The Role of Physiotherapists in Smoking Cessation Management: A Scoping Review.

Physiotherapy (PT) is a profession that includes education and close contact for long periods of time with patients for treatment sessions. Globally, smoking is prevalent and is expected to increase in the next decades; thus, smoking cessation (SC) is an important management strategy to mitigate further escalation. Little is known about PT practice in SC, and therefore, this study aimed to systematically review and discuss the published literature about the role of physiotherapists in smoking cessation management, opinions, and prevalence of SC counselling in physiotherapy practice; and to explore barriers towards smoking cessation counselling within physiotherapy practice. A systematic search was conducted through EBSCO, and articles were included if they assessed the role of PTs in SC management. The databases were searched for studies published between 1 January 1970 to 1 April 2022. Articles were excluded if they did not include PTs, if they did not include assessment of SC management/counselling, if they were not cross-sectional studies, if they were not written in the English language, or if they were conference abstracts. Seven studies were included in the review. The search identified no studies that have investigated the role of PTs in vaping cessation. It was found that PTs are not addressing SC counselling and management enough in their practice. In addition, the search revealed that lack of training, time, and knowledge are the most common barriers against including SC counselling in physiotherapy practice and rehabilitation programs. Exploring possibilities of including SC counselling according to the clinical guidelines is encouraged. Additionally, establishing solutions to overcome barriers against SC counselling as part of physiotherapy practice is essential.

Effect of task specific training and wrist-fingers extension splint on hand joints range of motion and function after stroke.

BACKGROUND: Most stroke patients experience hand impairments that can result in persistent limitations in daily activities. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed at estimating the immediate and retention effects of task specific training and wrist/fingers extension splint on hand joints range of motion and function after stroke. METHODS: Twenty-four right handed patients with first ever stroke represented the sample of the study. The participants were randomly assigned into two equal groups. The study group received task specific exercises five times a week for an hour concurrently with wrist/fingers extension splint which was used two hours for each three hours (day and night) excluding exercises and sleeping hours for 16 weeks. The control group received traditional passive stretch and range of motion exercises. Manual dexterity and upper limb function were assessed by nine holes peg test and Fugl-Meyer upper extremity and hand. Goniometry was used for measuring wrist, metacarpophalangeal, thumb carpometacarpal joints active range of motion. RESULTS: Significant improvements were observed in nine holes peg test, Fugl-Meyer upper extremity and hand scores and ranges of motion at post-intervention and follow-up compared to pre-intervention at P≤0.05. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study provide an evidence that task specific training and wrist/fingers extension splint are effective in improving fingers dexterity, upper extremity function and wrist/hand range of motion.