Biography:

Susan Giblin specialised in Neuromotor Assessment, completed her MSc at the University of Edinburgh and undertaking Doctoral research at the Institute of Coaching and Performance at the University of Central Lancashire. She has worked in a research and development capacity with Kitman Labs Ltd. and published her work in reputed international journals.

Abstract:

Objective: In this paper, we present a novel low cost computer-vision athletic movement assessment (overhead squat). The aim of the study was to investigate the reliability of a low cost markerless motion capture system (Capture) against an industry gold standard (Vicon).
Rationale: Overhead squat is commonly used to detect asymmetry and immobility during functional movement. Research has shown the overhead squat to be the most discriminant task of the Functional Movement Screen (FMS) i.e. an individual’s ability on the overhead squat is indicative of their overall FMS score and thus injury risk status. Unfortunately, to date, the overhead squat movement has typically relied on subjective, observation based assessment. We suggest that objective and automated assessment of the overhead squat movement could provide a more practical tool for coaches to identify the intricate movement parameters associated with increased injury risk (i.e. knee valgus/varus, trunk flexion, hip translation in the sagittal plane).
Results: The findings suggest that low-cost markerless motion capture has potential to provide an objective method for assessing lower limb squat mechanics and trunk control in an applied sports setting. Furthermore, the outcome of the study warrants the need for future research to examine more fully the potential implications of the use of low-cost markerless motion capture in the evaluation of dynamic movement for injury prevention.

Biography:

Dr. Al-Zahrani is a Physiotherapist (PhD) and Assistant Professor. He currently serves as the College Director of the Prince Sultan Military College of Health Sciences (PSMCHS), Dhahran, Saudi Arabia. Since 2000, he started his academic profession at PSMCHS as Instructor and Assistant Director of Applied Medical Sciences. Then years later (2004-2005), he was promoted as the Director of Applied of Medical Sciences Department. His career continues at PSMCHS and served for almost a year as the Vice Dean of Clinical Affairs and Assistant Professor. His leadership soared high and later on appointed as the College Dean on October 2010 to date. Aside from his executive role, he continually works as participating member of curriculum development of Master’s Degree in Physical Therapy, part-time Consultant at King Fahd Military Medical Complex, visiting Assistant Professor at Dammam University. His academic and research efforts so far have centered on developing protocols and measurement tools for assessing and treating patients with knee injuries, evaluating non-invasive outcome measures for assessing muscle fatigues in patient with musculoskeletal disorders and evaluating the effi cacy and mechanisms underpinning physical therapy interventions such as therapeutic exercises, taping, bracing, foot orthoses. He has a record of numerous paper and presentations on physiotherapy. His academic efforts so far have centered on allied health sciences and physiotherapy, which is under pipeline and has been approved by the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties, the establishment of postgraduate high clinical diploma in musculoskeletal physical therapy at PSMCHS.

Abstract:

Background: Interferential current (IFC) is regularly used for musculoskeletal pain reduction. The use of IFC is based on minimizing skin impedance and producing maximum stimulation at the point of intersection of the two alternating currents, deep in tissue. However, previous systematic reviews found no clear reduction effect of pain with IFC. Recently, IFC was found to induce highest voltage outside the intersection of the two currents but lowest voltage in the intersection spot. It is probably true that placing the treated area outside the intersection spot of the currents would reveal a significant pain reduction.
Materials & Methods: 31 (14 males and 17 females) with sub acute low back pain were assigned randomly to 1- external IFC application (where the most tender spot was located between tow electrodes at 2 cm outside of the external borders of the electrodes) or 2-placebo external IFC application and Comparatively 23 (9 males and 14 females) were also assigned to placebo external IFT. Subjects were assessed for their pain before and aft er IFC session using the parameters such as visual analogue scale (VAS), pressure pain threshold (PPT), pain distribution and range of motion (ROM).Subjects received 20 minutes of IFC at 100 Hz and comfortable stimulation intensity.
Results: The independent sample t-test has been applied to compare the experimental and control groups with pre and post measurements. The mean (SD) for experimental group is 42 (9.8) and for the control group is 44.8 (12.3). By using t-test significant difference (since P<0.05) was obtained for the parameters VAS and Pain distribution, which shows that the groups are having
diff erence both statistically and clinically. Th ere is an insignificant difference (since P>0.05) between two compared groups on pain threshold. Though statistically insignificant on pain threshold there is acceptable clinical difference between the two groups.
Conclusion: Despite these limitations, the study findings indicate that as a group, the findings indicate that the location of the electrodes does aff ect the treatment outcome on patients with sub acute low back pain on VAS and Pain distribution. However, more sample size will be required to prove the significant difference between the two groups on each parameter both clinically and statistically. Interventions to increase the efficacy of pain management in this population will be more helpful.

Biography:

Beatti A is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Physiotherapy of Prince Sultan Military College of Health Sciences, Saudi Arabia. He is also a collaborate Lecturer at Dammam University, Saudi Arabia. He completed BSc and MSc at King Saud University, Saudi Arabia and a PhD in Physiotherapy at University of Queensland, Australia. His research focuses on the study of various aspects of interferential therapy in the management of pain. Current investigations also relate to elucidating the effect of interferential therapy on pain while using different arrangement of electrodes in relation to the pain spot.

Abstract:

Background: Interferential current (IFC) has been used for pain reduction on the theoretical bases of producing maximum stimulation in the middle of the 4 electrodes of IFC, where the two currents intersect in the tissue. Therefore, the painful area is placed in the middle of the 4 electrodes of IFC to experience maximum stimulation and achieves maximum pain reduction. However, this application received poor support from literature. Thus, it was essential to clarify whether IFC reaches target deep tissues or not and if it does, where it produces the maximum stimulation.
Materials & Methods: IFC was applied via 4 electrodes, in a quadrant setting, to the distal medial thigh of 12 healthy subjects. Then 3 Tefl on coated needle electrodes, connected to Cambridge Electronic Design data acquisition system, were placed in the middle of the 4 electrodes of IFC, in line with one channel and outside the 4 electrodes of IFC. Voltage induced by IFC at frequencies of 4, 40 and 90 Hz was measured on separate occasions. Voltage readings were taken from 3 depths; skin, subcutaneous and muscle tissues.
Result: All voltages were greater at all depths and locations compared to the baseline (p<0.001). Lower voltages of all currents were recorded in the middle of the 4 electrodes with the highest voltage being recorded outside the four electrodes p=0.011.
Conclusion: The current results refute the traditional theory that IFC produces maximum stimulation where the two currents intersect in the tissue. Oppositely, it suggests that the current spreads outside the electrodes at higher voltages compared to the intersection of the 4 electrodes. Consequently, this would suggest placing treated area outside the intersection of the IFC electrodes to experience better stimulation and this could lead to a significant pain reduction.

Biography:

Sofia A Xergia has completed her PhD from Medicine School of University of Ioannina, Greece. Currently, she is working as a Lecturer and Coordinator at Physiotherapy Program, Department of Health Sciences, School of Sciences of the European University of Cyprus. She is also a Research Collaborator with the Orthopedic Sports Medicine Center of Ioannina. She has published papers in the field of Sports Medicine and rehabilitation in many reputed journals.

Abstract:

Injury to the Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) is not only one of the most common athletic injuries, but also one of the most debilitating, particularly in sports that involve frequent pivoting, cutting and landing from jump tasks. More than 250,000 ACL injuries occur in the USA annually and ACL injury constitutes 2.6% of all injuries according to the National Athletic Trainers’Association. Athletes who experience an ACL injury face a series of economic, social and psychological eff ects. The hospital costs alone associated with ACL reconstruction in Australia are over a $75 million per year and the annual population incidence of ACL reconstruction is between 1.7% -7.7% and in the USA more than 125,000 ACL reconstructions are performed every year. Returning athletes to competitive sports in a safe yet timely manner aft er ACL Reconstruction (ACLR) is a challenging task for rehabilitation professionals and orthopedic surgeons. Current rehabilitation protocols are based on specifi c guidelines and objective criteria that allow progression from one phase to the next. Despite the use of structured rehabilitation protocols, asymmetries persist after ACLR and the evaluation of the quantitative and qualitative criteria constitutes a major issue for the rehabilitative teams of the ACLR patients, in order to safely return to functional requirements. Th e goal of the rehabilitation protocols is to improve neuromuscular and biomechanical control while maintaining knee joint stability for a safe return to pre-injury activity level. Failure to successfully treat biomechanical and neuromuscular deficits may compromise functional recovery and increase the risk of re-injury.

Biography:

Ulrike Berzau is an Executive Coach and Consultant working with individuals, teams and organizations to achieve exceptional results. She has extensive experience as Healthcare Executive, received many leadership and quality awards and led two hospitals to being recognized with the Hospital of Choice Award. She is the co-author of the international best-seller “Imagine a Healthy You”; a certified Coach and Consultant; and the National Account Manager for The Passion Test for Business/ASAP Engagement Consulting. She holds a Master’s degree in Management, a Master’s degree in Health Science, Physical Therapy, and is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives.

Abstract:

Gallup studies show that only 31.5% of the American work force is passionate about their daily work. Th is costs the USA economy in the billions. Lost productivity and increased “unhealthy days”, days where health issues affect the work, are seen in the almost 70% that are not engaged and passionate about their work. Actively disengaged employees have almost two times more unhealthy days than engaged employees. Evidence suggests that employee engagement correlates with patient satisfaction and loyalty. Targeting the engagement issue, addresses patient satisfaction and excellence at the root drastically changes the results and outcomes. Imagine you know your work and core passions? Imagine your company strategy is based on what matters most to the leader, employees, company success and patients? Once we create alignment between an organization’s strategy and the work passions, core passions and unique skills of leaders and employees, we have a thriving organization. It improves patient care and outcomes; increases productivity, excellence, creativity, profits and sustainability.

Biography:

Hejal P Patel is pursuing Master’s in Community Rehabilitation in Charotar University of Science and Technology (CHARUSAT), India and is currently working on diabetes.

Abstract:

Introduction: Children with cerebral palsy (CP) are more dependent on adult assistance for mobility in certain setting. The environmental influences can have a signifi cant influence on the mobility methods used by children with CP.
Objective: The objective of the study was to identify the mobility methods used by the children with cerebral palsy in varied environmental setting.
Statement of the problem: Mobility methods such as use of wheel chairs might facilitate greater social participation than being carried around by others. Children with CP are more dependent on adult assistance for mobility in certain setting. The characteristics of the environment might infl uence adopting a particular form of mobility method.
Significance of the research: Identifying difference in the mobility methods used in various environmental setting could be helpful to understand the influence of environmental setting and develop adaptive strategies for improving children’s mobility in various contexts.
Method: 126 children with CP are included in the study (mean age 8.91±4.06, 50 girls). All children were classified according to GMFCS. Parent-completed questionnaire was used for identifying the mobility methods, mobility aids and mobility equipment.
Results: Out of 126 children, 51 (40.5%) and 48 (38.1%) walk alone without any assistance in home and in school, respectively. In community, 40 (31.7%) were carried by an adult cerebral. Use of wheel chair as a mobility method is limited across all setting.
Discussion: Compared with children mobility at school, children were more dependent on adult assistance for mobility when outdoor or in community and less dependent on adult assistance at home. This may be due to the lack of infrastructure conducive for wheel chair use such as uneven roads, transport services with wheel chair access and parents’ lack of confidence or over protective concerns related to fall.
Conclusion: Encouraging parents to adopt wheeled mobility and improving physical infrastructure to facilitate wheel chair use can promote active social participation of children with cerebral palsy.

Biography:

Afsaneh Nikjooy is an Assistant Professor of Physical Therapy, Department of Physical Therapy, in Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. She is a member of International Continence Society (ICS) and Iranian Continence Society (IrCS). She has worked in pelvic fl oor physiotherapy for more than 12 years. She has managed several courses of pelvic floor physiotherapy for Master’s students of this fi eld in Faculty of Rehabilitation, Iran University of Medical Sciences.

Abstract:

Dyssynegric Defecation (DD), one of the most common functional defecation disorders, has been recognized as a major cause of chronic functional constipation. Th e etiology of DD is unclear, this abnormal muscle activity may be due to; Brain-bowel axis dysfunction, an acquired behavioral defecation disorder, the coordinated mechanisms of defecation may have never been learnt during childhood, and may be a result of sexual or physical or emotional abuse. Patients with DD, exhibit significant psychological distress and impaired health-related quality of life (QOL). It is necessary to understand the neurophysiologic indices of this dysfunction to make a proper clinical decision for achieving a better treatment plan to improve the patients’ QOL. Th is study can be the foundation of the next researches to provide the new method for investigating neural rehabilitation and better understanding of the mechanisms of improving motor functions and also be a good background, for later studies to compare the eff ects of intervention therapy (Biofeedback and cognition behavioral therapy). 20 constipated patients with DD and nine healthy asymptomatic were included
in the study. The participants were studied using fMRI to detect brain activity during voluntary contraction of puborectalis and external anal sphincter muscles, as well as during straining to defecation and rest. External sensory events, eliciting strong emotional reactions, can alter the function of the alimentary canal and lead to common disorders of gastrointestinal function and defecation. fMRI study findings showed active regions of the brain during the tasks. Also fMRI could reveal the differences between the patients and healthy controls.

Biography:

Dr. Al-Zahrani is a Physiotherapist (PhD) and Assistant Professor. He currently serves as the College Director of the Prince Sultan Military College of Health
Sciences (PSMCHS), Dhahran, Saudi Arabia. Since 2000, he started his academic profession at PSMCHS as Instructor and Assistant Director of Applied Medical Sciences. Then years later (2004-2005), he was promoted as the Director of Applied of Medical Sciences Department. His career continues at PSMCHS and served for almost a year as the Vice Dean of Clinical Affairs and Assistant Professor. His leadership soared high and later on appointed as the College Dean on October 2010 to date. Aside from his executive role, he continually works as participating member of curriculum development of Master’s Degree in Physical Therapy, part-time Consultant at King Fahd Military Medical Complex, visiting Assistant Professor at Dammam University. His academic and research efforts so far have centered on developing protocols and measurement tools for assessing and treating patients with knee injuries, evaluating non-invasive outcome measures for assessing muscle fatigues in patient with musculoskeletal disorders and evaluating the efficacy and mechanisms underpinning physical therapy interventions
such as therapeutic exercises, taping, bracing, foot orthoses. He has a record of numerous paper and presentations on physiotherapy. His academic efforts so far
have centered on allied health sciences and physiotherapy, which is under pipeline and has been approved by the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties, the establishment of postgraduate high clinical diploma in musculoskeletal physical therapy at PSMCHS.

Abstract:

Background: Interferential current (IFC) is regularly used for musculoskeletal pain reduction. Th e use of IFC is based on minimizing
skin impedance and producing maximum stimulation at the point of intersection of the two alternating currents, deep in tissue.
However, previous systematic reviews found no clear reduction eff ect of pain with IFC. Recently, IFC was found to induce highest
voltage outside the intersection of the two currents but lowest voltage in the intersection spot. It is probably true that placing the
treated area outside the intersection spot of the currents would reveal a signifi cant pain reduction.
Materials & Methods: 31 (14 males and 17 females) with sub acute low back pain were assigned randomly to 1- external IFC
application (where the most tender spot was located between tow electrodes at 2 cm outside of the external borders of the electrodes)
or 2- placebo external IFC application and Comparatively 23 (9 males and 14 females) were also assigned to placebo external IFT.
Subjects were assessed for their pain before and aft er IFC session using the parameters such as visual analogue scale (VAS), pressure
pain threshold (PPT), pain distribution and range of motion (ROM).Subjects received 20 minutes of IFC at 100 Hz and comfortable
stimulation intensity.
Results: Th e independent sample t-test has been applied to compare the experimental and control groups with pre and post
measurements. Th e mean (SD) for experimental group is 42 (9.8) and for the control group is 44.8 (12.3). By using t-test signifi cant
diff erence (since P<0.05) was obtained for the parameters VAS and Pain distribution, which shows that the groups are having
diff erence both statistically and clinically. Th ere is an insignifi cant diff erence (since P>0.05) between two compared groups on pain
threshold. Th ough statistically insignifi cant on pain threshold there is acceptable clinical diff erence between the two groups.
Conclusion: Despite these limitations, the study fi ndings indicate that as a group, the fi ndings indicate that the location of the
electrodes does aff ect the treatment outcome on patients with sub acute low back pain on VAS and Pain distribution. However,
more sample size will be required to prove the signifi cant diff erence between the two groups on each parameter both clinically and
statistically. Interventions to increase the effi cacy of pain management in this population will be more helpful.

Biography:

Amit Bhalla has Medical degree (from University of Calicut 1998), and postgraduate degree in Pharmacology (from Baba Farid university of Health Sciences, 2006), currently holding the position of Medical Adviser to a leading pharmaceutical company, Zydus Cadila, Ahmedabad. He is involved in conducting CME programmes all across India and try to develop and train local speakers. He has taught undergraduate medical students at tertiary care institution from 2003 to 2006. Activities involve new product tracking, identification of prospective lead molecules.

Abstract:

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Topical Diclofenac with Heparin (Diclofenac sodium 1% and Heparin 200 IU w/w ) Gel in subjects with acute blunt, soft tissue injuries. Design: Open labelled, non-comparator multicenter study Setting:25 study centers in India. Participants: 296 patients with acute blunt, soft tissue injuries eg Sports injury, Sprain and Strain, frozen shoulder, knee pain, Interventions: Diclofenac with Heparin Topical Gel was applied t.i.d. for ≥48 hours and up to 7 days. Main Outcome Measures: The efficacy assessment of treatment was done based on the overall symptoms of Soft tissue Injury. The efficacy parameters for this evaluation are: Pain of movement (POM), Inflammation, Haematoma, Pain on leaning of injured limb, Oedema, Swelling, Redness and Overall pain. A 3-point scoring data was obtained for all these efficacy parameters for Baseline (BL) and End of therapy (EOT), where 0 indicates No symptoms and 3 indicates Severe symptoms. Statistical analysis: Non-parametric Wilcoxon sign rank test was applied on the data of difference between BL and EOT symptoms scores Results or Clinical Course: Patients treated with topical Diclofenac with Heparin Gel experienced significantly greater reduction in POM at EOT (p<.0001). For all injury cases, there was significant difference at 5% level of significance (p < 0.05), which gives evidence that there is significant decrease in the symptoms of Soft Tissue Injury for all the efficacy parameters. Conclusions: Diclofenac with Heparin Topical Gel applied 3 times daily was a safe and highly effective treatment for the symptoms of blunt soft tissue injuries, and it could represent a new option for the treatment of acute blunt trauma and other soft tissue injuries.

Biography:

Shahnawaz Anwer has completed his MPT (Orthopedics) in the year of 2009 from Hamdard University, New Delhi, India. He is working as a Research Associate at Rehabilitation Research Chair, King Suad University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. He has published more than 35 papers in reputed journals and has been serving as an editorial board member of repute for more than 15 international indexed journals.

Abstract:

Several studies have reported the effects of whole body vibration (WBV) training on muscle strength. This systematic review investigates the current evidence regarding the effects of WBV training on quadriceps muscle strength in individuals with knee osteoarthritis (OA). We searched PubMed, CINAHL, Embase, Scopus, PEDro, and Science citation index for research articles published prior to March 2015 using the keywords whole body vibration, vibration training, strength and vibratory exercise in combination with the Medical Subject Heading “Osteoarthritis knee”. This meta-analysis was limited to randomized controlled trials published in the English language. The quality of the selected studies was assessed by two independent evaluators using the PEDro Scale and criteria given by the International Society of Musculoskeletal and Neuronal Interactions (ISMNI) for reporting WBV intervention studies. The risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane collaboration’s tool for domain-based evaluation. Isokinetic quadriceps muscle strength was calculated for each intervention. Eighteen studies were identified in the search. Of these, 4 studies met the inclusion criteria. Three of these 4 studies reached high methodological quality on the PEDro scale. Out of the 4 studies, only 1 study found significantly greater quadriceps muscle strength gains following WBV compared to the control group. In 3 of the 4 studies that compared a control group performing the same exercise as the WBV groups, no additional effect of WBV on quadriceps muscle strength in individuals with knee OA was indicated.

Biography:

Abstract:

Background: In recent years, with socioeconomic changes in the society, the presence of women in the workplace is inevitable. The differences in working condition, especially for pregnant women, has adverse consequences like low birth weight. Objectives: This study was conducted with the aim to model the relationship between working conditions, socioeconomic factors, and birth weight. Patients and Methods: This study was conducted in casecontrol design. The control group consisted of 500 women with normal weight babies, and the case group, 250 women with low weight babies from selected hospitals in Tehran. Data were collected using a researchermade questionnaire to determine mothers’ lifestyle during pregnancy with low birth weight with healthaffecting social determinants approach. This questionnaire investigated women’s occupational lifestyle in terms of working conditions, activities, and job satisfaction. Data were analyzed with SPSS16 and Lisrel8.8 software using statistical path analysis. Results: The final path model fitted well (CFI =1, RMSEA=0.00) and showed that among direct paths, working condition ( =0.032), among indirect paths, household income β (β=0.42), and in the overall effect, unemployed spouse (β=0.1828) had the most effects on the low birth weight. Negative coefficients indicate decreasing effect on birth weight. Conclusions: Based on the path analysis model, working condition and socioeconomic status directly and indirectly influence birth weight. Thus, as well as attention to treatment and health care (biological aspect), special attention must also be paid to mothers’ socioeconomic factors. Keywords: Socioeconomic factors, low birth weight, working condition, path analysis