"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

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

Association of age on cervical joint position error

This study quantitatively assesses the association between age and cervical joint position error (JPE) and compares JPE between young and older asymptomatic subjects. Subjects (n = 230) ranging in age from 17 to 70 years volunteered to participate in the study. Cervical JPE was measured for all subjects with the active movement angle reproduction test in degrees using a digital inclinometer; testing was done in all cervical movement directions (flexion, extension, side-bending right and left, rotation right and left). Subjects were divided into two groups: young (n = 169, mean age: 32.4 years; range 17–49 years) and older (n = 61, mean age: 61.9 years; range 50–70 years) and JPE was compared. Pearson’s product-moment correlation coefficients were significant and positive for the association of age on cervical JPE in flexion (r = 0.71), extension (r = 0.81), side-bending right (r = 0.77), side-bending left (r = 0.84), rotation right (r = 0.84), and rotation left (r = 0.84). JPE was significantly larger (for all movement directions) in the older subject group (P < 0.001). Advancing age was significantly associated with the increasing cervical JPE and older subjects showed greater errors when compared to younger subjects