S. O BOLARINDE

Background: Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) are a major occupational health problem globally and are particularly common among individuals in physically demanding professions. Hairdressers are at increased risk due to prolonged standing, repetitive hand use, awkward postures, and poor ergonomic practices, which often lead to pain, disability, and reduced productivity. Despite these risks, there is limited evidence on the prevalence and associated factors of WMSDs among hairdressers in semi-urban areas of Nigeria. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of WMSDs and to examine the sociodemographic, occupational, and ergonomic risk factors among hairdressers in Egor Local Government Area of Benin City.
Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional design was adopted for the study. Participants included hairdressers registered under the National Association of Hairdressers and Cosmetologists (NASHCO), Egor chapter. Data were collected using a structured and validated questionnaire addressing musculoskeletal symptoms, occupational exposures, and ergonomic practices. Statistical analysis was conducted using descriptive and inferential statistics, with chi-square tests applied to assess associations between sociodemographic characteristics, occupational/ergonomic risk factors, and the prevalence of WMSDs.
Results: The results revealed a high prevalence of WMSDs among hairdressers, with 78.4% of respondents reporting musculoskeletal symptoms in at least one body region over the past 12 months. The lower back (76.3%), shoulders (62.1%), and neck (58.7%) were identified as the most commonly affected sites. Significant associations were observed between WMSDs and occupational factors such as prolonged standing (p < 0.05), daily work duration exceeding 8 hours (p < 0.05), and poor postural habits (p < 0.05). Sociodemographic variables, including gender and work experience, were also found to influence the occurrence of WMSDs.
Conclusion: In conclusion, WMSDs are highly prevalent among hairdressers in Egor Local Government Area, largely due to occupational and ergonomic risk factors. Preventive strategies such as ergonomic training, workplace modifications, and increased awareness of occupational health risks are recommended to reduce the burden of WMSDs and enhance the well-being and productivity of hairdressers.
Keywords: Work-related musculoskeletal disorders, hairdressers, occupational risk factors, ergonomic risk factors.

Background: Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is a prevalent degenerative joint disease, particularly affecting the elderly, and significantly impacts both quality of life (QoL) and physical activity (PA) levels. The disease, marked by pain, joint stiffness, and mobility limitations, can exacerbate physical and psychological distress in older adults. Despite its widespread impact, there is limited research on how knee OA affects these dimensions among elderly populations in Nigeria. Aims: This study aimed to evaluate the impact of knee osteoarthritis on QoL and physical activity levels among elderly outpatients at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted on 50 elderly patients (aged 60 and above) diagnosed with knee osteoarthritis. QoL was measured using the WHOQOL-BREF, physical activity levels were assessed using the Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly (PASE), and pain intensity was evaluated with the Numerical Pain Rating Scale (NPRS). Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics, including chi-square tests and MannWhitney U tests. Results: The majority of respondents (64%) reported low QoL, with high levels of physical activity observed in 88% of participants. Pain intensity varied, with 40% of participants experiencing severe pain. No significant differences were found between male and female respondents in terms of QoL, physical activity, or pain intensity ( p=0.565; p=0.230; p=0.012 respectively). Furthermore, no no significant association were found between age and each of QoL ,physical activity levels and pain intensity(p=0.409;p=0.620;p=0.059 respectively) Conclusion: This study revealed that elderly patients with knee osteoarthritis experience low quality of life and generally high physical activity levels, with mild-to-severe variations in pain intensity. Furthermore, no statistically significant associations were found between age and each of QoL, physical activity and pain intensity Keywords: Knee osteoarthritis, elderly, quality of life, physical activity, pain.

Background of the study: Physiotherapy plays a critical role in the prevention, management, and rehabilitation of sports-related injuries among athletes. Despite its proven benefits, the
level of awareness, knowledge, and utilization of physiotherapy services among football players in tertiary institutions remains suboptimal. This study assessed the awareness, knowledge, attitude, and utilization of physiotherapy in the management of sports injuries among football players in a tertiary institution. Aim of the Study: This study aimed to assess the awareness, knowledge, and utilization of physiotherapy among University of Benin football players and examine factors influencing their attitude toward physiotherapy. Methodology: Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics of percentages and frequency
table while inferential statistics of Chi Square was used for test of association between variables. Alpha level was set at 0.05
Results: Findings revealed that 87.6% of respondents had heard about physiotherapy, while 73.2% were aware of its role in managing sports injuries. However, only 69.4% demonstrated adequate overall awareness. Despite 84.5% acknowledging physiotherapy’s role in injury treatment and 81.4% in improving fitness, actual utilization was low, with only 27.8% visiting a physiotherapist when injured. The study also found that 84.1% of respondents showed negative attitudes in some domains such as stigma and gender bias, while 40.8% displayed positive overall attitudes. Major barriers included cost of services (72.2%) and lack of nearby facilities (27.8%). Conclusion: Although general awareness of physiotherapy among football players was high, knowledge, attitude, and utilization were suboptimal. Interventions such as subsidized physiotherapy services, establishment of on-campus physiotherapy clinics, awareness campaigns, and collaboration between institutional authorities and physiotherapists are recommended to enhance utilization and improve sports injury management in tertiary institutions.