This study aimed to estimate the effect of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) quarantine on low back pain (LBP) intensity, prevalence, and associated risk factors among adults in Riyadh (Saudi Arabia). A total of 463 adults (259 males and 204 females) aged between 18 and 64 years and residing in Riyadh (Saudi Arabia) participated in this cross-sectional study. A self-administered structured questionnaire composed of 20 questions regarding demographic characteristics, work- and academic-related aspects, physical activity (PA), daily habits and tasks, and pain-related aspects was used. The LBP point prevalence before the quarantine was 38.8%, and 43.8% after the quarantine. The LBP intensity significantly increased during the quarantine. The low back was also the most common musculoskeletal pain area. Furthermore, during the quarantine, a significantly higher LBP intensity was reported by those individuals who (a) were aged between 35 and 49 years old, (b) had a body mass index equal to or exceeding 30, (c) underwent higher levels of stress, (d) did not comply with the ergonomic recommendations, (e) were sitting for long periods, (f) did not practice enough physical activity (PA), and (g) underwent teleworking or distance learning. No significant differences were found between genders. The COVID-19 quarantine resulted in a significant increase in LBP intensity, point prevalence, and most associated risk factors.

On the basis of the integrative concept of self-esteem discussed in sport-related literature, various studies refer to its importance in the context of sports activities. Self-esteem is often understood as a personality trait because it tends to be durable and stable. No accurate description is available regarding the types of sports in which subjects participated. The main purpose of the research was to identify and compare the levels of self-esteem and self-confidence of athletes practicing individual and team sports. The self-esteem and self-confidence levels were measured by the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (Rosenberg 1979) and the Self-Confidence Test (Romek, 2000). All participants were males. Subjects were divided into two categories: 40 for individual sports and 40 for team sports. There were two evaluation periods: P1, the beginning of the preparation period, and P2, the beginning of the competition period. There were statistically significant differences for P1 (p < 0.002) and P2 (p < 0.003). The differences between the average values of the two periods were 5.8 points and 3.8 points, both favorable to the group of athletes who practiced individual sports. There were significant differences between the individual and team athletes in self-esteem level. Individual athletes presented a higher level of self-esteem.

Aim: This study evaluated the effects of plyometric training with different set configurations on sprint speed, change of direction (COD), jump performance, and perceived exertion in youth football players. Method: Twenty-four U-19 players were randomized into three groups: Cluster Set (CLS, n = 8), Traditional Set (TRD, n = 8), and Control (CON, n = 8). CLS performed 8–10 sets of 2–3 repetitions, while TRD completed 2–3 sets of 8–10 repetitions in an 8-week plyometric program (2 sessions/week). The CON group did not train. Performance measures included 10 m, 20 m, and 30 m sprints, COD, Counter Movement Jump (CMJ), Reactive Strength Index (RSI), and Rate of Perceived Exertion (RPE). A repeated measures ANOVA analyzed group*time interactions. Results: Significant improvements were observed in CLS and TRD groups for sprints (10 m: f = 21.44; 20 m: f = 19.40; 30 m: f = 49.56; p < 0.001), COD (f = 14.66; p < 0.001), CMJ (f = 51.50; p < 0.001), and RSI (f = 24.91; p < 0.001). No changes occurred in CON (p > 0.05). Conclusions: CLS and TRD plyometric training improved sprint speed, COD, and jump performance, with CLS showing slightly superior results and better fatigue management.

(1) Background: The objective of this study was to assess the prevalence of Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip (DDH) as a primary or secondary diagnosis during physiotherapy practice. No other studies have investigated the prevalence and associations of DDH within the practice of pediatric rehabilitation. (2) Methods: This retrospective review was performed on 12,225 physiotherapy referrals to the King Abdullah Specialized Children’s Hospital (KASCH), Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, from May 2016 to October 2021. Only DDH referrals for conservative treatment were included in the study. The plan for brace treatment was carried out by the pediatric orthopedics clinic in KASCH. The diagnostic methods were either a pelvic radiograph or ultrasound, depending on the participant’s age. DDH is considered one of the most common secondary complications for children with other medical diagnoses. (3) Results: The most common indication for referral was neurological diagnosis (44%), followed by orthopedic (28%), genetic (19%), cardiac (5%), ophthalmologic (3%), dermatologic (1%) and rheumatologic (0.5%) diagnoses. (4) Conclusion: The prevalence of DDH among all referrals in this study was 6%. In physiotherapy practice, neurologic, genetic, and orthopedic primary or secondary diagnoses were the most prevalent when DDH referrals were investigated. A relatively high prevalence of DDH in the pediatric rehabilitation clinic at KASCH in Riyadh was reported in this study.

The study evaluates the effects of a 4-week program of combined resistance and aerobic training and volleyball training on physical fitness in young sedentary adults. Twenty-eight males (age 20.5 ± 1.5 years; body mass 87.2 ± 28.5 kg; height 173 ± 8.1 cm; BMI 28.9 ± 8.4 kg/m²) were divided into two groups. While experimental group 1 (COM) underwent a fitness program consisting of a combination of strength and aerobic exercises, experimental group 2 (VOL) performed intermittent exercises in volleyball (four times per week for 50 min). The results showed that both training groups significantly improved in all fitness tests except the beep test, while only the COM group achieved a significant change in the number of repetitions (p = 0.041). Between-group analyzes revealed a greater change achieved by the COM group in standing long jump lengths than VOL (12.3% vs. 4.3%, p = 0.011). There were no other between-group significant differences in 20m Multistage Fitness Test (8.1% and 4.4%,), sit-ups (20.9% and 21.0%), flexibility (24.5% and 23.3%) and shuttle run 5 × 10 m (11.95 and 9.52%) or in anthropometric parameters (BMI, Fat %, Muscle Mass %, Visceral Fat %). These findings indicate that combined resistance and aerobic training are more effective in improving the explosive power of lower limbs and aerobic endurance than playing an intermittent-type sport such as volleyball. This program can be effectively applied to university students with a predominantly sedentary lifestyle.

Robot-assisted training has been widely used in rehabilitation programs, but no significant clinical evidence about its use in productive working-age cardiac patients was demonstrated. Thus, we hypothesized that early applied robot-assisted physiotherapy might provide additional treatment benefits in the rehabilitation of post-myocardial infarction (MI) patients. A total of 92 (50 men, 42 women) hospitalized post-MI patients with the age of 60.9 ± 2.32 participated in the research. An early intensive physiotherapy program (7×/week, 2×/day) was applied for each patient with an average time of 45 min per session. Patients were consecutively assigned to Experimental group (EG) and Control group (CG). Then, 20 min of robot-assisted training by Motomed letto 2 or Thera-Trainer tigo was included in all EG physiotherapy sessions. The Functional Independence Measures (FIM) score at the admission and after 14 days of rehabilitation was used for an assessment. When analyzing time * group effect by repeated-measures ANOVA, we reported that EG showed a higher effect in ADL (p = 0.00), and Motor indicators (p = 0.00). There was no statistically significant effect reported in the Social indicator (p = 0.35). Early rehabilitation programs for post-MI patients might be enhanced by robotic tools, such as THERA-Trainer tigo, and Motomed letto 2. The improvement was particularly noticeable in mobility and ADLs.