ObjectivesTo determine whether age, body mass index (BMI), hand length and forearm circumference were predictive of hand grip strength in healthy Saudi Arabian adult males.MethodsThis cross-sectional descriptive study recruited healthy adult male volunteers. Their anthropometric characteristics including age, BMI, hand length and forearm circumference were measured using routine techniques. Hand grip strength was assessed using a Jamar® Hydraulic Hand Dynamometer. The data were analysed using Pearson correlation coefficient (r) as well as by a stepwise multiple linear regression analysis.ResultsThe study included 116 healthy males who satisfied the inclusion criteria. A Pearson correlation coefficient matrix demonstrated that all the four measures, age, BMI, hand length and forearm circumference, were significantly correlated with hand grip strength. Age had an inverse correlation with hand grip strength. The anthropometric measures of hand length, age and forearm circumference accounted for 44.2% (R2 0.442) of the variation of the hand grip strength.ConclusionHand length, age and forearm circumference significantly impacted on hand grip strength in Saudi Arabian healthy adult males.

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Chest wall circumference measurements are common evaluation methods in clinical settings by therapists in order to obtain chest wall mobility. Previous published results have been conflicting, and there is a lot of variability in the method of testing, which needs testing in different conditions. Seventy subjects (25 healthy nonsmokers, 25 healthy smokers, and 20 COPD) aged between 18 and 70 years participated in the study. Upper and lower chest expansion (CE) measurements (2 levels) are performed with cloth inch tape. Intrarater (between day) and interrater (within-day) reliability of CE measurements was evaluated by two examiners. Lung function parameters, forced expiratory volume in first second (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC), FEV1/FVC, and vital capacity (VC) were measured using a computerized spirometer (Spiro lab 3). The intrarater reliability for upper and lower CE showed very good agreement with intraclass correlation (ICC) values between 0.90 and 0.93 for upper CE and 0.85 to 0.86 for lower CE. The interrater reliability for upper CE showed good to very good agreement with ICC values ranging between 0.78 and 0.83, and lower CE showed very good agreement with ICC values ranging between 0.82 and 0.84. Upper and lower CE showed a significant and positive correlation with all lung function parameters, with strong correlation with FEV1/FVC (r = 0.68). Upper and lower CE measurements with inch tape showed good intra- and interrater reliability and reproducibility in healthy nonsmokers, healthy smokers, and COPD subjects. Compared to upper, lower CE correlated well with the lung function parameters. Upper and lower CE may be more useful in clinical practice to evaluate chest mobility and to give indirect information on lung function but interpretation with caution is required when considering implementation into clinical setting.

Highlights•Neutral head and target head position tests evaluate cervical proprioception.•Clinics commonly use those position tests, and it is important to test their reliability.•Intra- and inter-rater reliability was moderate to high for these tests.

Cervical joint position sense is impaired in subjects with chronic neck pain.

Stretching is an important part of post ankle sprain rehabilitation, as well as an effective exercise for improving general ankle-joint performance. But the combination of stretching alongside low-frequency stimulation has not yet been extensively studied. Therefore, the purpose of the present randomized controlled trial was to compare the combined effects of low-frequency transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) with proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) on strength, balance, and proprioception among individuals with post ankle sprain. Sixty male subjects with lateral ankle sprain were selected and randomly allocated to three groups: group 1, group 2, and the control group (CG). Subjects in group 1 received the PNF stretching technique combined with TENS. TENS stimulation was provided using two electrodes placed 5 cm apart directly on the triceps sural muscle of the affected leg and a biphasic current with a symmetrical waveform at 50 Hz for 15 seconds, tuned for a 3-second ramp up time and a 30-second rest time with a 250-microsecond pulse duration was given with PNF stretching. Subjects in group 2 received the PNF stretching technique alone. Both group 1 and group 2 received these treatments for 4 weeks (4 days/week); follow-up assessments were administered in the third and fifth weeks. CG received no treatment; outcome measures alone were assessed. Outcome measures comprised pain, balance, flexibility, proprioception, range of motion, muscle strength, and functional limitation. A mixed-model ANOVA showed significant interaction (time and group) and the time effect for all the outcome measures (p≤0.05). Group 1 (PNF-TENS) showed significant improvement for all the outcome variables compared to the other groups. The present study showed PNF stretching combined with TENS for the triceps sural muscle to trigger muscle contraction during the muscle contraction phase of the PNF stretch, compared against PNF stretching alone, produced significant improvements in ankle function for post ankle sprain subjects.

Cervical joint position sense (JPS) and postural stability are vital to maintaining balance and preventing falls in fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS). Impaired cervical JPS may influence postural stability, and understanding the relationship between them can aid in formulating treatment strategies in individuals with FMS. This study aims to (1) assess cervical JPS and postural stability between FMS and control group and (2) determine the correlation between cervical JPS and postural stability in the FMS group. This cross-sectional study recruited 92 FMS patients (mean age: 51.52 ± 7.7 yrs.) and 92 healthy controls (mean age: 49.36 ± 6.9 yrs.). A cervical range of motion (CROM) unit was utilized to assess cervical JPS. The postural stability was assessed using an IsoFree force platform, and anterior-posterior (A/P) and medial-lateral (M/L) directions of sway and ellipse area were measured. Cervical JPS and postural stability tests were assessed and compared between FMS and control groups. Cervical JPS was significantly impaired in FMS compared to the control group (p < 0.001). The JPS errors in FMS group were larger in flexion (FMS = 5.5°, control = 2.4°), extension (FMS = 6.4°, control = 3.0°), and rotation in left (FMS = 5.4°, control = 2.2°) and right directions (FMS = 5.1°, control = 2.8°). FMS individuals demonstrated statistically significant impaired postural stability compared to control in both the dominant and non-dominant legs tested (p < 0.001). The cervical JPS test showed moderate to strong positive correlations with postural stability variables. Statistically significant correlations were observed in all the JPS directions tested with all the postural stability variables (A/P and M/L sway and ellipse area). The correlation coefficients ranged between r =0.37 (moderate) to 0.75 (strong). Cervical JPS and postural stability are impaired in FMS individuals. A moderate to strong relationship existed between JPS and postural stability. Individuals with FMS who had a greater magnitude of cervical JPS errors exhibited more severe postural control deficits. Therefore, cervical JPS and postural stability tests should be incorporated into routine clinical practice when assessing or formulating treatment strategies for patients with FMS.

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