Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) refers to an amalgam of inflammatory and degenerative conditions which affects muscles, tendons, ligaments, joints, peripheral nerves, and supporting blood vessels presenting with ache, pain, numbness or discomfort. 1-2 According to European Agency for Safety and Health at Work, workrelated musculoskeletal disorders are impairments of bodily structures such as muscles, joints, tendons, ligaments, nerves, bones and localized blood circulation system, that are caused or aggravated primarily by work and by the effects of the immediate environment in which work is performed. 3 Musculoskeletal disorders affect all persons irrespective of age and sex, and are mostly ABSTRACT Background: Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are among the most common health problems encountered in the workplace around the globe leading to disabling conditions there by reducing human performance and subsequently quality of life. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of MSDs and associated disabilities and also to identify the risk factors responsible for their occurrence among bank workers in Kancheepuram district, Tamil Nadu, India. Methods: Annual prevalence of MSD was determined through a cross sectional survey from a sample of 300 bank workers. A pre-validated questionnaire adopted from modified Nordic musculoskeletal questionnaire and 12 Item General Health Questionnaire was used to obtain information about participant's demographic characteristics, job characteristics, psychosocial stress, musculoskeletal impairments and the resulting disability in different body regions. Data was obtained from the participant's at their respective working places in Kancheepuram for a period of 1 month. Results: Annual prevalence of 33.8% was observed for the MSD, with a disability rate of 8.5%.The body region mostly affected was the lower back (51.8%) followed by the neck (48.2%), shoulder (40.2%) and upper back (39.6%). In terms of disability, the same pattern was noted with rates for the lower back, neck, shoulder and upper back being 18.9%, 13.4%, 11.6% and 9.1% respectively. The risk factors identified as being responsible for MSD were job tenure, psychosocial stress, and female sex while those responsible for the disabilities were job tenure and psychosocial stress. Conclusion: Low prevalence of MSDs and associated disabilities was observed.

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Rebound exercise is simple, inexpensive and enjoyable. It can be a beneficial recreational adjuvant exercise for improving HbA1c , FPG and BMI in T2D individuals in a rural environment and reduce health care costs and pharmacological complications associated with diabetes.

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Background Pregnancy results in many changes, including reduced hand grip strength (HGS). However, good HGS is required for physical functions such as carrying and breastfeeding the baby after birth. The aim of this study was to determine the factors that may predict HGS during pregnancy. Methods The study was a cross-sectional study approved by the Research Ethics Committees of Kano State Ministry of Health and Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital in Kano, north-west, Nigeria. Pregnant women at the designated hospitals were included in the study if they had no serious comorbidities or any known neurological condition that affects the hands and the neck. Demographic characteristics and independent (predictor) variables (age, weight, height, BMI, maternity leave status, number of full-term deliveries, number of preterm deliveries, number of live births, number of abortuses, gravidity, trimester, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, inter arm systolic BP difference [IASBP], inter arm diastolic BP difference [IADBP], and heart rate) of each of the participants were recorded by experienced therapists. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics, t-test, Pearson correlation coefficient and standard multiple regression. Result One hundred and sixty-one pregnant women with mean age, 25.04 ± 4.83 years participated in the study. In the dominant hand, 120 participants (74.5%) had weak grip strength. In the non-dominant hand, 135 participants (83.9%) had weak grip strength. For the dominant hand, the total variance explained by the whole model was significant, 28.5%, F(11, 161) = 1.187, R2 = 0.081, p = 0.300 . In the final model, none of the variables significantly predicted HGS. However, systolic blood pressure contributed to the model more than any other variable (Beta = -0.155). For the non-dominant hand, the total variance explained by the whole model was not significant, 33.1%, F(11, 161) = 1.675, R2 = 0.111, p = 0.089 . In the final model, only systolic blood pressure (Beta = -0.254, p = 0.023) significantly predicted hand grip strength. Conclusion Cardiovascular events or changes during pregnancy (such as change in systolic blood pressure) may be related to HGS in pregnant women. It is therefore, important for clinicians to pay attention to this, in planning rehabilitation strategies for pregnant women.

Background. Management of patients in intensive care units (ICUs) needs staff with a recommended level of expertise and experience owing to the life-threatening nature of illnesses, injuries and complications that these patients present with. There are no specific guidelines governing physiotherapy practice in ICUs in Nigeria. Hence, there is a need to have expert consensus on the minimum clinical standard of practice for physiotherapists working in ICUs as a first step to proposing/developing guidelines in the future. Objective. To assess the expert consensus on the minimum clinical standard of practice for physiotherapists working in ICUs in Nigeria. Method. Physiotherapists with working experience in Nigerian ICUs were purposively recruited into the present study using a modified Delphi technique. A questionnaire comprising 222 question items on the role of physiotherapy in critical care was adopted and administered to the participants over three rounds of Delphi procedure (online). Participants checked either 'essential' , 'not essential' or 'unsure' for each question item. For each question item to be considered 'essential' or 'not essential' , a consensus agreement ≥70% had to be met. Questions without consensus were further modified by providing definition or clarification and presented in subsequent rounds. Data were analysed descriptively. Results. We recruited 26 expert physiotherapists who consented to the study and completed the first round of the study. The majority of the physiotherapists (n=24) remained in the study after the third round. A total of 178 question items were adjudged to be 'essential' after the first round, and a further 15 and three additional items were subsequently adjudged to be as 'essential' after modifying the outstanding question items during the second and third rounds, respectively. No consensus was reached for 24 items. None of the question items were ranked as 'not essential' after all the rounds. Conclusion. Expert consensus was achieved for a substantial number of question items regarding knowledge and skills for assessment, condition and treatment items of the questionnaire by experienced critical care physiotherapists in Nigeria. Keywords. expert consensus; critical care physiotherapy; Delphi technique; standards of practice.

Introduction Sleep disturbance (SD) could have negative impact on the general well-being of children with cerebral palsy (CWCP). Objectives The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of SD and its impact on quality of life and exercise participation among CWCP. Material and Methods In the cross-sectional study, CWCP and their siblings were recruited from secondary and tertiary hospitals in Kano City. SD, gross motor function (GMF), spasticity and quality of life were assessed with SD scale, GMF classification system, modified Ashworth scale and pediatric quality of life inventory, respectively. Data was analyzed with Mann-Whitney U and chi-square tests, linear and hierarchical regressions using SPSS version 20.0. Results There were 200 CWCP (aged 4.35±8.03 years) and 200 siblings (aged 5.89±3.06 years). The prevalence of SD in CWCP was 31.5%. CWCP suffered more SD than their siblings (p<0.001). SD in CWCP is influenced by GMF level (ß=0.378, p<0.001) and gender (ß=0.16, p<0.05). SD has negative influence on quality of life (ß=-0.18, p<0.001), active participation in home-based (ß=-0.23, p<0.000), and clinic-based exercises (ß=-0.24, p<0.00). GMF levels (ß=-0.505, p<0.0001), hamstring spasticity (ß=-0.250, p<0.005), and age (ß=-0.207, p<0.001) also have influenced on quality of life. Conclusion One-third of the CWCP suffered pathologic SD, which has negative impact on their quality of life and the ability to actively participate in both home and clinic-based exercises. Aside SD, other factors such as child’s age, spasticity level and severity of motor impairment also affected their quality of life negatively. Enhancing the motor abilities of CWCP may improve their quality of sleep and quality of life.

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