An exploratory study into the effects of a 20 minute crushed ice application on knee joint position sense during a small knee bend.

Objectives The effect of cryotherapy on joint positioning presents conflicting debates as to whether individuals are at an increased risk of injury when returning to play or activity immediately following cryotherapy application at the knee. The aim of this study was to investigate whether a 20 minute application of crushed ice at the knee immediately affects knee joint position sense during a small knee bend. Design Pre and post-intervention. Setting University movement analysis laboratory. Participants Eleven healthy male participants. Main Outcome Measures Kinematics of the knee were measured during a weight bearing functional task pre and post cryotherapy intervention using three-dimensional motion analysis (Qualisys Medical AB Gothenburg, Sweden). Tissue cooling was measured via a digital thermometer at the knee. Results Results demonstrated significant reductions in the ability to accurately replicate knee joint positioning in both sagittal (P=.035) and coronal (P=.011) planes during the descent phase of a small knee bend following cryotherapy. Conclusion In conclusion a twenty minute application of crushed ice to the knee has an adverse effect on knee joint repositioning. Team doctors, clinicians, therapists and athletes should consider these findings when deciding to return an athlete to functional weight bearing tasks immediately following ice application at the knee, due to the potential increase risk of injury

INTEGRATING PHYSIOTHERAPISTS INTO PRIMARY HEALTH CARE IN SAUDI ARABIA: A CROSS-SECTION SURVEY

<p><strong>Purpose:</strong> This study aimed to explore the experiences of physiotherapists regarding their integration and identify the facilitators and challenges they encountered in primary health care. Understanding the perceived barriers, facilitators, and management strategies for successful integration is crucial in developing an informed framework to support future integration initiatives.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>The study included eligible participants who were practicing physiotherapists, regardless of gender. Inclusion criteria required active engagement in the profession and possession of a Bachelors degree in physiotherapy. On the other hand, unemployed physiotherapists, individuals above 60 years of age, non-practicing physiotherapists, and those with degrees in technical studies were excluded from the study. Data was collected using a cross-sectional observational design through an Internet-based survey. The survey was conducted using the secure and anonymous Survey Monkey platform, ensuring participant confidentiality and obtaining informed consent. The survey specifically targeted registered physiotherapists in Saudi Arabia, allowing for the collection of valuable data from this specific population.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Upon analyzing the survey data, a total of 39 responses were received. The demographic breakdown of the respondents revealed that 46% of the completed questionnaires were filled out by therapists working in the Eastern province. The survey also shed light on the work experience of the participants, with a significant portion (43%) having practiced as therapists for 6-10 years. Regarding their professional environment, 73% of participants strongly agreed on the importance of teamwork, while 68% acknowledged the role of effective communication in their work. Furthermore, a substantial 70% strongly agreed that there is a lack of efficient space for physical therapy within primary healthcare (PHC) facilities. Resources were also identified as a challenge, with 65% of respondents indicating a shortage of necessary equipment and resources for physical therapy in PHC.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The survey responses provide valuable insights into the challenges and barriers related to integrating physical therapy into the primary healthcare (PHC) setting. These challenges range from a lack of understanding and clear referral processes to issues with space, resources, and workload. These findings can inform strategies aimed at improving the integration and delivery of physical therapy services within PHC, address the identified challenges, and enhance the overall quality of care.</p><p> </p&gt

Should athletes return to sport after applying ice?: A systematic review of the effect of local cooling on functional performance

Applying ice or other forms of topical cooling is a popular method of treating sports injuries. It is commonplace for athletes to return to competitive activity, shortly or immediately after the application of a cold treatment. In this article, we examine the effect of local tissue cooling on outcomes relating to functional performance and to discuss their relevance to the sporting environment. A computerized literature search, citation tracking and hand search was performed up to April, 2011. Eligible studies were trials involving healthy human participants, describing the effects of cooling on outcomes relating to functional performance. Two reviewers independently assessed the validity of included trials and calculated effect sizes. Thirty five trials met the inclusion criteria; all had a high risk of bias. The mean sample size was 19. Meta-analyses were not undertaken due to clinical heterogeneity. The majority of studies used cooling durations >20 minutes. Strength (peak torque/force) was reported by 25 studies with approximately 75% recording a decrease in strength immediately following cooling. There was evidence from six studies that cooling adversely affected speed, power and agility-based running tasks; two studies found this was negated with a short rewarming period. There was conflicting evidence on the effect of cooling on isolated muscular endurance. A small number of studies found that cooling decreased upper limb dexterity and accuracy. The current evidence base suggests that athletes will probably be at a performance disadvantage if they return to activity immediately after cooling. This is based on cooling for longer than 20 minutes, which may exceed the durations employed in some sporting environments. In addition, some of the reported changes were clinically small and may only be relevant in elite sport. Until better evidence is available, practitioners should use short cooling applications and/or undertake a progressive warm up prior to returning to play

Magnesium Ortho-Vanadate/Magnesium Oxide/Graphene Oxide Embedded through Cellulose Acetate-Based Films for Wound Healing Applications

A multifunctional nano-films of cellulose acetate (CA)/magnesium ortho-vanadate (MOV)/magnesium oxide/graphene oxide wound coverage was fabricated. Through fabrication, different weights of the previously mentioned ingredients were selected to receive a certain morphological appearance. The composition was confirmed by XRD, FTIR, and EDX techniques. SEM micrograph of Mg3(VO4)2/MgO/GO@CA film depicted that there was a porous surface with flattened rounded MgO grains with an average size of 0.31 µm was observed. Regarding wettability, the binary composition of Mg3(VO4)2@CA occupied the lowest contact angle of 30.15 ± 0.8o, while pure CA represents the highest one at 47.35 ± 0.4°. The cell viability % amongst the usage of 4.9 µg/mL of Mg3(VO4)2/MgO/GO@CA is 95.77 ± 3.2%, while 2.4 µg/mL showed 101.54 ± 2.9%. The higher concentration of 5000 µg/mL exhibited a viability of 19.23%. According to optical results, the refractive index jumped from 1.73 for CA to 1.81 for Mg3(VO4)2/MgO/GO@CA film. The thermogravimetric analysis showed three main stages of degradation. The initial temperature started from room temperature to 289 °C with a weight loss of 13%. On the other hand, the second stage started from the final temperature of the first stage and end at 375 °C with a weight loss of 52%. Finally, the last stage was from 375 to 472 °C with 19% weight loss. The obtained results, such as high hydrophilic behavior, high cell viability, surface roughness, and porosity due to the addition of nanoparticles to the CA membrane, all played a significant role in enhancing the biocompatibility and biological activity of the CA membrane. The enhancements in the CA membrane suggest that it can be utilized in drug delivery and wound healing applications