Background: Although a cross-legged sitting (CLS) posture has been commonly practiced as a daily activity, particularly in Arabic, Middle Eastern, and Asian societies, there is no medical study focusing on the effects of cross-legged sitting on body balance and muscular strength. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effect of CLS on lower extremity muscular strength, muscular electrical activity, and body balance. Methods: Thirty healthy volunteers participated in this research study by performing CLS for a 20 min duration. The balance tests included a static test, i.e., a single-leg-standing posture with eyes closed, to assess if the centre of the pelvis and centre of the shoulders (CoS) moved, and a dynamic test, i.e., four-square-returning, to assess if the moving speed changed. Regarding the muscular assessment, the electrical activity was assessed depending on the maximal value of activation and rooted mean of squared values, while the muscular strength was assessed according to the maximum force by the lower limbs using a force sensor. The balance and muscular results were statistically compared before and after CLS. Results: The duration of the static balance after CLS decreased by an average of 2.5 s, or approximately 15.64%, compared to before CLS (p < 0.05 *). Further, the Centre of Pelvis moved greater distances in the medial–lateral direction after CLS compared to before, but CoS was not significantly changed in the static balance test. However, in the dynamic balance test, the duration significantly decreased by 0.2 s, or approximately 8.5%, after CLS compared to before, meaning that dynamic balance ability improved. Considering the muscle results, only the lateral gastrocnemius muscle was noticeably electrically activated after CLS, while the hip extensor and knee flexor muscles became significantly stronger after CLS compared to before, roughly by about 14%, and the ankle plantar flexor maximum force increased noticeably, by about 4%, after CLS. Conclusions: CLS had a positive impact on the dynamic balance; the strength of the hip extensor, knee flexor, and ankle plantar flexion; and all lower limb muscles, in terms of electrical stimulation, except for the lateral gastrocnemius post-CLS compared to pre-CLS. Therefore, CLS can be safely included in one’s daily routine and in any rehabilitation programme, except for patients who are suffering from static balance disturbance. Although this posture is commonly used in many societies, because this is the first study focused on the impact of CLS on body balance and muscular status, the results would supply knowledge and new understanding, as well as provide clear insight for sitting posture research.

Background/Objectives: Low back pain (LBP) is one of the most common musculoskeletal conditions globally and a leading cause of disability. University populations may be particularly vulnerable due to prolonged sitting, academic stress, and frequently suboptimal ergonomics, especially in rapidly expanding higher education systems such as those in Saudi Arabia. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to synthesize evidence on the prevalence of LBP among university attendants in Saudi Arabia and to quantify its associations with key demographic and environmental risk factors. Methods: We systematically reviewed observational studies reporting LBP prevalence and/or risk factors among university students and faculty in Saudi Arabia published in English, following Cochrane methodological guidance and PRISMA 2020 reporting recommendations. The protocol was prospectively registered in PROSPERO (CRD420250654048). We searched PubMed, Embase and CINAHL from inception to February 2025. Two reviewers independently screened studies, extracted data, and assessed risk of bias using the Joanna Briggs Institute checklist for analytical cross-sectional studies. Random effects meta-analyses were used to pool prevalence estimates across recall periods, regions, populations, and measurement tools, and to calculate pooled odds ratios (ORs) for age, sex, smoking, family history of LBP, and college seating conditions. Heterogeneity, subgroup, and sensitivity analyses were undertaken. Results: Thirteen cross-sectional studies were included. The overall pooled prevalence of LBP was 57% (95% confidence interval [CI] approximately 43–71), with substantial heterogeneity. Prevalence varied by recall period, region, population group, and measurement instrument; pooled prevalence was 58% among students and 50% among faculty. Increasing age (OR 1.17, 95% CI 1.01–1.34) and poor college seating conditions (OR 1.42, 95% CI 1.07–1.76) were significantly associated with LBP. Male gender, smoking, and family history showed non-significant pooled effects. These estimates are limited by substantial between-study heterogeneity, variable measurement tools, and exclusively cross-sectional designs, which restrict causal inference. Conclusions: LBP is prevalent among university attendants in Saudi Arabia, affecting both students and faculty. The consistent associations with age and seating ergonomics highlight the need for ergonomic classroom redesign and age-sensitive preventive strategies. Future work should adopt standardized LBP measures and longitudinal designs to clarify causal pathways and evaluate targeted interventions. Funding: This work was supported by the Deanship of Graduate Studies and Scientific Research at Jouf University (grant DGSSR-2026-NF-01-002).

Introduction: Effective management of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) requires a multidisciplinary approach. This study aims to quantify the combined effect of nursing and physiotherapy interventions on outcomes in adults with T2DM. Objective: To evaluate the impact of nursing and physiotherapy interventions on key outcomes in T2DM patients. Methodology: A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted following PRISMA guidelines (search conducted until July 2024) across PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane, and Google Scholar. Randomized controlled trials and controlled clinical trials involving adults with T2DM, focusing on nursing (patient education and/or self-care support) and/or physiotherapy (exercise training and/or physical therapy) interventions, were included. Eighteen studies (N=1,243) were analyzed using random effects models for mean difference pooling. Results: Key outcomes included HbA1c, BMI, physical function, and quality of life (QoL). The combined nursing and physiotherapy intervention significantly improved glycemic control (HbA1c 7.0% vs. 7.5%, weighted mean difference –0.52%, 95% CI –0.68 to –0.36, p<0.001), reduced BMI (MD –1.2 kg/m², 95% CI –1.7 to –0.7, p<0.001), improved exercise capacity (+45m in 6-minute walk, 95% CI 30–60), and QoL (+5.1 SF36 physical points, 95% CI 3.0–7.2). Conclusion: Combined nursing and physiotherapy interventions significantly improved self-care behaviors, metabolic control, and functional outcomes in T2DM patients. These findings support the recommendation for collaborative nursing-physiotherapy programs in diabetes care.

Porous implant designs have been introduced in total ankle replacement (TAR) to enhance bone ingrowth and long-term fixation. However, their immediate mech

To evaluate the effectiveness of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) as an adjunct to rehabilitation in reducing pain and improving knee function in adults with MRI-confirmed meniscus injuries. In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 40 adults with unilateral meniscus injuries were assigned to either an LLLT group or a placebo group. All participants received a standardized rehabilitation program over six weeks. The primary outcome was pain intensity measured using a visual analogue scale (VAS). Secondary outcomes included knee function (Lysholm score), range of motion (ROM), and physical performance tests. Both groups showed significant improvements; however, the LLLT group demonstrated greater reductions in pain and improvements in function, mobility, and ROM compared with the control group (p < 0.01 for all outcomes). The magnitude of improvement exceeded clinically meaningful thresholds, particularly for pain reduction and functional gains. Adjunctive LLLT was associated with greater improvements in pain and functional outcomes compared with rehabilitation alone. LLLT appears to be a safe and potentially effective complementary modality in the conservative management of meniscal injuries.