Walaa Sayed Mohammad

Background: Clinical reasoning is a critical skill for physical therapy (PT) students to provide effective care. This study aimed to assess the reliability, internal consistency, and construct validity of the Arabic version of the Self-Assessment of Clinical Reflection and Reasoning (SACRR) questionnaire in physical therapy students at Majmaah University. Materials and Methods: A quasi-experimental, non-randomized design was employed, with 76 students divided into three groups: intern (n = 19), pre-clinical (n = 21), and post-clinical (n = 36). Pretest and posttest assessments were conducted. Internal consistency of the Arabic version of the SACRR was analyzed using Cronbach's alpha coefficient. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS 19.0. Results: The mean age was 22.8 ± 1.3 years, 58 (76.3%) were females, and 18 (23.7%) were males. Significant differences were found between pretest and posttest SACRR scores for Items 7-11 and 14-26 (P<0.05), with mean score increasing from 109.36 ± 11.41 to 116.95 ± 7.40 (P<0.0001). Cronbach's alpha values indicated strong internal consistency: pretest α = 0.915 and posttest α = 0.860. Conclusion: Clinical exposure improved clinical reasoning skills among physical therapy students, highlighting the importance of clinical education in healthcare curricula. The Arabic version of the SACRR questionnaire demonstrated good reliability for assessing clinical reasoning skills in this population. Further studies are warranted to validate the SACRR questionnaire in diverse cultural and linguistic contexts, as well as to validate the tool across different cultures and healthcare disciplines.

In an era of global interdependence, universities play a crucial role in promoting social responsibility and sustainable development. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities emphasizes the empowerment of individuals with disabilities, a key aspect of inclusion. The COVID-19 pandemic underscored the necessity of digital platforms to ensure equitable opportunities, particularly for those with disabilities. It highlighted challenges in transitioning to remote operations and stressed the importance of accessible digital tools in maintaining inclusivity during disruptions. This study investigates how university websites promote social responsibility and empower individuals with disabilities in Saudi Arabia, the UK, and the US. It also examines how these websites foster inclusivity, advocate for disability rights, and contribute to societal change. Using a qualitative case study design, the study evaluated university websites focusing on accessibility services, inclusive policies, and academic accommodations. Qualitative content and thematic analyses identified recurring themes and variations. The findings reveal diverse strategies in empowerment initiatives, website maintenance practices, community engagement approaches, the accessibility of support services, and the presentation of success stories. Despite differences among websites, this study underscores their significance in empowering individuals with disabilities. Recommendations aim to guide universities worldwide in enhancing their digital platforms, ensuring inclusivity, especially during challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic.

Knee injuries represent a significant health concern for young male football players in Saudi Arabia. Despite global research on football-related injuries, there is a distinct lack of studies focusing on this demographic in the Saudi context. This research aims to fill this gap, offering insights into injury prevalence and risk factors, thereby contributing to athlete well-being and informing tailored interventions. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of knee injuries among youth male football players in Saudi Arabia, with a focus on injury patterns, risk factors, and associated factors. A cross-sectional study was conducted, involving 104 male football players who represent five Saudi clubs and are aged 18.82 ± 0.68 years. Injury data, including severity, timing, and mechanisms, were collected. Logistic regression analyses were performed to assess the impact of various factors on the likelihood of knee injuries. The study revealed that 37.5% of participants reported prior knee injuries, predominantly muscle injuries (61.5%) occurring during training. Ligamentous injuries, particularly anterior cruciate ligament injuries, were also notable (25.6%). Logistic regression analyses indicated that factors such as age, weight, height, body mass index, playing position, duration of playing football, and playing surface significantly influenced the odds of sustaining a knee injury. This study provides insights into the prevalence and patterns of knee injuries among youth male football players in the central region of Saudi Arabia. Muscle injuries are common. Factors such as age, weight, and playing position contribute to the risk of knee injuries. The findings underscore the need for targeted injury prevention strategies and player education programs.

Saudi females exhibit a higher susceptibility to musculoskeletal disorders (MSD), particularly impacting balance, in comparison to their male counterparts. The current study was aimed at determining the association between the modified Star Excursion Balancing Test (mSEBT) score and the muscular strength and flexibility of the lower-extremity muscles among a group of young healthy Saudi females. The mSEBT assessed balance, complemented by measurements of lower-extremity muscle strength and flexibility. Statistical analysis, utilizing SPSS software (version 26.0), with a significance level of p < 0.05, unveiled valuable insights. Results indicate a moderate positive correlation between hip flexor strength and reach distance, notably in the anterior and posteromedial directions. Conversely, no statistically significant associations emerged between hip extensor, hip abductor, or knee extensor strength and reach distances across all directions. Furthermore, there were weak negative correlations between hip flexion angle (assessed via the Thomas test) and reach distances, primarily within the anterior direction. Interestingly, the sit-and-reach flexibility test demonstrated no significant correlations with reach distances. These findings underscore the role of hip flexor strength and flexibility in influencing mSEBT performance in young, healthy Saudi females. This study advocates for the incorporation of the mSEBT as a diagnostic and therapeutic tool for identifying individuals with deficits in lower extremity muscle strength and flexibility.

OBJECTIVE: Dynamic hip stabiliz-ers are essential for optimal performance in foot-ball players, particularly during kicking. Although the muscle strength deficits of hip muscles as an etiology of osteitis pubis (OP) in football players have not yet been well investigated, previous as-sessments give more attention to the concentric mode of strength for both hip flexor and exten-sor muscles. Functionally, the hip muscles inter-act in an eccentric/concentric pattern. This study aimed to compare the concentric, eccentric, and eccentric antagonist/concentric agonist ratios for hip flexor and extensor strength between foot-ball players with OP and healthy athletes. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Thirty-four male footballers with OP and eighteen healthy foot-ballers were tested using an isokinetic dyna-mometer at a speed of 180 degrees/s. RESULTS: Football players with osteitis pu-bis demonstrated a significantly lower eccentric extensor/concentric flexor ratio and higher ec-centric hip flexor/extensor ratio (p < 0.05) when compared with healthy participants. CONCLUSIONS: The present study demon-strated that football players with OP had a re-duced capability to produce eccentric hip ex-tension torque compared to healthy athletes. Consequently, the eccentric rather than the con-centric weakness of hip extensors could be sug-gested as one of the intrinsic contributing fac-tors for OP. Incorporating findings of the current study in clinical practice could afford critical in-formation while evaluating the hip muscles in football players with OP for pre-screening, de-veloping rehabilitation programs, and guiding the decision to return to sports after injury.

In clinical settings, available valid and reliable tools are important components in evaluating the lower extremity range of motion. Although the digital inclinometer is highly reliable compared to the universal goniometer, its availability and high cost impede its extensive use. Nowadays, smartphone applications have become widely available to clinicians for assessing the joint range of motion. The present study aims to assess the validity and intra-rater reliability of the smart- phone application “Clinometer” for measuring hip, knee, and ankle sagittal ranges of motion, using the digital inclinom- eter as the reference standard. Active hip, knee flexion and ankle dorsiflexion and plantarflexion range-of-motion mea- surements were recorded in 102 young, healthy female participants on two separate occasions using Clinometer and a digital inclinometer. Pearson’s correlation coefficients (r) were used to evaluate the smartphone application’s validity against the digital inclinometer. To assess the reliability of the Clinometer app, the intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC), standard error of measurement (SEM), and minimal detectable difference (MDD) were used. Clinometer displayed excellent validity when compared to the digital inclinometer for hip and knee movements (r>0.90), while ankle ROM displayed moderate validity (r = 0.52-0.57). Additionally, Clinometer demonstrated excellent reliability (ICC > 0.90) for hip and knee sagittal plane motion and moderate reliability for the ankle sagittal plane motion (ICC = 0.53–0.67). Cli- nometer is a portable, low-cost, valid, and reliable tool for assessing active hip and knee range of motions and can be easily incorporated into clinical settings; however, it cannot be used interchangeably for ankle measures.

The Epidemiology of Patellofemoral Pain in Majmaah, Saudi Arabia

Background: Although running can provide health benefits, knee joint injuries are frequently reported by recreational runners. To date, the precise mechanism responsible for anterior knee pain remains elusive, and the source of symptoms is debated. Inconsistencies are found in the literature pertaining to the relationship between hip mechanics and activity in the quadriceps and gluteus maximus (GMax) during the running gait. Purpose/Hypothesis: To investigate the correlations between hip rotation and the activity in the quadriceps and GMax during running. We hypothesized that increased hip rotation is correlated with decreased activity in these muscles. Study Design: Descriptive laboratory study. Methods: A cohort of 30 healthy recreational runners volunteered to participate in the study (mean ± SD age, 28.8 ± 5.66 years; height, 1.73 ± 0.05 m; mass, 69 ± 6.3 kg; body mass index, 23.02 ± 1.42 kg/m²). Surface electromyography (EMG) data were obtained from the GMax, vastus medialis obliquus (VMO), and vastus lateralis obliquus (VLO). These data were synchronized with a motion capture system during a level-surface running activity at a speed of 3.2 m/s. Results: A significantly strong, negative correlation was found between the hip internal rotation angle and EMG activity of the GMax and the VMO. However, the VLO showed a significant, moderate, and positive correlation of activity with the hip internal rotation angle. Conclusion: The present study showed that during level-surface running, decreased GMax activity may be the cause of distal joint injuries and alteration in quadriceps muscle activity. Clinical Relevance: Because GMax activity is important for controlling the lower body mechanics during running, evaluating GMax activity and internal hip rotation angle is important to prevent the running-related knee injuries that are linked to quadriceps deficits, such as patellofemoral pain. Additionally, clinicians and trainers should consider strengthening the GMax while rehabilitating running-related knee injuries.

Objectives: This study aimed to explore the prevalence of carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms among female touchscreen users at Majmaah University, Saudi Arabia and to make a comparison for the wrist range of motion between probable CTS and non-CTS female touchscreen users. Methods: Two hundred and twenty-two female touchscreen users were enrolled in the present study. Among this cohort, fifty-two were academic members, 40 were employees and 130 were undergraduates. A Digital Inclinometer device was used to assess ROM of the wrist movements. A computer-based questionnaire, Phalen’s test, and Tinel’s sign were used to investigate the presence of CTS symptoms. The study was conducted between November 2018 and February 2019 at Majmaah University. Results: The prevalence of probable CTS was 34.2% among touchscreen users; the percent of probable CTS was significantly higher in undergraduates compared to other touchscreen users. There was a significant reduction in wrist flexion between the tested groups. Conclusion: Female touchscreen users at Majmaah University tended to have a high-risk for CTS. Wrist ROM measurements, particularly wrist flexion, could be a beneficial indicator for anticipating deviations in wrist posture after long-term touchscreen use. It is necessary to consider the job nature, age, BMI, and duration of using touchscreen as risk factors for CTS symptoms. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.35.5.683 How to cite this:Mohammad WS. Work-related risk factors for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome among Majmaah University female touchscreen users. Pak J Med Sci. 2019;35(5):1221-1226. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.35.5.683 This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.