Omar Farouk Helal

Efficacy of high intensity laser therapy in the treatment of male with osteopenia or osteoporosis: a randomized placebo-controlled trial

[Purpose] To investigate the effect of high intensity laser therapy, alone or combined with exercise on pain, health related quality of life and fall risk in male with osteopenia or osteoporosis. [Subjects and Methods] 100 male patients with osteopenia or osteoporosis participated in the study. They had T-scores ≤−1.5. Patients were randomly assigned into four groups and treated with laser plus exercise, placebo laser plus exercise, laser alone and placebo laser in groups I, II, III, and IV respectively. Laser was applied to the lower back and hip regions. Exercises included aerobic exercises, weight-bearing, flexibility, and strengthening and balance exercises. Treatment were performed 3 times/week for 12 weeks. The measured outcomes were pain, health related quality of life and fall risk. [Results] All measured outcomes were significantly decreased post-treatment in all treatment groups. Laser plus exercises showed a higher significant effect than exercises with a least significant effect in the laser group in reduction of pain and quality of life. [Conclusion] High intensity laser is an effective modality for male patients with osteopenia or osteoporosis. Laser combined with exercise is more effective than exercises or laser alone in decreasing pain, fall risk an increasing quality of life after 12 weeks of treatment.

The effectiveness of physiotherapy interventions for sacroiliac joint dysfunction: a systematic review

[Purpose] The aim of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of physical therapy interventions in the treatment of sacroiliac joint dysfunction (SIJD). [Subjects and Methods] MEDLINE, PUBMED, CINAHL, AMED, PEDro, and CIRRIE databases were searched and only relevant data from studies that matched the inclusion criteria were included. CASP tools for critical appraisal were used to assess the quality of studies included. [Results] Nine articles met the inclusion criteria, of which, three examined the effect of exercise on SIJD, three used kinesio tape and four studies examined the effect of manipulation. Various outcomes were used including the visual analogue pain scale (VAS), Oswestry disability questionnaire (ODQ), numerical pain rating scale (NPRS) and pelvic position measurement (PALM, pelvimeter and photogrammetry). The quality of included studies ranged from low to average as the CASP tools revealed several limitations that affect the validity of the studies. The results showed that physiotherapy interventions are effective in reducing pain and disability associated with SIJD, with manipulation being the most effective approach and most commonly used within physical therapy clinics. [Conclusion] Manipulation, exercise and kinesio tape are effective in the treatment of pain, disability and pelvic asymmetry in SIJD.

The feasibility of using exergames as a rehabilitation tool: the attitudes, awareness, opinions and experiences of physiotherapists, and older people towards exergames

[Purpose] The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility of using exergames as a rehabilitation tool by determining the attitudes, awareness, opinions and experiences of physiotherapists, and older people towards exergames. [Subjects and Methods] A cross-sectional study was conducted and two short self-developed questionnaires (for physiotherapists and older people) were distributed in three hospitals in Cork (Ireland) to assess the attitudes towards and familiarity with exergames among physiotherapists and older people. The data were analysed using Microsoft Excel version 2013. [Results] The results show that a lot of older people have seen exergames devices but have not attempted to play them. This may indicate a lack of interest in or information about these devices and how to use them. With regard to the second group, physiotherapists underestimate older people’s knowledge about exergames. [Conclusion] Older people were not very familiar with exergames but they were willing to try them. In addition, despite physiotherapists being familiar with exergames, they see them as an additional tool that will not replace or change any traditional exercise methods.

Association of the body mass index with the overall stability index in young adult Saudi males

Objectives Studies have focused on obesity-induced balance instability in the older population, which has been understudied in young adults. This study aimed to determine the impact of obesity on dynamic balance in young adult Saudi males. Methods A cross-sectional study of 704 young adult males aged between 18 and 35 years from Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, KSA, was performed. The obesity-induced balance was evaluated with a Biodex Balance System apparatus with a movable platform, and the overall stability index (OSI) was measured as an indicator of dynamic balance. Participants with a body mass index (BMI) ≥30 kg/m2 were considered obese. Results The mean age and BMI of the participants was 20 years and 25.6 kg/m2, respectively. The mean OSI of the entire sample was 0.9, and the OSI values increased significantly (p < 0.001) with increasing BMI. The adjusted correlation between OSI and BMI was 0.487 (p < 0.001). Logistic regression showed that for each one-unit increment in BMI, there was an expected rise of 0.115 units in the OSI value. The receiver operating characteristic curve showed that the optimal threshold of the weight and BMI cutoff points that optimized the OSI values were 18.8 kg/m2 and 54.5 kg, respectively, with high sensitivity and specificity values. In addition, BMI affected approximately 23% of the total variability on balance (partial eta squared = 0.227, p < 0.001). Conclusion Obesity has a clear impact on dynamic balance in the selected young males. Weight management programs for obese subjects should be encouraged to optimize BMI and weight, which can attenuate balance stability.

The effectiveness of short-term high-intensity exercise on ventilatory function, in adults with a high risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

[Purpose] This study sets out to investigate whether a short-term high-intensity arm ergometer exercise plan can be of benefit to adults whose poor ventilatory function places them at risk of developing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. [Subjects and Methods] A pre-experimental design with a convenience sample was employed. The study enrolled 30 adult smokers, aged between 18–25 years old, all of whom were at a high risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The participants did a daily 20-minute high-intensity arm ergometer exercise, at 75% target heart rate, at the same time over a period of three days. The forced vital capacity test manoeuvre was carried out before the sessions, and once all three had been done. [Results] The study demonstrated a sizeable increase in the mean values of forced vital capacity and forced expiratory volume in one second. The mean values of expiratory volume in one second/forced vital capacity as well as peak expiratory flow rate were not significant statistically. [Conclusion] Although further studies, using larger sampling groups, need to be carried out, this research demonstrates that adults at high risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease improve lung function by following short-term high-intensity arm ergometer exercise.

The impact of closed versus open kinetic chain exercises on osteoporotic femur neck and risk of fall in postmenopausal women

[Purpose] This study aimed to investigate how closed and open kinetic chain exercises differed in their impact on bone mineral density (BMD) and fall risk in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis. [Subjects and Methods] The research sample consisted of 40 postmenopausal women with osteoporosis with ages between 51 and 58 years old. They were divided at random into two groups of 20 each, respectively receiving closed and open kinetic chain exercises. These exercises were administered three times per week over a period of four sequential months. Prior to and following the treatment, Dual X-ray Absorptiometry (DEXA) was used to measure the BMD of the femur neck in every participant, while the Biodex Stability System (BSS) was used to estimate how likely each participant was to sustain a fall. [Results] The strongest effect on BMD and fall risk was recorded by the closed kinetic chain exercise. [Conclusion] Osteoporotic postmenopausal women should be prescribed closed kinetic chain exercise to diminish the effects of the disease and minimise their risk of fall.