Process evaluation of the Invictus Pathways Program.

Introduction: UniSA's Invictus Pathways Program (IPP), a service program, was originally developed to assist veterans to train for and participate in the Invictus Games. More recently, the scope of the IPP has widened to support and improve wellbeing and facilitate post traumatic growth and recovery among participants who are living with physical and mental health injuries and conditions. This paper describes the components of the IPP and reports its process evaluation.

The physical, psychological, and social impacts of participation in the Invictus Pathways Program: A qualitative analysis of veterans' perceptions and experiences.

Introduction: UniSA's Invictus Pathways Program (IPP) is motivated by the spirit of the Invictus Games to mobilise the benefits of sport to aid physical, psychological, and social wellbeing. Originally developed to assist veterans to train for and participate in the Invictus Games, the program has extended its scope to promote recovery and wellbeing for all veterans through physical activity. This paper describes the expectations and experiences of the IPP from the perspective of program participants.

The reliability of rehabilitative ultrasound to measure lateral abdominal muscle thickness: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Variations in rehabilitative ultrasound imaging (RUSI) protocols may alter lateral abdominal muscle (LAM) thickness measurements. A standardised protocol is required for clinicians to accurately compare LAM thickness changes.

Objective: In healthy and lower back pain (LBP) populations, to assess the 1) overall reliability of RUSI to diagnose LAM thickness via meta-analysis, 2) reliability of ultrasound variables to diagnose LAM thickness via systematic review, and 3) propose a RUSI protocol for the LAM using variables associated with excellent reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC] >0.

The impact of the mechanical whole-body vibration experienced during military land transit on the physical attributes underpinning dismounted combatant physical performance: A randomised controlled trial.

Objectives: The aim of this randomised controlled trial was to explore the impact of the mechanical WBV experienced during simulated military land transit on the physical attributes that underpin tasks performed by dismounted combatants.

Design: This study used a parallel group randomised control trial design.

Methods: Sixty participants were randomly assigned to one of four, 2-h laboratory-based simulations (restricted posture, sealed road, cross country or a control condition).

How Much Allied Health Therapy Care Is Enough? An Evidence Scan.

Pressure to eliminate low-value health care is increasing internationally. This pressure has produced an urgent need to identify evidence-based methods to determine the value of allied health (AH) care, particularly to recognize when additional AH care adds no further benefits. This article reports on the published methods of determining the value of AH care.

Functional Movement Screen Pain Location and Impact on Scoring Have Limited Value for Injury Risk Estimation in Junior Australian Football Players.

Objective: To describe the location and severity of pain during Functional Movement Screen (FMS) testing in junior Australian football players and to investigate its effect on FMS composite score and injury risk.

Design: Prospective cohort study.

Methods: Junior male Australian football players (n = 439) completed preseason FMS testing.

Practices and risks associated with operation of tie-down lashings in the vehicle transport industry.

Load restraint systems in automobile transport utilise tie-down lashings placed over the car's tyres, which are tensioned manually by the operator using a ratchet assembly. This process has been identified as a significant manual handling injury risk. The aim of this study was to gain insight on the current practices associated with tie-down lashings operation, and identify the gaps between current and optimal practice.

The Australian 75+ Health Assessment: could it detect early functional decline better?

Objective: The aim of the present study was to identify opportunities to improve the reach and impact of the Australian Medicare 75+ Health Assessment (75+HA) to detect early functional decline (FD).

Methods: A comparison of two published review articles produced two outputs: (1) assessments identified in the systematic review that underpinned the 75+HA items were ranked for evidence of effectiveness and compared with the volume of research into assessment areas identified by a recent review on indicators of early FD; and (2) items in the 75+HA were compared with those in the recent review.

Results: The review underpinning the 75+HA found 19 assessment areas, with strongest evidence of effectiveness for vision/hearing, teeth/oral, balance/gait, cognitive and service use.

Radial nerve measurements in nonsymptomatic upper extremities of Filipinos: A cross-sectional study.

Introduction: Despite reports on the association of radial nerve (RN) size and lateral epicondylalgia (LE), Filipino normative values on RN size in healthy elbows are not established. An association with upper extremity anthropometric measurements is likewise not reported.

Methods: Musculoskeletal ultrasound measurements of the RN at the level of the lateral epicondyle (RN-LE), posterior interosseous nerve at the level of the radial head and supinator (PIN-RH and PIN-sup), and superficial RN (SRN) in the elbows of healthy Filipinos were made in Manila from January-September 2011.

Reliability and concurrent validity of knee angle measurement: smart phone app versus universal goniometer used by experienced and novice clinicians.

The use of goniometers to measure joint angles is a key part of musculoskeletal practice. Recently smartphone goniometry applications have become available to clinicians. This study examined the intra- and inter-measurer reliability of novice and experienced clinicians and the concurrent validity of assessing knee range of motion using a smartphone application (the Knee Goniometer App (Ockendon(©))) (KGA) and a standard universal goniometer (UG).

Chiari Malformation Type I, presenting as scapulothoracic pain: a case report.

Patients presenting with recalcitrant symptoms, which are resistant to a range of physical interventions over an extended period of time, need to be examined with care. A 'forensic' approach to the assessment of these patients, with a sensitive approach to the results of the test procedures is required to ensure the practitioner does not miss the more obscure causes. This case report presents a patient who was referred for a clinical assessment for long standing scapular pain, which had been labelled myofascial pain.

What is adolescent low back pain? Current definitions used to define the adolescent with low back pain.

Adolescent low back pain (ALBP) is a common form of adolescent morbidity which remains poorly understood. When attempting a meta-analysis of observational studies into ALBP, in an effort to better understand associated risk factors, it is important that the studies involved are homogenic, particularly in terms of the dependent and independent variables. Our preliminary reading highlighted the potential for lack of homogeneity in descriptors used for ALBP.