We live in a world in which global warming, pollution, social injustice, inequity and population health fundamentally influence each other. As a result, health and health care can no longer be thou...

The purpose of this randomized controlled trial was to evaluate the effectiveness of the Myofascial Release Technique (MRT) along with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) on pain, craniovertebral angle (CVA), and neck disability in university students with chronic neck pain and forward head posture. A total of sixty-six eligible participants with chronic neck pain and forward head posture were randomized into the Myofascial Release Therapy (MRT) group (n = 33) and MRT and Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) group (n = 33). Clinical outcomes included neck pain measured using the numerical pain rating scale, neck disability measured through the neck disability index, and forward head posture measured through the cranial vertebral angle. The outcomes were assessed at baseline and the four and eight weeks after the intervention. Both groups showed significant improvement in pain intensity, CVA, and neck disability after the intervention. However, the CBT group demonstrated greater improvements than the MRT group. The difference in outcomes between the groups was statistically significant. Myofascial Release Therapy combined with CBT is an effective treatment method for patients with chronic neck pain and forward head posture.

The objective of this study was to find out the effect of the myofascial release technique combined with valgus correction exercise on the pain, range of motion, balance, and quality of life in participants with grade II knee osteoarthritis. Forty participants with grade II knee osteoarthritis were randomly assigned into two treatment groups in the present clinical trial; group A was the myofascial release group, and group B was the myofascial release with valgus correction exercises group. Measurement included pain, balance, range of motion, and quality of life, as measured through the visual analog scale (VAS), Berg balance scale (BBS), goniometer, and knee injury and osteoarthritis outcome score (KOOS), respectively. The data were collected at the baseline and 3rd and 6th weeks. The between-groups comparison at the end of the 6th week showed significant results in the iliotibial band myofascial release with the valgus correction exercise group (p < 0.001). The within-group difference showed improvement in both groups individually, with more significant values in group B. The current study showed that the myofascial release combined with valgus correction exercises can effectively improve the pain, range of motion, balance, and quality of life in participants with grade II knee osteoarthritis. Trial Registration: IRCT20230216057434N3.

Background: Clubfoot is a congenital deformity that can affect one or both of a newborn’s lower extremities. The main objective of the study is to evaluate and compare the outcomes of the Ponseti method for the management of different types of clubfoot. Methods: A retrospective analysis of 151 children with 253 clubfeet (idiopathic untreated, idiopathic recurrent, and syndromic) with at least one year of follow-up was conducted in four months after ethical approval. Data were collected with a structured proforma after the consent of the parents. An independent sample t-test was applied to show the comparison between the groups, and a p-value of 0.05 was considered significant. Results: Out of 151 patients, 76% were male and 24% were female. Out of a total of 235 feet, 96 (63%) were idiopathic untreated, 40 (26.5%) were idiopathic recurrent, and 15 (9.5%) were syndromic clubfoot. The average number of casts was higher in syndromic clubfoot (9 casts per foot). There was no significant difference in the baseline Pirani score of the three groups (p-value > 0.05); but after one year of follow-up, there was a significant difference in the Pirani score of idiopathic and syndromic clubfoot (p-value ≤ 0.05) and between recurrent clubfoot and syndromic clubfoot (p-value = 0.01). Conclusions: The aetiology of syndromic clubfoot affects the outcomes of the Ponseti method and leads to relapse. In idiopathic (untreated and recurrent) clubfoot, the Ponseti method does not produce a significant difference in outcome. Poor brace compliance and a lack of tenotomy lead to orthotic (ankle foot orthosis AFO and foot orthosis FO) use in the day time and the recurrence of clubfoot deformity in these three types of clubfoot.

Background: Artificial intelligence has grown in prominence over the last few decades, and its use in medicine is spreading throughout the world. The adoption of AI-based healthcare solutions is lagging in Pakistan and other developing countries. Objective: To analyze the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of Pakistani undergraduate and graduate physiotherapy students about artificial intelligence. Methodology: This multicentre analytical cross-sectional study was conducted six months after ethical approval, including participants from CMH Lahore Medical College & Institute of Dentistry, Lahore, University of Lahore, University of South Asia, University of Management and Technology, Lahore, and Riphah International University, Lahore. Non-probability convenience sampling was used to include both male and female undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate physiotherapy students aged 18 to 45 years, from 1st to 5th year undergraduate and 1st and 2nd year postgraduate physiotherapy students. While students enrolled in other medical and allied health sciences programs, MBBS and BDS students were excluded from this study. Data collection commenced after obtaining ethical approval, and informed consent was obtained from every participant. Data were collected by online survey and by distributing the questionnaires to physiotherapy students wherever possible. Frequencies and percentages are used to express descriptive statistics. Frequencies and percentages are used for categorical values. Results: Approximately 92% of physiotherapists were aware of artificial intelligence. Of these, 45.6% believed that it should be taught in medical schools, as it is essential to the medical field. Almost 31.4% of respondents think artificial intelligence can enhance the therapeutic relationship between patients and therapists. About 58.6% reported that using AI technologies in their employment had made their jobs easier. However, just 14.5% of students claimed that using AI was simple. Conclusion: Most students had some knowledge of artificial intelligence, and many respondents expressed interest in working on AI-related projects in the future. These findings demonstrate the high level of interest, optimistic outlook, and potential of integrating artificial intelligence in the physiotherapy sector.

Professional therapists must be prepared through clinical training, which forms the foundation of physiotherapy education. The effectiveness of the interactions between students and clinical instructors can help students learn more in the clinical setting. Objective: To find out the undergraduate physiotherapy students’ perceptions regarding the clinical instructors’ behaviours during clinical training. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on 260 undergraduates of Doctor of Physical Therapy from different institutes of Faisalabad and Sialkot after ethical approval from September 2021 to March 2022. Students in 3rd year or 5th semester and above were included. A clinical instructor behaviour instrument was utilized to get the responses and SPSS version 21.0 to extract the results. Mean and standard deviations were computed for individual subsets of the instrument to find the perception. Results: Mean age ± standard deviation was 22.79 ± 15.75 years ranging from 21 to 25 years. Among the participants, 226 (86.92%) were female and 34 (13.07%) were male. A total score of all five categories of the clinical instructor behaviour instrument was found 116.17 out of a maximum possible score of 150. Conclusion: It was concluded that the perception of students regarding the clinical instructors’ behaviours during clinical training was found positive.