Calcaneal pitch and lateral talocalcaneal angle among nigerians / Inclinación calcáneo y ángulo talocalcáneo lateral en nigerianos

Various papers in the fields of Radiology, orthopaedics and radiographic anatomy have employed the use of angles measured on X-rays to make diagnoses, select treatment modalities in the management of foot disorders as well as predicting the outcome of interventions to these disorders. Calcaneal pitch (CP) and lateral talocalcaneal angle (L TCA) are angles that can be drawn on lateral standing radiographs of the foot and are used widely in the diagnosis, prognosis and choice of treatment modalities for various disorders of the foot. Data on these important radiological tools are lacking in Nigeria. Hence, the study is an attempt to bridge this gap. Using a hinge goniometer, the angles were measured from normal lateral standing radiographs of the foot. Mean CP was found to be 15.08 +/- 2.87 (n=63) and the mean L TCA was found to be 38.85°+/-8.20° (n=130). Differences in the means of the angles seen between the sexes were not statistically significant (CP, p=0.70; L TCA, p=0.60). No such significant difference was also observed in mean of the angles with respect to the sides of the body (CP, p=0.58; L TCA, p=0.13) or between ethnic groups (CP, p=0.30; L TCA, p=0.40).

Diversos trabajos en las áreas de la radiología, ortopedia y anatomía radiográfica han empleado los ángulos medidos en las radiografías para hacer diagnósticos, seleccionar las modalidades de tratamiento en el manejo de los trastornos del pie, así como para predecir el resultado de las intervenciones para estos trastornos. La inclinación calcánea (PC) y el ángulo talocalcáneo lateral (L TCA) son los ángulos que se pueden extraer desde las radiografías laterales de los pies y ser utilizados ampliamente en el diagnóstico, pronóstico y elección de modalidades de tratamiento para diversos trastornos del pie. Los datos sobre estos importantes instrumentos radiológicos no existen en Nigeria, y su estudio es un intento de obtener esta información. Usando un goniómetro bisagra, los ángulos se midieron a partir de radiografías normales permanentes lateral del pie. La media de CP se fue 15,08+/-2,87 (n = 63) y la media de TCA L fue 38,85°+/-8,20° (n = 130). Las diferencias en las medias de los ángulos observados entre los sexos no fueron estadísticamente significativas (CP, p = 0,70; L TCA, p = 0,60). No hubo diferencias significativas en la media de los ángulos con respecto al lado (CP, p = 0,58; L TCA, p = 0,13) o entre grupos étnicos (CP, p = 0,30; L TCA, p = 0,40).

The Effect of Marital Status and Self-Reported Physical Exercise on the Adiposity and Blood Pressure of the Igbos of Nigeria

The effect of marital status and self-reported exercise was investigated in a sample of Igbos in Nigeria. Physical activity level was grouped into: no exercise; irregular exercise and regular exercise. In all the groups; adiposity level and mean BP decreases as the frequencies of physical activity increases and these were significant for weight; BMI; diastolic BP; body circumferences; skinfold thickness except CSF among the married men; while for the never married men significant difference exist only for WC; FAC; SSF among the three groups. For the married women; the three groups of physical activity recorded significant difference in Weight; BMI; WC and HC while the never married women had significant difference only in CSF (F = 4.5; P = 0.01). The result of this study suggests that sex; marital status and exercise have effect on adiposity and blood pressure of the subjects. The married state was conducive for the development of excess adiposity and elevated BP while regular participation in exercise brings a reduction in fat stores and blood pressure. In conclusion; there is a greater tendency for married individuals to be overweight as compared to the never married subjects and regular physical exercise has strong influence in reducing the propensity to increase weight in both men and women