Background. The use of online learning methods has expanded considerably in many countries since the declaration of COVID-19 as a global pandemic by the World Health Organization. Smartphones are widely used for voice and text messaging, checking emails, and distance learning. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between using smartphones and text neck syndrome. Material and methods. A cross-sectional study was conducted among university students in Jordan between February and March 2023. All undergraduate students were invited to participate. A self-administered online (Google forms) questionnaire was distributed by posting the link to the questionnaire on students’ groups through social media websites such as Facebook, Twitter, and WhatsApp. Results. A total of 171 students responded to the survey. The participants included 103 (60%) females and 68 (40%) males. Approximately 79% of the participants were less than 22 years old. Almost half of the participants reported pain at neck (54%) and shoulder (51%), while about 61% of participants suffered from upper back pain. Conclusions. 1. Smartphones are widely becoming essential in educational technology, and more concern should be expended to increase the awareness about optimal and healthy usage of smartphones by restricting usage duration in order to reduce neck and shoulder pain and associated poor functioning in daily living activities. 2. Poor patterns of smartphone use increase the likelihood of neck pain. 3. Neck movement limitations are not associated with age or gender. 4. Students who did not report limitation in neck movement were less likely to have difficulty with reading.

Background: The Örebro Musculoskeletal Pain Questionnaire (ÖMPQ) assesses the psychosocial factors in people with complaints of musculoskeletal disorders and predicts those likely to develop persistent symptoms. Objective: To culturally-adapt and assess the validity of the ÖMPQ in an Arabic population with low back pain (LBP). Methods: This was a prospective cohort validation study of the ÖMPQ. The Arabic-ÖMPQ was created by forward translation, translation synthesis and backward translation in an Arabic population. Participants were included if they were 18 years or older, had acute or chronic LBP and were fluent in Arabic. Eighty-four patients completed the questionnaires at baseline, 2 days later and 3 months follow-up. We assessed specific agreement and test–retest reliability using the interclass correlation coefficient (ICC). We assessed predictive validity using linear regression and relative risk. We assessed content validity by investigating the ceiling and floor effects. Results: To construct validity, the Arabic-ÖMPQ had a moderate (r≥ 0.3, < 0.5) to high (r≥ 0.5) correlation with pain, disability, fear-avoidance and catastrophizing questionnaires. The test-rest reliability was high ICC_2,1=0.92 (95% CI: 0.83– 0.96). The Arabic-ÖMPQ score at baseline can significantly predict disability at 3 months F(1,82)=33.87, p< 0.01; R²=0.29. Conclusion: The translation of the Arabic-ÖMPQ into Arabic was successful. The Arabic-ÖMPQ showed very good reliability and proper validity and thus can be used to predict the risk of developing persistent disability amongst patients with LBP in an Arabic population.

Background: Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are rapidly rising in Saudi Arabia and considered the 3rd reason for hospital visits across the country. Despite their prevalence, the adequacy of knowledge in diagnosing and treating MSDs has not been assessed. The purpose of this study is to assess MSD knowledge amongst healthcare providers (orthopedists, physicians, and physical therapists) and medical and physical therapy students and interns. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, a web-based 25-question MSD test was given to licensed physical therapists, primary care physicians and orthopedists, as well as final-year physical therapy and medical students and interns in Saudi Arabia. Two multivariable linear regression analysis models were used to determine MSD test score differences amongst (1) orthopedists, primary care physicians, and physical therapists and (2) amongst medical and physical therapy students and interns. Results: A total of 680 participants were included (response rate is 22.7%). The overall MSD test score was 48.2%, and the passing rate was 14%. Model 1 showed that orthopedist’s group had a significantly higher mean score on MSD test than physical therapists (t₄₈₂= 8.12, p < 0.001) and primary care physician (t₄₈₂= 6.00, p < 0.05). However, primary care physician scores did not significantly differ from physical therapy group (t₄₈₂= 6.47, p = 0.07). Model 2 showed that medical interns had significantly higher mean score on MSD test than physical therapy students (t₂₄₀=4.46, p < 0.001), physical therapy interns (t₂₄₀= 4.7, p < 0.05), and medical students (t₂₄₀= 2.79, p < 0.05). There was also a significant difference between medical students and physical therapy interns (t₂₄₀= 2.5, p < 0.05). However, there was no significant difference between medical students and physical therapy students. Conclusion: Except for orthopedists, the MSD knowledge appears inadequate amongst healthcare providers, medical and physical therapy students and interns in Saudi Arabia. To improve knowledge in MSDs, increasing content of MSDs in undergraduate education and postgraduate training is necessary.

Anslation of TSK was performed by two independent translators. Next, the concise translation, developed from the two translations, was retranslated to English, and compared with the original questionnaire. The reliability and validity of the Arabic form of TSK was assessed on patients with LBP, admitted to the out-patient clinics in Prince Mutaib Bin Abdul Aziz Hospital, Al Jouf, Saudi Arabia. Apart from the demographic data, TSK and five other questionnaires were used to measure the level of kinesiophobia. Test-retest and Cronbach’s alpha was used to assess the reliability and internal consistency. Spearman’s correlation was performed for construct validation. Results: Eighty-two patients were enrolled. An excellent test-retest reliability was observed after 2 days (ICC=0.91; 95% CI: 0.90-0.92) as well as after 14 days (ICC=0.87; 95% CI: 0.840.90). The internal consistency of the translated version was also high (Cronbach’s alpha=0.83). The correlation between TSK and FABQ was moderate (r=0.68), and fair for NRS, RMDQ, and MODI (r=0.47, 0.37, and 0.42, respectively). The sensitivity to change was found to be low. Conclusions: The robustness and sustainability of the translated Arabic version of TSK suggested that this questionnaire is a reliable and valid tool for the measurement of kinesiophobiain the Arab population suffering from LBP....

Given the increasing demand for more trained physical therapists in providing care to patients in Saudi Arabia, it has become vital to adequately assess individual physical therapy graduate academic learning and performance. Therefore, the present study aimed at evaluating the knowledge and skills of Saudi PT graduates. A competency examination adapted from a practice test that is commercially available and simulates the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) was conducted. Out of 398 Saudi physical therapists that were approached with the examination link, 149 PT graduates consented to the study. Seventy questions were randomly selected by two individuals familiar with the content of PT programs in the United States and Saudi Arabia. The content outline of the selected questions followed the NPTE recommendations for body systems and non-systems. Each question was multiple choice with four answers. The examination was distributed electronically. Each participant was given 90 min to complete the examination. The passing score was set at 55%. Out of 149, only 6six (4.02%) participants passed the examination with an average passing score of 67% (range: 56–96%). In the primary domains of body systems, the score was highest in the endocrine domain (55.1%), followed by the integumentary (42.18%) and the neurology (40.9%) domains. In the non-system, participants had the highest score in the professionalism domain (89.8%). The highest mean knowledge score was obtained in the field of assessment (38.57%). PT graduates from Saudi Arabia performed poorly in the examination, demonstrating weak domain knowledge and skills.