PHYSIOTHERAPY

Background / Purpose: The upper limb function of a stroke survivor following stroke recovery is essential for their functional independence and quality of life. Several studies have been done on the effectiveness of CIMT on upper limb function among hemiplegic stroke patients, however published articles on the effectiveness of CIMT on upper-limb function among hemiplegic stroke survivors in Nigeria are scanty or not available.The study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy (CIMT) on upper limb function among hemiplegic stroke survivors in a tertiary institution in Benin City. Methods: Simple random sampling technique was used based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria to recruit the 52 participants and they were randomly assigned into a control group and an experimental group. Descriptive and Inferential statistics using One-Way ANOVA Tukey’s post-hoc test to pinpoint specific differences. Alpha level was 0.05. Results: The results showed that CIMT demonstrated significant improvements in upper limb function compared to those who received conventional therapy. The CIMT group showed higher gains in all measured parameters after the eight- week intervention. Statistical analysis revealed a significant difference at p < 0.05 between the groups. Conclusion: The experimental group demonstrated significant increase in muscle strength, muscle endurance, joint flexibility and hand function. Participants also reported higher engagement and motivation throughout the intervention period. These results suggest that CIMT enhances motor recovery and functional performance among stroke survivors, promoting a more effective rehabilitation experience.

Background: Exercise, while generally beneficial, can become compulsive and addictive, negatively impacting an athlete’s physical and psychological health. Understanding the prevalence of this condition and its relationship with key well-being indicators is crucial for identifying at-risk individuals and developing effective intervention strategies among athletic populations. Aim: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of exercise addiction among amateur athletes and examine the association between exercise addiction, psychological well-being (specifically depression, anxiety, and stress), and perceived social support within this population. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study utilizing a consecutive sampling technique to recruit a sample of amateur athletes from the University of Benin. Data were collected using three standardized self-report instruments: the Exercise Addiction Inventory (EAI), the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21), and the Social Support Questionnaire (SSQ). Descriptive statistics were used to determine prevalence, while inferential statistics, such as correlation analysis, were employed to explore the association between the variables. Results: The study identified a quantifiable prevalence of exercise addiction among the amateur athletes. Significant associations were found, indicating that increased levels of exercise addiction were positively correlated with higher levels of psychological distress (depression, anxiety, and stress). Conversely, there was a statistically significant inverse correlation between exercise addiction and the level of perceived social support. Conclusion: Exercise addiction is a significant issue among amateur athletes at the University of Benin and is strongly associated with poor psychological well-being and reduced social support. These findings highlight the need for screening for exercise addiction in sports settings and incorporating psychological support and social network strategies into athlete welfare programs to mitigate the associated risks.

Background: Nigeria requires more physiotherapists and specialized training to improve care quality. A mandatory one-year internship bridges the gap between education and practice, enhancing skills and confidence.The quality of internship training, including supervision, learning opportunities, and a supportive environment, plays a crucial role in influencing interns’ satisfaction and their specialization choices. Aim: The aim and purpose of this research is to explore physiotherapy interns’ knowledge perceptions, and attitude towards specializing in neurophysiotherapy in south-south, Nigeria Methods: The study employs a cross-sectional design using a proportionate sampling technique, with a calculated sample size of 126 physiotherapy interns distributed across seven hospitals in South-South Nigeria.Data collection will be conducted through a self-adapted questionnaire divided into four sections: socio-demographic information, knowledge, perception, and attitude towards specializing in neurophysiotherapy.Data analysis will involve descriptive statistics and inferential tools, such as chi-square tests, using SPSS version 22 at a 0.05 significance level. Result: The study revealed that most participants were male (68.2%), over 30 years old (59.1%), single (93.2%), and Christian (81.8%). A majority of interns (81.1%) rated their knowledge of neurophysiotherapy and its components as "good" or "very good," with all identifying key neurological conditions suitable for rehabilitation. Exposure to neurology units (75.8%) and treatment modalities (72.7%) significantly influenced their decision to specialize, though many (76.5%) found neurophysiotherapy challenging. Overall, interns expressed curiosity (79.6%) and a willingness to enhance their knowledge through clinical experiences. Conclusion: The findings showed that most interns had strong foundational knowledge of neurophysiotherapy, with high confidence in their ability to specialize. However, challenges and uncertainties about managing neurological conditions persisted. Despite this, participants maintained a positive attitude and perception toward specializing in neurophysiotherapy

The primary purpose of this study was to assess the information needs of cocoa farmers in Edo and Ondo states. Specifically, the study was conducted to investigate the information needs assessment of cocoa farmers; ascertain the farmers’ preference for cocoa information sources; examine cocoa farmers information needs and farmers search behavior and examine cocoa farmers’ constraints to information accessibility in the study area. Multistage random sampling procedure was used to select 432 respondents while a structured interview schedule was used to
solicit information from the respondents. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and inferential statistics (Binary logit regression, Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation (PPMC) and 2x2 matrix used to establish the priorities mean score). The result revealed that the mean age of cocoa farmers was 52 years while majorities (70.4%) of the farmers were male. Majorities (35.4%) of the farmers had formal education, higher membership of a group (93.5%) and were married (80.3%). Majority (74.3%) of the cocoa farmers’ cultivated farm lands of less than 10 hectares with a mean farming experience of 22 years. This study revealed that the most prominent sources of information was input dealers/suppliers (  =2.86±0.40), while Television (  =2.76±0.56), extension posters
(  =2.80±0.50) and face to face advice by other farmers (  =2.87±0.45) were the most preferred

Background;
Neck pain and shoulder pain are common musculoskeletal conditions faced by senior secondary school teachers. There is however limited understanding of the prevalence of neck and shoulder pain and its associated risk factors among senior secondary school teachers therefore relationship between the prevalence of these musculoskeletal disorders and work characteristics, specifically the arm length, board height, and lesson duration needs to be investigated among senior secondary school teachers.
Aims;
The study aims to determine the prevalence of neck, and shoulder pain and associated risk factors among secondary school teachers in Egor local government of Edo state.
Methodology;
This cross-sectional survey was carried out in Egor local government. It involved 150 participants. Data was collected using a self-administered questionnaire. Neck and shoulder pain was assessed using the Standardized Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data with a significance level set at p<0.05.and Wilcoxon signed ranked test was done to find the significant difference between the prevalence of neck and shoulder pain at 12 months and 7 days duration
Result;
The findings of the study showed that the 12-month prevalence of neck pain among respondents was 96 (64%), while 60(40%) was observed for shoulder pain. The result also showed that there was a significant difference between 12-month prevalence of neck pain and shoulder pain (Z =-4.500, P = 0.000 ) and no significant difference between 7 days prevalence of neck pain and shoulder pain (Z =-0.469, P = 0.639 ) Similarly, a significant association was also observed between the prevalence of neck pain and shoulder pain at 12months (P <0.05) and a significant association was also observed between the prevalence of neck pain and shoulder pain at 7 days (P <0.05)
Conclusion;
There is a prevalence of neck and shoulder pain among senior secondary school teachers in Egor Local government, Edo state. The 12-month prevalence of neck pain and shoulder pain was the highest followed by the prevalence in 7 days among senior secondary school teachers in Egor Local government, Edo state. The risk factor associated with significant shoulder pain was prolonged teaching hours characterized by writing on the board.