Unmet Needs for Cardiac Rehabilitation in Africa: A Perennial Gap in the Management of Individuals with Cardiac Diseases.

Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is a standard model of care, and an established component of comprehensive care that has been proven to reduce mortality and morbidity in patients with cardiac diseases. International clinical practice guidelines routinely recommend that cardiac patients participate in CR programs for comprehensive secondary prevention. However, there is scant guidance on how to deliver these programs in low-resourced settings.

Positive impacts of leisure-time physical activity on cardiorespiratory fitness, co-morbidity level, cardiovascular health and quality of life among midlife adults: a cross-sectional study of a Nigerian population.

Background: Regular physical activity (PA) improves general health and quality of life (QoL) of the general population. It is however not known if leisure-time PA (LTPA) behaviour will reduce co-morbidity and adiposity, and improve cardiorespiratory fitness and QoL in midlife men. This study explored the impacts of regular LTPA behaviour on co-morbidity, adiposity, cardiorespiratory fitness and QoL among male midlife sports club members in a Nigerian population.

Falls and fear of falling among older adults in an assisted-living facility: A qualitative and foundational study for intervention development in a developing country.

Background: Falls and fear of falling (FOF) have serious adverse effects for older adults. Culturally-specific and environmentally-tailored interventions may help address the problems of falls and FOF. No such interventions are however available for use in the African context.

Development and Feasibility Testing of Video Home Based Telerehabilitation for Stroke Survivors in Resource Limited Settings.

Tele-physiotherapy has been shown to be valuable to improve clinical outcomes after stroke. Yet, home-based interventions for stroke survivors (SSVs) who speak indigenous African languages are sparse. This study developed a video-based home exercise programme (VHEP) for SSV speakers of Yoruba.

Cross-Cultural Adaptation and Validation of Nigerian (Igbo) Version of the Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly.

Objectives: To cross-culturally adapt and validate the Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly (PASE) into Igbo culture.

Methods: The English version of the PASE (E-PASE) was translated into Igbo, harmonized, back-translated, subjected to expert panel review, and pretested. The final Igbo version of PASE (I-PASE), the E-PASE, and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire were then administered to consecutively recruited 109 consenting Igbo older adults.

Validation of Igbo version of the modified falls efficacy scale among community-dwelling older adults: a validation study.

Background: Fear of falling (FOF) is a very pervasive problem among older adults. Consequently, many scales have been developed for its assessment. The Modified Falls Efficacy Scale (MFES) is one of the most popular FOF scales.

Association between physical activity level and blood pressure: varied and graded mediating effects of obesity indices in schoolchildren.

Objective: To explore the mediating effects of adiposity indices in the association between physical activity level and blood pressure in a Nigerian schoolchildren population.

Materials And Methods: One thousand five hundred and seventeen schoolchildren (714 males and 803 females) from randomly selected primary schools participated. Physical activity level, sum of skinfold thickness at three sites, waist circumference, body mass index, and blood pressure were measured using standardised procedures.

Effects of a 12-month task-specific balance training on the balance status of stroke survivors with and without cognitive impairments in Selected Hospitals in Nnewi, Anambra State, Nigeria.

Background: Stroke results in varying levels of physical disabilities that may adversely impact balance with increased tendency to falls. This may intensify with cognitive impairments (CI), and impede functional recovery. Therefore, task-specific balance training (TSBT), which presents versatile task-specific training options that matches varied individual needs, was explored as a beneficial rehabilitation regime for stroke survivors with and without CI.

Perception, Knowledge, and Attitude toward Physical Activity Behaviour: Implications for Participation among Individuals with Essential Hypertension.

Introduction: Understanding lifestyle behavior among individuals with hypertension is important for achieving hypertension control.

Aim: This study explored perception, knowledge, attitude and participation in physical activity (PA) among individuals with hypertension attending tertiary hospitals in a south-eastern Nigerian state.

Methods: This cross-sectional survey involved 200 individuals with hypertension from the Out-Patient Departments of the two teaching hospitals in Anambra State, Nigeria.

Depression, functional disability and quality of life among Nigerian older adults: Prevalences and relationships.

Background: Ageing is associated with increased morbidity, depression and decline in function. These may consequently impair the quality of life (QoL) of older adults.

Purpose: This study was used to investigate the prevalence of functional disability, depression, and level of quality of life of older adults residing in Uyo metropolis and its environs, Nigeria.

Caregiver-proxy reliability of the Igbo-culture adapted Maleka Stroke Community Reintegration Measure: a validation study.

Objectives: This study was designed to determine the caregiver-proxy reliability of the Igbo-culture adapted urban version of the Maleka Stroke Community Reintegration Measure (I-MSCRIM).

Methods: This was a validation study involving 74 consenting stroke survivors and their 74 primary informal caregivers consecutively recruited from selected tertiary hospitals in South-East Nigeria (Igboland). The I-MSCRIM was researcher-administered to the participants.

Effects of aerobic dance training on blood pressure in individuals with uncontrolled hypertension on two antihypertensive drugs: a randomized clinical trial.

There is a dearth of reports on possible additive blood pressure (BP)-reducing effect of aerobic exercise on antihypertensive drug in humans. This study investigated the additive BP-reducing effect of aerobic exercise on BP in individuals with uncontrolled hypertension. In this 12-week double-blind study, 120 new-diagnosed individuals with mild-to-moderate hypertension were randomized to receive coamilozide + 5/10 mg of amlodipine + aerobic dance or coamilozide + 5/10 mg of amlodipine alone.

Social risk factors for falls among rural Nigerian community-dwelling older adults.

Aim: Reports on social risk factors for falls are scarce. This study explored the associations of selected sociodemographic and health variables with falls among rural Nigerian community-dwelling older adults.

Methods: The present cross-sectional study involved 131 community-dwelling older adults (84 women and 47 men) recruited at an outreach center.

Prevalence and Socio-Demographic Determinants of Overweight and Obesity in a Nigerian Population.

Objective: This survey explored prevalence of overweight and obesity and their associations with socio-demographic variables in a Nigerian population.

Methods: This cross-sectional survey involved 1521 adults in Nnewi. Age, sex, educational and occupational status, and BMI were recorded.

Can aerobic exercise complement antihypertensive drugs to achieve blood pressure control in individuals with essential hypertension?

Achieving adequate blood pressure (BP) control with antihypertensive medication remains an elusive goal for many patients. The advances in knowledge of hypertension and the increasingly improved upon therapeutic strategies seem not to guarantee even sustainable control rates at the population level. In addition, patients who either discontinue their medications or are non-adherent to drug therapy run the risk of developing uncontrolled BP.

A randomized controlled trial of the effects of aerobic dance training on blood lipids among individuals with hypertension on a thiazide.

Purpose: Hypertension is associated with dyslipidemia. Thiazides adversely affect serum lipid levels in hypertensives. There is currently a dearth of information on benefits of aerobic exercise training on serum lipid levels in individuals on thiazides and this study aimed at bridging this gap in knowledge.

Physical activity level and adiposity: are they associated with primary dysmenorrhea in school adolescents?

Information on self-reported physical activity (PA) level in association with primary dysmenorrhea (PD) is not readily available on African populations, and there is a dearth of information on the association of adiposity with PD. This study explored the association of PA and adiposity indices with PD and associated menstrual pain. This cross-sectional study involved 1383 female adolescents from 12 randomly selected secondary schools (9 private and 3 public schools).

Influence of gender on prevalence of overweight and obesity in Nigerian schoolchildren and adolescents.

Overweight and obesity are serious health concerns for children. However, only a few studies have investigated the influence of gender on prevalence of overweight and obesity in children and adolescents in Nigeria. The objective of this study was to investigate gender influence on prevalence of overweight and obesity among Nigerian school children and adolescents.

Relationships between transtheoretical model stages of change, decisional balance, self-efficacy, and physical activity level among Nigerian market vendors.

Purpose: This study explored decisional balance, self-efficacy, and physical activity (PA) level in relation to stages of change (SoC) for PA among Nigerian vendors. The study explored associations among decisional balance, self-efficacy, and PA level, and examined differences, by stage, in decisional balance, self-efficacy, and PA level.

Design: Cross-sectional survey.

Differential perceptions of body image and body weight among adults of different socioeconomic status in a sub-urban population.

This study explored the association of socioeconomic status with individuals' perception of their body image (BI) and body weight (BW) among adults in a sub-urban Nigerian population. The cross-sectional sample comprised 1521 residents (775 males and 746 females) of the town of Nnewi. Perceived BI was assessed using figural representations of different sizes for males and females.

Self-reported quality of life before and after aerobic exercise training in individuals with hypertension: a randomised-controlled trial.

Background: The Effects of Aerobic Exercise Training (AET) on self-reported Quality of Life (QoL) in people with hypertension have been previously documented. However, data on black populations, especially from Africa, seem not to be available. This study investigated the effects of AET on QoL and exercise capacity in Nigerians on treatment for essential hypertension.