PURPOSE: There is a paucity of data on effects of motor-level stimulation using Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulator (TENS) on ipsilateral quadriceps femoris group of muscles. The effect is also unknown on the untrained contralateral quadriceps femoris. The primary purpose of this study was to determine the effect of TENS on quadriceps muscle strength at the stimulated ipsilateral and un-stimulated contra-lateral extremities. METHODS: Participants were 50 apparently healthy undergraduate. They were recruited using sample of convenience. The right quadriceps group of muscles were stimulated for 15 minutes twice a week for 8 weeks using motor-level stimulation parameters (frequency of 85 Hz and pulse width of 100 microseconds) while the left lower limbs (control) were not stimulated. The right and left quadriceps muscle strengths were quantified using tensiometer; at onset and after 8 weeks. The data were analysed using the descriptive and inferential statistics (paired t-test and ANOVA). Alpha level was set at 0.05. RESULTS: The initial and final left strengths of the un-stimulated quadriceps muscles were 311.46 ± 58.84N and 395.60 ± 100.71N at onset and after 8 weeks respectively. After 8 weeks the un-stimulated left quadriceps strength was significantly greater than the initial value (t = −7.63, p < 0.001). Similarly, the initial and final right quadriceps strength (stimulated limb) were 351.51 ± 117. 68N and 471.31 ± 112.19N; at onset and after 8 weeks respectively. The post stimulation strength of the right quadriceps was also significantly higher than the pre-intervention strength (t = −10.25, p < 0.001). However, the increment in quadriceps strength between right and left extremities after 8 weeks was insignificant (t = −1.35, p = 0.18). There was also significant increase in the girth of the right quadriceps (t = −6.08, p = 0.001) after 8 weeks. CONCLUSION: We concluded that there were increments in both strength and muscle size of the stimulated right quadriceps using motor level stimulation parameters of TENS modality. The un-stimulated contralateral quadriceps strength also increased after 8 weeks. This implied that there was cross-training effect at the contralateral quadriceps group of muscles.

In Nigeria, doctors have the sole primary responsibility of prescribing medications for patients, contrarily, in the United Kingdom (UK), physiotherapists have advanced from being supplementary prescribers in 2005 to independent prescribers in 2012; and this was aimed at improving patient's accessibility to medications. The primary aim of this study was to investigate the opinion of Nigerian medical doctors on physiotherapists assuming the roles of supplementary prescribers. A self-administered questionnaire was used to seek opinion of 372 medical doctors in purposively selected hospitals. Descriptive statistics of frequency, percentages, mean, standard deviation and chi-square were used to analyze the data. Two hundred and twenty-two doctors (59.7%) were unaware that physiotherapists are supplementary prescribers in UK. The number of respondents (55.1%) who objected to physiotherapists becoming supplementary prescribers was significantly higher than those who supported it (X²-3.88, p = 0.05). Amongst to that supported supplementary (44.9%) prescription for physiotherapists, 98.2%, 72.5% and 58.7% opined that physiotherapists should be allowed prescribe analgesics, NSAIDs and muscle relaxants respectively. Only 4 doctors (1.1%) supported the prescription of anti-hypertensive drugs. We concluded that most medical doctors are unaware that physiotherapists as supplementary prescribers in UK and majority of them objected to Nigerian physiotherapists being recognized as supplementary prescribers.

Transdermal delivery of topical medications is commonly used for managing osteoarthritis (OA). Osteoarthritis of the knee joint impairs lower limb functions which contributes to poor gait patterns. There is insufficient empirical data to support the efficacy of glucosamine sulphate and methyl salicilate cream in the management of knee OA. The aims of this study were to compare the immediate effects of glucosamine sulphate and methyl salicylate cream on pain, flexibility and knee flexion. Forty one subjects with grade ll knee OA were recruited for the study. They were randomly assigned to 2 groups. One gram of each topical formulation was administered to the knee joint using massage. Pre and post-intervention pain intensities, hamstring flexibilities and active knee flexion were measured. Descriptive, paired and independent t-tests statistics were used to analyze the data. There were significant reduction in pain intensities within the groups (t = 9.08, p<0.001; t =6.29, p<0.001). However, there was no significant difference in the post treatments pain intensities across the two groups. There were significant increase in the flexibilities of groups 1 and 2 post treatment (t= 9.14, p<0.001) and (t= -5.67, p<0.001) respectively but there was insignificant difference in the flexibilities of the groups. Similarly, there was insignificant difference in the range of motion when the active knee flexions of the two groups were compared. We concluded that transdermal massage of glucosamine was as effective as methyl salicilate in alleviating pains, improving hamstring flexibility and increasing knee flexion range of motion in a single treatment session among knee OA participants in this study.

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Background Despite improvements in survival, persons living with HIV experience a range of physical, cognitive, mental and social health-related challenges. Among adult persons living with HIV in Malawi, the prevalence of disability and associated risk factors are not known. This study was designed to assess the prevalence of impairments, activity limitations and associated risk factors among adults living with HIV in Blantyre urban, Malawi. MethodsWe conducted a quantitative cross-sectional study among adult persons aged 18 years and older living with HIV and on ART receiving their care at five government run health facilities in Blantyre urban. We used the WHO’s International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) for data collection. The ICF provides a unified, standard language and framework for the description of health and health-related states. The College of Medicine Research Ethics Committee (COMREC) approved the study and written informed consent was obtained from study participants. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the data. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression were used to assess association between presence of disability and selected factors. Odds ratios (OR) and their 95% confidence intervals were calculated.Results Of the 277 participants enrolled, 225 (81%) were female and 52 (19%) were male. The mean age of participants was 37 years (std. dev 9.5). Impairments in mental functions (43%) and sensory functions and pain (40%) were the most prevalent among the study participants. Energy and drive (18%), memory (14%) and sleep (13%) were the most affected mental functions. Socio-demographic characteristics were not significantly associated with occurrence of the mental function impairments. Conclusions Our study highlights the level of impairments among person living with HIV especially mental health impairments, sensory functions and pain. Integrated health services including mental health screening and care, physical rehabilitation into all HIV testing and treatment settings are very critical to improve service delivery but also general access to rehabilitation by persons living with HIV.