Foundation University Journal of Rehabilitation Sciences

Generative Artificial Intelligence in rehabilitation sciences: Opportunity, hype, and the readiness gap in developing and low middle-income countries

2026-07-28T08:10:19+00:00

Comparative effects of calisthenic and neuromuscular training on pain, balance, and functional limitation in patients with knee osteoarthritis: A Randomized Clinical Trial

2026-06-25T08:05:43+00:00

Background: Knee osteoarthritis is a common and debilitating condition where exercise is a key management strategy. However, the effectiveness of calisthenics and neuromuscular exercises remains unclear.

Objective: This study compared the effects of calisthenics and neuromuscular exercises on pain, balance, and functional limitations in patients with knee OA.

Methods: This study (RIPHAH/FRAHS/letter-0891) was conducted at Railway General Hospital, Rawalpindi. Forty-two participants with knee osteoarthritis (Kellgren–Lawrence grades II–III) were recruited using convenience sampling and randomly allocated (n=21/group) into calisthenic and neuromuscular training groups. Both groups received supervised 45-minute treatment, 3 times weekly for six weeks. Outcomes were assessed at baseline, 3rd, and 6th week using Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS), Mini-Best Test, Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), and Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB). A two-way mixed ANOVA was performed to evaluate group × time interaction effect. When significant interaction effects were observed, one-way ANOVA and repeated-measures ANOVA was used for between and within-group comparisons respectively.

Results: The group x time interaction effect was significant, with greater improvement in balance and functional performance for calisthenic group, where Mini-BESTest scores increased from 15.50±1.82 to 25.28±0.82, compared with 15.67±1.37 to 18.56±0.70 in the neuromuscular group (p<0.001; ?²=0.860). WOMAC score decreased from 78.89±7.23 to 46.44±4.06 in calisthenic group, and from 83.17±3.98 to 59.22±4.02 in neuromuscular group (p<0.001; ?²=0.295).

Conclusion: This study concluded that both neuromuscular and calisthenic training are effective in reducing pain and improving physical function and balance in patients with KOA but calisthenic group exhibited greater reduction in functional limitation and balance performance.

Clinical Trial Number: NCT05173649

Assessment of history-taking skills among undergraduate physical therapy students

2026-07-06T08:43:50+00:00

Background: History taking is a key component of physical therapy practice, which guides patient assessment, clinical reasoning and treatment planning. Students' competency in this skill may vary due to differences in clinical exposure and training. Thus, measuring the ability of history taking is necessary to reduce educational deficits and enhance clinical training programs.

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the history-taking skills among undergraduate physical therapy students.

Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study (ATMC/IERC/13th/1-2023/19) was carried out over six months following approval of the synopsis among 100 undergraduate DPT students (3rd, 4th and final year students) from two rehabilitation institutes of Karachi with convenience non-probability sampling. History taking skills were evaluated using an OSCE, with simulated patients, and an OSCE grading rubric based on Alrasheedi Ahmed A et al. Informed consent was obtained for those students. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 23 and descriptive statistics were presented.

Results: There were 100 undergraduate DPT students, 18% third year, 36% fourth year, and 46% final year. The scores for communication skills, history content, and psychosocial history were 41.40 ± 12.99, 53.70 ± 16.92, and 6.00 ± 7.32, respectively. The overall communication skill and history taking skills were found to be moderately good while the psychosocial history assessment was comparatively lesser reflecting the need for more improvement in the clinical under-graduate training.

Conclusion: This study highlights critical areas for improvement in physical therapy education, particularly in communication skills and psychosocial history assessment, emphasizing the need for enhancing these skills to provide better patient care.

Correlation of smartphone addiction with functional activities of upper extremity and grip strength in allied health students

2026-06-18T05:47:32+00:00

Background: In Pakistan, there are approximately 188.9 million smartphone users. Smartphone addiction involves excessive use along with functional impairment and withdrawal symptoms.

Objective: To determine the correlation of smartphone addiction with functional activities of upper extremity and grip strength in allied health students.

Methods: This correlational study (UHS/UERC-25/SEC/13) had a sample of 85 students who were selected from Undergraduate Allied Health Program from Jinnah Campus of UHS Lahore. Total duration of study was 6 months from April-September 2025. Data regarding smartphone addiction, functional activities of upper extremity and grip strength was obtained by using Smartphone Addiction Scale- Short Version (SAS-SV), Upper Extremity Functional Index (UEFI) and dynamometer respectively. The data was analyzed through IBM SPSS 27.0

Results: The study comprised of 15 (17.65%) males and 70 (82.35%) females with a mean age of 21.60±1.80. There was a significant correlation between smartphone addiction and upper extremity functioning with inverse relationship (p= 0.005, r= -0.301). A significant strong correlation was found between upper extremity functioning and grip strength of right hand (p= 0.001, r= 0.524) and left hand (p= 0.001, r= 0.539). No significant correlation was found between smart phone addiction and grip strength of the right (p= 0.493, r= 0.075) and the left hand (p= 0.804, r= 0.027).

Conclusion: There was a significant correlation of smartphone addiction with functional activities of upper extremity in allied health students with inverse relationship. There was no correlation between smartphone addiction and grip strength. There was a strong significant correlation of upper extremity function with grip strength in allied health students.

Association between preeclampsia and levels of physical activity in pregnancy

2026-07-20T09:31:19+00:00

Background: Preeclampsia is a multiple systemic disorder known to pave way for the manifestations of other musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, and neural disorders.

Objectives: This study aims to determine the association between preeclampsia and levels of physical activity in pregnancy.

Methodology: This study (Ref No: SN/135/22) was conducted within 4-6 months. The sample size (n=377) was calculated by Raosoft sample size calculator Data was collected using a pre- validated questionnaire, Pregnancy Physical Activity Questionnaire to asses activity levels in pregnancy.

Result: Among 189 healthy pregnant women (control group) a total of 140 were physically Sedentary and 49 were deemed physically active. This clearly indicated that 74% of the patients that were sorted in the control group were physically sedentary and a total of 26% were physically active. The results clearly state that there is a statistical significance between the two groups as shown by chi-square (p=0.00). This indicates that there is a difference between the results and physical activities of the two groups. The results also show clearly that there is 12.88 times more chances that preeclampsia will prevail in women with a sedentary lifestyle as compared to those women which lead a relatively healthy life style.

Conclusion: The findings conclusively demonstrate that healthy pregnant women maintain significantly higher levels of physical activity across all domains; including household, occupational, sports, and recreational tasks as compared to preeclamptic women. Consequently, reduced physical activity during pregnancy substantially elevates the risk of developing preeclampsia.

Comparison of muscle energy technique and oscillating energy manual therapy in patients with lateral epicondylitis: A Randomized Controlled Trial

2026-07-17T03:45:53+00:00

Background: Lateral Epicondylitis is a condition that occurs at the common extensor origin of the lateral humerus, caused by overuse of the extensor carpi radialis brevis tendon.

Objective: To compare the effects of Muscle Energy Technique and oscillating energy manual therapy in patients with lateral epicondylitis.

Methods: This parallel-group randomized controlled trial (RIPHAH/RCRS/REC/Letter-01053) was a single blind study with 34 patients suffering from lateral epicondylitis, randomly assigned to the MET (n = 17) or OEMT (n = 17) group. Both groups received eight treatment sessions over four weeks. At baseline, the 4th and 8th sessions, pain, grip strength, and functional disability were measured by NPRS, PRTEE, and a hand-held dynamometer. The Mann–Whitney U and Friedman tests were used for data analysis.

Results: There was no significant difference between the groups for grip strength and PRTEE pain scores (p > 0.05), however there was significant difference between the groups for NPRS and PRTEE functional disability scores (p < 0.05). Both groups had a significant improvement over time in pain, grip strength, and functional disability (p<0.05). A statistically significant difference was observed between groups at post-test after the 4^th and 8th session on outcome measures (p < 0.05).

Conclusion: MET and OEMT are both effective methods at reducing pain and functional impairment and increasing grip strength in lateral epicondylitis patients. The results were similar for both groups, with slightly more improvements seen in the MET group, but with some outcome measures differing at baseline, this should be interpreted with caution.

Clinical Trial Number: NCT05354167