Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy Journal

Introduction: The individuals going to gym perform high intensity work of both upper body and lower body during their workout session in gym. Therefore, it has become one of the main reasons for various musculoskeletal injuries and pain. This study evaluated the prevalence of musculoskeletal pain and injuries in gym goers in Guwahati. Aims: To obtain the prevalence of patellar tendinopathy among gym goers in Guwahati. Materials and Method: This cross-sectional study included 294 gym members, both male and female, aged between 18 and 60 years, from selected fitness centers in Guwahati. Patellar tendinopathy pain was assessed using the VISA P questionnaire. Results: The study includes 294 participants in which 53% had sustained injuries while working out at the gym and 46% had pain in the pain in the knee. Conclusion: This study highlights the multifaceted nature of injury risks in gym settings, influenced by gender, age and exercise habits. To enhance gym safety, it is essential to develop comprehensive, personalized injury prevention programs that address these diverse factors. Such an approach can foster a safer and more effective fitness environment for all gym members in Guwahati.

Background: Chronic low back pain (CLBP) is the leading cause of disability worldwide and is increasingly recognized as a condition characterized by central sensitization (CS). Despite the growing evidence of CS as a multidimensional driver of pain, psychosocial dysfunction, and physical impairment, research on the Indian population, particularly Gujarati-speaking adults, is scarce. Objective: To investigate the association between CS and pain intensity, fear–avoidance beliefs (FABs), functional disability, back extensor muscle endurance, and depression in Gujarati-speaking adults with CLBP. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 150 adults (102 females, 48 males; mean age, 42.30 ± 10.24 years) with CLBP from multiple physiotherapy and orthopedic clinics in Surat, Gujarat, India. CS was measured using the Central Sensitization Inventory Gujarati version (CSI-G). Additional instruments included the Numerical Pain Rating Scale (NPRS), Fear-Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire–Gujarati (FABQ-G), Oswestry Disability Index–Gujarati (ODI-G), Extensor Endurance Test (EET), and Patient Health Questionnaire-9–Gujarati (PHQ-9-G). Pearson’s correlation and multiple linear regression analyses were performed using IBM SPSS v20.0. Results: CS was positively correlated with pain intensity (r = 0.869, p < 0.001), FABs (r = 0.840, p < 0.001), disability (r = 0.825, p < 0.001), and depression (r = 0.730, p < 0.001) and negatively correlated with back extensor endurance (r = −0.390, p < 0.001). Regression analysis identified pain intensity (β = 0.384), disability (β = 0.248), depression (β = 0.183), and fear-avoidance beliefs (FABs) (β = 0.174) as significant predictors of CS. Extensor endurance was not a significant independent predictor (p = 0.229). Conclusion: CS is very strongly associated with pain, psychosocial distress, and disability in Gujarati-speaking patients with CLBP. CS screening and biopsychosocial assessment should be routine in CLBP management, and interventional research is needed to test targeted treatments.

Advanced healthcare and rehabilitation increasingly require coordinated multidisciplinary approaches to address complex, chronic, and disabling conditions. The objective of this paper was to review evidence-based multidisciplinary care (MDC) models, with specific emphasis on Indian studies relevant to healthcare and rehabilitation sciences. A narrative review of Indian and global literature was conducted using PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar. Studies focusing on multidisciplinary healthcare, rehabilitation, chronic disease management, and integrated care in Indian settings were included. Indian studies demonstrate that MDC improves clinical outcomes, functional recovery, patient adherence, and continuity of care. Lifestyle-based multidisciplinary interventions reduced progression to diabetes by nearly 30%, while integrated PCOS and mental health models enhanced comorbidity detection and service utilization. Rehabilitation-oriented team models improved functional outcomes and long-term self-management. Multidisciplinary care represents an effective and scalable strategy for advanced healthcare and rehabilitation in India. Strengthening interprofessional collaboration, digital integration, and community-based rehabilitation is essential for sustainable impact.

Lateral epicondylitis is a common musculoskeletal condition characterized by pain and functional limitation of the elbow due to overuse of the wrist extensor tendons. Kinesio taping (KT) has been increasingly used as a conservative intervention to manage symptoms. This literature review aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of Kinesio taping in individuals with lateral epicondylitis. A systematic search of PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar identified eight eligible studies, including randomized controlled trials, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses published between 2015 and 2025. Outcome measures included pain intensity, grip strength, functional disability, and quality of life. The reviewed evidence suggests that Kinesio taping provides short-term pain relief and functional improvement, particularly when applied with appropriate tension and combined with exercise therapy. However, results were inconsistent, and evidence supporting longterm benefits is limited. Kinesio taping appears to be an effective adjunct to physiotherapy rather than a standalone treatment.

Background: The biopsychosocial model shows that chronic low back pain (CLBP) is maintained by physical, psychological, and social factors, necessitating comprehensive assessment tools. The Back Bournemouth Questionnaire (BBQ), a validated seven-item measure, has been adapted into multiple languages; however, there is no Gujarati version available for India’s large linguistic community. Objective: To cross-culturally adapt the Back Bournemouth Questionnaire into Gujarati (BBQ-G) and evaluate its psychometric properties in adults with CLBP. Methods: We conducted a two-phase methodological study. Phase I involved crosscultural adaptation following Beaton et al.’s five-step guidelines. Phase II assessed psychometric properties in 150 Gujarati-speaking adults (aged 25–60 years) with confirmed CLBP. Content validity was evaluated using a 20-expert panel. Internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha), test-retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient; n=30, 48-hour interval), and agreement (Bland–Altman analysis) were determined. Construct validity was assessed via Pearson’s correlations with the Numerical Pain Rating Scale (NPRS), Fear-Avoidance Beliefs QuestionnaireGujarati (FABQ-G), Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire-Gujarati (RMDQ-G), and Patient Health Questionnaire-9-Gujarati (PHQ-9-G). Exploratory factor analysis was used to examine the underlying structure. Results: The BBQ-G demonstrated excellent content validity (S-CVI/Ave=0.95; I-CVI: 0.80-1.00), good internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha=0.82), and acceptable test-retest reliability (ICC=0.820; 95% CI: 0.656-0.910). Bland-Altman analysis revealed minimal bias (mean difference=-0.53; limits of agreement: -11.90 to 10.83), and the minimal detectable change at the 95% confidence level (MDC95) was approximately 12 points. Significant moderate-to-strong correlations were identified with the NPRS (r=0.679), PHQ-9-G (r=0.495), FABQ-G (r=0.431), and RMDQ-G (r=0.415; all p<0.001). EFA yielded a single dominant component (eigenvalue=4.272) explaining 61.03% of the total variance (KMO=0.839). Conclusion: The BBQ-G is a reliable, valid, and culturally appropriate biopsychosocial instrument for assessing chronic low back pain in Gujaratispeaking adult and is suitable for both clinical practice and research.

Background: The integration of Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Internet of Things (IoT) technologies into cardiopulmonary physiotherapy represents one of the most consequential shifts in modern rehabilitation medicine. While individual modalities have attracted growing research attention, their deliberate convergence as a unified rehabilitation framework remains insufficiently synthesised. Objective: To examine the clinical evidence, implementation challenges, and future directions of converging VR, AR, AI, and IoT technologies in cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation. Methods: A structured narrative review of 217 peer-reviewed articles (2001–2025) was conducted across PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, CINAHL, IEEE Xplore, and the Cochrane Library, synthesised thematically. Results: Immersive VR consistently improves exercise adherence and psychological outcomes; IoT-based remote monitoring extends physiological supervision beyond clinical walls; AI systems advance protocol individualisation; AR augments procedural guidance and self-efficacy. Critical gaps persist in long-term outcome data, standardised protocols, equitable access, and data governance. Conclusions: Converging digital technologies hold substantive potential to reshape cardiopulmonary physiotherapy. Realising this demands interdisciplinary collaboration, representative clinical trials, and patient-centred, equity-informed implementation.

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic autoimmune condition characterized by complex motor and cognitive impairments that necessitate intensive, long-term Physiotherapy. Recent advances in Physiotherapy have shifted towards technologyintegrated approach, leveraging Virtual Reality (VR), Robot-Assisted Gait Training (RAGT), and Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) to enhance neuroplasticity. VR provides immersive, biofeedback-driven environments that improve postural control and patient adherence through gamification. RAGT facilitates high-intensity, repetitive gait cycles essential for improving walking endurance in severely disabled populations. Concurrently, tDCS has emerged as a potent non-invasive neuromodulatory tool to mitigate Multiple Sclerosis related fatigue and cognitive dysfunction. This review highlights how the synergy of digital innovation and evidence-based Physiotherapy is fostering a more personalized, effective, and accessible rehabilitation model, ultimately aiming to delay disability progression and improve the quality of life for individuals living with MS.

Background: Chronic musculoskeletal pain disorders (CMPDs) are a leading cause of global disability, imposing substantial functional, psychological, and socioeconomic burden. Validated and culturally adapted outcome measures are essential for the equitable and accurate assessment of pain-related disabilities across linguistically diverse populations. The Pain Disability Questionnaire (PDQ), a 15-item self-report instrument encompassing Functional and Psychosocial domains, has demonstrated strong psychometric properties across multiple languages; however, a validated Gujarati version is lacking. Objective: This study aimed to translate and culturally adapt the PDQ into Gujarati (PDQ-G) and evaluate its reliability and construct validity in individuals with CMPDs. Methods: This study was conducted in two sequential phases. Phase I involved cross-cultural adaptation following Beaton et al.’s internationally recognized guidelines, which comprise forward translation, back translation, expert committee review, and cognitive debriefing. Phase II involved the psychometric evaluation of 150 Gujarati-speaking adults (25-60 years) diagnosed with CMPDs and recruited from physiotherapy and orthopedic outpatient clinics in Surat, Gujarat, India. Internal consistency was assessed using Cronbach’s alpha, and testretest reliability was assessed using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) in 30 participants. Construct validity was examined through convergent and divergent validity analyses using Pearson’s correlations with established measures, including the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS), Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire-Gujarati (RMDQ-G), Fear- Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire-Gujarati (FABQ-G), and Patient Health Questionnaire-9-Gujarati (PHQ-9-G). Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was performed to investigate the underlying factor structures. Results: The PDQ-G demonstrated acceptable internal consistency (Cronbach’s α = 0.700) and excellent test-retest reliability (ICC = 0.999; 95% CI: 0.997–0.999), with a minimal Bland–Altman mean difference of 0.07 and narrow limits of agreement (−0.65 to 0.78). Construct validity was supported by strong convergent correlations with the NPRS (r = 0.691) and RMDQ (r = 0.574) scores. The PDQ-G total score showed a moderate correlation with the FABQ (r = 0.372) and PHQ (r = 0.491), indicating that fear-avoidance beliefs contribute meaningfully, albeit less dominantly, to overall pain-related disability than pain intensity or psychological distress. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) revealed a five-factor solution Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin (KMO = 0.562; Bartlett’s p < 0.001) that collectively explained 66.154% of the total variance, with the first component accounting for 22.833% of the variance. Following varimax rotation, the variance was more evenly distributed across all five components (range: 10.393%–14.623%), and most items loaded strongly (≥0.50) on a single component, supporting the multidimensional construct of the PDQ-G. The mean total PDQ-G score was 64.27 ± 15.12, with 73.3% of participants classified as having a mild disability. Conclusion: The PDQ-G is a reliable, valid, and culturally appropriate instrument for assessing pain-related disability in Gujarati-speaking adults with CMPDs. It is suitable for use in both clinical and research settings.