Effects of biodex balance training on symptomatic knee osteoarthritis in Rawalpindi: A randomized control trial.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of Biodex training on lower limb functional performance, balance, pain and proprioception in symptomatic knee osteoarthritis patients. METHODS: The randomised controlled study was conducted at the Armed Forces Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine, Rawalpindi, Pakistan, from February to June 2018, and comprised patients of both genders aged 35-65 years with bilateral knee osteoarthritis. The patients were randomised using sealed envelope method into two equal control and experimental groups. The former received traditional exercise programme, while the latter received balance training on Biodex and traditional exercise programme. Assessment was done at baseline and post-intervention, and the two values were compared both intra-group and inter-group. Data was analysed using SPSS 21. RESULTS: Of the 48 patients, there were 24(50%) in each of the two groups. Experimental group showed significant improvement in pain severity, overall stability and in terms of anteroposterior stability (p<0.05). There was significant improvement in both groups from the baseline (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Biodex balance training was found to be more effective in improving functional performance, stability, proprioception and in decreasing sway and pain compared to the traditional exercise programme.

Frequency of work related musculoskeletal disorders and ergonomic risk assessments among tailors.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the frequency of work-related musculoskeletal disorders and to assess postural ergonomic risk among tailors. METHODS: The cross-sectional study was conducted from September 2017 to February 2018 in Rawalpindi and Islamabad, Pakistan and comprised tailors of both genders aged 25-60 years, working for more than 6 months and having small and medium enterprises. To calculate ergonomic risk of work posture, Quick Exposure Check was used and work-related musculoskeletal disorders were determined through body mapping chart. Data was analysed using SPSS 20. RESULTS: Of the 400 tailors, 382(95.5%) were males. The overall mean age of the sample was 36.9±10.96 years. The mean Quick Exposure Check score was 46.11±14.83. Acceptable work posture was found in 373(93.25%) subjects. The most common work-related acute musculoskeletal symptoms were found in the upper back 320(80%). CONCLUSIONS: Most tailors had acceptable work posture but work-related pain in upper back was common.

Combined effects of strength and balance training versus aerobic training on balance, neuropathy symptoms and quality of life in patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy.

BACKGROUND: Diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) occurs in >50% of diabetic patients and is a high risk-factor of balance problems and risk of falls. Impaired balance can lead to reduced function, which has a detrimental effect on patients' quality of life. Structured strength and balance training can result in sustained improvements in muscle strength, coordination, balance, functional status and quality of life. OBJECTIVE: To determine the combined effects of strength and balance training versus aerobic training on balance, severity of symptoms of DPN, and quality of life in patients with DPN. METHODS: This double blinded, two arm parallel design Randomized Clinical Trial. The study was conducted from March to December 2020 in the AIMS diabetic center Peshawar, Pakistan. Participants were selected through convenience sampling technique and randomly allocated into strength plus balance and aerobic training groups. Type 2 diabetic patients of both sexes, aged 40 to 80 years, with a Toronto neuropathy score ≥6 recruited, while patients with ulceration/infection of feet, medical/Surgical conditions, and non-ambulatory patients were excluded from this study. Intervention was applied 3 days a week for 8 weeks. The Toronto clinical neuropathy system was used to assess neuropathy severity, SF-36 to assess quality of life and the Berg balance scale was used for assessment of balance. Assessment was done at the baseline and after 8 weeks of intervention using SPSS. Version 22 was used for analysis. RESULTS: The mean age of the participants was 60.80 ± 9.73. Between group analysis, which showed were statistically insignificant for neuropathy severity, balance and all domains of quality of life (p-value >0.05) except SF-36 General Health Perception Score, with Mean ± SD of 62.50 ± 7.54 in group A versus Mean ± SD of in group B 60.00 ± 15.98 (p-value = 0.05). Within group analysis showed statistically significant results for neuropathy severity, balance and all domains of quality of life (p-value<0.05). CONCLUSION: This study concluded that there is a statistically significant effect of structured balance and strength training and aerobic training on severity of DPN, balance and quality of life. But there was no statistically significant difference in improvement between the two intervention groups.