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Background: Ankle joint position sense (AJPS) accuracy and postural control are crucial for maintaining balance and stability, particularly in individuals with plantar fasciitis who may experience proprioceptive and functional impairments. Understanding how psychosocial factors, such as pain catastrophizing, and biomechanical measures, like muscle strength and gait parameters related to proprioception and postural control, can inform more effective treatment approaches. This study aimed to (1) examine the relationship between AJPS accuracy and biomechanical factors-including postural stability, lower limb muscle strength, and gait parameters-in individuals with plantar fasciitis d (2) analyze the impact of psychosocial factors, including pain catastrophizing, physical activity level, and quality of life, on AJPS accuracy and postural control in this population., Methods: A total of 126 participants (63 with plantar fasciitis and 63 controls) were recruited. AJPS was assessed using a digital inclinometer across four movement directions (plantarflexion, dorsiflexion, inversion, eversion). Postural stability metrics (antero-posterior and medio-lateral sway) were measured using computerized posturography, while muscle strength in plantar flexors, dorsiflexors, inverters, and evertors was assessed with a hand-held dynamometer. Gait parameters (step length, cadence, stance time) were captured via 3D motion capture. Pain catastrophizing, physical activity, and quality of life were evaluated using validated questionnaires (PCS, IPAQ, FHSQ)., Results: Significant differences were observed in AJPS accuracy between groups, with plantar fasciitis patients showing higher AJPS error in plantarflexion (mean difference = 1.22°, p < 0.001) and dorsiflexion (mean difference = 1.31°, p < 0.001). Pain catastrophizing was a significant predictor of AJPS in plantarflexion (β = -0.05, p = 0.001). Postural stability was negatively correlated with AJPS accuracy, particularly in mediolateral sway (r = -0.32, p = 0.037), while physical activity and quality of life had minimal effects., Conclusion: This study highlights the impact of pain catastrophizing on proprioceptive deficits in plantar fasciitis, emphasizing the importance of addressing psychological as well as biomechanical factors in treatment. Integrating cognitive-behavioral strategies may enhance proprioceptive accuracy and stability outcomes in this population., Competing Interests: Declarations. Ethics approval and consent to participate: Ethical approval for this study was obtained from the Institutional Research Ethics Committee (REC) at King Khalid University (approval number ECM# 2023 − 356) on 13/05/2023. Consent for publication: All participants in the present study received instructions about the experimental procedures and content, and the experiments were conducted after they had completed the consent forms. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2025. The Author(s).)

Background: Chronic nonspecific neck pain (CNSNP) is a common musculoskeletal disorder, particularly in the elderly, leading to reduced cervical muscle strength, impaired functional balance, and decreased postural stability. This study investigated the correlation between cervical muscle strength, functional balance, and limits of stability (LOS) in elderly individuals with CNSNP. Additionally, it assessed the moderating effect of pain severity on the relationship between cervical muscle strength and these balance outcomes., Methods: A prospective study included a total of 186 participants, including 93 with CNSNP and 93 asymptomatic individuals, were recruited. Cervical flexor and extensor muscle strength were assessed using an ergoFET hand-held dynamometer. Functional balance was measured using the Berg Balance Scale (BBS) and Timed Up and Go (TUG) test, while LOS were evaluated using the Iso-Free machine., Results: Individuals with CNSNP exhibited significantly lower cervical flexor strength (32.45 ± 5.67 N vs. 40.75 ± 5.20 N, p < 0.001) and extensor strength (28.30 ± 6.05 N vs. 36.90 ± 5.90 N, p < 0.001) compared to asymptomatic individuals. Functional balance was also poorer in the CNSNP group, with lower BBS scores (47.85 ± 4.20 vs. 53.65 ± 3.85, p < 0.001) and slower TUG times (11.30 ± 2.05 s vs. 8.45 ± 1.80 s, p < 0.001). Cervical muscle strength showed moderate to strong positive correlations with LOS (r = 0.56 to 0.62, p < 0.001) and BBS (r = 0.48 to 0.53, p < 0.001). Pain severity significantly moderated the relationship between cervical muscle strength and functional balance (β = 0.20, p = 0.045) as well as LOS (β = 0.22, p = 0.038), suggesting that higher pain levels diminish the positive effects of muscle strength on balance., Conclusion: Cervical muscle strength plays a crucial role in maintaining functional balance and postural stability in elderly individuals with CNSNP. Pain severity moderates the relationship between cervical muscle strength and balance outcomes, emphasizing the importance of integrating muscle strengthening and pain management in rehabilitation programs for elderly individuals with CNSNP to optimize postural control and minimize fall risk., Competing Interests: Declarations. Ethics approval and consent to participate: The King Khalid University ethics committee, Saudi Arabia, approved the study protocol (REC#2023 − 492), which complies with the Declaration of Helsinki and Good Clinical Practice Guidelines. All patients signed a written informed consent form to be enrolled. Consent for publication: Not applicable. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2025. The Author(s).)

This study aimed to investigate the relationships between kinesiophobia, proprioception, and limits of stability in elderly individuals post-THR. Specifically, it sought to assess the direct and indirect effects of kinesiophobia on proprioception through mediating factors such as pain intensity, functional mobility, and psychological well-being. A cross-sectional observational study was conducted with 100 participants (50 post-THR patients and 50 asymptomatic elderly controls) at King Khalid University Hospital. Kinesiophobia was measured using the Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia (TSK), proprioception was assessed via a digital inclinometer, and limits of stability were evaluated using computerized dynamic posturography. Post-THR patients exhibited significantly higher levels of kinesiophobia (p < 0.001) and impaired proprioception (p < 0.001) compared to controls. Mediation analyses revealed that pain intensity, functional mobility, and psychological well-being partially mediated the relationship between kinesiophobia and proprioception. The Sobel tests confirmed significant mediation effects for pain intensity (Z = 3.88, p = 0.021), functional mobility (Z = 2.96, p = 0.013), and psychological well-being (Z = 2.84, p = 0.015). Kinesiophobia significantly impairs proprioception and balance in elderly individuals post-THR, with these effects being partially mediated by pain intensity, functional mobility, and psychological well-being. These findings highlight the importance of addressing psychological factors in rehabilitation programs to enhance proprioceptive function and improve postural stability, thereby optimizing recovery outcomes in the post-THR population., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: © 2024 Alshehri et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

Background In preparation for military service, new recruits undergo a physical transformation. We aimed to determine the fitness outcomes and self-reported activity levels of Saudi medical recruits after a 10-week initial military training course (IMTC). Methods The cohort comprised 104 recruits aged 25-29 years. Anthropometric variables, including height, body mass index (BMI), body weight (BW), percent body fat (%BF), lean body mass (LBM), waist circumference (WC), and waist-to-height ratio (WtHR), were assessed pre-IMTC and post-IMTC. Physical fitness assessments, including a one-minute sit-up test, push-up test, Cooper's 12-minute run/walk test, and relative maximal oxygen consumption (VO 2 max), were also evaluated. The International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) was used to assess self-reported physical activity. Results We found a significant decrease in anthropometric variables following the course, including BW (P = 0.01), BMI (P = 0.01), %BF (P = 0.002), LBM (P = 0.01), WC (P = 0.005), and WtHR (P = 0.003). They also showed significant improvements in the push-up test (P = 0.001), one-minute sit-up test (P = 0.001), 12-minute test (P = 0.001), and relative VO 2 max (P = 0.001). The comparison of pre-IPAQ with post-IPAQ demonstrated a percentage improvement in walking activity (15%-82%) and vigorous physical activity (17%-49%) after joining the IMTC. Conclusions These findings demonstrate that Saudi medical recruits who partake in the IMTC can attain significant improvements in their body composition, physical fitness, and physical activity levels., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright © 2023, Alzahrani et al.)

Nanogel is a promising drug delivery approach to improve the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamic prospect of phytopharmaceuticals. In the present review, phytopharmaceuticals with astonishing therapeutic utilities are being explored. However, their in vivo delivery is challenging, owing to poor biopharmaceutical attributes that impact their drug release profile, skin penetration, and the reach of optimal therapeutic concentrations to the target site. Nanogel and its advanced version in the form of nanoemulgel (oil-in-water nanoemulsion integrated gel matrix) offer better therapeutic prospects than other conventional counterparts for improving the biopharmaceutical attributes and thus therapeutic efficacy of phytopharmaceuticals. Nanoemulgel-loaded phytopharmaceuticals could substantially improve permeation behavior across skin barriers, subsequently enhancing the delivery and therapeutic effectiveness of the bioactive compound. Furthermore, the thixotropic characteristics of polymeric hydrogel utilized in the fabrication of nanogel/nanoemulgel-based drug delivery systems have also imparted improvements in the biopharmaceutical attributes of loaded phytopharmaceuticals. This formulation approach is about to be rife in the coming decades. Thus, the current review throws light on the recent studies demonstrating the role of nanogels in enhancing the delivery of bioactive compounds for treating various disease conditions and the challenges faced in their clinical translation.

Objectives: This study investigated the inter-rater reliability of three structural end range lumbar segmental instability tests with the highest positive likelihood ratio (+ LR) against flexion-extension radiographs, and three functional mid-range clinical tests that predict the success of lumbar stabilisation exercises in patients with recurrent or chronic low-back pain (R/CLBP). The study also investigated the reliability of lumbar segmental instability, subclassification as: functional, structural and combined instability., Method: Forty adults with R/CLBP (30 men and 10 women), aged 21-71 years, underwent repeated measurements of specific clinical tests for structural or functional lumbar segmental instability., Results: All functional-instability tests: the prone instability test (PIT), the aberrant motion test and the average passive straight-leg raise (PSLR>91°) test showed a high percentage agreement (90, 97·5 and 95%, respectively) and a high kappa coefficient (0·71, 0·79 and 0·77, respectively). In addition, two structural tests: the lumbar flexion range of motion (ROM) >53° and the passive lumbar extension test (PLET) showed a high percentage agreement (82 and 73%, respectively), and a moderate kappa coefficient (0·48 and 0·46, respectively). The lack of hypomobility with the posteroanterior (PA) glide test was found to be unreliable (agreement = 25%; k = - 0·02). Locating the pain-provoking segment, as the first portion of PIT, was found to be moderately reliable (k = 0·41). The subclassification categories of lumbar segmental instability (functional, structural and combined) were found to be significantly reliable (PABAK) 0·90, 0·70 and 0·95, respectively)., Discussion: All investigated tests (except the lack of hypomobility with the PA glide test), in addition to subclassifying the categories of lumbar segmental instability, were significantly reliable in the assessment of lumbar instability.