Background: Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common kind of arthritis that occurs due to degeneration of the joint articular cartilage, producing pain, stiffness, and impaired movement. The objective of the study was to evaluate the short-term effectiveness of Kinesio taping (KT) plus conventional physical therapy (CPT) and CPT alone in subjects with knee OA. Materials and methods: Forty male subjects were divided into two groups at random using a parallel assignment, double-blinded study design, viz., KT with CPT (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation and exercise therapy), and CPT alone for the period of 6 weeks of treatment. At baseline, third, and sixth weeks, the following outcome measures were taken, such as pain intensity (NPRS), knee range of motion (goniometry), Western Ontario and McMaster Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), and the Time Up and Go (TUG) test. Statistical analysis: To reveal the patient’s demographic profile concerning the outcome parameters, a descriptive statistic was applied. Furthermore, two-way mixed ANOVA and Tukey HSD post hoc tests were used to analyze within and between-group comparisons in SPSS 20.0. Results: In both groups, pain and knee flexion were significantly improved during the 6-week period of interventions (p < 0.05). WOMAC and TUG test scores improved only in the KT plus CPT group. Conclusion: KT combined with CPT was found to be more effective than CPT alone in the third and sixth weeks of the treatment. In knee OA, this combination of treatments was found to reduce pain, enhance range of motion, and improve physical functioning.

Background and Purpose: Stroke is a major cause of disability and the third leading cause of death worldwide. Clinical practice guidelines for stroke rehabilitation identify stroke physiotherapists as an essential interdisciplinary team member to minimize residual impairments and disability, thereby improving the patient's ability to execute daily tasks. This article uses an existing American survey to compare Saudi physiotherapists' current practice and preferred interventions in stroke rehabilitation with their counterparts in other countries. Method: An electronic survey was sent between September and October 2020 to physiotherapists (n = 287) treating persons with stroke in Saudi Arabia. The questionnaire consisted of items related to stroke rehabilitation, including treatment approach, the goal of interventions, management of tone, facilitation of movement, function, and improved motor control. Chi-square tests (χ²) were used to test any associations between physiotherapists' responses with respect to their demographic characteristics. Quantitative data analysis was conducted using SPSS. Results: A total of 197 participants returned completed questionnaires (68.6%). Participants were asked which methods of stroke treatment they had practiced in their profession and which methods had been taught in school training. The Bobath/neurodevelopmental treatment (NDT) approach was the most commonly known approach in practice (77.66%), followed by the proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation/Brunnstrom and motor relearning program (63.45%, 25.38%, respectively). The results showed a significant relationship between Saudi physiotherapists' current practice and the aim of treatment and function (P < .05). In general, respondents have agreed on preferred treatment approaches, with the majority referring to the Bobath/NDT method, although variation is observed between participants in some sections of the survey. The preferred treatment was based on the frequency of responses of the participants. Discussion and Conclusion: Variation has been observed between therapists regarding treatment applications in stroke rehabilitation. The current findings emphasize the need to investigate how and why practitioners use or do not use evidence in this area (such as national stroke guidelines). Future studies might need to engage Saudi stroke physiotherapists to find suitable ways to close the gap between the evidence for best practice and the use of evidence within day-to-day practices.

Introduction: Implementing evidence into practice is a global priority with implications for patients, researchers, practitioners and policy-makers (stakeholders). The national clinical guideline (NCG) for stroke is one of the most important sources of robust evidence. However, implementation within real practice is often slow to respond. The knowledge to action (KTA) framework is one of several frameworks to facilitate implementation and enable evidence to be put into operation. This study aims to develop a conceptual framework to understand the process of implementation of an NCG for stroke in the local context of physiotherapy practice in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Methods: A qualitative–quantitative mixed methods study was conducted. The first method (panel meetings, 10 expert physiotherapists) was to chart the main concepts/domains of physiotherapy practice in the UK NCG for stroke. Drawing on panel meeting findings, 75 recommendations were released as an online questionnaire to 35 Saudi stroke specialist physiotherapists. This was followed by a focus group (second method) to capture the process of implementation of NCG for stroke in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Results: Sixty-one recommendations were accepted to be applied in real practice, whereas only 14 recommendations were rejected. The paper presents the first empirically derived framework that establishes thecontributionof physiotherapy to stroke rehabilitation. This framework characterizes the real-world nature of the implementation of NCGs for stroke within physiotherapy practice. This framework reaffirms the importance of supportive organizational culture, the specific need of end users, patient factors, and finally transferability of the evidence. Discussion: This conceptual framework appears to provide a reasonable approach for the development of implementation strategies for physiotherapist practice in stroke rehabilitation. Furthermore, it might be the first that reflects the real value of the KTA framework and tests it empirically. Conclusion: The finding of this study provides a useful comprehensive framework to implement existing NCGs for stroke.

Background: Parkinson’s disease (PD) is considered a neurological disease with a high prevalence rate among population. One of its main problems is recurrent fall which has numerous contributing factors such as history of fall, fear of falling, gait deficits, impaired balance, poor functional mobility, and muscle weakness. Objective: To review and explore the focus/nature of interventions which target the role of physiotherapy preventing fall in patients with PD. Method: A scoping review was led dependent on Arksey and O’Malley as discussed by Wood et al. (2002). This paper based on this structure to perceive intervention studies have been embraced in physiotherapy to prevent fall after Parkinson’s disease. The search included various databases. The referencing arrangements of every pertinent paper were additionally filtered for more studies. Findings: A total of 173 articles were included, 39 of which met the eligibility criteria. Fifteen studies reported on the direct impact of physiotherapy on fall, while the rest examined the impacts of physiotherapy on factors that are associated with fall. Different outcomes, interventions types, and duration were used in these studies. Findings showed a favorable result of physiotherapy on fall and near fall incidence, balance, gait, functional mobility, muscle strength, and fear of falling. Conclusion: Physiotherapy has the possibility to decrease fall incidence and fall risk in people with PD. However, the heterogeneity in the patients’ selection, intervention studies, outcome measures chosen, time since the onset of disease, variation in intensity, and duration of treatment between included studies make the comparisons difficult. Consequently, more studies are needed on best intervention.

The recent emergence of research on cerebral palsy (CP) in developing countries aims to improve knowledge on affected children and the utilization of the available services. This study seeks to describe children with CP in Saudi Arabia and service utilization as per Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) levels and geographic regions. A cross-sectional survey of 227 children with CP (Mean age 6.3, SD 3.9 years) was conducted. Parents reported on children’s demographics, impairments, and service utilization. Half of the children (n = 113, 49.8%) had ≥3 impairments with speech, visual and learning impairments being the most frequent. The total number of impairments differed significantly by GMFCS, F (4, 218) = 8.87, p < 0.001. Most of the children (n = 86, 83.4%) used 2–5 services. Moreover, 139 (62.3%) did not attend school, 147 (65.9%) did not receive occupational therapy, and only 32 (14.3%) received speech therapy. More children in GMFCS level I did not receive neurologist services. Profiles of children and services were described by GMFCS and by regions. This was the first study to describe children with CP and service utilization in Saudi Arabia. Although many impairments affected the children, there was low utilization of related services. Data on service utilization and on unmet needs support a comprehensive approach to rehabilitation and the proper service allocation.

Background: Neural mobilization (NM) constitutes the most effective, common method for assessing and treating several neuromuscular disorders. The study at hand aims to determine the effectiveness of the NM technique compared to lumbar stabilization exercise (LSE) and Radial Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy (rESWT) in the physical therapy management of chronic low back pain (CLBP) with radiculopathy. Methods: Two groups comprising 30 participants and randomly chosen formed the basis of this investigation: Group A (NM, LSE, and rESWT) and Group B (LSE and rESWT). The period of three to six weeks constituted the time it took to measure the results herein reached baseline. The results of the observations focused on pain assessed by numerical pain rating scale (NPRS), Lumbar flexion range of motion (Lumbar FROM) by Schober’s method, and disability level as measured by the Modified Oswestry Disability Questionnaire (MODQ). Results: In the control group, the mean scores of pain, lumbar FROM, and MODQ at baselines showed a high level of similarity (6.47, 2.87, and 43.71 respectively in the intervention group, and 6.20, 2.93 and 44.66. Both groups showed improvement in their pain scores at three weeks (P<0.05). However, only lumbar FROM and MODQ showed statistically significant improvement in favor of the intervention group at three weeks (P<0.05). By week 6, both groups achieved a statistically significant difference in the values of all variables. Conclusion: NM with LSE and rESWT is more effective than LSE and rESWT in the third week, and was similarly effective in the sixth week of the treatment. NM with LSE and rESWT may be an alternative treatment option in the treatment of CLBP.