Effect of Resisted Sprint and Plyometric Training on Lower Limb Functional Performance in Collegiate Male Football Players: A Randomised Control Trial

The main objectives of this study were to evaluate the short-term effects of resisted sprint and plyometric training on sprint performance together with lower limb physiological and functional performance in collegiate football players. Ninety collegiate football players participated in this three-arm, parallel group randomized controlled trial study. Participants were randomly divided into a control group and two experimental groups: resisted sprint training (RST) (n = 30), plyometric training (PT) (n = 30), and a control group (n = 30). Participants received their respective training program for six weeks on alternate days. The primary outcome measures were a knee extensor strength test (measured by an ISOMOVE dynamometer), a sprint test and a single leg triple hop test. Measurements were taken at baseline and after 6 weeks post-training. Participants, caregivers, and those assigning the outcomes were blinded to the group assignment. A mixed design analysis of variance was used to compare between groups, within-group and the interaction between time and group. A within-group analysis revealed a significant difference (p d = 1.63; PT: d = 2.38; Control: d = 2.26), ST (RST: d = 1.21; PT: d = 1.36; Control: d = 0.38), and SLTHT (RST: d = 0.76; PT: d = 0.61; Control: d = 0.18). A sub-group analysis demonstrated an increase in strength in the plyometric training group (95% CI 14.73 to 15.09, p = 0.00), an increase in the single leg triple hop test in the resisted sprint training group (95% CI 516.41 to 538.4, p = 0.05), and the sprint test was also improved in both experimental groups (95% CI 8.54 to 8.82, p = 0.00). Our findings suggest that, during a short-term training period, RST or PT training are equally capable of enhancing the neuromechanical capacities of collegiate football players. No adverse events were reported by the participants

Is Stiff Person Syndrome Benefited by Physical Therapy Intervention? Summary of Case Reports

It is interesting to be aware that there is no Randomized Clinical Trials (RCT) research article except a few case-study reports which have been reported about the physical therapy (PT) intervention for stiff person syndrome (SPS). This study was designed to determine the benefits of PT in cases with SPS through analysis of case reports, thereby to raise awareness among physical therapist about the most beneficial PT interventions for SPS. We executed acomputer-based search with a diagnosis of SPS who underwent PT and articles published only in English. We selected case-study reports because of nonavailability of RCT articles to review the complaints, deformities, contractures, precipitating factors, interventions, outcomes, results, disability, and benefits of PT management among SPS. We concluded that PT training is substantiated to be a necessary and beneficial intervention in rehabilitation of patients with SPS

Generalized joint hypermobility among school-aged children in Majmaah region, Saudi Arabia

Generalized joint hypermobility (GJH) is common among schoolchildren and usually benign. However, it may progressively lead to joint pain and developmental delay. Identifying GJH in school-aged children would facilitate the monitoring of early changes and planning for early rehabilitative intervention. Epidemiological studies addressing the prevalence of GJH among children in the Gulf region and Arab ethnicity are lacking. Hence, we aimed to determine the prevalence, pattern, and factors associated with GJH among school-aged children in the Majmaah region, Saudi Arabia. Male and female school-aged children 8–14 years of age from the Majmaah region of Saudi Arabia participated in this cross-sectional study. Beighton score was used to assess GJH. Personal characteristics such as age, height, weight, body mass index, and handedness were also collected. Descriptive statistics were obtained for personal characteristics, the point prevalence of hypermobility, frequency of Beighton score distribution, and prevalence of GJH. The associations between specific factors and the presence of GJH were analyzed using chi-square and Mann-whitney tests. Using the Beighton score cutoff ≥ 4 and ≥ 6, 15.2% and 7.6% of the school children in our study were diagnosed with GJH respectively. The prevalence of GJH was higher among females (16.8%) than among males (13.4%), but the difference was not statistically significant. The elbow joints (17.2%) were the most common hypermobile joints and the trunk (0.7%) was the least involved. The children with GJH were younger and had lesser BMI compared to children without GJH (P < 0.05). The prevalence reported in this study among school-aged children was comparable with those reported worldwide

MRI and Ultrasound Analysis of Corticosteroid Injection Combined with Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy in Lateral Epicondylitis—A Prospective, Randomized, Double-Blinded, Placebo-Controlled Trial

Objective: The knowledge about the effective implementation of corticosteroid injection and extracorporeal shockwave therapy on radiological changes in chronic lateral epicondylitis is lacking. Therefore, the objective of this study is to find and compare the effects of corticosteroid injection and extracorporeal shockwave therapy on radiological changes in chronic lateral epicondylitis. Methods: A randomized, double-blinded controlled study was conducted on 60 LE participants at a university hospital. The active extracorporeal shockwave therapy group (n = 30) received a corticosteroid injection with active extracorporeal shockwave therapy one session a week for 4 weeks, and the placebo extracorporeal shockwave therapy group received a corticosteroid injection with placebo extracorporeal shockwave therapy. The primary outcome was pain intensity, measured with the visual analog scale. The other outcome measures were the percentage of injury measured by magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasound, functional disability, handgrip strength, patient perception, kinesiophobia, depression status, and quality of life. Results: The between-group difference in pain intensity at 4 weeks was 1.4 (CI 95% 0.77 to 2.02), which shows more improvement in the active group than in the placebo group. Improvements in the effects were noted after 8 weeks and at 6 months (1.8; CI 95% 1.50 to 2.09) follow-up. Similar improvements were also found in the percentage of injury, functional disability, handgrip strength, patient perception, kinesiophobia, depression status, and quality of life. Conclusion: Extracorporeal shockwave therapy has added effects on corticosteroid injection for improving pain, percentage of injury, functional disability, handgrip strength, patient perception, kinesiophobia, depression status and quality of life in people with chronic lateral epicondylitis

Prevalence of text neck posture, smartphone addiction, and its association with neck disorders among university students in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia during the COVID-19 pandemic

The smartphone emerges as an inevitable gadget in modern society and its increased usage results in neck disorders among its users. However, the factors associated with neck disorders among smartphone users are ambiguous and less explored in the literature. The purpose of this research was to determine the prevalence of text neck posture, smartphone addiction/overuse, and its association with neck disorders among university students in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia during the COVID-19 pandemic. A total of 313 university students who were aged 18 years and older, owned a smartphone, and used it during the preceding 12 months participated in this cross-sectional study. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data regarding the prevalence of text neck posture, smartphone addiction/overuse, neck disorders, and the level of physical activity. Binary logistic regression was used to determine the association between the prevalence of neck disorders and text neck posture, smartphone addiction/overuse, and level of physical activity. The 12 months prevalence of neck disorders due to smartphone use among the participants was found to be 46%. The neck disorders were more prevalent among participants who reported text neck posture (P < 0.001) and categorized as smartphone-addicted/overuse (P < 0.001). Measures to promote the awareness of healthy use of smartphones including postural education and to decrease its screen time are warranted to reduce neck disorders

Prevalence of Upper Limb Musculoskeletal Disorders and Their Association with Smartphone Addiction and Smartphone Usage among University Students in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia during the COVID-19 Pandemic&mdash;A Cross-Sectional Study

This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of upper limb musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) and their association with smartphone addiction and smartphone usage among university students in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia during the COVID-19 pandemic. A total of 313 university students aged 18 years and older who owned a smartphone and used it during the preceding 12 months participated in this cross-sectional study. The prevalence of upper limb MSDs, smartphone addiction/overuse, and levels of physical activity were recorded using the standardized Nordic musculoskeletal questionnaire, the smartphone addiction scale (short version), and the international physical activity questionnaire (short form), respectively. Data collection was performed on campus between March and May 2021. Binary logistic regression was used to determine the association between the prevalence of upper limb MSDs and smartphone addiction/overuse and levels of physical activity. The 12-month prevalence of MSDs of the shoulder, elbow, and wrist/hand regions due to smartphone use among participants was found to be 20.13%, 5.11%, and 13.42%, respectively. Shoulder (odds ratio (OR) = 11.39, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 4.64&ndash;27.94, p &lt; 0.001), elbow (OR = 15.38, 95% CI = 1.92&ndash;123.26, p = 0.01), and wrist/hand MSDs (OR = 7.65, 95% CI = 2.75&ndash;21.22, p &lt; 0.001) were more prevalent among participants who were categorized as having smartphone addiction/overuse measures. Promoting awareness about the healthy use of smartphones, including postural education and decreasing screen time, is necessary to reduce smartphone-related MSDs