Christopher Olusanjo Akosile

Isometric endurance of the back extensors in school-aged adolescents with and without low back pain

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE Studies on back extensor endurance in adolescents are scarce. This study sought to establish reference data and pattern of back extensor endurance in school-aged adolescents with and without low-back pain (LBP) from Nigeria. SUBJECTS AND METHODS This study recruited 625 adolescents aged 11 to 19 years from eight randomly selected secondary schools. The modified Biering-Sørensen test of Static Muscular Endurance (BSME) was used to assess isometric endurance of the back extensors. Demographic and anthropometric data were collected. A modified LBP questionnaire was used to assess the presence of LBP. Descriptive and inferential analyses were used to analyze data. Significance was set at 0.05 alpha-level. RESULTS The mean isometric holding time (IHT) of all the participants was 132.9

Weight Bearing Asymmetry and Functional Ambulation Performance in Stroke Survivors

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PERCENT OF BODY WEIGHT CARRIED BY SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN THEIR BAGS IN A NIGERIAN SCHOOL

65.6. Males had significantly higher significant (p=0.026) IHT than females. Adolescents without LBP had a higher significant IHT (p=0.042) than those with reported history of previous LBP and those with present LBP (p=0.000) respectively. Using percentile values, poor endurance was defined as IHT that is < 90.0 s and < 67 s for males and females respectively; medium endurance was defined as IHT that ranged between 90 and 193 s and 67 and 170 s for males and females respectively while good endurance was defined as IHT that is > 193 s and > 170 s for males and females respectively. IHT was significantly related to each of body mass index, hip circumference and waist-to-hip ratio (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION Isometric back extensors endurance in Nigerian adolescents was comparable to the original Biering-Sørensen mean value. Majority of the participants had medium endurance performance with the back endurance pattern in the ratio 1:2:1. Male had higher isometric back extensors endurance than females. Decreased isometric back extensors endurance was associated with the presence of LBP in adolescents.

RESPIRATORY FUNCTION OF SAWMILL WORKERS AND THEIR RELATIONSHIP TO EXPOSURE TIME TO WOOD DUST SEEN IN NIGERIA

This study evaluated asymmetry of weight bearing on the lower limbs and the association between percentage weight bearing asymmetry (PWBA) and functional ambulation performance in ambulant stroke survivors. Participants were 53 stroke survivors (male = 35, female = 18) aged 40-86 years (mean=58.87; SD=9.21years) with hemiparesis. Weight bearing through the lower limbs in standing was assessed by two juxtaposed bathroom weighing scales while functional ambulation performance was evaluated with the Emory Functional Ambulation Profile (E-FAP). Data were summarized with mean and standard deviation and further analyzed using the Pearson product moment correlation at 0.05 alpha level. Participants bore 60.3% (SD =7.1%) of their body weights on the unaffected legs and had a mean PWBA of 20.8 % (SD=14.7%). There was a significant positive correlation (r = 0.675, p < 0.0001) between PWBA and total E-FAP scores of participants. PWBA could hence be used to monitor functional ambulation recovery in stroke survivors.

INTRA-RATER RELIABILITIES AND CONCURRENT VALIDITY OF THE UNIVERSAL GONIOMETER AND TAPE MEASURE FOR MEASURING CERVICAL ACTIVE RANGE OF MOTION

Purpose: This study reports percent of bodyweight represented by school bags carried by students in Nigeria. Method: 381 secondary school students were randomly selected in this cross-sectional study. Informed consent and assents were obtained. Weights, heights and backpack weights (BPWT) were measured by blinded researchers. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics, independent t-test, Chi square and odds ratio, at 0.05 α-level. Results: The mean age, height weight and BMI of participants were 14.01±2.17 years, 1.56±0.11 m, 46.19±9.65 kg, 18.89±3.12 kg/m2, respectively. Average total weight of bags carried by participants was 4.48 kg, relative BPWT was 10.16%, and 65% carried bags on their back. There was no significant association between BPWT and back pain (X2 = 0.106. p = 0.744). The relative risks [odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI)] of developing back pain among those that carry normal BPWT compared with those who carry above normal BPWT to school was (OR 0.805; CI 0.478–1.355), (OR 0.733; CI 0.295–1.817) and (OR 0.883; CI 0.454–1.718) for total, junior and senior secondary schools participants, respectively. Conclusion: Percent of body weights represented by the weights of bags carried by students in a Nigerian school fell between the recommended 10–15%. A 10% relative weight is recommended for secondary school students in Nigeria.

Quality of life and its correlates in caregivers of stroke survivors from a Nigerian population

Background and Objective: Sawmill workers are exposed to considerable amounts of wood dust which may compromise their respiratory function. Objective: This study aimed to determine the effects of wood dust by comparing pulmonary parameters between workers in the sawmill industries and their aged-matched controls. In addition, to determine the relationship between the respiratory function of sawmill workers and their exposure time. Materials and Methods: This was a descriptive, cross-sectional study conducted in the south western part of Nigeria. A hundred and two non-smoking male workers were recruited from the sawmill industries while the same number made up the control group (non-smoking). The controls were comprised of members of staff and student of the University of Ibadan who had no history of wood dust exposure. All participants had no chest deformities. Selected lung function tests were performed using a spirometer. Data were analyzed using appropriate statistical tests with alpha set at p

Fear of Falling and Quality of Life of Apparently-Healthy Elderly Individuals from a Nigerian Population

Background Data: Cervical active range of motion (cervical AROM) is often assessed in clinical practice to quantify musculoskeletal impairments of the neck and evaluate efficacy of interventions. Such assessment requires instruments with proven reliability and validity. Purpose: To investigate and compare the intra-rater reliabilities and concurrent validity of the universal goniometer and tape measure in measuring cervical AROM. Methods: Cervical AROM in 100 consecutively sampled apparently healthy individuals was measured with both universal goniometer and tape measure and repeated after five days. Data were summarized using descriptive statistics, standard error of measurement, Pearson product moment correlation and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) at 0.05 level of significance. Results: Intra-rater reliability of the tape measure (r = 0.28–0.62; ICC = 0.44–0.75) and universal goniometer (r = 0.21–0.67; ICC = 0.34–0.79) were within the acceptable range except for right lateral flexion for goniometer and left lateral flexion for tape measure. Standard errors of measurement were 0.14–0.20 and 0.76–1.27 for tape measure and goniometer, respectively. Concurrent validity coefficients of the two instruments for all cervical AROM (r = 0.23–0.40) except left lateral flexion and right rotation were within the acceptable range. There was no gender difference in cervical AROM using the goniometer but male participants had significantly more range in flexion and right lateral flexion using the tape measure. Conclusions: Tape measure and goniometer have similar intra-rater reliability and significant but weak concurrent validity in assessing cervical AROM except left lateral flexion and right rotation.