Protracted exercise tolerance post-coronavirus disease 2019 in endurance athletes: A survey.

Background: The global coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic irrevocably influenced our lives, yet research in a diversity of countries is lacking. Cardiorespiratory fitness may be impaired for up to a year post-COVID-19 infection.

Objectives: Our study aimed to compare acute and exertional symptoms, fatigue, and exercise performance in masters-age endurance athletes according to their return-to-sport status.

Physical function and activity of patients after open abdominal surgery: a prospective cohort study comparing the clinimetric properties of two outcome measures.

Objectives: To measure and compare the clinimetric properties of the Chelsea Critical Care Physical Assessment (CPAx) and Physical Function in Intensive Care Test-scored (PFIT-s) for assessment of physical function and activity.

Design: Prospective cohort design using crossover-randomisation of the sequence in which participants were assessed with CPAx and PFIT-s.

Setting: Surgical and transplant intensive care units (ICU) in an academic hospital.

Preoperative physiotherapy education for patients undergoing colorectal cancer resection.

Background: Surgical resection is a common treatment for patients with colorectal cancer. Patients undergoing surgery are at risk of functional deterioration as a response to surgical stress. Furthermore, patients with cancer often present with systemic problems as well as a functional decline.

Perceptions of students and educators regarding a once-off pre-clinical ICU simulation activity.

Background: Physiotherapy skills such as suction and manual hyperinflation (MHI) are used to manage patients in intensive care. Performing these skills effectively and safely requires a level of expertise. It is unknown whether a once-off preclinical high-fidelity simulation activity incorporating these skills would translate to clinical practice inclusion.

The association between lifestyle-related risk factors and survival in patients with colorectal cancer in an urban South African cohort.

Background: Lifestyle-related factors have been linked with risk for colorectal cancer. Data describing the relationship between lifestyle factors of South African patients who present with colorectal cancer and their survival is sparse.

Objectives: The objectives were to describe the profile of patients with colorectal cancer; to determine the association between lifestyle-related factors and survival, and to compare results of patients in the private and public sectors.

Effectiveness of nonpharmacological therapeutic interventions on pain and physical function in adults with rib fractures during acute care: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Rib fractures are a common thoracic injury and notable source of chest pain. Chest pain may lead to compromised respiratory and physical function.

Objectives: Our study aimed to synthesise the evidence on the effectiveness of nonpharmacological therapeutic interventions on pain and physical function in adults admitted with rib fractures to acute care settings.

Outcome of survivors of COVID-19 in the intermediate phase of recovery: A case report.

Introduction: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a viral respiratory disease and is associated with significant morbidity in the intermediate and chronic phases of recovery from the disease. The health benefits of respiratory and extremity muscle strengthening exercise therapy are well-described for those with cardiac failure and interstitial lung disease and are suggested to improve functional ability for patients recovering from COVID-19. The aim of this case report is to share the effects of standard physiotherapy management on exercise endurance, respiratory function and return to work, implemented for patients with COVID-19 in the intermediate phase of their recovery.

A profile of adult patients with major burns admitted to a Level 1 Trauma Centre and their functional outcomes at discharge: A retrospective review.

Background: Patients with major burns suffer with pain, which impacts their physical function during hospitalisation.

Objectives: To describe the demographics, burn characteristics, clinical course, physical function, complications developed after major burns and to establish predictors of non-independent physical function at hospital discharge.

Method: Records of all consecutive adult burn admissions to a Level 1 Trauma Centre between 2015 and 2017 were screened retrospectively against our study criteria, using the Trauma Bank Data Registry.

Barriers and facilitators to implementation of early mobilisation of critically ill patients in Zimbabwean and South African public sector hospitals: a qualitative study.

Purpose: Implementing early mobilisation in intensive care is challenging, and a detailed knowledge of factors that may hinder or facilitate implementation is essential for success. The study was done to explore the perceived barriers and facilitators to early mobilisation by physiotherapists in Zimbabwean and South African public sector hospital ICUs.

Methods: A qualitative study was done in eight public sector hospitals from South Africa and four hospitals from Zimbabwe.

Preoperative physical activity and functional performance levels are predictors of acute postoperative outcomes in a private South African colorectal cancer cohort.

Background: For patients with colorectal cancer, surgical resection of the primary tumour remains the best treatment option. Surgery for colorectal cancer is being performed on patients who would previously not have been considered as suitable candidates. It remains to be seen which factors influence hospital length of stay (LOS) and the development of acute postoperative complications in South African patients.

Physical outcomes of patients infected with HIV requiring intensive care unit admission for mechanical ventilation at one South African hospital: a pilot study.

Patients with life-threatening illnesses in intensive care receive management that improves their chances for survival. The physical outcomes of individuals infected with HIV who survive an intensive care unit (ICU) stay are not well known. The purpose was to describe the physical outcomes of ICU survivors in a high HIV prevalent area and highlight challenges as it relates to study feasibility.

Organizational structures and early mobilization practices in South African public sector intensive care units-A cross-sectional study.

Rationale: Understanding current early mobilization practice of patients in intensive care unit (ICU) is critical to the design and implementation of strategies to facilitate its application in a diverse population of critically ill patients encountered in public sector hospitals.

Aim: To evaluate the organizational structures of South African public sector hospital ICUs and to describe early mobilization practices in these units.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was done in participating public hospitals from eight provinces in South Africa.

Factors associated with physical function capacity in an urban cohort of people living with the human immunodeficiency virus in South Africa.

Background: Effective disease management for people living with human immunodeficiency virus (PLWH) includes the encouragement of physical activity. Physical function capacity in PLWH may be influenced by a variety of factors.

Objectives: This study describes the physical function capacity as assessed with the 6-minute walk test (6MWT) of an urban cohort of PLWH and determined whether a history of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB), anthropometric measures, age and gender predicted distance walked.

Investigation of physical and functional impairments experienced by people with active tuberculosis infection: A feasibility pilot study.

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) remains a significant healthcare problem. Understanding physical and functional impairments that patients with active TB present with at the time of diagnosis and how these impairments change over time while they receive anti-TB therapy is important in developing appropriate rehabilitation programmes to optimise patients' recovery.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the acceptability, implementation and practicality of conducting a prospective, observational and longitudinal trial to describe physical and functional impairments of patients with active TB.

The impact of adverse events on health-related quality of life among patients receiving treatment for drug-resistant tuberculosis in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Background: Adverse events (AEs) are common during treatment of drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB). Little is known about the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of patients receiving treatment for DR-TB or the effect of AEs on HRQoL.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study among adult patients with laboratory-confirmed rifampicin resistant tuberculosis (TB) on DR-TB treatment at a public-sector outpatient DR-TB clinic in Johannesburg, South Africa between 02/2015-01/2018.

Impact of the Chelsea critical care physical assessment (CPAx) tool on clinical outcomes of surgical and trauma patients in an intensive care unit: An experimental study.

Background: Critically ill patients following traumatic injury or major surgery are at risk of loss of skeletal muscle mass, which leads to decreased physical function. Early rehabilitation in an intensive care unit (ICU) is thought to preserve or restore physical functioning. The Chelsea critical care physical assessment (CPAx) is a measurement tool used to assess physical function in the ICU.

Effectiveness of non-pharmacological interventions for pain and physical function in adults with rib fractures: a systematic review protocol.

The review question is: what are the effects of non-pharmacological therapeutic interventions on pain and physical function in adults with rib fractures?The objectives of this systematic review are to determine.

University of the Witwatersrand physiotherapy undergraduate curriculum alignment to medical conditions of patients within Gauteng state health facilities.

Background: The healthcare sector requires graduates with the ability to confidently assess and manage the majority of the medical conditions seen in hospitals.

Objective: To establish whether the most prevalent medical conditions treated by physiotherapists in Gauteng (South Africa) state health facilities align with the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) physiotherapy curriculum.

Methods: This was a retrospective review of condition-related statistics from physiotherapy departments within the Gauteng province state health facilities.

Developing minimum clinical standards for physiotherapy in South African ICUs: A qualitative study.

Rationale, Aims, And Objectives: Physiotherapists are integral members of the intensive care unit (ICU) team. Clinicians working in ICU are dependent on their own experience when making decisions regarding individual patient management thus resulting in variation in clinical practice. No formalized clinical practice guidelines or standards exist for the educational profile or scope of practice requirements for ICU physiotherapy.

Functional status and physical impairments of adult patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus admitted to hospital: a scoping review protocol.

The objectives of this scoping review are to describe the physical impairments and subsequent level of function of adult individuals infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) admitted to an acute care hospital, determine the outcome measures used by rehabilitation professionals when evaluating said impairments and level of function in the population of interest, and identify the rehabilitation interventions offered to individuals while in hospital as a means of addressing these physical impairments and individuals' functional status.Specifically, the research questions are:The current scoping review will comprehensively identify the physical impairments of people living with HIV when admitted to an acute care hospital and highlight the subsequent influence on their level of function as a means of emphasizing the disability present. Findings regarding the rehabilitation interventions offered could inform clinical practice as a means of mapping which interventions are offered to address the related physical impairments and thus highlight areas for future research.

The effect of two passive head-down tilt positions on diaphragm excursion in healthy adults: A preliminary study.

Background And Purpose: A head-down tilt position could influence diaphragm excursion due to abdominal content displacement. The purpose of the study was to determine if excursion could be influenced by a head-down tilt position and if this change in excursion alters the diaphragm function.

Design: Prospective quasi-experimental study.