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Background: The rehabilitation phase of patients with lower extremity fractures (LEF) is often hindered post-operatively by fear of moving (kinesiophobia) with consequent deconditioning and declining of functions. Profiling the prevalence of kinesiophobia and its association with demographic variables could become useful during the rehabilitation process. Objective: The study aimed to determine the prevalence of kinesiophobia and its correlation with lower limb functions among patients with LEF post-operatively. Methods: One-hundred and nine (n = 109) patients [male = 79 (72.50%)] with mean age of 41.83 ± 17.37 yr. participated in the cross-sectional study. Participants with LEF who had either undergone closed reduction and immobilization or open reduction with internal or external fixation were recruited into this study using convenience sampling during the rehabilitation phase at the orthopaedic wards of two tertiary healthcare facilities in Accra. Data collection was performed using the Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia (TSK) and Lower Extremity Functional Scale. Data were analyzed using Spearman’s Rho correlation coefficient and Chi-square tests at p < 0.05.Results: Seventy-nine (72.50%) of the participants exhibited kinesiophobia based on their TSK scores (≥37). The TSK scores were significantly inversely correlated with participants’ lower limb function (r = -0.345; p < 0.001). Participants’ sex as well as the causes, types and sites of the fractures sustained had no significant association (p > 0.050) with the level of kinesiophobia. Conclusion: There was a high prevalence of kinesiophobia which negatively correlated with LEF but was not associated with the type, site, and cause of fracture as well as the participants’ sex. Mitigating kinesiophobia should always be considered an integral rehabilitation goal for in-patients with LEF.

Despite the documented advancements in orthodox medicine, traditional bonesetters (TBS) continue to be well patronised for the management of musculoskeletal injuries in low-and middle-income countries such as Nigeria. However, the practice of traditional bone-setting is often marred by the lack of trust and belief among orthodox healthcare practitioners on the one hand, and the serious post-fracture complications associated with this practice, on the other. The identified downsides have resulted in the stakeholders' call for the integration of TBS into the national orthodox healthcare services in Nigeria. Despite efforts toward the integration, implementation and realisation remain unfulfilled. One identified potential missing link is the lack of a communityoriented pathway such as the community-based rehabilitation (CBR) model in the previous efforts. This brief review aims to elucidate the concept of CBR in relation to the proposed integration process. It highlights the need for integration, the notions of the CBR model as well as the conceptual framework for CBR. CBR has been showcased as a globally accepted model which encompasses pragmatic strategies or policies for community managers and stakeholders in a wide range of areas for people in need of essential services. It can be a suitable model for integrative management of fracture cases.

Background: Despite the exposure of academic staff to the ergonomic risk factors associated with workstation seat, the prevalence of musculoskeletal complaints (MSCs) is under-reported in higher institutions of learning in Ghana. We therefore evaluated the workstation seat in relation to the academics’ body dimensions and the associations of the outcome with MSCs. Materials and Methods: Participants in this cross-sectional study were academic staff of a foremost health training institution in Ghana. They were enrolled into the study using convenience sampling method. We evaluated the body-chair dimension of the participants individually at each workstation using non-elastic 3-meter long tape measure. Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire and ergonomics assessment checklist were used to determine the prevalence and ergonomic risk factors of MSC. Data analysis involved mean, frequency and standard deviation. We analyzed the association between body-chair dimensions and self-reported MSCs with Chi square test, at P < 0.05 level of significance. Results: Eighty-two (82) academic staff comprising 54, (65.9%) males and (28, 34.1) females participated fully in the study, of which 69 (84.2%) were Senior Lecturers. Thirty-four (41.5%) of the lecturers had worked between 5 and 10 years. The period and point prevalence of MSCs were 64.6% and 59.6% respectively. The body-chair mismatch and workstation ergonomic risk factors were significant associated with (P <0.001) MSCs.Conclusion: Our findings indicate moderate prevalence of MSCs among the participants with low back pain being the most reported complaint, which seemed to have a link with body-chair dimension mismatch. These findings are implicated for procurement policy, regarding workstation seat in higher institutions.

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