Masters Degrees (Physiotherapy)

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Browsing Masters Degrees (Physiotherapy) by Author "Baldeo, Kamir"

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    Reference values for clinical field tests used in primary based rehabilitation : a South African case study
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2021-12) Baldeo, Kamir; Hanekom, Susan D.; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences. Dept. of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences. Physiotherapy.
    ENGLISH SUMMARY : Introduction: Clinical field tests are cheap and easily available tools that are used in primary based rehabilitation. To our knowledge, minimal data is available describing variation in values obtained from field tests in a “healthy” South African context. Reference values are used to assist clinical decisions, define treatment options and determine prognosis. The aim of this thesis was to 1) explore the literature and describe the populations included in establishing reference values for five clinical field tests and 2) describe the values of five clinical field tests in a ‘healthy’ population from a South African resource restrained metropolitan community. Methods: The clinical field tests included in this thesis focused on assessing functional exercise capacity; health related quality of life; peripheral muscle strength; grip strength; and respiratory strength. A scoping review was carried out following the framework of (Arksey and Malley, 2005). Six databases were searched from inception to July 2019. Studies were selected by two independent researchers at title, abstract and full text levels. We used a cross- sectional study design to describe the values for the five clinical field tests in a cohort of healthy South Africans. Convenience sampling technique stratified for age and gender, was used to obtain a sample. Reference values were presented as mean and standard deviation. Scatter plots was used to visually compare the dispersion of the South African values to selected international reference values for exercise capacity and maximal inspiratory pressure. Results: Nine systematic reviews published within the past five years, were included in the scoping review. Ten additional studies were identified through a secondary search, with nine primary studies reporting maximal inspiratory pressure reference values and one primary study reporting reference values for exercise capacity. The scoping review identified a variety of international populations, procedures, positioning, and reference values. No reference values were identified from populations in least developed countries. Thirty-five participants agreed to participate in the study. The participants were stratified according to six age groups (18- 25,26-35,36-45,46-55 and 56-65) and gender. Sixteen participants were male whilst nineteen participants were female. The average age for participants (n=35) were (39.46±13.81), average height (166.4±9.46) and average weight (75.81±19.58). The mean Body Mass Index (BMI) was (27.47±7.24). Of the total sample, participants formed 31.43% of the overweight category and 31.43% of the obese category. The scatter plots visually compared the mean and 95% Confidence Intervals of the South African population to values obtained from international cohorts for the exercise capacity and maximal inspiratory pressure. Conclusion: The scoping review highlighted the variation in reference values across populations and economic backgrounds as well as differences in testing procedures. Values for five clinical field tests used in primary based rehabilitation has documented normal variation in a healthy South African population. Clinicians need to be cognisant of factors that could impact reference values such as socio-economic environments and the testing procedure. International reference values may be inaccurate for use by clinicians in a South African context. Further work is needed to define more precise South African reference values for the five clinical field tests described in this thesis.