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Advances in Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation and Therapy
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Advances in Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation and Therapy

A special issue of Healthcare (ISSN 2227-9032). This special issue belongs to the section "Chronic Care".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 October 2023) | Viewed by 20254

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Shahnawaz Anwer

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Building and Real Estate, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon 999077, Hong Kong
Interests: knee osteoarthritis; ergonomics; occupational health and safety; exoskeleton devices; work-related musculoskeletal disorders; physical fatigue; wearable sensors
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Arnold Wong

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon 999077, Hong Kong
Interests: spinal pain; ergonomics; work-related musculoskeletal disorders; physical fatigue; wearable sensors; aging
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Kandasamy Gok

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Health and Life Sciences, Teesside University, Middlesbrough TS1 3BX, UK
Interests: biomechanical analysis; sports injuries; overuse injuries; spinal mobilization; ergonomics; posture; scoliosis; mobile application
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We would like to direct your attention to a Special Issue of an international, scientific, peer-reviewed, open access journal Healthcare (IF: 3.160 (2021)), titled "Advances in Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation and Therapy", for which we are Guest Editors.

As the population as a whole continues to get older, the number of patients who are affected by musculoskeletal disorders that either necessitate rehabilitation on their own or surgical intervention followed by further rehabilitation is expected to increase. There has been a rise in the requirement for rehabilitation, which has led to the development of improved rehabilitation technology. Despite this, surgeons and therapists do not always recognize the role that this technology plays or its effectiveness. The goal of rehabilitation in musculoskeletal disorders is to increase muscle strength, reduce pain and improve function. Recently, wearable sensing technology and robotics in rehabilitation have been developed and used to enable the quantification of these outcomes in three dimensions. Recent advancement in the rehabilitation of musculoskeletal disorders have a lot of potential to change the way patient with musculoskeletal disorders is monitored by tracking and sending clinical information in real time. Therefore, these technologies might improve patient monitoring, treatment outcome, and feedback.

We are pleased to invite you to this Special Issue, which aims to publish technical, empirical, and review papers that are both practical and theoretical contributions to cutting-edge advanced rehabilitation technology, as well as the latest research findings and practical interventions for improving the musculoskeletal health of a general population.

As such, this Special Issue focuses on all aspects of Advances in Rehabilitation and Therapy that contribute to improved musculoskeletal health. This list is not exhaustive; therefore, feel free to be inventive!

  • Musculoskeletal disorders
  • Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation
  • Wearable sensing technology in musculoskeletal rehabilitation
  • Robotics in musculoskeletal rehabilitation
  • Biomechanical analysis of musculoskeletal disorders
  • Artificial intelligence in musculoskeletal rehabilitation
  • Ergonomics
  • Application of Virtual and augmented reality (VR/AR) in musculoskeletal rehabilitation
  • Sports injury and rehabilitation.

Dr. Shahnawaz Anwer
Dr. Arnold Wong
Dr. Kandasamy Gok
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Healthcare is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • musculoskeletal disorders
  • musculoskeletal rehabilitation wearable sensing technology
  • robotics
  • biomechanical analysis
  • artificial intelligence
  • health informatics
  • ergonomics
  • sports injury
  • rehabilitation

Published Papers (11 papers)

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Research

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15 pages, 2152 KiB  
Article
Effect of Hind- and Fore-Foot Eversion on Positional and Rotational Displacement of the Knee in Standing Posture
by Jae Yi Kim, So Yeong Park, Do Yeon Lee, Seong Hoon Jeong, Il Soo Kim and Seong Hoon Lim
Healthcare 2023, 11(22), 2931; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare11222931 - 09 Nov 2023
Viewed by 666
Abstract
We investigated the effects of hindfoot and forefoot eversion on the knee’s positional and rotational displacement, plantar pressure, and foot discomfort in a standing posture, beyond the traditional focus on external knee adduction moments (EKAM) in lateral wedge insoles. Twenty-six healthy participants underwent [...] Read more.
We investigated the effects of hindfoot and forefoot eversion on the knee’s positional and rotational displacement, plantar pressure, and foot discomfort in a standing posture, beyond the traditional focus on external knee adduction moments (EKAM) in lateral wedge insoles. Twenty-six healthy participants underwent hindfoot eversion from 0 to 10 degrees in 2-degree increments, and forefoot eversion from 0 degrees to the hindfoot eversion angle in 2-degree increments in a standing posture. At each eversion angle, the knee’s medial displacement, EKAM’s moment arm decrease, plantar pressure changes, and foot discomfort were obtained and compared across varying angles. Both hindfoot-only and entire-foot eversion led to significant medial knee displacement and the EKAM’s moment arm decrease, with more pronounced effects in entire-foot eversion. At each hindfoot eversion angle, increasing forefoot eversion resulted in significant medial knee displacement and EKAM’s moment arm decrease. Lower leg rotations were not significantly affected in hindfoot-only eversion but displayed significant medial tilting and internal rotation in entire-foot eversion at specific combinations. Varying eversion angles significantly influenced the forefoot pressure, with heel pressure remaining unaffected. Notably, the lateral forefoot pressure increased significantly as the forefoot eversion angle increased, particularly at higher hindfoot eversion angles. Foot discomfort increased significantly with higher eversion angles, particularly in entire-foot eversion, and also increased significantly as the forefoot eversion angle increased at higher hindfoot eversion angles. Insole configurations incorporating 6–10 degrees of hindfoot eversion and 40–60% forefoot eversion of the hindfoot angle may offer optimized biomechanical support for knee osteoarthritis patients. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation and Therapy)
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15 pages, 2256 KiB  
Article
Enhancing Functional Ability in Chronic Nonspecific Lower Back Pain: The Impact of EMG-Guided Trunk Stabilization Exercises
by Shivani Porwal, Moattar Raza Rizvi, Ankita Sharma, Fuzail Ahmad, Mastour Saeed Alshahrani, Abdullah Raizah, Abdul Rahim Shaik, Mohamed K. Seyam, Mohammad Miraj, Batool Abdulelah Alkhamis, Debjani Mukherjee and Irshad Ahmad
Healthcare 2023, 11(15), 2153; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare11152153 - 28 Jul 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1358
Abstract
Background: Nonspecific lower back pain (NSLBP) is described as pain that is not caused by an identifiable, well-known disease, such as infection, tumor, osteoporosis, fracture, structural deformity, inflammatory condition, radicular syndrome, or cauda equina syndrome. Aim: The aim of this study was to [...] Read more.
Background: Nonspecific lower back pain (NSLBP) is described as pain that is not caused by an identifiable, well-known disease, such as infection, tumor, osteoporosis, fracture, structural deformity, inflammatory condition, radicular syndrome, or cauda equina syndrome. Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the effect of EMG-guided trunk stabilization exercises on functional disability associated with LBP. Materials and Methods: A single-blinded pre- and post-test experimental comparative design was used for this study. Fifty individuals with chronic NSLBP were screened for inclusion criteria. Of these, forty were randomly grouped into the EMG group receiving trunk-stability exercises with electromyography biofeedback and non-EMG group receiving trunk-stabilization exercises without EMG biofeedback. Participants performed five trunk-stability exercises 3 days a week for 4 weeks. The intensity of pain, range of motion, functional disability, and balance were measured at baseline and after 4 weeks. Results: Both techniques indicated a significant effect on chronic NSLBP; however, trunk-stability exercises combined with EMG biofeedback produced better results in alleviating the intensity of pain, increasing the range of motion, and improving functional disabilities and static balance. Conclusion: The present study confirms that trunk-stability exercises with EMG biofeedback can be practiced safely, contributes to a greater boost in neuromuscular efficiency in the lumbar flexors and extensors, and is effective in modifying functional disability for patients with NSLBP. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation and Therapy)
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13 pages, 885 KiB  
Article
The Effect of Kinesio Taping on Balance and Dynamic Stability in College-Age Recreational Runners with Ankle Instability
by Hisham M. Hussein, Walid M. Kamel, Ehab M. Kamel, Mohamed R. Attyia, Tolgahan Acar, Raheela Kanwal and Ahmed A. Ibrahim
Healthcare 2023, 11(12), 1749; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare11121749 - 14 Jun 2023
Viewed by 1733
Abstract
(1) Background: Running is one of many sports that have increased in popularity since it can be conducted at any time or anywhere. Ankle instability is a common injury that usually occurs during running and is usually associated with abnormalities in postural stability. [...] Read more.
(1) Background: Running is one of many sports that have increased in popularity since it can be conducted at any time or anywhere. Ankle instability is a common injury that usually occurs during running and is usually associated with abnormalities in postural stability. Recently, kinesio taping has gained increasing interest as a tool that can be used in rehabilitation, to improve stability, and to help in injury prevention. This study aimed to investigate the effect of Kinesio taping on balance and dynamic stability in recreational runners with ankle instability. (2) Methods: This randomized controlled trial recruited 90 RRs with ankle instability. The participants were randomly divided into three equal groups: a KT group (KTG) who received Kinesio taping on their ankle joints; a mixed group (MG) who received Kinesio taping and exercises; and an exercise group (EG) who received exercises only. Outcome measures (balance and dynamic stability) were assessed before and after the end of an 8-week treatment program using a Biodex balance system and a star excursion balance test, respectively. (3) Results: Within-group comparisons showed statistically significant improvements in most of the outcome values when compared to baseline. Overall stability index was statistically significantly better (with a high effect size) in the MG compared to KTG or EG (p = 0.01, Cohen’s d = 1.6, and p < 0.001, Cohen’s d = 1.63, respectively). A similar finding was evident in the anteroposterior stability index (p = 0.02, Cohen’s d = 0.95, and p < 0.001, Cohen’s d = 1.22, respectively). The mediolateral stability index of the KTG was statistically significantly better with a high effect size when compared to MG or EG (p = 0.04, Cohen’s d = 0.6, and p < 0.01, Cohen’s d = 0.96, respectively). The star excursion balance test values were statistically significant with high effect sizes in the posterior (p = 0.002, Cohen’s d = 1.2) and lateral (p < 0.02, Cohen’s d = 0.92) directions in the MG compared to KTG and EG. (4) Conclusions: Kinesiotape with exercises is superior to either kinesiotape alone or exercises alone in improving postural stability indices and dynamic stability in recreational runners with ankle instability. Recreational runners with ankle instability should be educated about practicing balance exercises and applying kinesiotape. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation and Therapy)
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12 pages, 795 KiB  
Article
Association of Multiple Cardiovascular Risk Factors with Musculoskeletal Function in Acute Coronary Syndrome Ward Inpatients
by Gabriel Parisotto, Luis Felipe Fonseca Reis, Mauricio Sant’Anna Junior, Jannis Papathanasiou, Agnaldo José Lopes and Arthur Sá Ferreira
Healthcare 2023, 11(7), 954; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare11070954 - 27 Mar 2023
Viewed by 1308
Abstract
This study explored the association of multiple risk factors with musculoskeletal function in adults hospitalized for acute coronary syndrome. Sixty-nine inpatients (55 ± 6 years; 67% male) admitted to the cardiology ward within <12 h were assessed regarding stress, smoking, alcoholism, hypertension, diabetes [...] Read more.
This study explored the association of multiple risk factors with musculoskeletal function in adults hospitalized for acute coronary syndrome. Sixty-nine inpatients (55 ± 6 years; 67% male) admitted to the cardiology ward within <12 h were assessed regarding stress, smoking, alcoholism, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and obesity. The musculoskeletal function was assessed by predicted values of handgrip strength of the dominant hand (HGS-D%) and maximal inspiratory and expiratory pressures (MIP% and MEP%, respectively). After adjustment by age and sex, drinking habits showed the strongest linear association with the total number of cardiovascular disease risk factors [standardized ß, p-value] (ß = 0.110, p < 0.001), followed by smoking load (ß = 0.028, p = 0.009). Associations were also observed for HGS-D% with mean blood pressure (ß = 0.019 [0.001; 0.037], p = 0.048); MIP% with mean blood pressure (ß = 0.025 [0.006; 0.043], p = 0.013); and MEP% with drinking habits (ß = 0.009 [0.002; 0.016], p = 0.013) and body mass index (ß = 0.008 [0.000; 0.015], p = 0.035). Peripheral and respiratory muscle strength must be interpreted in the context of its association with cardiovascular disease risk factors in adults hospitalized for acute coronary syndrome. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation and Therapy)
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19 pages, 622 KiB  
Article
Challenges, Concerns, and Experiences of Community-Dwelling Older Women with Chronic Low Back Pain—A Qualitative Study in Hong Kong, China
by Tiffany H. T. Wong, Kaden S. K. Lee, Sharon M. C. Lo, Mandy M. P. Kan, Crystal Kwan, Emmanuelle Opsommer, Shahnawaz Anwer, Heng Li, Arnold Y. L. Wong and Veronika Schoeb
Healthcare 2023, 11(7), 945; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare11070945 - 24 Mar 2023
Viewed by 1683
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Although chronic low back pain (CLBP) is known to negatively affect multiple aspects of the lives of older people, prior qualitative studies mainly focused on the lived experiences of older people with CLBP in Western countries. Given cultural and contextual [...] Read more.
Background and Objectives: Although chronic low back pain (CLBP) is known to negatively affect multiple aspects of the lives of older people, prior qualitative studies mainly focused on the lived experiences of older people with CLBP in Western countries. Given cultural and contextual differences and poor understanding of CLBP in older women with CLBP, it is important to better understand the concerns and lived experiences of Chinese older women with CLBP. The current study aimed to investigate the experiences, challenges, concerns, and coping strategies of older women with CLBP in Hong Kong. Research Design and Methods: A total of 15 community-dwelling older women with CLBP aged ≥60 years were recruited from a physiotherapy clinic or a community center for semi-structured interviews. The interviews were audio recorded and transcribed ‘verbatim’. The transcription was imported to NVivo 12 software. Thematic analysis was conducted using Braun and Clarke’s method. Results: Five themes were identified: (1) physical impacts of CLBP on daily life; (2) psychological influences of CLBP; (3) management of CLBP; (4) family support; and (5) social activities and support. Discussion and implications: Negative physical and psychosocial impacts of CLBP were common among older women, and they adopted diverse pain management strategies, although some of their treatment options were influenced by the Chinese culture. Misbeliefs and responses of family and friends also affected their management strategies. Elderly community centers are a significant source of social support for older women with CLBP, making it an ideal platform for establishing self-help groups to facilitate their self-management of CLBP. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation and Therapy)
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12 pages, 906 KiB  
Article
Spanish Cross-Cultural Adaptation and Validation of the Oslo Sports Trauma Research Centre (OSTRC) Overuse Injury Questionnaire in Handball Players
by Jesús Martínez-Cal, Guadalupe Molina-Torres, Elio Carrasco-Vega, Luca Barni, María Isabel Ventura-Miranda and Manuel Gonzalez-Sanchez
Healthcare 2023, 11(6), 912; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare11060912 - 21 Mar 2023
Viewed by 1289
Abstract
Objectives: The aim of this study was the cultural adaptation, Spanish translation and validation of the Oslo Sports Trauma Research Centre (OSTRC) Overuse Injury Questionnaire in an adult population. Design: In this study, a cross-sectional design was used. Methods: This study was divided [...] Read more.
Objectives: The aim of this study was the cultural adaptation, Spanish translation and validation of the Oslo Sports Trauma Research Centre (OSTRC) Overuse Injury Questionnaire in an adult population. Design: In this study, a cross-sectional design was used. Methods: This study was divided into two phases: (1) cross-cultural adaptation of the original version of the OSTRC to a Spanish version (OSTRC-Sp) and (2) analysis of the psychometric properties of the OSTRC-Sp. A total of 427 handball players of both sexes and over 18 years of age participated in the study. Results: The translated version of the questionnaire showed a very high internal consistency (Cronbach’s α = 0.954), while the subscales showed an internal consistency between 0.832 and 0.961, with the endmost values being for shoulder and low back pain, respectively. On the other hand, when analysing item responses, the OSTRC-Sp showed ICC values ranging from 0.844 to 0.956, the former being for the first back question (back_1), and the latter for the fourth shoulder question (shoulder_4), in line with most published versions. Conclusion: The Spanish version of the OSTRC is a reliable and valid tool that can be used by researchers and clinicians in a Spanish-speaking population with musculoskeletal disorders. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation and Therapy)
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11 pages, 1290 KiB  
Article
Validity and Reliability of a Non-Radiographic Postural Analysis Device Based on an RGB-Depth Camera Comparing EOS 3D Imaging: A Prospective Observational Study
by Hyo Jeong Lee, Han Eol Cho, Myungsang Kim, Seok Young Chung and Jung Hyun Park
Healthcare 2023, 11(5), 686; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare11050686 - 25 Feb 2023
Viewed by 1476
Abstract
The posture-analyzing and virtual reconstructing device (PAViR) used a Red Green Blue-Depth camera as a sensor and skeleton reconstruction images were produced. This PAViR quickly analyzed the whole posture from multiple repetitive shots without radiation exposure in clothes and provided a virtual skeleton [...] Read more.
The posture-analyzing and virtual reconstructing device (PAViR) used a Red Green Blue-Depth camera as a sensor and skeleton reconstruction images were produced. This PAViR quickly analyzed the whole posture from multiple repetitive shots without radiation exposure in clothes and provided a virtual skeleton within seconds. This study aims to evaluate the reliability when shooting repeatedly and to assess the validity compared to parameters of full-body, low-dose X-rays (EOSs) when applied as diagnostic imaging. As a prospective and observational study, 100 patients with musculoskeletal pain underwent an EOS to obtain whole body coronal and sagittal images. The outcome measures were human posture parameters, which were divided by the standing plane in both EOSs and PAViRs as follows: (1) a coronal view (asymmetric clavicle height, pelvic oblique, bilateral Q angles of the knee, and center of seventh cervical vertebra-central sacral line (C7-CSL)) and (2) a sagittal view (forward head posture). A validation of the PAViR compared to the EOSs revealed that C7-CSL showed a moderate positive correlation with that of the EOS (r = 0.42, p < 0.01). The forward head posture (r = 0.39, p < 0.01), asymmetric clavicle height (r = 0.37, p < 0.01), and pelvic oblique (r = 0.32, p < 0.01) compared to those of the EOS had slightly positive correlations. The PAViR has excellent intra-rater reliability in people with somatic dysfunction. Except for both Q angles, the PAViR has fair-to-moderate validation when compared to EOS diagnostic imaging in the parameter representing coronal and sagittal imbalance. Although the PAViR system is not yet available in the medical field, it has the potential to become a radiation-free, accessible, and cost-effective postural analysis diagnostic tool after the EOS era. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation and Therapy)
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15 pages, 938 KiB  
Article
Effect of an Integrated Physiotherapy Protocol on Knee Osteoarthritis Patients: A Preliminary Study
by Sohrab Ahmad Khan, Prithvi Parasher, Mairaj Ahmed Ansari, Suhel Parvez, Noor Fatima and Iqbal Alam
Healthcare 2023, 11(4), 564; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare11040564 - 14 Feb 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 3104
Abstract
Background: Exercise therapy can potentially relieve symptoms and improve functional status of the knee osteoarthritis population. Despite the proved practical benefits, there is no standard, comprehensive physiotherapeutic protocol available targeting the physical and physiological impairment cluster associated with disease. Osteoarthritis is a whole [...] Read more.
Background: Exercise therapy can potentially relieve symptoms and improve functional status of the knee osteoarthritis population. Despite the proved practical benefits, there is no standard, comprehensive physiotherapeutic protocol available targeting the physical and physiological impairment cluster associated with disease. Osteoarthritis is a whole joint disease, affecting joint cartilage, ligaments, menisci and joint associated muscles, from variable pathophysiological processes. Hence, there is a need to develop a physiotherapy protocol to address the multi-structural physical, physiological and functional impairments associated with the disease. Objective: The objective of the present study is to evaluate the efficacy of designed, therapist supervised, patient education, progressive resistance exercises, passive stretching exercises, soft tissue manipulation, muscle energy technique, Maitland mobilization, aerobic exercise, and neuromuscular training physiotherapy protocol on pain, disability, balance, and physical functional performance in knee osteoarthritis patients. Methodology: The preliminary study was conducted on a (n = 60) sample of convenience. The samples were randomly allocated into two study groups, intervention, and control group. The control group was advised on a basic home program. On the other hand, the treatment of the intervention group was designed with a therapist supervised Physiotherapy Protocol. The outcome variables studied were the Visual Analogue Scale, Modified WOMAC Scale, Timed Up and Go Test, Functional Reach Test, 40 m Fast Paced Walk Test, Stair Climb Test, 30 s Chair Stand Test. Results: The results of the study revealed a significant improvement among most of the studied outcome measures in the intervention group, hence the designed supervised physiotherapy protocol was found effective in relieving multiple physiological impairments associated with this whole joint disease. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation and Therapy)
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13 pages, 1545 KiB  
Article
The Combined Effect of the Trapezius Muscle Strengthening and Pectoralis Minor Muscle Stretching on Correcting the Rounded Shoulder Posture and Shoulder Flexion Range of Motion among Young Saudi Females: A Randomized Comparative Study
by Shahnaz Hasan, Amir Iqbal, Ahmad H. Alghadir, Asma Alonazi and Danah Alyahya
Healthcare 2023, 11(4), 500; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare11040500 - 08 Feb 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1853
Abstract
Background: The shortening of the pectoralis minor muscle (PMi-M) and weakening of the lower trapezius muscle (LTr-M) affect scapular movement, resulting in the development of a rounded shoulder posture and reduction in the shoulder flexion range of motion (SFROM). Objective: This study evaluated [...] Read more.
Background: The shortening of the pectoralis minor muscle (PMi-M) and weakening of the lower trapezius muscle (LTr-M) affect scapular movement, resulting in the development of a rounded shoulder posture and reduction in the shoulder flexion range of motion (SFROM). Objective: This study evaluated the combined effect of LTr-M strengthening and PMi-M stretching on correcting the rounded shoulder postures and SFROM among young Saudi females. Methods: This study was based on a two-arm parallel-group repeated measures randomized comparative design. A total of sixty female participants with rounded shoulder postures were recruited and randomly allocated into groups 1 and 2 (n = 30/group). Each group performed supervised PMi-M stretching; however, group 2 performed a combination of LTr-M strengthening and PMi-M stretching. The outcomes, including rounded shoulder posture and SFROM, were assessed using the pectoralis minor length test (PMLT) and universal goniometer. A repeated measure ANOVA was used to compare the differences within-group and between-group for the outcomes measures at one-week (baseline) pre-intervention, two weeks, and three -weeks post-intervention. The significance level was set at q > 2.00 and p < 0.05 for all respective statistical analyses. Results: The within-group comparison revealed significant improvements (q > 2.00) in the outcomes of PMLT and SFROM when comparing their post-intervention scores to the baseline scores. The between-group comparison revealed a significant and an insignificant (q < 2.00) difference in the outcomes of PMLT and SFROM, respectively when comparing their scores at the second- and third-week post-intervention. Furthermore, the effect size of the intervention suggests an advantage of group 2 over group 1 in increasing the resting length of the PMi-M only among young Saudi females. Conclusions: The combined effect of LTr-M strengthening and PMi-M stretching was more beneficial than PMi-M stretching alone in correcting the rounded shoulder posture among young Saudi females by increasing PMi-M resting length. However, it could not yield a differential improvement in the SFROM outcome among them. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation and Therapy)
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10 pages, 560 KiB  
Article
Treatment Beliefs and Practices towards Low Back Pain among Teachers in Asir Region, Saudi Arabia—A Cross-Sectional Study
by Abdullah Raizah, Faris Alzahrani, Bandar Albarqi, Ibrahim Abusaq, Hashim Alqarni, Ibraheem Alyami, Irshad Ahmad and Ravi Shankar Reddy
Healthcare 2023, 11(3), 383; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare11030383 - 29 Jan 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1243
Abstract
The prevalence of low back pain (LBP) is increasing exponentially, with this public health issue affecting over 70% of the population. However, sedentary careers exacerbate the problem further, with professions such as teaching disproportionately affected. In addition, the general population does not seek [...] Read more.
The prevalence of low back pain (LBP) is increasing exponentially, with this public health issue affecting over 70% of the population. However, sedentary careers exacerbate the problem further, with professions such as teaching disproportionately affected. In addition, the general population does not seek interventions from medical professionals for LBP; instead, they opt to manage their pain with over-the-counter medications, such as sedatives. The purpose of this study was to explore practices and beliefs related to back pain treatment among schoolteachers in the Asir region. This cross-sectional study included a sample of 312 teachers from the Asir region, with data collected regarding the prevalence of back pain, management approaches, and beliefs surrounding medical interventions. Chi-square or exact tests defined the association between variables, with significance determined at p < 0.05. Our results revealed that 67.3% of Saudi Arabian teachers experienced LBP within the last two months, with a continuous condition representing 36.7% of cases. This study identified several different treatment modalities the participants use to manage their pain, including sedatives, best rest, kaiy (traditional cautery), and local adhesives, with sedatives being the most employed method. It also highlighted that increased daily working hours and total days worked significantly increased the prevalence of LBP (p < 0.05). Although a considerable number of the included teachers were highly educated, with some teaching experience, they had a poor level of awareness and an incorrect attitude towards pain management. Enhanced efforts should be made to improve teachers’ awareness regarding back pain causes and management methods. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation and Therapy)
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18 pages, 2043 KiB  
Review
Passive Articulated and Non-Articulated Ankle–Foot Orthoses for Gait Rehabilitation: A Narrative Review
by Hasan Mhd Nazha, Szabolcs Szávai, Mhd Ayham Darwich and Daniel Juhre
Healthcare 2023, 11(7), 947; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare11070947 - 24 Mar 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3199
Abstract
The aim of this work was to study the different types of passive articulated and non-articulated ankle–foot orthoses for gait rehabilitation in terms of working principles, control mechanisms, features, and limitations, along with the recent clinical trials on AFOs. An additional aim was [...] Read more.
The aim of this work was to study the different types of passive articulated and non-articulated ankle–foot orthoses for gait rehabilitation in terms of working principles, control mechanisms, features, and limitations, along with the recent clinical trials on AFOs. An additional aim was to categorize them to help engineers and orthotists to develop novel designs based on this research. Based on selected keywords and their composition, a search was performed on the ISI Web of Knowledge, Google Scholar, Scopus, and PubMed databases from 1990 to 2022. Forty-two studies met the eligibility criteria, which highlighted the commonly used types and recent development of passive articulated and non-articulated ankle–foot orthoses for foot drop. Orthotists and engineers may benefit from the information obtained from this review article by enhancing their understanding of the challenges in developing an AFO that meets all the requirements in terms of ease of use, freedom of movement, and high performance at a relatively low cost. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation and Therapy)
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