Effect Of COVID 19 Pandemic On The Academic Performance Of Physical Therapy Students.

Objectives: To examine the impact of university closure and recourse to internet-based learning on the academic achievement of physical therapy students. Method: The retrospective study was conducted at Kafrelsheikh University, Egypt, and comprised academic grades of physical therapy students related to pre-coronavirus disease-2019 pandemic academic year 2019-2020 in group 1 and per-pandemic 2020-2021 session group 2. Data was analysed using SPSS 26. RESULTS: Of the 8,190 students, 4,764(58.2%) were females and 3,426(41.8%) were males with age range 17-23 years who were studying at 5 academic levels. There were 3,732(45.6%) students in group 1 and 4,458(54.4%) in group 2. There were significant difference in the academic grades between the groups (p<0.005). There was greater improvement in the mean results of students' grades (p=0.001) and less variation between students in group 2 compared to group 1 (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Online learning was found to be an effective teaching method for physical therapy students during the coronavirus disease-2019 pandemic with respect to basic medical knowledge. However, its impact on clinical and practical skills of the students was not confirmed.

Clitoral Therapy Device for Alleviating Sexual Dysfunction After Female Genital Mutilation: Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Female genital mutilation is considered a crime but is still practiced today in Africa and the Middle East, despite all the laws that make this procedure illegal due to the long-term physical and psychological harm it causes to women. Millions of girls and women living today have undergone genital mutilation, which involves removing the external female genitalia either partially or totally, based on the belief that it restricts feminine sexuality, thereby "saving" a girl for marriage. For girls and women, the surgery offers no health advantages. Girls' right to control critical decisions regarding their sexual and reproductive health is violated because genital mutilation is frequently done against their will and frequently without their consent, leading to lifelong psychic trauma in addition to sexual dysfunction and lack of satisfaction due to distortion of the genitalia that threatens marital stability. OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of a clitoral therapy device on improving sexual domains in women suffering from sexual dysfunction after female genital mutilation. METHODS: This study examined 80 married women aged from 20 to 45 years who were referred from the gynecology outpatient clinic of the Faculty of Medicine, Suez University, for sexual dysfunction resulting from female genital mutilation. The women were divided into 2 equal groups: the study group received a clitoral therapy device and traditional psychosexual education and were closely followed for 3 months, while the control group received only traditional psychosexual education for 3 months. The Arabic version of the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) questionnaire was used to assess sexual outcomes pre- and posttreatment in the 2 groups. RESULTS: Our findings revealed a significant increase in the 6 domains of the FSFI pretreatment in both groups compared to posttreatment (P>.001), except the orgasm domain in the control group, which showed only a nonsignificant increase (P=.16). CONCLUSIONS: Clitoral therapy devices may be an effective, safe, noninvasive rehabilitation method for sexual dysfunction following female genital mutilation. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05039775; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05039775.

Loaded Functional Strength Training versus Traditional Physical Therapy on Hip and Knee Extensors Strength and Function Walking Capacity in Children with Hemiplegic Cerebral Palsy: Randomized Comparative Study.

Objective: This study's objective was to see how loaded functional strengthening exercises using a plantigrade foot position and a shoe supporter affected muscle strength and walking ability in spastic hemiplegic children. Methods: Seventy-two children with spastic hemiplegic cerebral palsy, both sexes, aged ten to twelve years, were randomly assigned into two groups equal in number (control and intervention groups). The control group received a specially designed physical therapy program, whereas the intervention group received a loaded functional strengthening exercises program using a shoe supporter to maintain a plantigrade foot position. The training program was carried out for 60 min, three times per week for three consecutive months. All participants were evaluated both before and after the therapy program by using a Medical Commander Echo Manual Muscle Tester dynamometer to assess isometric muscle power of hip and knee extensors on the affected side. To assess functional walking capacity, a 6 min walking (6MWT) test was used. Results: Study groups were comparable with respect to all outcome measures at entry (p > 0.05). Within-group comparison showed significant improvements in all measured variables. Furthermore, between-group comparison revealed significantly greater improvements (p < 0.05) in hip and knee extensors strength as well as the functional walking capacity in favor of the intervention group. Conclusions: In all the analyzed variables, loaded functional strength exercises from the plantigrade foot position were found to be considerably more effective in the intervention group than in the control group.

Intraoral Dual Wavelength Laser Diode Therapy for Chronic Maxillary Sinusitis.

BACKGROUND: Chronic sinusitis is one of the most common chronic diseases involving different age groups. The different etiological factors and difficult diagnostic procedures contribute to misdiagnosis and chronicity of sinusitis. There is no standard treatment for sinusitis. Long term use of corticosteroids and antibiotics may lead to numerous adverse side effects. Laser therapy has been suggested as a non-invasive treatment for sinusitis. It has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effects. When considering maxillary sinusitis, discharge tends to collect in the sinus base due to its anatomy and altered physiology. To improve penetration of laser into the maxillary sinus, intraoral laser at the vestibule depth of the maxilla may be more effective. MATERIAL AND SUBJECT: Thirty-four patients with chronic maxillary sinusitis were assigned into two groups. All were assessed before and after treatment. Group A received laser radiation plus standard medical treatment and group B received medical treatment only. The treatment plan was performed in 12 sessions using a Diode laser with a wavelength of 810 nm and 980nm. The SNOT-22 questionnaire and Computed Tomography were used to evaluate patients. A p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: Both groups showed a significant improvement in symptoms following treatment (p < .001), however, the laser therapy group demonstrated greater improvements for all variables in response to treatment as compared to the traditional treatment group (p < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Using high intensity intra-oral laser therapy with medical treatment is more effective than using medical treatment only for treatment of chronic maxillary sinusitis.