Background and Objectives: Physical activity is essential for adolescents to maintain a healthy lifestyle. The aim of this study was to assess the influence of an 8-week exercise program and motivation on physical activity levels, self-motivation, and mental well-being of adolescents in Saudi Arabia. Moreover, the impact of virtual coaching on physical, emotional, and mental health after an eight-week exercise program was examined. Materials and Methods: Twenty-seven participants, 18 females (67%) and 9 males (33%), with a mean age of 14 ± 2.38 years, were enrolled in eight weeks of pre- and post-intervention between June and August of 2021. The physical activity scale, situational motivation scale, mental health continuum short form, and baseline assessments were completed before and after the eight-week program. The program recommended that adolescents practice aerobic, resistance, and weight-bearing exercises for 60 min daily. Paired mean t-tests were used to compare pre-and post-test results. Results: Participants showed an acceptable physical activity level (5.5 ± 1.4) on a 10-point scale with a significant improvement after the eight-week program (7 ± 1.5; p = 0.013). The situational motivation scale improved from 38.1 ± 16 to 26 ± 19.6 (p = 0.042). The mental health continuum (social and psychological well-being) also significantly improved. Participants who received weekly phone calls showed similar improvement patterns but were not significantly different from those who did not receive calls. Conclusions: A virtually delivered 8-week exercise program for adolescents improved their physical, motivational, and mental health. Providing additional weekly phone calls does not provide additional improvement. Providing adolescents with the needed supervision and motivation enhances their physical activity and mental health.

Falls are commonly associated with knee osteoarthritis and represent a significant financial burden on the healthcare system. Therefore, the discovery of physical therapists’ attitudes and practices regarding fall screening and prevention among patients with osteoarthritis should be investigated. Moreover, this study aimed to identify barriers that might limit its implementation among this population. A cross-sectional study design was used to collect the data. The electronic survey targeted licensed physical therapy professionals who currently work in clinical or academic settings in Saudi Arabia. The data were analyzed descriptively and inferentially using chi-square. Two hundred and six licensed physical therapists completed the survey, 119 females (57.8%) and 87 males (42.2%). The results of the structural equation modelling analysis showed that intention to use fall screening and management strategies was positively associated with the history of falls, identifying risk factors of falls, and documentation of risk factors of falls (p ≤ 0.0001). The most reported barriers to implement fall screening and prevention were lack of knowledge (n = 92, 45%), lack of training/skills (n = 84, 41%), and time constraints (n = 57, 45%), followed by patient compliance with 38% of the responses. The findings highlighted the importance of identifying the key opportunities for knowledge translation in clinical practices to enhance the sufficient implementation of fall screening and management in osteoarthritis care.

Introduction: Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are a significant occupational health concern worldwide, particularly among healthcare professionals such as laboratory technicians. MSDs lead to chronic pain, decreased productivity, and reduced quality of life. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of MSDs and associated ergonomics risk factors among Saudi clinical laboratory technicians. Methodology: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 167 clinical laboratory technicians in Taif city, Saudi Arabia. Data were collected through an online self-administered questionnaire, distributed via Google Forms. The questionnaire collected demographics information, assessed the prevalence of musculoskeletal pain using the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ), and evaluated ergonomics risk factors using the Dutch Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (DMQ). Results: In total, 77.3% of the sample exhibited musculoskeletal issues in the last 12 months, with lower back (52.1%), neck (48.5%), and shoulders (40.7%) being the most frequent muscular complaints among laboratory technicians. Experience and nationality showed significant associations with MSDs (p ≤ 0.05). Lower back and neck complaints were commonly recorded with multiple laboratory tasks, including sustained sitting and standing and repetitive movement, whereas lower back and shoulder pain were notably prevalent with pipetting work. Conclusions: Work-related musculoskeletal disorders were highly apparent in laboratory practice. Periodic ergonomic training is mandated among laboratory personnel to limit occupational disability.

Background. Osteoporosis OP is classified as one of the most serious health conditions worldwide. OP increases the skeletal fracture risk by 35, particularly at hip, spine, and wrist joints. Healthcare professionals should be aware of OP clinical signs and have good knowledge while managing all patients. Objectives. This study aims to investigate the current level of osteoporosis knowledge and awareness among physical therapy providers in Saudi Arabia. Methods. One hundred and sixty-eight physical therapy providers participated in this cross-sectional electronic survey from February to July of 2021. The participants completed the Osteoporosis Knowledge Assessment Tool questionnaire (OKAT). Descriptive analysis was utilized to assess the current level of osteoporosis knowledge among physical therapy providers. Results. Among the 168 participants, 55 (n=92) were over 31years old and 45 (n=76) were 30years old or under. The majority of participants 37 (n=62) had more than 10years of experience, 45 (n=76) mainly treat orthopedic conditions, and 70 (n=117) live in the western region. The results showed that 67.9 (n=114) of participants had good knowledge about osteoporosis, while 19.6 (n=33) had poor knowledge, and only 12.5 (n=21) had excellent knowledge. Conclusion. Physical therapy providers in Saudi Arabia have a good knowledge of osteoporosis. The overall OP preventive measure knowledge questions were poor. It is crucial for physical therapy providers to act appropriately to prevent falls and mitigate any potential risks.

Genetic disorders are common in Saudi Arabia. Impaired motor development is one of the major characteristics associated with genetic disorders. Early identifications and referrals are key to receiving physical therapy. This study aims to explore caregivers of children with genetic disorders’ experience with early identification and referrals to physical therapy. An inductive qualitative design of 16 caregivers of children with genetic disorders was done to investigate the identification and referral process to physical therapy. A thematic analysis was used to analyze the data and multiple coders coded the data to increase the trustworthiness of the analysis. The analysis led to emergence of four main themes. Caregivers revealed their struggle with the detection process. They struggled with the vague information related to their children’s condition. They also expressed a desperate need for guidance to clarify the process for genetic testing, counseling, and rehabilitation. Although their overall experience with physical therapy was satisfactory, they encountered a number of issues related to scheduling appointments, delayed referrals, and unconfirmed diagnoses. The results of this study could indicate that more efforts are required to expedite and elucidate the identification and referral of children with genetic disorders in Saudi Arabia.

Background: Despite the growing popularity of aerial sports, limited research has investigated musculoskeletal (MSK) injury incidence among female acrobatic athletes. Understanding injury prevalence is essential for implementing effective prevention strategies. Objective: To investigate demographic characteristics, physical activity (PA) levels, and MSK injury occurrence in female aerial acrobatics athletes in the western region of Saudi Arabia. Methods: Sixty female aerial acrobatics athletes (mean age: 28.66years) participated. We assessed PA using International Physical Activity Questionnaire–Short Form, and data on MSK injury history and sport-specific profiles were collected. Descriptive statistics and Chi-square tests examined correlations between injury occurrence and factors such as age, experience, and type of aerial activity. Results: Most participants (60%) reported high PA levels. The majority (92%) performed warm-ups and cool-downs routines and mainly exercised under supervision. The current injury prevalence was 20%, with 12 participants reporting ongoing injuries. Common injury sites included the back 8(28.6%), knee 7(25%), and wrist 6(21.4%). Conclusion: Musculoskeletal injury prevalence among participants was 20%, reporting a current injury related to aerial acrobatics sports. This study revealed low MSK injury rates and high PA levels among female aerial acrobatics athletes, primarily characterized by limited experience. To promote injury prevention, further research is needed with a larger sample and a focus on factors influencing injury frequency such as age, acrobatics type, and upper body strength. In addition, developing a reliable assessment tool designed for aerial acrobatics athletes’ performance is recommended.