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.

Background: Around 80% of stroke survivors experience upper-limb impairment during the acute phase, with 55% to 75% still affected after 6 months, hindering their daily activities. Consequently, upper-limb rehabilitation has become essential in post-stroke management, leading to innovative therapeutic methods. Despite the variety of available techniques, Mirror Therapy stands out as a feasible and cost-effective option alongside conventional physical therapy. This study aims to assess the impact of Mirror Therapy on improving motor and timed functional abilities of the upper extremities in chronic stroke patients in Saudi Arabia. Methodology: This study was a prospective, randomized controlled trial, which was conducted at 3 Ministry of Health hospitals in Saudi Arabia with 38 chronic stroke patients randomly assigned into two treatment arms, experimental group (n = 19) and control group (n = 19). The study was registered in clinicaltrails.gov with the registration ID NCT06698380. The experimental group received 45 min of training three days a week for six weeks. The Fugl-Meyer Assessment Upper Extremity (FMA-UE) and Wolf Motor Function S Test (WMFT) were used as outcome measures. Pre- and post-intervention measurements were obtained. Results: The participants’ average age was 54.97 ± 7.11 years, with an average height of 165.66 ± 11.21 cm, weight of 78.92 ± 18.96 kg, and BMI of 28.71 ± 6.19 kg/m². Among them, the majority of participants were male (68.4%), with ischemic strokes being the most prevalent type (73.7%). The FMA-US and WMFT scores showed significant improvement in the experimental group (p < 0.001) when compared to the control group. Conclusion: Mirror Therapy significantly enhances motor ability and timed functional activities in the upper extremity of chronic stroke patients.

(1) Background: Obesity is one of the most prevalent health problems worldwide. Studies have evidenced that the increase in body weight affects the normal neuromusculoskeletal function, which leads to abnormal gait patterns and impaired balance. (2) Objective: The aim of this study was to examine the influence of dual-task activity (cognitive-motor task) on gait parameters and balance among obese students. (3) Material and methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among students (18–28 years old), including 120 obese and 120 age-matched normal-weight control subjects, selected at random using simple random sampling, from the Majmaah, Riyadh, Dammam, and Jizan regions of Saudi Arabia. The gait speed was measured in seconds while the controls and the obese subjects performed a dual-task activity of walking down a level, well-lit, narrow lane at their own speed, counting backwards from 100 by 4 s. (4) Results: The results of our study suggest a significant difference in the effect of the dual-task paradigm on the gait speed (t = 21.05, p = 000) of obese participants when compared to their age-matched counterparts. A significant correlation was found between BMI and gait speed and balance, irrespective of the gender of the obese student. A high degree of positive correlation (r = 0.705, p < 0.001) was found between BMI and gait speed, and a high degree of inverse correlation (r = −0.648, p < 0.001) was found between BMI and balance among obese students A multiple regression model explained 60% of the variance in gait speed and was statistically significant (R² = 0.60, F (4, 235) = 90.65, p = 0.000) with BMI (β = 0.018, p = 0.000) and balance (β = 0.015, p = 0.000) significantly predicting gait speed. (5) Conclusion: The results of the current study provide evidence that obesity significantly influences gait speed and balance due to the inclusion of a contemporaneous cognitive task. The results also suggest that the dual-task paradigm affects both genders equally.

Aims & Objective: The current research on physical therapists' understanding of managing modifiable risk factors for stroke in Saudi Arabia is limited. This study aims to evaluate physical therapists' knowledge in Saudi Arabia on managing modifiable stroke risk factors and their prioritization of stroke prevention. It also seeks to understand the connection between therapists' awareness, experience, perceptions, and information access with their readiness to apply stroke prevention measures. Methodology: A cross-sectional online questionnaire survey was administered to registered Physical therapists in the Riyadh region between February and July of 2022. An online questionnaire was developed with 18 questions to evaluate the knowledge and perception of the Physical therapist about the risk factors and management of stroke. Socio-demographic information, participant's knowledge and perception of stroke risk factors, and participant's stroke risk factor sources of information. Results: The results of this survey suggest that while most physical therapists in Saudi Arabia have a good understanding of stroke risk factors, there are still some knowledge gaps that need to be addressed. The fact that a significant percentage of respondents were unsure about the relationship between some risk factors and stroke highlights the need for ongoing education and training for physical therapists in this area. Conclusions: The findings underscore the importance of education, training, work experience, and sources of knowledge in shaping physical therapists' beliefs and practice behaviors.