Impact of squatting on selected cardiovascular parameters among college students.

Squatting is an active posture test used in assessing baroreflex sensitivity, and the array of patients a physiotherapist handles may benefit from this test to avoid the adverse effects of exercise. Therefore, this study is designed to evaluate the effect of squatting on heart rate and blood pressure among undergraduate students. 35 males (mean age = 22.94 ± 1.846) and 40 females (mean age = 22.28 ± 2.075) participated in this experimental study. Demographic data and baseline cardiovascular parameters (blood pressure and heart rate) were taken before exercise. The exercise protocol, the squatting stress test, was done for 2 min, after which post-exercise blood pressure and heart rate were taken at one minute each. A repeated measure ANOVA and independent t-test were used to analyse the difference at the 0.05 alpha level. It was found that there was a significant difference between pre-exercise in lying and squatting post-exercise blood pressure and heart rate in the first and second minutes (p < 0.01), pre-exercise in lying and standing post-exercise blood pressure and heart rate in the first and second minutes (p < 0.01), pre-exercise in standing and standing post-exercise blood pressure and heart rate in the first and second minutes (p < 0.01), and pre-exercise in standing and squatting post-exercise blood pressure and heart rate in the first and second minutes (p < 0.01). Also, there was a significant difference in pre-exercise heart rate between lying and standing (p < 0.05) and not between the first minute and second minute post-squatting or standing exercise systolic blood pressure (p = 0.588) or diastolic blood pressure (p = 0.22-1). In conclusion, squatting trials among undergraduates revealed some statistically significant changes, especially between the cardiopulmonary parameters obtained in a standing position compared to lying and those measured after one minute. Therefore, caution should be observed when administering exercises that require changes in posture.

Knowledge, practices and perceived barriers of physiotherapists involved in disaster management: a cross-sectional survey of Nigeria-based and trained physiotherapists.

BACKGROUND: Disasters represent substantial health risks to the human population. Proper interventions at all stages of disaster management (DM) are essential for human-related outcomes. The role of physiotherapy in DM should not be underestimated, but unfortunately information on the involvement of physiotherapists in DM is limited in sub-Saharan Africa. METHODS: One hundred and fifty Nigeria-based and trained physiotherapists were recruited to complete a questionnaire investigating the knowledge, practices and perceived barriers of the role of physiotherapists in DM. RESULTS: Physiotherapists had moderate knowledge of their role at every stage of DM. However, their involvement in specific DM-related activities during various stages of DM in the country was low. Major barriers to the involvement of physiotherapists in DM included a lack of established government policies on the integration of physiotherapists in DM (90.0%) and a lack of specialty clinical practice areas in DM (89.3%). For improved involvement of physiotherapists in DM in Nigeria, respondents recommended creating an awareness of the role of physiotherapists in DM (91.3%), providing continuous education programmes on DM (90.6%) and inclusion of DM in physiotherapy training programmes in Nigeria (90.0%). CONCLUSION: Physiotherapists perceived that they are not adequately involved in DM in Nigeria, despite their moderate knowledge of their role during DM.