measures. Results: Both groups improved similarly in most of self-report and performance measures and maintained improvements for six months after the intervention ended. Background study 2: Falling is a risk factor associated with vestibular disorders that can impact quality of life and reduce participation in daily life. Falling can be caused by a decline in function of sensory inputs associated with aging. Measuring sensory control during standing may help to investigate age and vestibular disease effects on balance. The Balance Rehabilitation Unit (BRU) utilizes high technology in balance assessment. The psychometric properties of the BRU including the reliability and validity have not been studied. The purpose of study 2 was to examine the reliability and validity of the BRU in the assessment of people with and without vestibular disorders. Methods: Ninety subjects (30 young healthy, 30 older healthy over 60 years of age, 30 individuals with vestibular disorders) participated in this study. Results: The BRU provided a reliable and valid measure for measuring the sensory contributions to postural control for healthy persons and people with vestibular disorders and was able to discriminate age and disease effect on balance

Efficacy of Manual Therapy versus Conventional Physical Therapy in Chronic Low Back Pain Due to Lumbar Spondylosis. A Pilot Study

Objectives: The objective of this work was to compare the efficacy of Maitland mobilization and conventional physical therapy on pain response, range of motion (ROM) and functional ability in patients with chronic low back pain due to lumbar spondylosis. Methods: A total sample of 30 subjects (40–70 years of age) with complaints of slow insidious onset of low back pain (LBP), with or without radiation not less than three months duration and decrease ROM were randomly assigned to: group-I, Maitland mobilization and lumbar stabilization exercises; group-II conventional physical therapy (traction, strengthening, stretching exercises.) and outcomes were assessed for dependent variables. Results: There is statically a significant difference between pre and post measurement readings with time (p = 0.00) and between groups (p < 0.05) with respect to pain and function, but, with respect to ROM readings, showed statistical significance with time (p = 0.00) and no significance between groups (p > 0.05), indicating manual therapy group-I is improving faster and better than conventional physical therapy group-II. Conclusion: Our results showed that manual therapy interventions are more effective in managing low back pain, and function and range of motion of the lumbar spine than conventional physical therapy treatment

Estimating postural control with the balance rehabilitation unit: Measurement consistency, accuracy, validity, and comparison with dynamic posturography

Objective: To examine the psychometric properties (test-retest reliability, concurrent validity, construct validity) of the Balance Rehabilitation Unit (BRU) during testing of sensory integration processes in healthy adults and individuals with vestibular disorders. Design: Experimental cross-sectional design. Setting: Clinic. Participants: Participants (N=90) included 30 subjects with vestibular disorders (age range, 18-85y), 30 young healthy adults (age range, 18-50y), and 30 older healthy adults (age range, 60-85y). Interventions: Not applicable. Main Outcome Measures: Participants were tested twice with the BRU and once with the SMART EquiTest Sensory Organization Test (SOT). The center of pressure (COP) in the anteroposterior direction (COPap) and the COP in the mediolateral direction (COPml) were recorded. The COP ap and COPml time series were used to estimate the area and velocity of the COP. Results: The intraclass correlation coefficient of the COP area and velocity measures for the BRU for all subjects was at least.76 in all sensory organization conditions (P\u3c.001). Significant correlations were found between the BRU and the SOT, ranging from.64 to.81 for COP area and from.44 to.76 for COP velocity. The older control group had significantly greater COP area and velocity compared with younger controls for the BRU and the SOT. The COP (area, velocity) was significantly higher for the younger individuals in the vestibular group than the younger controls. Conclusions: The reliability and validity of COP measurements obtained during testing of the sensory integration processes were demonstrated using the BRU. Future work should examine the responsiveness of these measures when individuals with balance disorders participate in rehabilitation. © 2014 by the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine

The long-term effects of COVID-19 on pulmonary status and quality of life

Background Few studies have looked at how SARS-CoV-2 affects pulmonary function, exercise capacity, and health-related quality of life over time. The purpose of this study was to evaluate these characteristics in post COVID-19 subjects 1 year after recovery. Methods The study included two groups. The case group included post COVID-19 subjects who had recovered after a year, and the control group included healthy participants who had never tested positive for COVID-19. Results The study screened 90 participants, 42 of whom met the eligibility criteria. The findings revealed that the majority of post COVID-19 subjects had relatively normal lung function 1-year post-recovery. A significant reduction in DLCO (B/P%) was observed in the case group vs. control. The exercise capacity test revealed a clinically significant difference in distance walked and a significant difference in the dyspnea post-walk test in the case group compared to the control group. The case group’s health-related quality of life domain scores were significantly affected in terms of energy/fatigue, general health, and physical function. Conclusions The post COVID-19 subjects were shown to have well-preserved lung function after 1 year. However, some degree of impairment in diffusion capacity, exercise capacity, and health-related quality of life remained