Background/Objectives: Children with diplegic spastic cerebral palsy (CP) often present with impaired postural control, poor balance, and gait abnormalities that negatively affect their functional mobility and independence. Core stability, which is the ability to control the position and movement of the trunk, is considered a critical component in maintaining postural alignment and improving gross motor function. This study aimed to investigate the impact of a structured core stability exercise program on the standing ability, functional balance, and gait parameters of children diagnosed with diplegic spastic CP. Methods: Forty children (28 males, 12 females) aged 4–10 years with a clinical diagnosis of diplegic spastic cerebral palsy were randomly allocated into two groups (n = 20 each). The study group underwent a 12-week core stability exercise program in addition to a standardized physiotherapy regimen, which was conducted three times per week. The control group received the physiotherapy program alone. Functional outcomes were assessed pre- and post-intervention using the Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS), Pediatric Balance Scale, and Kinovea software for gait analysis. Results: Both groups demonstrated statistically significant improvements in all measured variables after the intervention. However, the study group showed significantly greater improvements in standing ability (9%), balance (9%), and gait parameters (p < 0.05), particularly in knee flexion, ankle dorsiflexion, and plantar flexion, during gait cycles. Conclusions: Core stability training resulted in superior enhancements in balance, standing, and gait performance compared with physiotherapy alone in children with diplegic spastic cerebral palsy.

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).

Objective: To evaluate the effect of pulley system exercises combined with conventional therapy on upper-limb function in children with hemiplegic CP. Design: A randomized controlled trial was conducted with 32 children aged 3-7 years with hemiplegic CP. Participants were allocated to an intervention group (A) receiving pulley system exercises alongside conventional therapy or a control group (B) receiving conventional therapy alone. Outcomes measured pre- and post-intervention included the Assisting Hand Assessment (AHA), Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency (BOT-2), and isometric muscle strength. Results: Both groups improved significantly, but the intervention group showed significantly greater gains in bimanual performance, motor coordination, and muscle strength compared to controls ( P <0.01). Conclusion: Incorporating structured pulley system exercises with conventional therapy significantly enhances upper-limb function in children with hemiplegic CP. This affordable, adaptable approach may optimize rehabilitation outcomes by delivering high-repetition, progressively loaded, task-specific practice.

Objectives: To assess the impact of cognitive therapy with the rehacom visual-motor module on the hand function in hemiplegic cerebral palsy children. Method: The randomised case-control study was conducted at Kafrelsheikh University, Egypt, from September 2021 to February 2022, and comprised children aged 6-8 years with spastic hemiplegic cerebral palsy. They were randomised into control group A and intervention group B. Subjects in group A received designed physical therapy and hand function training, while those in group B additionally received visual-motor coordination training with the help of rehacom system. The groups were evaluated for both visual-motor coordination and fine motor skills at baseline and after 6-month training. SPSS version 26 was used to analyse the raw data of the current study. Results: Of the 40 subjects, 20(50%) were in each of the two groups. There were 13(65%) boys and 7(35%) girls with mean age 66±4.01 months in group A, and 9(45%) boys and 11(55%) girls with mean age 67±4.06 months in group B (p>0.05). Both groups showed improvement related to grasping, visual-motor integration and fine motor quotient post-intervention, but improvement in group B was significantly higher on each count(p<0.05). Conclusion: The addition of visual-motor integration programme by rehacom system was found to be more effective than the effect of routine physiotherapy training alone. Keywords: Cerebral palsy, Hemiplegia, Motor skills, Muscle spasticity, Psychomotor performance.