Prevalence and pattern of work-related musculoskeletal disorders among Nigerian bricklayers

BACKGROUND: Typically, bricklayers in developing countries’ contexts manually lay bricks, concrete blocks and other similar materials to construct walls and buildings which make them susceptible to work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMSDs). The burden of WRMSDs among this high-risk group seems has not been well documented. OBJECTIVES: This study examined the prevalence of WRMSDs among bricklayers in Nigeria. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey of 118 consenting bricklayers from a Nigerian setting was carried out. The standardized Nordic musculoskeletal disorder questionnaire and a proforma were used to profile the prevalence of WRMSDs and socio-demographic information of the respondents. Data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Alpha level was set at p <  0.05. RESULTS: The 12-months and 7-days prevalence of WRMSDs were 87.3% and 67.4% . Shoulder (61.0%) and the low-back (59.3%) were the two most affected anatomical sites based on 12-month prevalence. WRMSDs affecting the knees (6.8%) was the most disabling in carrying normal work routines. Working for less than 10 years was significantly associated with high prevalence of WRMSDs in the shoulder (odd ratio (OR) = 0.27, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.09 to 0.87) and wrist region (OR = 0.24, 95% CI 0.08 to 0.73). Having neck pain led to higher odds (OR = 0.29, 95% CI 0.13 to 0.68) of taking a break from work among the bricklayers. CONCLUSIONS: WRMSDs were high among Nigerian bricklayers. Years of work experience was associated with high prevalence of WRMSDs in the shoulder and wrist. In addition, taking work breaks was associated with neck pain

Wartości normatywne statycznej i dynamicznej wytrzymałości mięśni brzucha u zdrowych Nigeryjczyków

Introduction: Normative databases of abdominal muscles endurance are important in identifying trunk muscles impairments and disability and as a rehabilitation outcome in low-back pain. This study established gender-and-age normative data on static and dynamic abdominal muscles endurance among apparently healthy Nigerians.Materials and methods: Five hundred and three consented volunteers aged between 16 and 70 years participated in this study. Partial curl-up test of the Canadian Standardized Test of Fitness was used to quantify static abdominal muscles endurance (SAME) and dynamic abdominal muscles endurance (DAME). Endurance levels were defined using percentiles as poor (&lt;25th), medium (between 25and 75th), good (between 75 and 95th), and very good (&gt;95th) respectively.Results: The mean SAME and DAME was 37.2±24.3 seconds (s) and 18.1±9.57 repetitions (reps) respectively. SAME that is &lt; 24s was considered poor, between 24 and 44s as medium, 45 and 78s as good and &gt; 78s as very good endurance. DAME &lt; 11 repetitions (reps) was considered poor, between 11 and 23 reps as medium, between 24 and 36 reps as good and &gt; 36 reps as very good endurance. Both SAME and DAME differed significantly across the age groups (p&lt;0.05). Significant correlation existed between SAME and DAME (p = 0.001). Males exhibited a higher SAME and DAME than females (p&lt;0.05).Conclusion: The gender-age reference norms for static and dynamic abdominal muscles endurance established in this study could be used in rehabilitation to estimate the level of endurance impairment in a patient at intake and also serve as an outcome measure of improvement.Wstęp: Znajomość wartości normatywnych dla wytrzymałości mięśni brzucha jest istotna dla identyfikacji zaburzeń i niepełnosprawności, oraz dla określania miar wyniku w rehabilitacji pacjentów z bólami krzyża.Materiał i metoda: W badaniu wzięło udział 504 wolontariuszy w wieku od 16 do 70 lat. Do ilościowego zbadania statycznej (SAME) i dynamicznej (DAME) wytrzymałości mięśni brzucha zastosowano test częściowego unoszenia tułowia z pozycji leżenia tyłem, będący składową Canadian Standardized Test of Fitness. Wytrzymałość określano na podstawie podziału percentylowego, przyjmując jako wytrzymałość słabą wyniki z przedziału 95.Wyniki: Średnie wartości SAME i DAME wynosiły odpowiednio 37,2 ±24,3 sekund (s) i 18,1 ±9,57 powtórzeń (reps). Wartości SAME 78 s za bardzo dobrą wytrzymałość statyczną. Wartości DAME 36 reps za bardzo dobrą wytrzymałość dynamiczną. Zarówno SAME jak i DAME istotnie różniły się w poszczególnych grupach wiekowych (p<0.05). Stwierdzono istotną korelację pomiędzy SAME i DAME (p = 0.001). Mężczyźni wykazywali wyższe wartości SAME i DAME niż kobiety (p<0.05).Wniosek: Określone w tym badaniu, zależne od wieku i płci, wartości normatywne statycznej i dynamicznej wytrzymałości mięśni brzucha mogą być zastosowane w rehabilitacji dla określenia wielkości zaburzeń wytrzymałości tych mięśni, zarówno przy kwalifikowaniu do interwencji oraz jako miara wyniku uzyskiwania poprawy

Physiotherapists’ Knowledge, Attitude and Willingness to Care for Covid-19 Patients: a Nationwide Survey in Nigeria

Introduction: COVID-19 requires an all-inclusive task sharing/shifting approach by clinical professions in order to stem the tide of the pandemic. Physiotherapists have, therefore, potential for front line duties to COVID-19 patients as part of their traditional role in acute care for patients with respiratory complications. This study assessed the knowledge, attitude, and willingness of physiotherapists to care for patients with COVID-19 at the onset of the pandemic. Method: An electronic (WhatsApp) survey of 210 licenced physiotherapists was conducted from March 2020 to July 2020 using an adapted questionnaire from a previous validated tool. Data was analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The level of statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. Results: The physiotherapists displayed a high level of awareness (99.0%) about COVID-19, and the social media (96.2%), especially WhatsApp (74.8%), was the main source of information on COVID-19. 28.6% of the respondents had a sufficient level of knowledge of COVID-19. The knowledge about COVID-19 was significantly influenced by educational qualifications (p = 0.00). Also, 77.1%, 74.8% and 87.1% of the respondents werewilling to provide care for patients with COVID-19, be part of front-line care team, and care for COVID-19 survivors, respectively. Conclusion: Nigerian physiotherapists displayed an appreciable level of knowledge of COVID-19 at the onset of the pandemic. The surveyed physiotherapists were also willing to provide care for COVID-19 patients and survivors, as well as to be part of the COVID-19 front-line care team for