منیره متقی

Work-related musculoskeletal disorders are the main cause of lost working time, increased costs and human injuries of the workforce, including pain. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of a corrective exercise on pain and quality of life factors and spinal curvature angles of male formal nurses with kyphosis and forward head position in a military medical center.

The present study was a quasi-experimental study in a military medical center in Tehran in 1398, in which 62 male formal nurses with kyphosis and forward head position (out of 116 nurses) were purposefully identified and divided into two groups of 31 experimental and control. The experimental group participated in a corrective exercise program focused on correcting kyphosis and forward head position, for 8 weeks and 3 sessions per week. For this purpose, a flexible ruler and goniometer were used to assess the kyphosis and forward head position, respectively. The VAS and SF-36 questionnaires before and after exercise were used to assess pain and quality of life, respectively. Independent and paired T-test and Mann-Whitney U test were used for data analysis at the significant level of α = 0.05 with SPSS 22 software.

There was a significant difference between the pre and post-test Intragroup findings variables kyphosis angle (P=0.001), forward head position (P=0.001), pain (P=0.001), and physical dimensions of the quality of life questionnaire (P=0.017) in the experimental group after 8 weeks of corrective exercises. But this wasn’t significant in the control group. There was a significant difference between the intergroup findings in the experimental group and the control group of the variables such as kyphosis angle (P=0.023), forward head position (P=0.011), pain (P=0.024) and physical dimensions of quality of life questionnaire (P=0.017). But there was no significant difference between psychological factors associated with quality of life questionnaire in both experimental and control groups (P≥0.05).

According to the research findings, it can be concluded that in order to reduce pain and to correct or prevent musculoskeletal disorders and improve the quality of life especially physical dimensions, not only nurses and military personnel, rather, everyone in the community should incorporate corrective exercises along with other daily and exercise programs.

Knee pain causes the inability to perform daily activities, reduced productivity and combat readiness of the troops, and increased health care costs. The aim of this study was to investigate the risk factors related to knee pain in male military personnel.

This study was a case-control study in which 150 military personnel with chronic knee pain and 150 healthy men were assessed through simple nonprobability sampling. A three-part questionnaire (Demographic, occupational, and Clinical Information) was used with closed questions, Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS), WOMAC Osteoarthritis Index, JRPD (Job-Related Physical Demands questionnaire), and HRA (Health Risk Appraisals questionnaire) and meters and scales as tools. For the people of both groups, the four mentioned questionnaires were taken in one session and the contents of both groups were analyzed and reviewed.

There was no statistically significant difference between the baseline demographic results (age, height, weight, work experience) in the two groups. Among the factors studied, there was a positive significant relationship between knee pain and hard job category variables (P=0.010), prolonged work experience (P=0.001), heavy and continuous physical activity (P=0.025), weakness in quadriceps (P=0.001), variables of exercise level (P=0.002), previous history of knee pain (P=0.003), and the existence of bad knee posture during activity (P=0.003), working in the position of bending the knees for a long time (P=0.001), working in the position of two knees for a long time (P=0.003), working in long-term quadruple position (P=0.003), and working in a long-term squatting position (P=0.002). Also, BMI (P=0.015), level of education (P=0.001), smoking (P=0.015), deformity in the lower limbs and knees (P=0.003), swelling in the knee (P=0.003),cryptation in the knee (P=0.002), dryness and limited mobility in the knee (P=0.005), and shortening of the hamstrings muscles (P=0.003) showed a significant negative correlation with knee pain.

It seems possible to reduce the amount of these factors by preventing knee pain or expanding them, and improving the level of military personnel efficiency.

Knee osteoarthritis is a common degenerative disease that disables affected people. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical outcome of local quadriceps vibration in military personnel with moderate knee osteoarthritis.

In this randomized clinical trial, 76 military personnel with moderate knee osteoarthritis were studied through simple random sampling in two intervention groups (routine physiotherapy group with local quadriceps vibration) and control group (routine physiotherapy). The tools used were: demographic and clinical information questionnaire, standard WOMAC and SF36 questionnaires, and goniometer. The variables studied were: pain severity, severity of knee disability, knee flexion range of motion, and patient quality of life score. These variables were measured before and after the intervention in both groups. The results were analyzed by K-S Test, Paired T-Test, and T-Test.

 Baseline demographic results such as gender (P = 0.112), age (P = 0.290), and BMI (P = 0.870) showed no statistically significant difference between the two groups (the two groups were similar). The mean of pain severity (P = 0.001), knee disability severity (P = 0.003), knee flexion range of motion (P = 0.011), and quality of life (P = 0.017) scores before and after intervention in both groups showed a significant difference (recovery process). The change percentage in variables was higher and significant in the intervention group than the control group (P = 0.004).

Routine physiotherapy plus local quadriceps vibration (compared to routine physiotherapy) can reduce pain severity, reduce knee disability, improve knee flexion range, and improve quality of life in people with moderate knee osteoarthritis.

Neck pain is a common disease and a relatively early disorder among military personnel. Neck pain causes disability, reduced quality of life, productivity, combat readiness of forces, and increased health care costs. The purpose of this study was to investigate the risk factors associated with neck pain in male military Personnel.

In this case-control study, 200 male military personnel with chronic neck pain and 200 healthy military personnel were evaluated by simple random sampling. A three-part questionnaire (demographic, occupational and clinical information) with closed questions, NDI (Neck Disability Index), Job Related Physical Demands questionnaire (JRPD), Health Risk Appraisals questionnaire (HRA) was used as the tools. For both groups, four questionnaires were completed, then the relationship between risk factors associated with neck pain in both groups was determined.

The demographic data (age, height, weight, work experience) was matched between both groups. Among the factors studied, there were positive significant relationships between neck pain with hard job titles (p=0.010), prolong work experience (p=0.002), heavy and continuous physical activity (p=0.011), exercises of neck - shoulders and shoulder belt (p=0.002), movements associated with lifting a heavy load of more than 25 kg (p=0.002), daily working hours (p=0.007), deformity in the dorsal and cervical spine (p=0.002), movements with bending and righting (p=0.002), neck rotation (p=0.005), movements accompanied by heavy load-displacement from the height above the shoulder (p=0.002) and awkward posture (p=0.004). Also, there were negative significant relationships between neck pain with attendance in exercise programs (P=0.003), body mass index (p=0.025) education level (p=0.003), smoking (p=0.017), duration of neck pain (p=0.002), history of neck pain (p=0.010) carrying heavy bags and objects by shoulder belt (p=0.002), and duration of exercise in male military Personnel.

By identifying the risk factors associated with neck pain and reducing the amount of these factors, new lesions or their expansion can be prevented and the level of efficiency of military forces can be improved.

Rehabilitation of patients with Covid-19 does not only include attention to respiratory, infectious or neurological problems, apart from other medical measures such as bedsores, peripheral muscle weakness, and muscle contractions. Joint limitations, balance and postural disturbances, and physical weakness due to prolonged bed rest can significantly reduce the chances of returning to pre-infection functional status. These aspects profoundly affect the rehabilitation care of patients and especially the medical team. Due to the unknown nature of the role of rehabilitation and its functional dimensions (even among specialists and medical staff) in Covid-19 pandemics, the purpose of this review is to investigate the functional dimensions and status of rehabilitation in Covid-19 patients. The findings of this review show that rehabilitation of Covid-19 patients can improve pulmonary respiratory function, reduce physical complications, improve cognitive function, and improve the quality of life of patients.

In late December 2019, the new coronavirus-2019 (2019-nCoV) caused the outbreak of pneumonia in Wuhan, China. The disease is currently being treated as a major health threat around the world that has claimed the lives of many people.Corona has infected about 200 countries, including Iran.According to world statistics, its mortality rate is 4.3%. The virus is classified on the Virus Classification Committee as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome. The early symptoms of Covid-19 include: pneumonia (with decreased oxygen levels, shortness of breath, irritable and dry cough, pharyngeal stimulation, sputum, risk of pulmonary fibrosis), fever, muscle aches and fatigue. To date, unfortunately, there are no approved vaccines or antiviral drugs to control this infection clinically. Therefore, prevention, infection control, and compliance with health principles are still a top priority for people.People with the disease develop significant respiratory problems from pneumonia, and consequently symptoms such as decreased oxygen levels, shortness of breath, irritable and dry cough, pharyngeal irritation, sputum, and risk of pulmonary fibrosis.The purpose of this review study is to evaluate the role of respiratory physiotherapy in the treatment of patients with covid-19 based on available evidence.

Low back pain (LBP) is a multidimensional disorder which is common among military personnel. It may cause disability, reduced productivity and combat readiness of forces, and increased health care costs. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the risk factors associated with LBP in male military personnel.

This study is a case-control study of 250 military personnel with chronic LBP and 250 healthy military men were assessed through simple nonprobability sampling. A three-part questionnaire (demographic, occupational and clinical data) was used for both groups with closed questions, Job Related Physical Demands questionnaire (JRPD), and Health Risk Appraisals questionnaire (HRA). Evaluation of relationship between risk factors associated with low back pain in both groups was done.

Age, height, weight, and work record were not significantly different between the two groups of military personnel. Among the factors studied, there was a positive significant relationship between LBP and hard job titles (p=0.012), prolonged work experience (p=0.002), heavy and continuous physical activity (p=0.015), and awkward posture (0.034) (p=0.003). Also, attendance in exercise programs (P=0.003), body mass index (p=0.025) education level (p=0.005), smoking (p=0.011), duration of LBP (p=0.003) spine deformity (p=0.002), history of LBP (p=0.011) showed significant negative correlation. No significant relationship was found between the variables of severity of pain, and having diffuse pain with low back pain.

The hard job titles, high work history, heavy and consecutive physical activity, poor posture, lack of exercise, high BMI, smoking, duration of back pain, deformity in the spine, and history of previous pain are risk factors associated with low back pain in in male military personnel. It seems possible to reduce the amount of these factors by preventing new lesions or expanding them, and improving the level of military personnel efficiency.