This pilot study examined whether ischemic conditioning (IC), a noninvasive, cost-effective, and easy-to-administer intervention, could improve gait speed and paretic leg muscle function in stroke survivors. We hypothesized that 2 wk of IC training would increase self-selected walking speed, increase paretic muscle strength, and reduce neuromuscular fatigability in chronic stroke survivors. Twenty-two chronic stroke survivors received either IC or IC Sham on their paretic leg every other day for 2 wk (7 total sessions). IC involved 5-min bouts of ischemia, repeated five times, using a cuff inflated to 225 mmHg on the paretic thigh. For IC Sham, the cuff inflation pressure was 10 mmHg. Self-selected walking speed was assessed using the 10-m walk test, and paretic leg knee extensor strength and fatigability were assessed using a Biodex dynamometer. Self-selected walking speed increased in the IC group (0.86 ± 0.21 m/s pretest vs. 1.04 ± 0.22 m/s posttest, means ± SD; P < 0.001) but not in the IC Sham group (0.92 ± 0.47 m/s pretest vs. 0.96 ± 0.46 m/s posttest; P = 0.25). Paretic leg maximum voluntary contractions were unchanged in both groups (103 ± 57 N·m pre-IC vs. 109 ± 65 N·m post-IC; 103 ± 59 N·m pre-IC Sham vs. 108 ± 67 N·m post-IC Sham; P = 0.81); however, participants in the IC group maintained a submaximal isometric contraction longer than participants in the IC Sham group (278 ± 163 s pre-IC vs. 496 ± 313 s post-IC, P = 0.004; 397 ± 203 s pre-IC Sham vs. 355 ± 195 s post-IC Sham; P = 0.46). The results from this pilot study thus indicate that IC training has the potential to improve walking speed and paretic muscle fatigue resistance poststroke. NEW & NOTEWORTHY This pilot study is the first to demonstrate that ischemic conditioning can improve self-selected walking speed and reduce paretic muscle fatigue in stroke survivors. Ischemic conditioning has been shown to be safe in numerous patient populations, can be accomplished at home or at the bedside in only 45 min, and requires no specialized training. Future larger studies are warranted to determine the efficacy of ischemic conditioning as a neurorehabilitation therapy poststroke.

Background: Running surface characteristics may influence loading rate and lower-limb biomechanics during running. However, evidence regarding the effects of outdoor running surfaces remains limited. Therefore, this study investigated the effects of different outdoor running surfaces on vertical average loading rate (VALR) and lower-limb sagittal-plane kinematics during running. Methods: Twenty-two healthy male recreational runners completed running trials on three outdoor surfaces: concrete, rubber track, and artificial turf. VALR was measured using Loadsol in-shoe sensors, and lower-limb kinematics were assessed using wearable inertial sensors (Xsens). Participants ran at a self-selected speed. Repeated measures ANOVA examined differences in VALR across surfaces, while statistical parametric mapping assessed continuous sagittal-plane kinematics throughout the gait cycle. Results: Surface type significantly affected VALR, F(1.31, 27.43) = 10.86, p = .001, ηp² = 0.34. VALR was greatest on concrete (67.95 ± 19.72 BW/s), followed by rubber track (60.77 ± 18.23 BW/s), and lowest on artificial turf (58.00 ± 17.15 BW/s). Post hoc analysis showed greater VALR on concrete than rubber track and artificial turf, and greater VALR on rubber track than artificial turf. A significant surface effect was identified for hip kinematics, with greater hip angle on concrete than on the rubber track between 45.6% and 60.3% of the gait cycle (cluster p = .004). No significant surface effects were identified for knee or ankle kinematics. Conclusions: Among the three tested outdoor surface types, the concrete condition was associated with a higher VALR than the rubber track and artificial turf conditions. Hip kinematics differed between concrete and the rubber track during swing, whereas knee and ankle kinematics did not differ between surfaces. Given that a large proportion of recreational running in Saudi Arabia is performed on concrete pavements, these findings may provide surface-specific loading data relevant to runners in this setting.

Context: Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a common neuropathy disease as a result of constriction of the median nerve, leading to pain, numbness, and functional limitation. Although the prevalence of clinically diagnosed CTS is predicted at 3.8% in the general population, certain occupational groups, such as schoolteachers may be at elevated risk. Aims: To assess the prevalence and risk factors of CTS between schoolteachers in Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah city, Saudi Arabia. Setting and Design: An online cross-sectional survey was administered among schoolteachers in Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah using a validated Arabic version of the Boston carpal tunnel questionnaire-A. Subjects and Methods: A total of 268 participants provided sociodemographic and clinical data, including symptom severity scale (SSS) and functional status scale (FSS) scores. Statistical Analysis Used: Descriptive statistics summarized sociodemographic and clinical data. Continuous variables were expressed as means, medians, and standard deviations. The Mann–Whitney and Kruskal–Wallis tests compared SSS and FSS scores, whereas Chi-square and Fisher’s exact tests assessed categorical associations. Results: Clinically diagnosed CTS was reported by 5.2% of participants, whereas 47.3% reported CTS-related symptoms, and 32.1% experienced functional difficulties. Mild symptoms were most common (31.7%). Pregnancy and the presence of multiple comorbidities were significantly associated with higher SSS and FSS scores ( P < 0.001). Conclusions: CTS-related symptoms and functional limitations are common among schoolteachers in Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah, particularly in pregnant teachers or those with multiple comorbidities. These findings highlight the need for preventive strategies and awareness programs in educational settings.

Post-stroke fatigue (PSF) is a major consequence of stroke, with a prevalence of approximately 42–53% among stroke survivors. However, over the last 2 decades, only a few studies have explored PSF in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). Findings from these studies show that PSF negatively impacts the quality of life of individuals with stroke. Furthermore, they emphasize the need for education for both health care providers and patients regarding PSF. This call-to-action mini narrative review identifies knowledge gaps and provides recommendations for both researchers and policymakers, including the need for standardized management and the exploration of hospital environment settings. Specifically, it urges investigation into the prevalence and possible coping strategies for PSF from a cultural perspective. Finally, it highlighted crucial future research direction regarding possibility of the potential long-term effects of PSF on individuals with stroke in KSA.

Mobility limitations in terms of walking and stair climbing among the elderly are associated with limitations in activities of daily living (ADL), higher annual healthcare expenditure, more hospitalizations, and increased mortality. However, evidence on the prevalence of mobility limitation among the elderly in Saudi Arabia remains limited. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate this issue using data from a national public survey. Data were obtained from the 2025 Elderly Survey, which was designed and administered by the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) of Saudi Arabia. Secondary analysis was applied. The survey included both Saudi and non-Saudi residents from 13 administrative regions across the kingdom (n = 32,745 households, which yielded a weighted national population of approximately 1,758,737 individuals). In total, 42% of the individuals were aged 60 to 64 years, and 25.5% of the individuals experienced mild difficulty in terms of mobility, specifically walking and climbing stairs, whereas 10.8% experienced severe difficulty. Furthermore, 61.8% of the individuals were not physically active. Additionally, 44.7% of the individuals had multiple chronic conditions, 25.5% had 1 chronic condition, and 29.8% had no chronic conditions. The survey data indicated that more than one-third of the elderly in Saudi Arabia have mild-to-severe mobility limitations in terms of walking and climbing stairs.