Roei Klein

Medial tibial stress syndrome (MTSS) affects up to 35% of military recruits during basic training, yet no validated patient-reported outcome measure (PROM) exists to assess this condition in Hebrew-speaking populations. The MTSS score is a validated PROM for assessing symptom severity; however, it requires linguistic adaptation for use among Hebrew-speaking individuals. To translate and assess psychometric properties of the Hebrew version of the Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome score (MTSS-He) among active-duty servicemembers. Following Beaton's guidelines, the MTSS score was translated into Hebrew and culturally adapted. A total of 133 participants were recruited. A cross-sectional validation study was conducted with 72 active-duty servicemembers diagnosed with MTSS (mean age 19.32 ± 0.8 years, 63.9% male). Psychometric properties, including internal consistency (Cronbach's Alpha (α) and McDonald's Omega (ω)), test-retest reliability (ICC3,1), concurrent validity (Spearman correlations with Short Form 12 and numerical pain rating scales), and discriminative validity were assessed. The MTSS-He demonstrated acceptable internal consistency (α = 0.66, ω = 0.68), good test-retest reliability (ICC3,1 = 0.75), and significant correlations with pain measures (rho = 0.32-0.61, p < .01). The instrument significantly discriminated between patients with MTSS and asymptomatic controls (p < .001), with median MTSS-He scores of 3 (IQR: 2-4). The MTSS-He is a reliable and valid instrument for assessing MTSS in Hebrew-speaking active-duty servicemembers, addressing a critical gap in Hebrew-language assessment tools. It enables standardized symptom quantification and outcome comparison, with potential for broader application in clinical and research settings. Future studies should investigate structural validity based on internal consistency test results and extend validation to civilian and athletic populations.

This study aimed to explore the attitudes of physical therapy (PT) students in Israel toward people who identify as lesbian, gay, or bisexual (LGB) and to identify the characteristics associated with the said attitudes. This multiinstitutional study is used as an observational design. Participants were 245 PT students (average age, 25.59 ± 3.10 years), who completed anonymous online questionnaires that included demographic characteristics; the Hebrew version of the Attitudes Toward Homosexuality Scale (ATHS); questions on learning about LGB, trans, queer, intersex, asexual, and other sexual and gender minorities (LGBTQIA+); healthcare issues in the entry-level PT; and previous clinical encounters with patients who identified as LGBTQIA+. The median ATHS score was 107 out of 110 (range, 48–110; higher score indicating more positive attitudes), and multivariate logistic regression analyses indicated that identifying as a woman and secular were predictors of positive attitudes toward LGB individuals. All students reported that they had no course on the LGBTQIA+ community in their undergraduate PT studies’ curriculum. Most (80.88%) of those who had a clinical practice reported that they had not had a clinical encounter with a patient identifying as LGBTQIA+. PT students in Israel demonstrated positive attitudes toward LGB individuals, as reflected by their ATHS scores. PT students who identify as men and religious are more likely to hold negative attitudes toward LGB individuals. There is a need to expand the curricula on LGBTQIA+ healthcare and increase students' experiences with LGBTQIA+ patients to increase cultural competence.

High-intensity interval training (HIIT) improves functional capacity, muscle power and physical performance in older adults with and without comorbidities. The aim of this study was to explore the effectiveness of HIIT as a method for reducing major fall risk factors (balance, muscle strength and physical activity) in older adults. A systematic literature search was conducted following the PRISMA guidelines. A computerized search was conducted using electronic databases (PubMed, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, APA PsycInfo, Web of Science, Scopus, PEDro, and AgeLine) published up to July 2021. Eleven papers (9 studies) of moderate quality (mean of 5.5 in Pedro scale) involving 328 healthy older adults met the inclusion criteria. Studies were characterized by high heterogeneity in terms of methodology, HIIT modality and protocol, subject characteristics, and outcome measures. Results indicate that HIIT cannot be recommended as a single modality for fall prevention in older adults due to insufficient data and no consensus among the studies. HIIT appears to be a safe and well-tolerated supplement to proven fall prevention programs, due to its effects on lower limb strength reflected in functional performance tests, and on dynamic balance and subjective balance perception. However, caution is warranted following HIIT, especially after the first session, due to possible temporary instability.