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.

Article: The effect of post-match fatigue on physical performance in adolescent soccer players - The Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness 2024 Jul 05 - Minerva Medica - Journals

Background: This study aimed to cross-cultural translate the Foot and Ankle Ability Measure to Arabic version (FAAM-AR) and to assess the psychometric properties of the FAAM-AR in a sample of Arabic-speaking participants. Methodology: The FAAM-AR was translated according to the International Society for Quality of Life Assessment (IQOLA) guidelines. To determine construct validity, 106 participants with different foot and ankle musculoskeletal pathologies completed the FAAM-AR and SF-36. In addition, the FAAM-AR internal consistency was assessed by calculating Cronbach's alpha coefficient. Test-retest reliability was assessed using Intra-class correlation coefficient ICC _2,1 . Results: The FAAM-AR was moderately correlated with Physical component Summary of SF-36 (ADL r = 0.67; Sport r = 0.67). Whereas, FAAM-AR showed weak correlations with Mental component Summary of SF-36 (ADL r = 0.33; Sport r = 0.19). The FAAM-AR showed excellent degree of internal consistency (ADL = 0.95; Sport = 0.92), and excellent test-retest reliability (ADL = 0.95; Sport = 0.95). Conclusion: The FAAM-AR is a valid and reliable tool for assessing ankle-foot functional status among Arabic-speaking patients with various ankle or foot musculoskeletal pathologies.