DEPARTMENT OF PHYSIOTHERAPY

Background: Physiotherapy is an essential component of healthcare, yet public understanding of its role remains limited. In Nigeria, physiotherapy remains underutilised partly due to poor awareness and misconceptions about what the profession entails. Many adults in various communities may not seek physiotherapy because they do not know what it is, do not believe it works, or associate it with limited conditions.Purpose: The aim was to assess awareness, perceptions, misconceptions, sources of information, and the relationship between demographic factors and understanding of physiotherapy, by members of the public.Methods: A mixed-methods cross-sectional design was employed. Quantitative data were collected using a questionnaire administered to 400 participants, while qualitative insights were obtained from interviews with 10 participants. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, inferential statistics, and thematic analysis.Results: Findings showed that awareness of physiotherapy was moderate, with many respondents unable to clearly define its scope. Perceptions were generally positive, as participants recognized physiotherapy’s role in stroke rehabilitation, pain management, and mobility restoration. However, misconceptions were widespread, including equating physiotherapy with massage therapy or bone setting and believing that physiotherapy must be painful to be effective. The dominant sources of information were informal (radio/TV, family and friends, community gatherings), while health professionals were less frequently cited. Statistical analysis revealed no significant association between demographic factors (age, gender, education, occupation, religion) and either perception or misconception of physiotherapy. Conclusion: Physiotherapy is moderately known but poorly understood among residents of Egor LGA, with misconceptions cutting across all demographic groups. There is urgent need for structured public education campaigns and increased visibility of physiotherapists in healthcare. It is recommended that health authorities, professional associations, and physiotherapists themselves actively engage in awareness creation to correct misconceptions and promote physiotherapy as a vital part of healthcare delivery in Nigeria

The World Health Organization (WHO, 2021) defined Cardiovascular Diseases (CVDs) as a group of disorders of the heart and blood vessels. CVDs include coronary heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, rheumatic heart disease, and other conditions. And are the leading cause of death globally, causing, -an estimated 17.9 million deaths in 2019 alone, which represents 32% of all global deaths. Heart attacks and strokes account for more than four out of five deaths from CVDs, about of which one-third of these deaths happen prematurely among adults under the age of 70 years (World Health Organization, 2021). In Africa, Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs), particularly CVDs, are highly prevalent (Minja et al., 2022). In addition to contributing to 22.9 million Disability- Adjusted Life Years (DALY) and 38.3% of fatalities associated with NCDs, CVDs have the highest burden among those under 30 years. Currently, the burden of CVDs has increased by about 50% in Africa (Ka et al., 2024). Similarly, NCDs remains a leading cause of death, with an age-standardized rate of 567 deaths per 100,000 people in Nigeria. This figure has surpassed deaths from infectious diseases, maternal issues, new-born conditions, and malnutrition (Bollyky et al., 2017).

Background: University students often face challenges such as poor dietary habits, irregular physical activity, and academic stress, which can adversely affect their health and quality of life (QoL). Nutritional status, physical activity, and QoL are key interrelated health determinants, but limited evidence exists among Nigerian university populations. Understanding these relationships is essential for promoting healthy lifestyles and better well-being among young adults.
Aims: This study aimed to determine the association between nutritional status, physical activity, and quality of life among non-clinical undergraduate students of the University of Benin. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted among 330 non-clinical undergraduates selected through multistage random sampling. Data were collected using a self- administered questionnaire comprising the Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ), International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form (IPAQ-SF), and WHO Quality of Life-BREF (WHOQOL-BREF). Descriptive and inferential statistics, including Pearson’s correlation and Chi-square tests, were used, with a significance level of 0.05. Results: Among the 330 participants, 54.8% were male and 45.2% female, mostly aged 18–25 years. The mean BMI was 24.13 ± 14.18 kg/m², with 53.3% having normal weight, 19.4%
overweight, 12.1% obese, and 11.2% underweight. Most students (76.1%) practiced healthy eating habits. Physical activity levels were moderate in 48.8%, low in 30.9%, and high in 20.3%. Regarding QoL, 62.7% had moderate scores, 32.7% high, and 4.5% low. A significant association was found between nutritional status and physical activity (p = 0.037), but not between nutritional status and QoL (p = 0.096) or physical activity and QoL (p = 0.697).
Conclusion: This study found a significant association between nutritional status and physical activity, but not with quality of life among non-clinical students in the University of Benin. Most students maintained normal BMI and moderate physical activity levels, though some displayed poor nutrition and lifestyle habits. These findings highlight the importance of university-based health programs to improve nutrition, activity levels, and overall well-being.

Background: Chest expansion and cough function are essential in managing critically ill patients. Chest expansion reflects respiratory muscle strength and lung compliance, assessed non-invasively using simple measurements. Cough function clears airway secretions and prevents complications like pneumonia, but it is often impaired in critically ill patients due to immobility and weakened respiratory mechanics. Exploring the relationship between chest expansion and cough function could enable better, non-invasive methods to assess and improve respiratory health in this population.Methods:This study employs a cross-sectional design to explore the relationship between chest expansion and cough function in critically ill patients. Participants were selected using a purposive sampling technique based on specific inclusion criteria.A sample size of 34 was determined through a power analysis, ensuring adequate statistical power to detect significant correlations. Results:This study included 34 participants (58.8% female, 41.2% male) with a mean age of 53. No significant correlations were found between cough function and chest expansion at any level (p > 0.05). However, a significant negative correlation was observed between age and cough function (r = -0.906, p = 0.021). Hypothesis testing confirmed no significant relationship between chest expansion and cough function but identified a decline in cough function with increasing age. Conclusion:This study explored the relationship between chest expansion and cough function in critically ill patients. Chest expansion, a non-invasive measure of respiratory mechanics, and cough function, essential for airway clearance, were evaluated in 34 participants with an average age of 53 years. While no significant correlation was found between chest expansion at any level and cough function, a negative correlation between age and cough function was observed, indicating a decline in cough effectiveness with advancing age. Gender differences were noted in chest expansion at the axilla and xiphoid levels, with males showing greater values, but no gender-based differences were observed in cough function.

Background / Purpose of the Study: Non-specific chronic low back pain (NSCLBP) is a leading cause of disability worldwide. Prolonged waiting in physiotherapy clinics may aggravate pain and influence treatment outcomes. This study examined the effect of waiting time on clinical outcomes of pain intensity and coping strategies (catastrophising, diverting attention, reinterpretation of pain, cognitive coping) in patients with NSCLBP attending physi therapy sessions at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), Benin City, Nigeria. Methods / Procedures: Sixty patients diagnosed with NSCLBP participated in this prospective study. Standardized instruments were used, including the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for pain intensity, the Coping Strategies Questionnaire (CSQ-24), and a 0–100 satisfaction score. Waiting time was measured as the interval between patient arrival and treatment start, using a Digital stopwatch. Descriptive statistics of mean and standard deviation were used to summarize participants’ characteristics, while inferential statistics of paired t-tests, MANOVA, Pearson’s correlation, and chi-square tests were used to analyse data at p < 0.05. Results: Most participants (73.3%) waited less than 30 minutes. Pain intensity slightly increased during waiting (p < 0.001) but significantly decreased post-treatment (p < 0.001). Waiting time had no significant effect on pain, catastrophizing, or cognitive coping but influenced reinterpretation of pain (p = 0.006). A strong association was found between shorter waiting periods and higher satisfaction levels (χ² = 51.74, p < 0.001). Longer waits showed weak but positive correlations with post-treatment cognitive coping (r = 0.285, p = 0.027).
Conclusion: Brief waiting times increased pre-treatment pain slightly but did not adversely affect overall outcomes. Physiotherapy effectively reduced pain and improved adaptive coping. Efficient scheduling, patient education, and supportive communication during waiting are recommended to enhance satisfaction and treatment success

Background/Purpose: Sports injuries are common among football players and can negatively impact performance and participation. Injury-prevention strategies such as warm-up routines, strength training, and flexibility exercises are proven to reduce injury risk, yet their application among amateur players in Nigerian universities remains unclear. This study assessed the level of awareness and practice of sports injury prevention strategies among amateur football players in
the University of Benin.
Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional design was adopted. A structured, self-administered
questionnaire adapted from a previous study was distributed to 298 amateur football players selected through consecutive sampling. Data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics, including frequency distributions and Chi-square tests to determine associations between socio-demographic variables and prevention practices, with a significance level set at p< 0.05.
Results: Findings revealed that most participants were males (60.4%) aged 18–25 years. General warm-up programme was commonly performed three to five times weekly (15.4% each), while 17.4% reported no participation. Flexibility and strength training were the most commonly practiced preventive measures, while the FIFA 11+ programme was infrequently used. No
significant association was found between age and practice of injury-prevention strategies (p >
0.05). However, male players showed higher engagement in general warm-up (x2= 14.088, p = 0.029), and specific prevention (x2= 15.163, p = 0.019) routines compared to females. Playing position was not significantly associated with either awareness or practice of injury-prevention strategies (p > 0.05).
Conclusion: Amateur football players at the University of Benin demonstrated moderate awareness and practice of injury-prevention strategies. Despite recognizing the importance of prevention, adherence to structured programmes remained low. There is a need for enhanced education, structured preventive training, and improved access to physiotherapy services to promote safer participation in university football.

Background: stroke remains a major health concern worldwide, often resulting in long term disability that demands continuous care and support. In Nigeria, family members usually serve as the primary caregivers of individual that have suffered from stroke and their family functioning may strongly affect their beliefs, attitude and adherence to rehabilitation. Aim: The aim of this study was to explore the connection between family functioning and health beliefs of stroke survivors receiving treatment in the University of Benin Teaching hospital , Benin City.
Methods: A descriptive cross sectional design was carried used and 86 stroke survivors’ was selected using convenience sampling. Data was gathered using a demographic form, an adapted short form family assessment device (FAD-GFS), and the health belief model stroke based questionnaire. Descriptive statistics was used for data summarization. Inferential statistics of Pearson’s Chi Square was used to assess the connection between family functioning and health beliefs in patients with stroke.
Results: A large population of the respondent (87.2%) had a good family functioning and 68% demonstrated strong health beliefs to stroke recovery. Family functioning was shown to have a significant connection with health beliefs (x 2=11.187 a , p=0.004). marital status, religion, ethnicity and living arrangement significantly influenced family functioning while health beliefs was significantly influence by religion and stroke duration with p=<0.05.
Conclusion: Family functioning influence the health beliefs of stroke survivors in Benin City. Also families and stroke survivors who experienced supportive family system demonstrated a stronger and positive health belief about their stroke recovery. Therefore, incorporating family centered interventions and education into stroke rehabilitation programs is vital for improving the health outcomes of stroke survivors.

Background: Knee osteoarthritis is a long-term condition that tends to get worse gradually, and the symptoms can differ in how serious they are from one person to another. It mostly affects people who are over the age of 50 and has a major impact on their quality of life. One of the most effective ways to manage it is through exercise therapy, which helps reduce pain and
improves how the joints work. Strength exercises focus on building weak muscles, while aerobic workouts can help lessen discomfort. Recently, more attention has been given to non-surgical approaches like resisted active exercises (RAEs). These exercises help stabilize the joint, make the muscles stronger, and improve how well older adults can move around and stay independent. Methods: 19 participants with knee osteoarthritis 60 years and above were recruited using a purposive sampling technique. Data was collected using the Functional independence measure (FIM) and patient specific functional scale (PSFS) before and after the intervention was given. Resistance exercises were given to the participants 2-3 times a week for the next 6 weeks. Descriptive statistics summarized the data, while Paired T test was used to determine the correlation between variables. Significance was set at an alpha level of 0.05. Result: The mean FIM (functional independence measure) score improved from 114.68 ± 7.72
to 118.26 ± 5.85, and PSFS(patient specific functional scale) score from 5.21 ± 1.99 to 7.47 ± 1.26 post-intervention. Paired t-test showed significant improvement in functional status (FIM: p = 0.001; PSFS: p = 0.001) following six weeks of resisted active exercises. Conclusion: The findings demonstrated significant improvements in both general, functional status functional independence and task-specific abilities, as evidenced by statistically significant increases in FIM and PSFS scores. These results support the effectiveness of resisted active exercises as a simple, low-cost, and non-pharmacological intervention for improving functional
status in older adults with knee OA.

Background/Purpose of the study: Lower extremity strength, quality of life and movement performance capacity are some of the clinical features that can be affected in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between these clinical features and their significance. Methods: A total of 167 male and female type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) patients with age 65 years and above participated in this correlational study. Quality of life, movement performance capacity and lower extremity muscle strength (LEMS) of the participants were measured using WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire, Short Physical Performance Battery and an improvised leg dynamometer respectively. Obtained data were summarized with descriptive statistics and inferential statistics of Pearson’s correlation coefficient test was used to analyze the relationship between LEMS and movement performance capacity, Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient test was used to analyze the relationship between LEMS and quality of life. All inferential analyses were performed at 0.05 alpha levels. Results: 90 (53.9%) of the respondents were female, 119 (71.3%) of the respondents were married. Right and left LEMS had significant positive correlation with QOL and movement performance capacity (ρ<0.001). There were positive significant relationships between movement performance capacity and the domains of WHOQOL; physical health (ρ<0.001), psychological (ρ<0.001), social relationships (ρ = 0.009) and environment (ρ<0.001). Conclusion: There was a significant relationship between lower extremity strength, quality of life and movement performance in patients with type 2 DM. Keywords: Type 2 diabetes mellitus, Lower extremity strength, Quality of life, movement
performance capacity.

Background: Chronic musculoskeletal (MSK) pain poses a significant healthcare challenge, affecting millions of individuals worldwide and imposing significant burdens on both patients and healthcare systems. Physiotherapy plays a role in the management of Musculoskeletal pain, despite the role played there remain a scarcity of information regarding patient satisfaction
specifically in the domain of physiotherapy within the Nigerian context
Aim: The aim of the study was to determine the level of satisfaction of patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain with physiotherapy treatment in two major hospitals in Benin City. Methods: It was a cross sectional design study where 46 Respondents (female=27, male=19)
were recruited via simple random sampling technique. Patient satisfaction with outpatient physiotherapy treatment was assessed using a validated multidimensional physiotherapy outpatient satisfaction scale (PTOPS) questionnaire. Descriptive statistics of frequency, percentage, mean and standard deviation were used to summarized data while inferential statistics of Mann Whitney U and Kruskal Wallis test was used to determine the differences in satisfaction scores between sociodemographic variables. The significance level was set at < 0.05. Results: The most common site of chronic MSK pain was low back pain 19 (41.3%). The
'PTOPS' questionnaire categorised and scored satisfaction items under four domains, Enhancer, Detractor, Location and Cost. The mean score ± S.D, for each domain were: 'Enhancer' 40.93 ± 4.03; 'Detractor' 27.65 ± 6.25; 'Location' 22.26 ± 4.80; 'Cost' 19.67 ± 2.44." Majority of the Respondents reported an overall general satisfaction score (110.52 ± 5.70). Male (median=115.00) had a higher level of satisfaction compared to female (median=108.00), however there was no significant difference in satisfaction score across age, educational status, marital status, and socioeconomic status (p = >0.05)
Conclusion: The study found high satisfaction levels among patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain undergoing physiotherapy treatment in Benin City hospitals. Although satisfaction levels varied by gender, there were no significant variations in satisfaction based on
education, age, or socioeconomic statuss. Keywords: Musculoskeletal pain, patient satisfaction, outpatient, physiotherapy.