Fall Prevention in Older Adults: Insights from Saudi Arabian Physical Therapists on the Otago Exercise Program.

Purpose: Falls among older adults are a growing public health concern in Saudi Arabia. The Otago Exercise Program (OEP) is an evidence-based intervention aimed at reducing fall risk in this population. This study assessed the knowledge and attitudes of Saudi Arabian physical therapists toward the OEP and examined potential gender-based differences.

Effectiveness of Family-Professional Collaboration on Functional Goals Achievement of Children with Cerebral Palsy and Caregivers' Quality of Life and Burden: A Randomized Comparative Study.

: Family-professional collaboration is important to enhance the outcomes for children with cerebral palsy and their caregivers. : This study examined the effect of implementing a family-professional collaboration practice model on children with cerebral palsy and their caregivers. : A randomized, single-blind comparative study included 28 physical therapists, 44 children with cerebral palsy between the ages of 2 and 12 years old, and their caregivers.

A cross-sectional study on fear-avoidance beliefs and chronic low back pain in fighter pilots.

Background: Chronic low back pain (CLBP) is considered a serious complaint among fighter pilots because the vertebrae of these pilots are exposed to high compression forces from prolonged sitting on a hard ejection seat and frequent sudden fighter aircraft maneuvers. It is yet unknown whether a correlation exists between CLBP and psychosocial/behavioral performance of fighter pilots.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of 66 fighter pilots with nonspecific CLBP voluntarily participated in this study.

A Cross-Sectional Study on the Association of Patterns and Physical Risk Factors with Musculoskeletal Disorders among Academicians in Saudi Arabia.

Background: Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are considered one of the most common health issues in working population and have a high social and economic impact. This study is aimed at determining the MSD patterns and associated risk factors among higher education academicians in Saudi Arabia.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among higher education academicians, randomly selected from different universities within Saudi Arabia.

Role of cognitive assessment for high school graduates prior to choosing their college major.

[Purpose] Academic performance of college students can be impacted by the efficacy of students' ability and teaching methods. It is important to assess the progression of college students' cognitive abilities among different college majors and as they move from junior to senior levels. However, dearth of studies have been examined the role of cognitive ability tests as a tool to determine the aptitude of the perspective students.

Effects of body mass index on foot posture alignment and core stability in a healthy adult population.

Foot biomechanics and core stability (CS) play significant roles in the quality of standing and walking. Minor alterations in body composition may influence base support or CS strategies. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of the body mass index (BMI) on the foot posture index (FPI) and CS in a healthy adult population.

Cognitive abilities of health and art college students a pilot study.

[Purpose] The selection of a college major is a struggle that high school students undergo every year; however, there is a dearth of studies examining the role of cognitive ability tests as a tool for determining the aptitude of prospective students. Hence, the purpose of this study was to assess cognitive ability differences among students. [Subjects and Methods] A convenience sample of 60 college students (30 health science and 30 art students) with a mean age of 19 ± 1.

Sensory processing dysfunction among Saudi children with and without autism.

[Purpose] There is a dearth of studies that have examined the occurrence of sensory processing dysfunction and its components in Saudi Arabian children with autism. Therefore, this study investigated the manifestation of sensory processing dysfunction in autism and compared the functional components of sensory processing between Saudi Arabian children with and without autism. [Subjects and Methods] A convenience sample of 46 Saudi Arabian children with autism and 30 children without autism participated in this study.

Outcomes of a type 2 diabetes education program adapted to the cultural contexts of Saudi women. A pilot study.

Objective: To explore the outcomes of a pilot intervention of a type 2 diabetes (T2D) education program, based on international standards, and adapted to the cultural and religious contexts of Saudi women.

Methods: This study is an experiment of a pilot intervention carried out between August 2011 and January 2012 at the primary health clinics in Dammam. Women at risk of or diagnosed with T2D (N=35 including dropouts) were assigned to one of 2 groups; an intervention group participated in a pilot intervention of T2D education program, based on international standards and tailored to their cultural and religious contexts; and a usual care group received the usual care for diabetes in Saudi Arabia.

Physical activity associated with prayer regimes improves standing dynamic balance of healthy people.

[Purpose] Preparing for prayers, practicing religious meditation and performing prayers are believed to stimulate the visual, vestibular and somatosensory systems, which provide the sensory information that influences human balance. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of the Islamic prayer regime on balance. [Subjects and Methods] Sixty healthy male subjects with a mean age of 31 ± 5 years and a mean body mass index of 27 ± 2 kg/cm(2) voluntarily participated in this study.

Electrical stimulation improves gait in children with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy.

Background: Electrical stimulation (ES) of proximal muscles during gait training has not previously been reported as a management option for improving muscle tone and gait in spastic diplegic children.

Objective: To investigate the effects of simultaneous continuous ES of both hip abductors and adductors during walking on muscle tone, knee alignment and gait characteristics in children with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy (CP).

Subject: Three groups of children participated in this project: the study group, consisting of 17 ambulant children with spastic diplegic CP; a control group of 15 ambulant children with spastic diplegic CP; and another control group, with 17 healthy children.

Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation of hip adductors improves gait parameters of children with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy.

Background: Reduction of spasticity in hip adductor muscles is one of the essential factors to improve standing, gait, and personal hygiene of children with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy (CP). Surgical and medical methods have been commonly used for such purposes. These methods are expensive, required special skill and have side effects.

Neuromuscular electrical stimulation of the gluteus medius improves the gait of children with cerebral palsy.

Unlabelled: Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) of the gluteus medius muscles using a surface electrode during functional walking training has never been reported as a management option to improve gait in spastic diplegic children.

Purpose: This study was investigates the short and longer term effects of simultaneous continuous NMES of both hip abductors during walking on the temporal-spatial gait characteristics and hip adductor muscle tone in children with spastic diplegia caused by cerebral palsy (CP).

Subjects: Three groups of subjects participated: an experimental group of twenty-one ambulant spastic diplegic children; a CP control group containing ten ambulant spastic diplegic children; and a healthy control group with twenty normal children.