Physiotherapy students' knowledge and attitudes about their role in mental health.

Background: As the prevalence of mental health disorders (MHD) increases, physiotherapy students will be increasingly exposed to patients with MHD in their undergraduate studies. International research has shown that students who have mental health included in their curriculum have more knowledge and positive attitudes towards patients with MHD. In South Africa, little is known about physiotherapy students' attitudes towards and knowledge of mental health.

National Health Insurance interprofessional practice implementation in hand rehabilitation service delivery in South Africa.

Unlabelled: South Africa's current healthcare system is unequal and inefficient, with 71% of the population accessing underfunded public healthcare facilities. The imminent National Health Insurance (NHI) aims to balance the inequality between private and public health services by providing universal healthcare. The high levels of road accidents, violence and injuries in South Africa, being one of the quadruple burdens of diseases frequently causing hand injuries with resultant devastating economic and functional implications without rehabilitation services, are concerning.

Hand therapy: Inclusive care by South African physiotherapists.

Unlabelled: Hand therapy for individuals who sustained hand injuries is included in the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) physiotherapy scope of practice. The training that physiotherapists receive at the undergraduate level lays the foundation for them to deliver hand therapy or hand rehabilitation according to the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health domains in a uniquely South African health service context. Further structured formal and informal postgraduate continued education opportunities may put physiotherapists in the ideal position in a multidisciplinary team to deliver optimal hand therapy.

Physiotherapy practice in lymphoedema in South Africa: A survey.

Background: Lymphoedema is a chronic condition that is increasing in prevalence and requires specialised management to avoid possible life-threatening complications.

Objectives: To describe the perceived knowledge of physiotherapists about lymphoedema and its management, the lymphoedema patient load seen by physiotherapists, and the current treatment approaches of physiotherapists in South Africa when managing lymphoedema.

Method: A quantitative study using self-administered, online questionnaires were distributed among physiotherapists.

Same-day discharge after early mobilisation and increased frequency of physiotherapy following hip and knee arthroplasty.

Background: Advanced rehabilitation pathway (ARP) after hip and knee arthroplasties is popular globally and is gaining ground in South Africa (SA). A multidisciplinary team in Rustenburg, SA, has implemented an ARP with the first same-day discharge (SDD) from hospital. The lack of evidence of physiotherapy protocols within an ARP determined our study.

Traumatic hand injury management and outcomes: A case report.

Acute hand injuries are routinely managed by family medicine and primary care physicians. An appropriate initial assessment and treatment, early referral to a hand surgeon when indicated, and timeous referral to a hand therapist are imperative. A patient case report is presented reporting on the initial and subsequent assessment, treatment and outcomes at 3, 6, 7 and 9 months for a patient who sustained an acute finger injury.

Physiotherapy in an advanced rehabilitation pathway for patients after hip and knee arthroplasty: A proposal.

Background: Accelerated rehabilitation pathway (ARP) decrease patients' hospital length of stay (LOS). A lack of evidence exists on physiotherapy management and outcome as part of ARP in South Africa (SA). Our study will aim to determine whether early mobilisation and increased frequency of physiotherapy treatments for participants after hip or knee arthroplasty surgery on post-operative day 0 (POD 0) affect outcome.

Experiences and effects of telerehabilitation services for physiotherapy outpatients in a resource-constrained public health set-up in the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic: A proposal.

Background: The announcement of a national lockdown in South Africa had country-wide impact on the delivery of health services. Strategies included prioritisation of patients and protecting patients who were considered at risk, resulting in the need for cancellation and temporary termination of many outpatient therapy services. This necessitated the urgent need to come up with a way of delivering physiotherapy rehabilitation services to patients in a more non-traditional format.

Blended teaching versus traditional teaching for undergraduate physiotherapy students at the University of the Witwatersrand.

Background: Shifting from face-to-face teaching to incorporating technology may prepare students better for future work as health professionals. Evidence of blended teaching's effect on the academic performance of undergraduate physiotherapy students' performance is scarce.

Objective: The purpose of our study was to determine students' theoretical and clinical performance in a blended teaching module compared to their own performance in two knowledge areas taught face to face, and student perceptions of blended teaching in the third-year physiotherapy curriculum.

Hand rehabilitation programmes for second to fifth metacarpal fractures: A systematic literature review.

Background: Metacarpal fractures, one of the most prevalent upper limb fractures, account for 10% of all bony injuries.

Objective: Our systematic review aimed to review, appraise and collate available evidence on hand rehabilitation programmes for the management of second to fifth metacarpal fractures in an adult human population after conservative and surgical management. Since 2008, no review on a similar topic has been performed, thus informing clinical practice for physiotherapists and occupational therapists.

The impact of episporic modification of on virulence and interaction with phagocytes.

Fungal infections caused by the ancient lineage Mucorales are emerging and increasingly reported in humans. Comprehensive surveys on promising attributes from a multitude of possible virulence factors are limited and so far, focused on and . This study addresses a systematic approach to monitor phagocytosis after physical and enzymatic modification of the outer spore wall of , one of the major causative agents of mucormycosis.