A preliminary investigation of the biometry of knee pain for development of therapeutic device for the management of knee osteoarthritis

In engineering design there is the necessity to carry out biometry of an ailment on sufferers as a pedestal for development of a device that manages the ailment. In this paper, we have carried out the biometry of pain in patients of knee osteoarthritis (OA). The study evaluates causes of knee pain, its severity and effects on daily activities, psychosocial life and sleep. The study population was drawn from five government hospitals in Lagos State. After initial treatment, only patients with knee pain were enlisted as subjects in the study. A standardized questionnaire was used for data collection to determine the causes of the pain, its severity and effects on the operational performance of individuals with OA. Chi-square analysis was carried out on our samples at a statistical level of significance of α = 0.05. Out of 525 questionnaires that were distributed, 431 (82.10%) were responded to. The outcomes of this study indicate that OA affects individuals of all ages and genders irrespective of their topographical locations. 242 (89.67%) women and 189 (88.97%) men were affected with higher incidence recorded within the age groups of (41-50) and (61-70) with frequency values of 62 (84.00%) and 85 (92.85%) respectively. The risk factors include overweight, occupational hazard and previous history of knee injury. Overweight 132 (91.86%), Obesity 59 (92.28%) and Extreme Obesity 5 (90.37%). Previous injury 173 (90.52) % and non-previous injury is 258 (87.78%). This work studies biometrics of OA as basis for developing a therapeutic management of knee OA, and this is to improve the patient’s pain tolerance and relief of swollen knee without adverse effect.Key words: knee, joint pain, osteoarthritis, therapeutic device, weight, injur

Development of Bi-modal exercise bicycle for physical fitness and rehabilitation

Exercise bicycles are used for kinesiological activities; to increase general fitness, and for training for cycling events. They are also used for weight loss. The aim of this study is to produce a special exercise bike which allows for both upper and lower limbs pedalling either independently or otherwise. The manufacturing processes employed in the design involved the use of AutoCAD design suite and other production engineering processes which included material selection and acquisition, cutting, welding and drilling. The device was tested for both comfort and effectiveness for cardiac rehabilitation using the rate of heartbeat as the test parameter. A strong positive correlation was found (p<0.001; r=0.962) between the two heart rate tests. An ergonomic evaluation of the bi-modal exercise bike showed 98% suitability of the seat-pedal height with the knee height of the study population and 100% suitability of the seathandle post height with the buttock-knee length of the population. In conclusion, the goal of developing a bi-modal exercise bike that permits simultaneous upper and lower limbs pedalling was realised.Keywords: exercise bicycle; cycling; ergometer; fitness; rehabilitation

USPOREDBA PROCJENE EKONOMSKE KORISTI ZEMLJANIH BAZENA RIBNJAKA I BETONSKIH SPREMNIKA U AKVAKULTURNOM PODUZETNIŠTVU DRŽAVE OYO U NIGERIJI

The study focused on the comparative evaluation of economic benefits of earthen fish ponds and concrete tanks in aquaculture enterprises in Ibadan, Oyo state. Primary data were collected with the aid of structured interview schedule, administered through personal interviews and observations to elicit information from 100 fish farmers using purposive and convenience sampling procedure. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive, budgetary and inferential statistics. The study revealed that the mean age, male, married, household size, educated and fish farming experience were 41 years, 83.0%, 87.0%, 5 persons, 96.0% and 8 years, respectively. Earthen fish ponds users earned mean revenue of N3,322,189.85 with gross margin of N2,188,397.89 while concrete tank users earned N2,412,271.08 with gross margin of N1,413,299.46. The results showed profitability indices (0.61 and 0.47), Variable Cost ratio (0.35 and 0.30), Benefit Cost Ratio (2.55 and 1.89), Gross ratio (0.40 and 0.54) and Expenses structure ratio (0.13 and 0.23) for both the earthen ponds and concrete fish tanks, respectively. There were significant differences (t = 42.53, p≤0.05) between the profit level of earthen fish ponds and concrete tanks. Major constraints affecting economic status of the respondents were high cost of quality feed, insufficient funds, poaching and poor marketing channel. In conclusion, aquaculture is a more profitable and viable business regardless of the culture system. Government should assist the fish farmers by subsidizing feeds cost, granting and monitoring of loan.Temelj ovog istraživanja bila je usporedba procjene ekonomske koristi zemljanih bazena ribnjaka i betonskih spremnika u akvakulturnim poduzećima grada Ibadana u državi Oyo. U izboru 100 uzgajivača ribe korištena je kombinacija svrsishodnog i praktičnog uzorkovanja, a uzgajivači su bili podvrgnuti strukturiranom intervjuu radi prikupljanja primarnih podataka u svrhu deskriptivne statistike, proračunske tehnike i inferencijalne statistike. Istraživanje je rezultiralo sljedećim podacima: prosječna životna dob bila je 41 godina, muškaraca je bilo 83,0%, oženjenih 87,0%, u većini slučajeva bilo je 5 članova kućanstva, obrazovanih je bilo 96,0%, a iskustvo uzgoja riba kod ispitanika bilo je 8 godina. Korisnici zemljanih bazena ribnjaka imali su srednji prihod od N3,322,189.85 s bruto maržom od N2,188,397.89, dok su korisnici betonskih spremnika zaradili N2,412,271.08 s bruto maržom od N1,413,299.46. Indeks profitabilnosti bio je 0,61 i 0,47, varijabilni omjer troškova 0,35 i 0,30, omjer troškova i koristi 2,55 i 1,89, bruto omjer 0,40 i 0,54, a omjer strukture troškova bio je 0,13 i 0,23. Značajna je razlika između razine profita od zemljanih ribnjaka i betonskih spremnika (t = 42,53, p ≤ 0,05). Glavne prepreke koje utječu na ekonomski status ispitanika bili su visoki troškovi kvalitetne prehrane, neadekvatnost fondova, krivolov i loš marketing. Zaključno, akvakultura je isplativo i održivo područje poduzetništva, bez obzira na kulturni sustav. Vlada bi trebala pomoći uzgajivačima ribe subvencioniranjem troškova prehrane, odobravanjem i praćenjem kredita

Progress towards early detection services for infants with hearing loss in developing countries

BACKGROUND: Early detection of infants with permanent hearing loss through infant hearing screening is recognised and routinely offered as a vital component of early childhood care in developed countries. This article investigates the initiatives and progress towards early detection of infants with hearing loss in developing countries against the backdrop of the dearth of epidemiological data from this region. METHODS: A cross-sectional, descriptive study based on responses to a structured questionnaire eliciting information on the nature and scope of early hearing detection services; strategies for financing services; parental and professional attitudes towards screening; and the performance of screening programmes. Responses were complemented with relevant data from the internet and PubMed/Medline. RESULTS: Pilot projects using objective screening tests are on-going in a growing number of countries. Screening services are provided at public/private hospitals and/or community health centres and at no charge only in a few countries. Attitudes amongst parents and health care workers are typically positive towards such programmes. Screening efficiency, as measured by referral rate at discharge, was generally found to be lower than desired but several programmes achieved other international benchmarks. Coverage is generally above 90% but poor follow-up rates remain a challenge in some countries. The mean age of diagnosis is usually less than six months, even for community-based programmes. CONCLUSION: Lack of adequate resources by many governments may limit rapid nationwide introduction of services for early hearing detection and intervention, but may not deter such services altogether. Parents may be required to pay for services in some settings in line with the existing practice where healthcare services are predominantly financed by out-of-pocket spending rather than public funding. However, governments and their international development partners need to complement current voluntary initiatives through systematic scaling-up of public awareness and requisite manpower development towards sustainable service capacities at all levels of healthcare delivery

Effect Of Sodium Salicylate Iontophoresis In The Management Of Hip Pain In Patients With Sickle Cell Disease

Background: Iotophoresis is a means of delivering drugs across the skin for the management of a variety of conditions, most often for localized inflammation and pain. It is becoming popular as an alternative to oral and injection delivery system because it is non-invasive, non-traumatic, and painless and also because of its specific delivery system. Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the effectiveness of sodium salicylate iontophoresis in the management of hip pain in patient with sickle cell disorders (SCD). Method: The participants for this study were 20 patients with SCD, their ages ranged from 15 - 30 years. They were randomly assigned into two groups of 10 (study and control groups. All the participants were given conventional physiotherapy and their regular medications. In addition sodium salicylate iontophoresis was giving to the affected hip of the participants in the study group using a galvanic current machine. Pain intensity and range of motion at the hip joint were assessed at the beginning and after 10 treatment sessions. Data were analyzed using Mann Whitney U test and paired t-test for the visual analogue scale and goniometric values respectively. Result: The results showed that there was a statistically significant reduction in pain intensity only in the participants in the study group (

Association between postures and work-related musculoskeletal discomforts (WRMD) among beverage bottling workers

BACKGROUND: Bottling tasks postures may increase risk for developing work related musculoskeletal discomforts (WRMDs). Postural evaluation with epidemiological investigation for possible association may be appropriate for planning ergonomic programs.OBJECTIVE: To evaluate working postures and investigate associations between postural risks and prevalence of WRMDs among beverage bottling workers.METHOD: 301 beverage bottling company workers (8 work-stations) participated in this survey. They were required to complete a modified standard Nordic questionnaire, and their working postures examined utilizing Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA).RESULTS: Postural risks ratings were high (8- 10) to very high (11- 15). Shoulder was the most commonly reported body part with WRMDs except at the carbonating workstations where Neck, Upper and Lower back discomforts were the most common (60.0%). The compounding workstations recorded the highest prevalence of WRMDs in all body regions except shoulder and wrist. There was a significant association between working posture and occurrence of WRMDs in at least one body part. Similarly, working posture was significantly associated with WRMDs at Neck, Upper back and Wrist.CONCLUSIONS: Working postures may be exposing beverage bottling workers to significant risk of developing WRMDs in at least one body part, more specifically, Shoulder, Neck, Upper back and Wrist. Intervention aimed at reducing postural risks is necessary.</p

Effect of back school protocol on the referral rate of patients with low back pain to an industrial physiotherapy clinic

Back schools are educational programmes originally developed in a work place (Volvo factory in Sweden) for patients with back pain, to enable them to manage their own back problems better. ‘Back school’ was originally aimed at modifying the behaviours of patients with low back pain (LBP), with the view to prevent relapses. In an effort to encourage and stimulate the use of ‘back school’ among health workers in Nigeria, this study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of a back school protocol in a Soap Making Industry in Lagos, Nigeria. One hundred and ten (110) workers of a Soap Making Industry in Lagos, Nigeria,  participated in this study. A pre-test, post-test experimental design was employed. The participants were divided into two groups - office workers and factory workers for the purpose of the training in the content of the back school protocol. The ‘back school’ consisted of classroom teaching and the use of two videotapes titled “lifting technique” and “back pain”. Data on demographic information, knowledge of back structures and back care were collected using a questionnaire with closed ended questions, which was completed before, immediately after and 8 weeks after the administrations of the contents of the back school protocol (Akinpelu and Odebiyi, 2004). The records of the factory’s clinic were also reviewed for the 12-months before and 12 months after the study. The mean values of the participants’ age, height, weight and body mass index (BMI) were 36.60 ± 9.10 years, 1.65 ± 0.10 m,69.13 ± 7.70 kg and 25.40 ± 3.30 kg/m2 respectively. The results showed that the 12-months prevalence of low back pain (LBP) among the workers was 71%. The result also showed that over 50% of the participants never had any  information or lesson on back care, and those that had some form of information obtained it by chance. There was 23% reduction in referral for care of back pain 12 months after the administration of the back school protocol. However, Chi square analysis showed that there was no significant difference (p = 0.23) between the number of  physiotherapy referrals to the factory’s clinic 12-months before the study and 12-months after the study The findings of this study suggest that the back school protocol was able to impart some knowledge (of back pain and back care) in the industrial workers. This knowledge seems to have assisted this group of individuals to cultivate good postural habits, particularly at work. This might have led to the 23% reduction in the reported cases of patients with LBP to the factory’s Physiotherapy Clinic

The Effects of Thermal and Cold Therapies on the Flexibility of Hamstring Muscle: A Comparative Study

Background/Objectives: There have been several reports on the severity of hamstring tightness and its consequences both in sports - related injuries as well as in pathological conditions particularly low back pain. The relative effects of the application of heating and cooling modalities on the muscles prior to the performance of flexibility exercises have not been extensively studied. This study was therefore designed to determine and compare the effects of thermal (heat) and cold (ice) therapies on the flexibility of the hamstring muscle group (HMG). Methodology: Forty-three (43) apparently healthy individuals who presented with hamstring muscle tightness participated in this study. They were randomly assigned into three groups: Heat, cold and control groups. Active knee extension lag (hamstring muscle tightness) was measured for all the participants before and after intervention using active knee extension test (AKET). All the participants were placed on static stretch exercises for 5 - consecutive days and in addition, the participants in the heat and cold groups received heat and cold therapies respectively on the HMG. Results: The results showed that there was no significant difference in the flexibility of the HMG between the participants in the cold and control groups (p > 0.05), however there was a significant difference in the flexibility of the HMG between the participants in the heat and cold groups (Right leg - t = 5.39, p = 0.02; Left leg - t = 5.41, p = 0.04)). Conclusion: It was concluded that hamstring muscle flexibility may be better enhanced by the application of superficial heat to the hamstring muscle group prior to the performance of flexibility (stretching) exercises. Keywords: Hamstring Tightness, Thermal Therapy, Cold Therapy, Stretching Exercises. Nigerian Journal of Health and Biomedical Sciences Vol. 6 (2) 2007: pp. 39-4

Video Analysis of Musculoskeletal Injuries in Nigerian and English Professional Soccer Leagues: A Comparative Study

A better understanding of the pattern of musculoskeletal injuries and the zones of the playing field where injuries occur is needed in order to device specific injury prevention programmes for the Nigerian premier soccer league (NPL). This study was therefore aimed at determining the causes, frequency, and methods of treatment of injuries sustained in selected matches of NPL compared with the English premier soccer leagues (EPL) during the 2005/2006 season. Fifty matches (25 each from the NPL and EPL) were randomly selected. Video tapes of the selected matches were reviewed. Injuries were recorded with respect to causes, parts of the body injured, outcomes of treatment and zones of the playing field where the injuries occurred. A total of 230 injuries were recorded. NPL matches had the highest occurrence of the injuries (67.83%, 156/230). The knee and the ankle were the most common injured parts. Most injuries were caused by tackling attempts and accidental contacts. The highest number of injuries occurred at the midfield zone and the score box. Injured players in the NPL were not promptly and properly attended to medically. This resulted in a large percentage of these players returning to the field of play with some signs of residua injury. Keywords: Soccer Players, Nigerian Premier League, English Premier League. Musculoskeletal Injuries.Nigerian Journal of Health and Biomedical Sciences Vol. 6 (2) 2007: pp. 85-8