Background: Rib fractures are a common thoracic injury and notable source of chest pain. Chest pain may lead to compromised respiratory and physical function.
Objectives: Our study aimed to synthesise the evidence on the effectiveness of nonpharmacological therapeutic interventions on pain and physical function in adults admitted with rib fractures to acute care settings. Secondary outcomes included length of stay (LOS), respiratory complications, respiratory function and mortality rate.
Method: A systematic literature search of English articles in nine databases was conducted. The Joanna Briggs Institute's System for the Unified Management, Assessment and Review of Information (SUMARI) was used to conduct our study. Articles written from January 2000 to December 2017 were considered and a search update was completed in 2021. Meta-analysis was conducted for pre- versus post-bundle of care implementation for LOS, pneumonia incidence and mortality rate. Certainty of evidence was appraised using the grading of recommendations, assessment, development and evaluation (GRADE) approach.
Results: Sixteen studies were included (n = 2034). Certain interventions were shown to improve respiratory function and reduce pain, pulmonary complications, LOS and mortality rate. No interventions were identified which objectively improved physical function. Meta-analysis showed a statistically significant reduction in relative risk of developing pneumonia (p = 0.00) by 63% following bundled care implementation. Certainty of evidence for this outcome was rated as very low following GRADE appraisal.
Conclusion: Nonpharmacological therapeutic interventions used in combination with pharmacological management are viable treatment options to reduce pain, improve respiratory function and reduce the incidence of respiratory complications following acute rib fractures.
Clinical implications: Acupuncture, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), noninvasive ventilation (NIV) modalities, physiotherapy techniques and multidisciplinary pathways used alongside pharmacological interventions are effective modalities for use in the treatment of acute rib fractures. Multidisciplinary care pathways are important management strategies and reduce the risk of developing pneumonia.
Published injury rates amongst elite and club-level youth cricketers highlight the need to implement injury risk-reducing strategies amongst the youth cricketing population. Data from sports injury surveillance systems are a prerequisite for the development and evaluation of strategies to reduce injury risk. Therefore, collecting injury surveillance data is a positive move towards reducing injuries in cricket. In South Africa, a systematic, standardised, evidence-informed injury surveillance system currently does not exist for community levels of play, namely, in cricket-playing high schools and cricket clubs. Although injury surveillance systems exist at elite levels, the obvious differences in elite versus community cricket settings mean that these systems cannot be implemented in their current form at community-level cricket. An innovative model is required to implement an injury surveillance system in community cricket.
Clinical implications: This article proposes and describes a new research-practice partnership model to implement a systematic, standardised, evidence-informed injury surveillance system at cricket-playing high schools or cricket clubs within South Africa. Once this model has been employed, database systems will need to be established to allow long-term data management and sharing.
Background: Advanced rehabilitation pathway (ARP) after hip and knee arthroplasties is popular globally and is gaining ground in South Africa (SA). A multidisciplinary team in Rustenburg, SA, has implemented an ARP with the first same-day discharge (SDD) from hospital. The lack of evidence of physiotherapy protocols within an ARP determined our study.
Objectives: Determine and compare hospital length of stay (LOS) (hours), patient satisfaction (Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC)), patient safety (30-day re-admission) and cost between the two cohorts.
Method: A quantitative prospective patient (treatment) group receiving early mobilisation with increased frequency of physiotherapy on post-operative day zero (POD0) was compared to a conservatively managed retrospective historical (control) group following post-operative elective hip and knee arthroplasties.
Results: Results for the prospective group which were significantly improved relative to the retrospective group included decreased LOS (median 7.650, p < 0.001), less pain at 6 weeks (mean 16.20, standard deviation [SD] = 2.673, p < 0.001), less stiffness (mean 5.82, SD = 1.214, p = 0.007), higher function (mean 54.87, SD = 8.544, p < 0.001), lower hospital cost (mean R43 340, p < 0.001) and physiotherapy cost (mean R1069, p < 0.001), and total costs compared to the retrospective group (mean R117 062, p < 0.001).
Conclusion: Safe and cost-effective SDD is possible in an ARP with earlier mobilisation and increased frequency of physiotherapy on POD0.
Clinical implications: Achieving safe SDD after hip and knee arthroplasty surgeries saved costs and improved patient satisfaction, with a decrease in LOS being beneficial for medical funders and stakeholders including government aiming to implement National Health Insurance (NHI) in the future.
Background: Community reintegration is a major outcome of rehabilitation after the acute phase in people with spinal cord injury (PWSCI).
Objective: To investigated clinical and socio-demographic factors determining community participation in PWSCI, living in the greater eThekwini Municipality, KwaZulu-Natal province.
Method: Our quantitative, cross-sectional study had a convenient sample of 41 PWSCI. A trained interviewer obtained socio-demographic information using a structured questionnaire. Participants completed the Reintegration to Normal Living Index (RNLI). Descriptive statistics were used in summarising the data; inferential statistics, -a t-test and analysis of variance (ANOVA) assessed the association of clinical and socio-demographic factors with the extent of community reintegration. A multiple linear regression investigated the determinants of community reintegration with the alpha level set at p = 0.05.
Results: Mean age of the participants was 41 years (s.d.: 10, range 25-66), with the majority (n = 32, 78%) being male. The mean RNLI score was 68% (s.d.: 22, range 24-100). Participants scored higher on the RNLI if they were male (mean difference [MD] 18%, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2-34), were employed (MD 16%, 95% CI: 0-32), had a salary (MD 19%, 95% CI: 5-32) and had no muscle spasms (MD 14%, 95% CI: 1-27. Muscle spasms (p = 0.012, 95% CI: 3.85-29.05) and being female PWSCI (p = 0.010, 95% CI: -35.75 to -5.18) were significant negative predictors of community reintegration.
Conclusion: Community reintegration may be influenced by socio-economic factors. Special interventions for muscle spasms and support for women living with spinal cord injuries may enhance community reintegration.
Clinical implication: Therapists need to focus on community reintegration with female PWSCI and on returning to PWSCI to work as this was improved community reintegration.
Background: Evidence shows that quality indicators such as the structure and process of stroke rehabilitation can influence patient outcomes. However, not much attention has been paid to the study of these issues in low- and middle-income countries such as Ghana.
Objectives: Our study evaluated the structure and process of stroke rehabilitation in primary, secondary and tertiary hospitals in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana.
Method: A cross-sectional survey was conducted involving 111 healthcare professionals. The World Health Organization (WHO) situational analysis and Measure of Processes of Care for Service Providers for Adults (MPOC-SP[A]) questionnaires were administered to gather information on the structure and process of stroke rehabilitation. Descriptive statistics were used to summarise data, and chi-square and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used to establish associations and comparisons, respectively.
Results: A stroke unit was only available in the tertiary hospital. Although all three hospitals had a multidisciplinary team approach to care, the constituents differed. Length of hospital-stay, duration of treatment and basis for discharge from acute care were not associated with the hospitals. Therapy sessions, access to computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanning were dependent on the hospitals.
Conclusion: The structure and process of stroke rehabilitation across the three hospitals were similar in some constructs and different in others.
Clinical implications: Data gathered will help to provide information on the available structure and processes of stroke rehabilitation, which could help assess the quality of care provided.
Background: People with chronic neck pain show decreased endurance and strength of cervical muscles with compromised respiratory function. There is little evidence that improvement in breathing function of people with neck pain can help in enhancing cervical muscle strength and pulmonary function. The objective of this our clinical trial was to examine the effects of breathing re-education combined with physiotherapy on endurance and strength of deep neck flexors, and pulmonary function in patients with chronic neck pain.
Methods/design: In this double blind randomised clinical trial, 30 patients with chronic neck pain (25-50 years old) were randomly allocated to two groups. Group A, physiotherapy (n = 15), and Group B, breathing re-education (n = 15). The duration of intervention was eight weeks with treatment five days a week. The endurance was measured with the craniocervical flexion test, strength with a handheld dynamometer (Baseline USA) and pulmonary functions with the Spiro lab 4 (USA) at baseline, at week four and at week eight of the intervention.
Discussion: There was a significant between group improvement in the strength of deep neck flexors and forced vital capacity (FVC) in Group B p = 0.0001 and p = 0.0200 (p ˂ 0.05) respectively. Intergroup comparisons showed no significant differences for endurance, cervical extensor strength, Forced Expiratory Volume in one second (FEV1), and FEV1/FVC percentage.
Conclusion: Our study concluded that breathing re-education combined with other physiotherapy management is effective for improving the strength of neck flexors and increasing FVC in people with chronic neck pain.
Clinical implication: Breathing re-education may be part of physiotherapy management in patients with chronic neck pain.
Trial registration: Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials, IRCT20200226046623N1, https://www.irct.ir/trial/46240.
Background: Service centres for older persons were set up in South Africa to implement programmes relating to the six determinants of the World Health Organization's (WHO) active ageing framework. The framework highlights the value of being physically active to prevent functional decline.
Objective: Our aim was to explore the characteristics of these centres and their members in the Eastern Cape province.
Method: An exploratory, descriptive, cross-sectional design was utilised to explore the characteristics of 25 centres and the profiles of their managers and 275 members of these centres.
Results: The managers had no formal training. Health and social care system requirements were important in the province, but access to healthcare services was minimal, and managers were concerned about the physical environment. Over 50% of the centres provided meals (72%), social support services (60%), dance and aerobics (56%), blood glucose testing (52%) and guardianship for members without families (52%). The members reported multiple morbidities, including hypertension (59%), diabetes (16%) and arthritis (10.5%). Few members used tobacco (n = 20) and alcohol (n = 27), but most (n = 213) were afraid of falling although they went about their daily activities with minimal difficulties. Members were satisfied with their lives (n = 231).
Conclusion: The centres provided platforms to enable the fulfilment of some of the goals of the WHO's active-ageing framework, but a comprehensive exploration of the centres and the members is needed.
Clinical implications: Physiotherapy, as part of interdisciplinary intervention, will promote the physical health of the members of the centres.
Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has exposed physiotherapists to unique work-related challenges. However, there is a lack of research regarding the mental health and lived experiences of South African physiotherapists during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Objectives: To determine levels of mental and physical health, burnout, depression, anxiety and resilience and coping strategies used by a sample of South African physiotherapists with and without exposure to patients with COVID-19. Lived work experience, perceived health and sources of support were also explored.
Method: A non-experimental, cross-sectional, mixed-method design was used. Physiotherapists completed an online survey comprising: a demographic questionnaire; scales assessing mental and physical health, burnout, depression, anxiety and coping strategies and six open-ended questions. A total of 171 physiotherapists participated in our study, 43.3% of whom were exposed to patients with COVID-19.
Results: The exposure group scored significantly higher on self-reported mental health, anxiety, depression and burnout than the non-exposure group. No significant differences were reported for physical health and resilience. Significantly more maladaptive coping strategies were employed by the exposure group. Participants' lived experiences highlighted similar experiences, as well as work-related challenges. Both groups reported that primary sources of support were significant others, but highlighted the lack of organisational support.
Conclusion: Irrespective of the degree of exposure to COVID-19, the mental health and lived experiences of physiotherapists working in South Africa has been negatively impacted by COVID-19.
Clinical implications: Understanding physiotherapists' well-being and lived experiences during the pandemic may guide workplace interventions. Our findings suggest the need for psycho-educational intervention programmes to be implemented at an organisational level.
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