Physiotherapy Research International最新文献

{"title":"Anticipatory and Compensatory Postural Adjustments in Sitting and Standing Positions During Functional Activities in Children With Cerebral Palsy.","authors":"Priyal Vasani, Amitesh Narayan, Akshatha Nayak, Mohammed Alsulaimani, Abdul Rahman Alzahrani","doi":"10.1002/pri.70028","DOIUrl":"10.1002/pri.70028","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background and purpose: </strong>Anticipatory postural adjustments (APA) and compensatory postural adjustments (CPA) have played a vital role in postural control since early childhood, which is critical to accomplishing activities in daily life. However, literature indicated dissimilarities and inconsistencies in APA and CPA analysis in sitting and standing positions in children with Cerebral Palsy (CP). Thus, this study analyzed the changes in postural control (APA and CPA) through the postural muscles [rectus abdominis (RA) and erector spinae (ES)] in both standing and sitting positions during functional activities (grasping a ball) in children with CP.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Children with CP [N = 21] aged 5-13 years having GMFCS levels I (n = 12) and II (n = 9) participated. Surface electromyography (EMG) was performed for postural muscles (ES and RA) to measure the APA and CPA with two types of loads (heavy and light) in both sitting and standing positions.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Children with CP showed increased EMG amplitude for APA and CPA with a heavier load than light load in sitting and standing positions. The EMG amplitude of CPA in sitting and standing for both load conditions was significantly higher than that of APA.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>The findings suggest rehabilitation programs should enhance APA and CPA through targeted exercises and load management strategies. These insights have the potential to inform clinical practices, improve postural stability, and ultimately strengthen the ability of children with CP to perform daily activities with greater ease and confidence, thereby significantly impacting the quality of life.</p>","PeriodicalId":47243,"journal":{"name":"Physiotherapy Research International","volume":"30 1","pages":"e70028"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11727814/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142972609","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Sexual Function and Quality of Life in Individuals Post Stroke.","authors":"Danielle Schneider, Nicolette Comley-White","doi":"10.1002/pri.70004","DOIUrl":"10.1002/pri.70004","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Sexual function is commonly affected post stroke and impacts an individual's quality of life. This study aimed to determine the factors associated with sexual function in an individual post stroke and the association with quality of life.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>This cross-sectional study included 56 participants who had a stroke between three and 24 months prior. The participants were assessed for: level of disability with the Modified Rankin Scale (MRS); quality of life with the Stroke Specific Quality of Life scale (SSQOL); and sexual function with the Changes in Sexual Functioning Questionnaire (CSFQ-14), and an open-ended questionnaire was administered.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The average age of the participants was 51.32 (SD = ±13.24) years, with 32 (57.1%) males and 24 (42.9%) females. According to the CSFQ-14, the majority of the study participants (n = 35, 62.5%) had sexual dysfunction after their stroke. The factors associated with sexual dysfunction post stroke included age, disability, comorbidities, psychosocial factors such as self-esteem, role changes, and depression. Those with sexual dysfunction were found to have a lower mean SSQOL score (139.94 ± 33.89) than those without sexual dysfunction (149.76 ± 33.77), however, there was no significant difference (p = 0.298) between the groups. Majority of the participants (n = 37; 66.1%) did not know that healthcare professionals can assist with sexual dysfunction.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The majority of participants experienced sexual dysfunction after their stroke. Factors such as pain, difficulty with positioning, self-esteem issues, lack of motivation, and change in desire, are important considerations for the multidisciplinary team in the rehabilitation of a patient's sexual function post stroke.</p><p><strong>Trial registration: </strong>This cross-sectional study did not require study registration.</p>","PeriodicalId":47243,"journal":{"name":"Physiotherapy Research International","volume":"30 1","pages":"e70004"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11774261/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142630302","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Facilitators and Barriers for Physiotherapists to Engage in Goal-Setting With Patients During Their Hospital Stay-An Explanatory Sequential Mixed-Methods Study.","authors":"Linda Baumbach, Wiebke Feddern, Friederike Grube, Hans-Helmut König, André Hajek, Susanne G R Klotz","doi":"10.1002/pri.70024","DOIUrl":"10.1002/pri.70024","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background and purpose: </strong>Goal setting is a key aspect of patient-centered physiotherapy, helping to motivate patients, align healthcare efforts, prevent oversight, and stop ineffective interventions. This study aims to identify facilitators and barriers for physiotherapists in hospitals to set and document patient treatment goals.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>An explanatory sequential mixed-methods approach was used. The survey, informed by systematic reviews of factors influencing shared decision-making and the theoretical domains framework (TDF), included 25 statements to be rated. Two focus groups (n = 8) discussed (1) factors from the survey, (2) the goal-setting processes, and (3) brainstormed facilitators and barriers for documenting physiotherapy goals.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Survey findings showed mixed opinions but agreement on two factors, which indicate that the goal influences the therapeutic interventions and motivates the therapists. The focus group identified four themes: \"Goal,\" \"Physiotherapeutic Self-Conception,\" \"Interprofessionality\", and \"Hospital Setting.\" Issues included limited space and poor placement in documentation systems, mental rather than written goal conceptualization, and a perceived lack of interest from interprofessional team members, leading to deprioritization by physiotherapists. Finally, joint goal setting was deemed impractical for certain patients.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>Hospital physiotherapists set treatment goals with their patients. The process is influenced by various factors, including interprofessional dynamics and the hospital setting. The identified themes align with existing literature. Effective documentation of patient-centered physiotherapy goals in hospitals requires well-designed tools and interprofessional collaboration. Further, it is crucial to understand professional self-conception and acknowledge situations where physiotherapists need to set goals independently.</p>","PeriodicalId":47243,"journal":{"name":"Physiotherapy Research International","volume":"30 1","pages":"e70024"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11715134/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142956188","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Proprioception After Unilateral Stroke: Changes in the Affected and Unaffected Lower Limbs Over Time.","authors":"Jinyao Xu, Jeremy Witchalls, Elisabeth Preston, Li Pan, Gengyuan Zhang, Gordon Waddington, Roger Adams, Jia Han","doi":"10.1002/pri.70027","DOIUrl":"10.1002/pri.70027","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Proprioceptive deficits are common among stroke survivors and can negatively impact their balance and postural control. However, there has been little evaluation of the change in proprioceptive deficits in the lower limbs over time after stroke. This study aimed to examine proprioceptive deficits over time after stroke in both the affected and \"unaffected\" lower limbs.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This cross-sectional study included sixty first-time unilateral stroke survivors and twenty age-matched healthy individuals. Participants after stroke were divided into three subgroups based on different time points after stroke. The generally accepted clinical time points after stroke are the first 4 weeks-the acute stage; 5-24 weeks-the subacute stage; over 24 weeks-the chronic stage. The active movement extent discrimination apparatus (AMEDA) was used to quantify ankle proprioception in plantarflexion and inversion directions, on both the affected and \"unaffected\" sides.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Lower limb proprioception scores decreased linearly over time after stroke on both the affected and \"unaffected\" sides (p < 0.001). Overall, proprioception scores for the stroke groups were significantly lower than those for the healthy age-matched group (p < 0.01), with the only exception being ankle plantarflexion and inversion scores on the unaffected side in the acute stroke group, which were not significantly different from their healthy counterparts.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Ankle proprioception in both lower limbs decreased over time after a unilateral stroke, with proprioceptive acuity on the \"unaffected\" side diminishing linearly in the same way as that on the affected side. These observed continuing deficits in lower limb proprioception among stroke survivors raise implications for clinical neurorehabilitation.</p>","PeriodicalId":47243,"journal":{"name":"Physiotherapy Research International","volume":"30 1","pages":"e70027"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11725610/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142972638","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The Perspectives and Experiences of Physiotherapists on Implementing Self-Management Support in Inpatient Hospital Settings.","authors":"Jenna Kay Boyd, Sarah Rhodes, Emily Anne Gray","doi":"10.1002/pri.70020","DOIUrl":"10.1002/pri.70020","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background and purpose: </strong>As health systems come under increasing pressure, supporting patients to self-manage their own condition is becoming increasingly important. A shift towards a more holistic, person-centred approach to healthcare in the hospital setting, through enhancing self-management support (SMS), is required to empower patients to increase independence in managing their own conditions. The study aim was to explore how physiotherapists perceive and implement SMS with patients in hospital inpatient settings.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A qualitative study approach was taken using semi-structured interviews (n = 8). Physiotherapists with at least 6 months experience working in the inpatient hospital setting were invited to participate. Interview data were analysed using the General Inductive Approach.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Four themes were identified: (1) physiotherapists understanding and perceptions of implementation of SMS in the hospital, (2) SMS facilitates a person-centred and collaborative approach to healthcare, (3) SMS is beneficial to patients, physiotherapists, and the healthcare system, and (4) perceived challenges and potential solutions for SMS implementation.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>Overall, physiotherapists value the use of self-management support in the hospital. SMS was implemented by partnering with patients, facilitating patients to problem solve and providing education so that patients could play an active role in decision making and independently participate in their rehabilitation. However, there appears to be scope to improve physiotherapists' knowledge of SMS to enable implementation of a wider range of SMS tools in clinical practice. A limitation of this study is that most participants were New Zealand European and, therefore, the findings are not generalisable to all physiotherapists working in New Zealand.</p><p><strong>Implications for physiotherapy practice: </strong>Physiotherapists perceive SMS to have a place in the inpatient hospital setting and can lead to better patient outcomes and reduce burden on the healthcare system. Enhancing physiotherapists' understanding of SMS and exploring other ways to implement SMS in hospital settings, may help to facilitate appropriate implementation.</p>","PeriodicalId":47243,"journal":{"name":"Physiotherapy Research International","volume":"30 1","pages":"e70020"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11771617/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143048263","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Muscular Performance of the Elbow Flexor and Extensor Muscles in Children With Myopathies: A Case-Control Study.","authors":"Karoliny Lisandra Teixeira Cruz, Emanuela Juvenal Martins, Camila Scarpino Barboza Franco, Tenysson Will de Lemos, Amanda Silva Gomes Dos Santos, Stela Marcia Mattiello, Claudia Ferreira da Rosa Sobreira, Ana Claudia Mattiello-Sverzut","doi":"10.1002/pri.70023","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/pri.70023","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background and purpose: </strong>Children with myopathies often experience muscle weakness in their lower limbs. However, the upper limbs are also affected and, at the same time, play a key role in daily living activities as well as in transfers and assisted mobility using auxiliary devices. The objective was to assess the performance of the elbow flexor and extensor muscles through static and dynamic contractions in children with myopathies and in their typical peers.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This was a case-control study. Seven children with different myopathies participated and were matched with typical children by sex and age (1:2). The muscle performance of elbow flexors (EFL) and elbow extensors (EEX) was assessed using an isokinetic dynamometer using isometric and isokinetic contractions at a speed of 120°s-¹. The analyzed variables were peak torque (PT), total work (W), power (P), time to peak torque (TPT), acceleration time (AT), and deceleration time (DT). The raw variables were compared between groups using linear regression with mixed effects. A significance level of p < 0.05 was adopted.</p><p><strong>Results and discussion: </strong>Children with myopathies showed significantly lower values of PT, W, and P for both elbow muscle groups (p < 0.05) compared to typically developing children; TPT showed no difference between groups; and AT and DT were higher in children with myopathies than in typical ones (p < 0.05). Children with myopathies exhibited deficits in muscle performance, suggesting that the elbow muscles adopt atypical motor strategies, indicating impaired neuromuscular control. The isokinetic dynamometer is a device that can provide relevant information about muscle performance in this group of diseases.</p>","PeriodicalId":47243,"journal":{"name":"Physiotherapy Research International","volume":"30 1","pages":"e70023"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143013970","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Research Paradigm of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) With Item Response Theory: Clarification, Classification, and Challenge.","authors":"Chun Feng, Shou-Guo Liu, Liang Zhou, Feng Lin","doi":"10.1002/pri.70021","DOIUrl":"10.1002/pri.70021","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) is the worldwide terminology system for measuring health and disability at both individual and population levels. However, the underlying challenges remain in achieving widespread adoption and implementation of ICF within healthcare contexts, including the unequal interval scale of the ICF Likert-type qualifier system ranging from 0 to 4, a lack of consensus on conceptualization and grading criteria of ICF items, and an excessive number of ICF items associated with each disease. The utilization of item response theory (IRT) for ICF studies demonstrated potential benefits in addressing these issues. Here, a review attempted to provide clarification of two predominant needs (sufficiency and efficiency) and two dimensions of scoring principles (stratification and assignment principles) in the ICF.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A literature search was conducted on the PubMed database, and 44 relative articles were selected. On this basis, this review was undertaken to track the research progress of the ICF based on the parameter IRT method, typically the Rasch model.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>This review outlined the classification of Item response model (IRM) for ICF studies and summarized existing IRT-based ICF research paradigms. Moreover, this review identified blind spots regarding assignment principles and the difficulty parameter in current ICF-based IRT studies. The Mokken scale analysis (MSA), as a non-parametric IRT method, was introduced as a data shaping tool for parametric IRM. The pipeline of the ICF-based MSA-Rasch modeling might advance the understanding of ICF clinical application and shed light on a new paradigm of questionnaire design.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The advent of ICF-oriented IRM algorithms may advance the comprehension of ICF clinical application and pave the way for a new paradigm for IRT-derived ICF questionnaires, namely the parsimonious ICF core set. Additionally, the Wright map holds promise in facilitating insight into rehabilitation trajectories and personalizing rehabilitation goals.</p>","PeriodicalId":47243,"journal":{"name":"Physiotherapy Research International","volume":"30 1","pages":"e70021"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142923505","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Impact of Chemotherapy Treatment on the Functionality and Quality of Life of Cancer Patients.","authors":"Isabela Zancanaro, Leandra Ceron, Sara Broll Zanini, Marcela Paula Pegoraro Bottega, Bruno Araújo, Monique Manfron Spanholi, Paloma Kohl de Andrades, Antuani Rafael Baptistella","doi":"10.1002/pri.70026","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/pri.70026","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background and purpose: </strong>Cancer is one of the most prevalent diseases in the general population, and is one of the main causes of changes in the population's illness profile. In this study, we assessed changes in the functional status and quality of life of patients in the first months of chemotherapy treatment.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>A prospective cohort study was carried out, collecting data from cancer patients seen at an outpatient clinic in the Midwest of Santa Catarina who had breast, lung, colon and rectum, prostate and head and neck cancer. Patients were assessed at four different times, the first at diagnosis and the following at 1-month intervals after the previous assessment. The assessment included the sociodemographic profile, weight, Functional Independence Measure (FIM), Timed Up & Go test (TUG test), Karnofsky Performance Status Scale and the EORTC Quality of Life Questionnaire. Statistical analyses were carried out using the IBM SPSS program, considering statistical significance p < 0.05.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>In a sample of 145 patients, there was no statistically significant reduction in the functional independence and weight of the patients followed up despite the treatment instituted; moreover, they did not show significant changes in their mobility capacity. The Karnofsky Scale was directly impacted by tumor staging.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>These results showed that patients with different tumors and staging at diagnosis, despite different degrees of disability, did not suffer significant changes in quality of life and self-sufficiency in the first 4 months of treatment.</p>","PeriodicalId":47243,"journal":{"name":"Physiotherapy Research International","volume":"30 1","pages":"e70026"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142972614","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effect of Caloric Restriction and Aerobic Exercise on Premenstrual Syndrome, Anthropometric, and Hormonal Parameters in Obese Females: A Randomized Controlled Trial.","authors":"Yara M Soliman, Fahiema M Okeel, Amel M Yousef, Mohamed H Mostafa, Doaa A Osman","doi":"10.1002/pri.70015","DOIUrl":"10.1002/pri.70015","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background and purpose: </strong>Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) affects physical, psychological, and behavioral symptoms in women. Obesity may worsen PMS, but the impact of caloric restriction and aerobic exercise on PMS in obese women is unclear. This study examines their effects on PMS, anthropometric, and hormonal parameters in obese females.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This randomized controlled trial involved 40 obese females with PMS. They were randomly divided into two groups of 20 each. The control group (A) received medical treatment in the form of Brufen 400 mg: one tablet daily for 5 days before menstruation and two tablets daily during menstruation for 12 weeks. The study group (B) received the same medical treatment and additionally engaged in a program of caloric restriction and aerobic exercise for 12 weeks. Outcome measures included the premenstrual syndrome scale (PMSS), weight, body mass index (BMI), waist and hip circumferences, waist-hip (W/H) ratio, and serum levels of progesterone and cortisol.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>At baseline, no significant between-group differences were observed in PMSS scores, anthropometric measures (weight, BMI, waist and hip circumferences, W/H ratio), or hormonal parameters (serum cortisol and progesterone). Post-treatment, the study group (B) demonstrated significantly greater improvements compared to the control group (A), including reductions in PMSS scores, weight, BMI, waist and hip circumferences, W/H ratio, and serum cortisol, along with significantly higher serum progesterone levels (p < 0.05).</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>A 12-week program of caloric restriction and aerobic exercise resulted in substantial improvements in PMS symptoms, anthropometric parameters, cortisol levels, and progesterone levels in obese females with PMS.</p>","PeriodicalId":47243,"journal":{"name":"Physiotherapy Research International","volume":"30 1","pages":"e70015"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142819760","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Respiratory and functional benefits of manual diaphragmatic release for cleaning-laborers exposed to occupational hazards.","authors":"Alshimaa R Azab, Ragab K Elnaggar, Dalia G Hamouda, Ghfren S Aloraini, Alaa S Alhegaili, Ahmed S Ahmed, Maged A Basha, Ashwag S Alsharidah, FatmaAlzahraa H Kamel, Ahmed A Elshehawy","doi":"10.1002/pri.70001","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/pri.70001","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background and purpose: </strong>To examine the respiratory and functional benefits of manual diaphragmatic release for Cleaning-Laborers Exposed to Occupational Hazards.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A randomized controlled trial of 36 participants aged 35-45 years was randomly allocated into two groups. The experimental group (n = 18); received manual diaphragm release along with respiratory training exercises, and the control group (n = 18); received respiratory training exercises only. Three times/week for 12 consecutive weeks. The serum immunoglobulin E level, pulmonary functions [forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV₁), forced vital capacity (FVC), FEV₁/FVC, and peak expiratory flow (PEF) rate (PEF)], chest wall mobility, and 6 min walk-test performance were assessed pre- and post-intervention.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>There was a greater decline in serum immunoglobulin levels (p = 0.003; Partial η² = 0.23) and enhancement in pulmonary functions [FEV₁ (p = 0.025, Partial η2 = 0.14), FVC (p = 0.017, Partial η² = 0.16), FEV₁/FVC (p = 0.028, Partial η² = 0.13), and PEF (p = 0.012, Partial η2 = 0.17) in the experimental group. Further, there was a greater increase in chest mobility at the xiphoid level (p = 0.002, Partial η² = 0.25) in the experimental group, but this was not the case at the axillary level (p = 0.29, Partial η² = 0.03). Still, the 6 min walk-test performance improved more significantly in the experimental group (p = 0.002, Partial η² = 0.24).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The diaphragmatic release technique may offer a promising approach for mitigating distressing respiratory symptoms, enhancing immune function, and improving 6 min walk-test performance among cleaning laborers with work-related respiratory hazards.</p><p><strong>Trial registration: </strong>The study was retrospectively registered at XXX (ID: NCT05802355).</p>","PeriodicalId":47243,"journal":{"name":"Physiotherapy Research International","volume":"29 4","pages":"e70001"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2024-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142477523","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}