THE THERAPIST (Journal of Therapies & Rehabilitation Sciences)

Aerobic Exercise in Physical Therapy: A Natural and Accessible Path to Holistic Health

Sahreen Anwar — 2025-06-30

In the current world, a large number of citizens do not have time to engage themselves in exercise due to tight schedules. A set of health problems, including heart disease, diabetes, obesity, and stress, may result because of this lack of physical activity. Aerobic exercises are one of the simple and natural methods of keeping healthy. These are exercises which raise your heart rate and cause you to breathe quickly. Walking, jogging, swimming, cycling, and dancing are some of the common aerobic activities. They are often performed at indoor or outdoor venues, in groups or individually, and do not necessarily require special equipment.

Aerobic exercises are also referred to as cardio exercises, as they improve the functional capacity of the heart and lungs. These activities involve the use of large muscle groups, such as the legs and arms, in a consistent and sustained manner. Aerobic exercises are practiced by individuals of all ages. Simple everyday activities can serve as effective exercise—for instance, walking to the store instead of driving, taking the stairs instead of the elevator, or gardening—all of which may serve as forms of aerobic activity. Newcomers to physical activity can begin gradually with low-impact exercises such as slow walking or mild movement-based routines, and progressively increase the duration and intensity.

Aerobic exercise offers numerous health benefits, which are realized when it is performed on a regular basis. It strengthens the heart and supports improved blood circulation. It also reduces blood pressure and assists in regulating blood sugar and cholesterol levels. Aerobic activity is also effective in weight management by burning excess calories. Beyond the physical benefits, aerobic exercises positively impact mental health. Regular activity helps to reduce stress, anxiety, and symptoms of depression. It helps to sleep better and boosts the level of energy. People are more energetic, active and are more optimistic in their day to day lives.

In summary, aerobic exercise is an easy, safe, and natural way of improving physical and mental health. It is all inclusive and can be modified to suit individuals of different age groups and physical capacity. Aerobic exercise, when combined with physical therapy programs, may be significant in preventing diseases, rehabilitation, and improvement of the quality of life. It is important as physical therapists and other health professionals to advise, encourage and teach people to engage in aerobic exercise as part of their daily activities. It could be a formal exercise or a walk every day, each step counts. Being physically active is among the most effective and affordable decisions that one can make to improve the long-term health and functional autonomy.

Comparison of the Visual Analog Scale and Oswestry Disability Index between Working and Non-Working Women with Lower Back Pain

Tanzeela Khan — 2025-06-30

Low back pain (LBP) is one of the most prevalent musculoskeletal disorders worldwide, significantly affecting women’s daily activities, functional capacity, and quality of life. Occupational status may play an important role in influencing pain perception and disability outcomes. Objectives: To compare the scores of the VAS and OID between working and non-working women with low back pain. Methods: This study involved 356 participants, particularly women with LBP, of whom 178 were employed and 178 were unemployed. Subjects were included if they were women with non-specific LBP and met the required age range and employment status criteria. Exclusion criteria were being male, having a particular medical condition, deformities, or having undergone recent surgery. The subjects were recruited from offices and different homes in Karachi. All the participants were informed and provided written consent before participating in the study. The institutional review board or ethics committee gave the study ethical approval. Results: The average age of the participants was 31.16 years for both the working and the non-working women. Two groups did not differ significantly (p=0.826>0.05) in terms of VAS score. The ODI score, however, proved that there was a statistically significant difference (p=0.034<0.05), indicating that there was more functional restriction in one group. Conclusions: The study concluded that both working and non-working women experience functional limitations and pain due to low back pain, with significant differences in disability levels measured by ODI.

Sports Injury and Sport Safety Practices among Undergraduate Sports Participants

Kainat Bibi — 2025-06-30

Sports participation among university students offers physical and psychological benefits but also poses a risk of injuries. Limited adherence to safety measures further increases vulnerability, particularly in contact and high-intensity sports. Objectives: To determine the prevalence of sports injuries and safety practices among undergraduate sports participants. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 377 male and female at different universities in Karachi using a self-administered questionnaire. Ethical approval was obtained, and consent forms were filled out by participants. SPSS version 22 was used to analyze data and calculate frequencies and percentages. Results: Among 377 participants, 59.2% were male and 40.8% female, aged 18–25 years. A majority (51.2%) reported injuries, with the hand (10.6%) and muscles (9.8%) being most affected. Only 41.6% reported using safety equipment, while 59.9% used none. Warm-up and cool-down routines were practiced by 70.8% and 61.5%, respectively. Conclusions: Sports injuries are common among undergraduate participants, while safety equipment use remains low despite awareness of warm-up and cool-down practices. Findings highlight the urgent need for universities to strengthen safety protocols and provide education on injury prevention to safeguard student-athletes.

Prevalence of Sport Injuries among Football Players

Ulfat Tariq — 2025-06-30

Football is a physically demanding sport that exposes players to a high risk of various injuries due to frequent physical contact, intense physical exertion, and high-speed movements. Objective: To find out the prevalence of sports injuries among football players. Methods: The study was cross-sectional, and participants were selected by a convenience non-probability sampling technique. To determine the prevalence of sports injuries, a self-adopted and validated questionnaire was used. 100 footballers were selected. Before data collection, informed consent was obtained before distributing the questionnaire. After filling out the questionnaire, the data were collected on the same day. SPSS version 22. was used for data analysis. Results: 100 participants were included in this study; the mean age ranged from 21 to 25 years old. The findings of the study showed that 40% participants had sprains, while 36% participants had muscle pain, 8% participants had fractures, 7% participants had wounds, 5% participants had tendon injury, 2% participants had bruises, and 2% participants had no injury. Conclusions: It was concluded that sports injuries are more prevalent among footballers. In this study, sprains and muscle pain were found to be more prevalent among footballers.

Prevalence of Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) in Undergraduate DPT Students

Kiran Arshad — 2025-06-30

Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) is a relatively new eating disorder diagnosis characterized by limited food intake due to lack of interest, sensory-based avoidance, or concern about aversive consequences, which can negatively impact nutritional health and quality of life. University students, such as those pursuing a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT), may be at risk due to stress and lifestyle factors. Objectives: To determine the prevalence of ARFID in undergraduate DPT students. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 377 students from different universities in Karachi using the PARDI-AR-Q-Self-14+ questionnaire. SPSS version 22 was used for data analysis, including frequencies and percentages. Results: The findings revealed that out of 377 participants, 28% responded “YES” while 72% responded “NO” to ARFID prediction. Participants’ ages ranged from 18 to 26 years, with a female majority (72%) compared to males (27%). The highest prevalence was observed in lack of interest in food, with 53.3% at level 1, 18.3% at level 2, 15.1% at level 3, 8.5% at level 4, 4.0% at level 5, and 1.1% at level 6, whereas sensory-based avoidance showed the lowest prevalence. Most participants fell within a healthy BMI range, while the least were classified as obesity class I. Conclusions: Undergraduate DPT students demonstrated low prediction of ARFID but highlighted a notable lack of interest in food or eating as the most prevalent pattern. The overall findings suggest limited awareness about ARFID among students, indicating a need for educational programs, seminars, and webinars to increase awareness and promote a better quality of life.

Immediate Effect of Theragun Vs Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation in Treating Non-Specific Neck Pain Among Young Adults

Fatima Hameed — 2025-06-30

The study used Theragun and TENS on non-specific neck pain among young adults. The study was conducted to evaluate the immediate effect of the two modalities for the treatment of non-specific neck pain. Evaluation was made according to the results to determine which treatment is more effective. Objectives: To find out the immediate effects of Theragun vs transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) in treating non-specific neck pain among young adults. Methods: This quasi-experimental study was conducted on 60 young adults with non-specific neck pain, equally divided by gender and assigned to two groups: Group 1 received TENS therapy, and Group 2 received Theragun treatment. Pain was assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), and cervical range of motion was measured with a universal goniometer pre- and post-intervention. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 22.0. Results: A total of 60 participants were included in the trial of TENS and Theragun, with 30 in each group, equally distributed between males and females. The significance value of Theragun was found to be 0.699 (>0.05), and that of TENS intervention was 0.223 (>0.05). Conclusion: The study concluded that both treatments are effective individually in treating non-specific neck pain, but as a comparative study, there were no significant differences observed.