Combined effect of graded Thera-Band and scapular stabilization exercises on shoulder adhesive capsulitis post-mastectomy

PURPOSE

The main aim of the trial was to assess the combined impact of graded Thera-Band strengthening exercises and scapular stabilization exercises on shoulder pain, physical function, and quality of life (QoL) in post-mastectomy adhesive capsulitis (AC).

METHODS

Seventy females with unilateral post-mastectomy AC partook in the trial. Participants were subdivided equally into two groups at random. Both groups obtained the traditional physical therapy program; in addition, the intervention group received graded Thera-Band exercises for shoulder muscles and scapular stabilization exercises 5 days a week for 8 weeks. Range of motion (ROM) and muscle power of shoulder were assessed by digital goniometer and handheld dynamometer, respectively. Disability of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand questionnaire (DASH) was utilized for assessment of shoulder function and visual analogue scale (VAS) for pain measurement while short-form (SF-36) for QoL assessment. All evaluation data was recorded prior to the trial and at the eighth week of interventions for both groups.

RESULTS

All participants achieved improvements in shoulder ROM, muscle power, pain, and all aspects of QoL; however, higher statistical improvements were reported in all measurements with respect to strengthening exercises group (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

The addition of graded Thera-Band strengthening exercises and scapular stabilization exercises in post-mastectomy AC rehabilitation program has significant benefits in shoulder function and patients' QoL.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

This study is retrospectively registered at ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05311839.

Sociodemographic determinations of management behavior of diabetic patients attending a diabetic clinic in Alexandria. Part III: Relation between diabetics' sociodemographic background and health belief model variables

The present work aims to study the relation between patient's health beliefs and psychological perception and demographic variables. The same subjects and methods applied in part I and II was adopted. It was found that a minority (1.7%) had a weak overall perceived susceptibility. However the rest were categorized as having either moderate (36.3%) or strong perception (62.0%). None of the diabetic patients was graded as having a weak overall perceived severity level. The remaining diabetics were graded as having either moderate (50.7%) or strong perception (49.3%). The majority (98.3%) had a strong perception and the rest had a moderate one. None of diabetic patients had weak overall internal cues to action towards their health. They had either moderate (59.7%) or strong cues (40.3%). Age of diabetic patients was linearly associated with the overall perceived severity level (X2 (MH) = 10.49). The younger the patients the more likely that they were classified as having a strong perception. Moreover, a significant linear association was observed between age and exposure to external cues to action (X2(MH) = 8.17), where the older the patients the more likely that they were exposed to external cues to action. It was observed that a significant relation was observed between gender and exposure to external cues to action (X2 = 4.60), where females were more likely to be exposed than males to external cues to action. A statistical significant linear association was observed between the education of diabetics and exposure to external cues to action (X2(MH) = 9.26). Diabetics without any educational certificates were more likely to be exposed to external cues to action. The present study provides data on the level of perception of diabetic patients in order to plan for a diabetic education programme.

Sociodemographic determinants of management behaviour of diabetic patients. Part II. Diabetics' knowledge of the disease and their management behaviour

We aimed to: describe the level of knowledge of diabetic patients about the disease, show the relationship between demographic variables (age, sex and education) and level of knowledge and reveal the relationship between knowledge and management-related behaviour of diabetics. We found that a majority of diabetic patients (90.0%) had poor knowledge about the disease, 83.7% had poor knowledge about the complications associated with diabetes and 96.3% had poor awareness of how to control the disease. The poor level of knowledge that diabetics have about their disease suggests that health care providers need to be trained in the areas of information, education and communication.

Sociodemographic determinants of management behaviour of diabetic patients. Part I. Behaviour of patients in relation to management of their disease

We studied 300 randomly chosen diabetic patients to assess their behaviours in relation to management of their disease. The majority had very good compliance with regular periodic check-ups (97.0%), urine and blood screening for sugar (94.3% and 96.0% respectively), adherence to the prescribed medicines (78.3%) and foot-care practices (75.0%). However, 35.3% and 39.0% had poor compliance with regard to checking their blood pressure and weight monitoring. Among smokers, 30.2% stopped smoking and 42.2% decreased the amount smoked after being diagnosed with the disease. Dietary compliance was either satisfactory or very good for most patients.

Epidemiological and risk predictors of severity of school injuries

Accidents are the leading cause of morbidity and mortality among schoolchildren. Epidemiological and risk predictors of injury severity were investigated among all school injuries presenting at the Students' Hospital in Alexandria during the scholastic year 1996-97. In all, 3422 injured pupils were surveyed. Age, nature of injury, place and mechanism of school injury and referral method were significant risk predictors for hospitalization. Age, referral method and nature of injury were significant predictors of referral to specialized health services. Injury severity score was significantly predicted by the presence of acute disease during time of injury, place and mechanism of injury as well as by provision of first aid and referral method and time.

Risk factors related to deaf-mutism among pupils attending the Alexandria governmental deaf-mute schools

Childhood deafness interferes with the cognitive development of the child, so it is considered a major handicap. The present work was carried out to reveal possible risk factors of deaf-mutism and the magnitude of each. The case control design was chosen as a research methodology. A 50% sample of deaf-mute pupils at the primary level were selected at random from each of the two governmental schools for the deaf-mutes in Alexandria (boys=96, & girls=76). A control group chosen at random from a main stream governmental school and matched by age and sex of the pupils as well as with education and occupation of the father. Matching was carried out at the sampling phase, pairing each case to its control. Data were collected by interviewing the mothers using an interviewing schedule. Matched analysis was carried out where pairing of cases and controls was retained. The likelihood estimate of Odds ratio conditional on the number of discordant pairs was estimated using McNemer's test. The 5% level was chosen as the level of significance. The study revealed 172 deaf-mute pupils. Their mean age was 9.48+/-1.981 years. Boys outnumbered girls (55.8% and 44.2% respectively). In 59.4% parents were cousins. Deafness was first noticed at 6 to 60 months of age with a mean of 14.70+/-10.2 months. Most fathers and mothers were illiterate (48.84% and 61.63%). Heredity was a risk factor, where 84.82% of cases had a positive family history compared to none of the controls. Moreover, in case of consanguinity the Odds ratio=5.60. Acquired deafness constituted the second important group of all causes of deafness. Meningitis featured as the most important cause of acquired deafness with an estimated relative risk of 18.5, followed by fever (Odds ratio=4.67), then repeated attacks of acute tonsillitis and ear disease where the case control percent difference was 8.72% and 4.65% respectively.