Relationship between selected anthropometric variables and prevalence of flatfoot among urban and rural school children in south west Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: Flat foot is a common reason for attendance at children's orthopaedic clinics. Its prevalence which varies from one population to the other has been reported to be influenced by various factors. OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the effect of nutritional status as indicated by factors such as height, weight and BMI on the prevalence of flatfoot in school age children in urban and rural areas in south-western Nigeria. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study involved 560 children with age range 6 to 12 years. They were divided into two groups; rural and urban. The demographic and anthropometric data of all the subjects was taken. Each subject's static footprint was taken on a white duplicating paper after which the instep was measured and the footprint classified into high arch, normal, flat or severe flat. The body mass index and nutritional status of each subject was calculated from the anthropometric data. Epi Info statistical package programme version 3.5.1 (2008) was used to analyse the data. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant (p < 0.05) prevalence of flatfoot between the rural dwelling (18.2%) and the urban dwelling (32.9%) children. Anthropometric measurements were significantly higher in urban than in rural children. Nutritional status of urban children was also significantly higher than that of the rural children. CONCLUSION: Flatfoot is more prevalent in school age children in urban area than in the rural area; age and body mass index being the primary predictors for flatfoot.

Gender variation of bilateral Q-angle in young adult Nigerians.

BACKGROUND: The quadriceps femoris angle (Q-angle) is an important indicator of biomechanical function in the lower extremities. It is a quantitative measurement of patella position in respect to the lower extremity alignment. OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to determine gender variation of bilateral Q-angle values in young adults and also to check for symmetry in individual participants. METHODS: A total of 800 participants (400 males and 400 females), who were recruited consecutively participated in the study. They had no history of knee pain or musculoskeletal disorders and no obvious limb length discrepancy. Their ages ranged from 18 to 30 years. They were selected using a non-probability sample of convenience. The Q-angle was measured bilaterally using the universal goniometer with the participants in the erect weight bearing position. The data were analyzed using the independent t - test at 95% confidence interval. RESULTS: The Q-angle valves in the male participants were 14.7 degrees +/- 2.1 for left and 13.0 degrees +/- 1.7 for right lower limbs respectively, while in the female participants, Q-angle values were 16.8 degrees +/- 1.3 and 15.3 degrees +/- 1.0 for left and right lower limbs respectively. Female participants had significantly higher Q-angle values than their male counterparts. The left lower limb recorded a significantly higher Q-angle value in both males and females than right lower limb (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Q-angle is bilaterally asymmetric in an individual and higher in female, hence Q-angle measurement should always be bilateral, irrespective of whether one or both knees are involved.

The effect of TENS on selected symptoms in the management of patients with chronic tension type headache: a preliminary study.

BACKGROUND: Headache is one of the most frequent causes of consultation in both general medical practice and neurological clinics. It is the most common of all medical conditions causing pain and disability. Headache is experienced by 90% of the general population at some point in life, as a consequence of febrile illness. However, primary headache occur in some people on chronic basis such as tension headache, and require long-term relief. OBJECTIVE: This study was aimed at investigating the efficacy of Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) on Pain, Functional Disability and Cervical Range of Motion in patients with Chronic Tension Type Headache (CTTH). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eight (8) subjects aged 20-50 years with diagnosis of CTTH participated in the study. The subjects were treated thrice weekly for ten (10) weeks with an EV904 TENS unit made by Electromedical Supplies, at a pulse rate of 4Hz and pulse width of 200micros. Pain level, Functional Disability and Cervical Range of Motion were determined using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), Headache Disability Index (HDI) and Universal Goniometer respectively. Data was analyzed using the Wilcoxon Signed Ranks Test for pain and functional disability while unpaired t-test was used to analyze cervical range of motion. Level of significance was set at p < 0.05. RESULTS: The result showed a significant reduction in pain and functional disability with a significant improvement of cervical range of motion within the studied subjects. CONCLUSION: Based on the findings of this study, it was therefore concluded that TENS application should be considered in the long-term management of patients with CTTH.