Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy Journal

AI is transforming physiotherapy by advancing education, clinical practice, and research. Simulations, virtual reality, and personalized learning platforms enhance education, equipping students with adaptive skills for evolving environments. Machine learning algorithms and wearable sensors enable accurate diagnoses and tailored robotic-assisted therapies, thus improving patient outcomes. AI also accelerates data analysis, supports predictive modeling, and fosters evidence-based practices, driving innovation in the field. However, challenges like ethical concerns, poor digital literacy among practitioners, and high implementation costs hinder adoption. Addressing these requires interdisciplinary collaboration, ethical standards, and targeted training programs. Embracing AI can modernize physiotherapy, ensuring its relevance in healthcare by optimizing patient care and advancing education and research methodologies.

Background: Research indicates that postmenopausal women experiencing more severe menopausal symptoms are at a greater risk of developing chronic back pain. Research has indicated that fluctuations in female sex hormones significantly influence the development and progression of various degenerative musculoskeletal conditions. Additionally, kinesiophobia, the fear of experiencing pain or reinjuring oneself during physical activity, is a critical component in understanding and addressing disability. To ensure effective treatment outcomes, it is essential to thoroughly investigate the relationship between hormonal changes and movement-related fear. Objectives: This study aimed to investigate whether kinesiophobia can predict pain and disability levels in postmenopausal women with chronic low back pain (CLBP). Additionally, this study aimed to examine the relationships between kinesiophobia and pain as well as between kinesiophobia and disability within this specific population. Study design: Observational study Methodology: This study included 110 postmenopausal women with CLBP aged up to 65 years. The pain intensity range was measured using a Numerical Pain Rating Scale. Kinesiophobia was measured using the Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia-Gujarati. Disability was measured using the Oswestry Disability Index-Gujarati. The data were analyzed using Pearson’s correlation coefficient and a linear regression model. Results: The results demonstrated a statistically significant moderate positive correlation between kinesiophobia and pain intensity (r = 0.447, p < 0.05) and between kinesiophobia and disability (r = 0.565, p < 0.05). Linear regression analysis revealed that kinesiophobia was a significant predictor of both pain and disability, explaining 19.9% of the variance in pain (R² = 0.199) and 31.9% of the variance in disability (R² = 0.319) in the study population. Conclusion: Kinesiophobia demonstrated moderate positive correlations with pain and disability, serving as a significant predictor in postmenopausal women with chronic low back pain. These findings suggest that assessing and addressing kinesiophobia is an integral component of CLBP management in this population

Background: Though pilates and back exercises both have been proven to benefit people for nonspecific low back ache, yet to be delineated regarding the efficacy. Clarity of conclusion could be reached as combined study has not been recorded so far. Hence the study aims to examine whether is two approaches causes a difference in outcomes in reducing low back ache. Aim: To compare the effectiveness of pilates versus back exercises of in the adolescents with non-specific low back ache. Objectives: Though pilates and back exercises both have been proven to benefit people for non specific low back ache, yet to be delineated regarding the efficacy. Clarity of conclusion could be reached as combined study has not been recorded so far. Hence the study aims to examine whether is two approaches causes a difference in outcomes in reducing low back ache. Result: There was significant reduction in pain and functional disability between pre and post treatment programs in Group I when compared with Group II. Conclusion: The results of the study indicated that the pilates is more effective than back exercises alone for reducing pain and functional disability in adolescents with non-specific low back ache.

Introduction: A badminton smash is a critical offensive shot that requires exceptional speed, power, and precision to outperform opponents. Successful execution depends on a variety of physical and motor skills, but the specific contributions of agility, eye-hand coordination, dynamic balance, height, and shoulder strength to smashing accuracy have not been thoroughly examined. This study aimed to determine how these physical attributes impact the accuracy of smashes in skilled badminton players, offering insights into improving training regimens. Methods and Materials: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 87 skilled badminton players aged 16–25 years. Physical attributes were evaluated using standardized tests: agility was measured using the Illinois Agility Test, eye-hand coordination through the Plate Tapping Test, and shoulder strength with a dynamometer. Smash accuracy was assessed through specific skill-based tests designed to gauge shot placement precision. Correlation analysis was employed to examine the relationships between each physical attribute and smash accuracy. Results: The analysis demonstrated moderate positive correlations between smash accuracy and agility (r = 0.45), shoulder strength (r = 0.42), and eye-hand coordination (r = 0.58), suggesting that players who are faster, stronger, and have better coordination tend to perform more accurately. Eye-hand coordination emerged as the most influential factor, exhibiting the strongest correlation with the smash accuracy. A minimal correlation was observed with height (r = 0.12), while dynamic balance showed no significant association with smash precision. Discussion: The findings underscore the critical role of agility, shoulder strength, and eye-hand coordination in enhancing smash accuracy in badminton. In particular, eye-hand coordination is vital for precise execution. These results suggest that training programs should prioritize agility and coordination exercises to enhance player smash performance. The lack of significant impact from height and dynamic balance indicates that for badminton smashes, coordination and strength-based attributes are more predictive of success than purely physical characteristics such as height.

Introduction: Ventilation is the essential part of life. The Intensive Care Unit (ICU) is a specialized department designed for patients with severe or life-threatening conditions, injuries or complications, offering focused management and care for these critical situation Patients on mechanical ventilation usually have larger amounts of pulmonary secretions due to impairment in mucociliary function and compromised mucus transport. Chest Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF) is one of the physiotherapy intervention in which proprioceptive and tactilestimuli are given externally to the patient, which produces reflex movement responses of respiration andregulate breathing. Aim: To examine the effectiveness of Perioral Stimulation, Vertebral Pressure, Abdominal Co-Contraction, and Manual Pressure when combined with Chest Physiotherapy compared to Chest Physiotherapy alone and their efficacy in optimizing the weaning process for patients on SIMV mode Procedure: A Randomized control Trial, single-blinded study was carried on 26 participants from Intensive Care Unit. They were then divided into two groups. In Group A participants were treated by PNF and chest physiotherapy and in Group B with chest physiotherapy alone. The interventions were given twice a day for 5 days. The effects on ventilatory parameters (Dynamic Compliance, HR, SpO2, RR, FiO2) were measured and compared from baseline day 1 to day 5. Result: Post-intervention, there was Improvement in Dynamic Lung Compliance, Saturation of Oxygen, Heart Rate, Respiratory Rate, Fraction of Inspired Oxygen in both groups but on Comparing overall improvement, Group A was more effective than Group B. Conclusion: The present study concludes that Perioral Stimulation, Vertebral Pressure, Abdominal Co-Contraction, and Manual Pressure with chest Physiotherapy are better and effective in improving Dynamic pulmonary compliance, saturation of oxygen, and reduction of Heart Rate, Respiratory Rate and FiO2 and lead to early weaning of patients.

Background: Warm-up exercises play a crucial role in enhancing physical performance in sports. They improve body movements and awareness, leading to greater dynamism, heightened reflexes, and improved balance. Despite their importance, warm-up protocols are often neglected by amateur athletes, increasing the risk of injury and poor performance. Aims: This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of the FIFA 11+ warm-up protocol in improving agility, leg power, and skill levels among amateur male football players aged 19-24 years. Study Setting & Design: The study was conducted with 15 male amateur football players within the age group of 19-24 years, all of whom engaged in sports for a minimum of one hour per day, five days a week. A pre- and post-intervention design was utilized to evaluate the effects of the warm-up protocol over a three-week period. Methods and Material: Participants underwent three assessments, Vertical Jump Test, Wall-Volley Test, and Agility T Test, both prior to and following a three-week intervention of the FIFA 11+ warm-up protocol (20 minutes per session, 7 days a week). Ethical approval was obtained, and subjects meeting inclusion criteria were selected for the study. Statistical Analysis: Statistical analysis was performed using paired t-tests to compare pre- and post-intervention results for all assessments, determining the significance of improvements observed. Result: The analysis revealed significant improvements across all tests: the Agility T Test showed a mean difference of 10.61 (p=0.00001), indicating enhanced agility; the Vertical Jump Test exhibited a mean difference of 14.93 (p=0.00002), reflecting substantial increases in leg power; and the Wall Volley Test demonstrated a mean difference of 13.43, indicating improved skill and accuracy in kicking. Conclusion: The FIFA 11+ warm-up protocol notably improves agility, leg power, and skill levels in amateur football players. Incorporating structured warm-up routines is crucial for enhancing physical performance and minimizing injury risk, underscoring the importance of greater awareness and commitment to these practices among amateur athletes.

Background: Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is a prevalent degenerative disease that significantly impairs daily functioning owing to joint instability, pain, and stiffness. Foot posture asymmetry and dynamic stability could play a role in functional disability in individuals with KOA, yet limited research has examined this relationship. Objectives: This study investigated the associations between foot posture asymmetry, dynamic stability, and disability in the Gujarati adult population with KOA compared with healthy controls. Methods and Materials: An observational study was conducted with 40 participants (20 patients with KOA and 20 healthy controls). Foot posture asymmetry was assessed using the Foot Posture Index (FPI), dynamic stability was measured with the Sense Balance MiniBoard (Sensamove, Netherlands), and functional disability was evaluated using the modified Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (mWOMAC). Non-parametric tests were used for group comparisons, and Spearman’s rho was used to determine correlations. Results: Patients with KOA demonstrated significantly higher FPI scores, indicating more pronated feet (mean FPI: right 6.2, left 5.8) than controls (right 2.35, left 2.2). Dynamic stability was also impaired in KOA patients, with lower mediolateral (50.25%) and anteroposterior (62.45%) stability than in controls. A positive correlation was found between foot posture asymmetry and disability (r = 0.51; p = 0.02). KOA severity correlated moderately with foot posture asymmetry (r = 0.656, p < 0.01) and strongly with disability (r = 0.80, p < 0.01). Conclusion: This study found a very weak to moderate association between foot posture asymmetry, dynamic stability, and disability in the Gujarati adult population with KOA.

Introduction: Stroke is a medically defined syndrome of acute, focal neurological deficiency assigned to vascular injury (infarction bleeding) of the central nervous system. Stroke is the second main source of death and disability all around the world. Stroke consists of multiple diseases caused by a vast range of factors, disease course, and mechanisms. Method: A total of 36 stroke patients were selected according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria from the Department Of Physiotherapy and Neurology Dept., Shri Mahant Indiresh Hospital, Patel Nagar, Dehradun (Uttarakhand). They are divided into two groups, Group A and Group B, Group A received core strengthening along with conventional therapy and Group B received task oriented exercise along with conventional therapy to improve balance and function. The post-intervention data was compared with pre-intervention data and the data will be analyzed usingstatistical software SPSS 21 version and Microsoft Word, Excel has been used to generate graphs tables, etc. Various statistical measures such as mean, standard deviation, and paired t-test were utilized for all the scores of participants included in the study. Conclusion: This study provides valuable insights into the effectiveness of core strengthening with conventional therapy versus task-oriented exercises with conventional therapy in improving balance and function in stroke patients. Both interventions show promise, with core strengthening along with conventional therapy generally demonstrating slightly superior outcomes. Future research should aim to confirm these findings and explore additional factors that contribute to rehabilitation success.