THE THERAPIST (Journal of Therapies & Rehabilitation Sciences)

Efficacy of High-Power Laser Therapy versus Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Therapy in Knee Osteoarthritis

Mehdi Nematollahi — 2025-12-31

Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is one of the common musculoskeletal conditions causing pain, disability, and low quality of life. Alternative methods to conventional treatment have been put forward, like high-power laser therapy (HPLT) and pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) therapy, but data obtained have proved unsatisfactory. Objectives: To compare and contrast the short-term outcomes of HPLT and PEMF therapy on the reduction of pain and functional improvement in patients with knee osteoarthritis. Methods: A quasi-experimental design was used which was carried out in Shiraz, Iran, among 40 patients with knee OA (20 in each group). Group A was accorded HPLT, and Group B was accorded PEMF therapy for all 10 sessions. Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) were used in the pre-intervention and post-intervention measures to determine the intensity of pain and physical function, respectively. Data were compared through paired t-test and ANOVA with p<0.05 as a significant value. Results: VAS and WOMAC scores significantly (p<0.05) reduced in both groups after the treatment. Intergroup comparison also demonstrated a great difference in VAS reduction where HPLT was more effective in relieving pain, although there was no significant difference in the WOMAC scores of the two groups. Conclusions: HPLT and PEMF treatment are effective in decreasing pain and enhancing the function in knee OA. The therapies demonstrated that HPLT was better in pain relief, and functional improvements were the same.

Prevalence of Cervicogenic Headache and Its Association with Prolonged Neck Flexion and Workload in Digital Artists

Nimra Raza Mir — 2025-12-31

Cervicogenic headache (CGH) is a secondary headache caused by cervical spine disruption. Prolonged neck flexion and psychological strain in digital artists may elevate CGH risk due to their screen-based, high-demand work. Objectives: To assess the prevalence of CGH among digital artists and examine its correlation with prolonged neck flexion and workload. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 200 digital artists aged 20–40 years. CGH was diagnosed clinically, and posture, workload, and screen time were assessed via observation and a structured questionnaire. Functional disability was measured using the Neck Disability Index (NDI). Results: 36% of participants had CGH. A significant correlation was found between CGH and prolonged neck flexion (p<0.05). Participants spending over 6 hours daily in flexed postures had higher symptom incidence. Workload positively correlated with symptom severity, indicating multifactorial etiology. Conclusions: Digital artists are highly susceptible to CGH, primarily due to sustained neck flexion and occupational stress. Ergonomic interventions, posture training, and regular screen breaks are recommended to mitigate symptom onset and progression.

Prevalence of Cervicalgia and Its Association with Gender, Years of Practice and BMI Among Dentists: A Cross-Sectional Study

Hadia Anjum — 2025-12-31

Cervicalgia, is a common occupational hazard in dentistry due to the prolonged, stooped posture maintained during clinical procedures. Objective: To determine the prevalence of cervicalgia among dentists and explore its association. With gender, Body Mass Index (BMI), and years of clinical practice. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted using the Neck Disability Index (NDI) questionnaire. A sample of 147 dentists was selected through convenience sampling, with data collected from Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), School of Dentistry (SOD), and Islamabad Dental Hospital (IDH). Data were analyzed using SPSS version 25.0, applying the chi-square test to evaluate associations between NDI scores and the study variables. Results: Out of 147 participants, 82 (55.8%) reported experiencing neck pain, while 65 (44.2%) did not. Statistical analysis revealed significant associations between the total NDI score and BMI, years of clinical practice, and presence of neck pain (p<0.05). Conclusions: Cervicalgia is highly prevalent (55.8%) among dental professionals and is significantly associated with higher BMI and clinical experience. It poses a substantial impact on daily functioning, underscoring the urgent need for ergonomic interventions and preventive strategies such as regular physical activity and posture correction to reduce its onset.

Musculoskeletal Pain and Its Association with the Impact of Ergonomics among University Students Studying Online During the COVID-19 Pandemic. A Cross-Sectional Survey

Hadiqa Younas — 2025-12-31

The lockdown, due to the coronavirus, led to a change in lifestyle and physical activity in students. A greater number of university students stayed at home and had to shift towards telework, which predisposed them to different musculoskeletal disorders due to the lack of proper ergonomics. Objectives: To determine the prevalence of musculoskeletal pain and its association with the impact of ergonomics among university students studying online during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out with a total of 584 eligible university students in Pakistan. A self-administered questionnaire was used, with section A containing demographic data. The Standardized Nordic Questionnaire was used to analyze MSK symptoms. SPSS version 22.0 was used to analyze results. Results: During COVID’19 prevalence of musculoskeletal pain was identiﬁed in the sample, with majority of female students (64.7%) reporting MSK pain and 25% male. Before covid-19 pandemic, participants suffered musculoskeletal pain in different regions of the body, where the most affected regions were the neck (14.4%), the shoulder (8.6%), and the lower back (5.1%). During covid-19 quarantine, this percentage increased up to 95%, where mostly affected areas were the neck (28.9%), shoulder (30.8%), wrist/hand (6.8%), and lower back (19.5%). Conclusions: There was a high prevalence of musculoskeletal pain among university students. A significant association was found between MSK pain and adverse working conditions, such as laptops with monitors too low, chairs without armrests, hard edges on desktop surfaces, and long static postures due to a lack of routine breaks.

Prevalence of Restless Legs Syndrome in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes and Its Impact on Daytime Sleepiness

Nasir Mehmood — 2025-12-31

The sleep-related sensorimotor disorder is known as restless legs syndrome (RLS) and may impair the continuity of sleep and lead to impairment of daytime functioning. Objectives: To measure the prevalence of restless legs syndrome among adult patients with type 2 Diabetes Mellites and to explore the relationship that exists between restless leg syndrome and daytime sleepiness. Methods: A non-probability convenience sample was used to recruit 400 adults (40-59 years) with T2DM and HbA1c level exceeding 6.5 percent in both hospitals, which are called the participants of the study (District Headquarter Hospital, Lodhran, and Bahawal Victoria Hospital, Bahawalpur). The RSL-Diagnostic Index (RLS-DI) was used to screen RLS, and the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) was used to classify daytime sleepiness. The Pearson chi-square test was used to test the association between RLS and daytime sleepiness; Cramer's V was used to summarize the effect size. The presence of excessive daytime sleepiness (ESS > 10) was also estimated by an unadjusted logistic regression (2×2) using exploratory estimation. Results: 72 had positive results for RLS, and the prevalence was 18.0 (95% CI 13.323.9). ESS categories were: normal 39.0%, mild sleepiness 25.5%, moderate sleepiness 8.5%, and severe sleepiness 27.0%. Distribution of ESS categories did not differ significantly by RLS status (χ²=0.976, p=0.807; Cramer’s V=0.070). Exploratory analysis dichotomizing ESS suggested no increased odds of excessive daytime sleepiness among participants with RLS. Conclusions: Restless leg syndrome was relatively common among adults with type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in this region, but RLS status was not significantly associated with ESS-derived daytime sleepiness.

Speech Therapy in Improving Communication Skills in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Sadaf Hassan — 2025-12-31

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopment disorder that normally occurs during early childhood. It is typified by the chronic lack of social communication, restricted or repetitive behaviours and cognitive and adaptive functioning of different degrees. Children with ASD can show problems in their perception of social stimuli, creation of social relationships, verbal and nonverbal self-expression. These challenges often extend to speech development with the consequent delays in language acquisition, abnormal prosody, and the inability to create intelligible speech [1,2].

Globally, it is estimated that one out of every 44 children have ASD with the male-female ratio being 4:1. Among the main problems with children with ASD, there are differences in the rate of speech, pitch, and intonation, which have a significant implication on the social interaction and the overall quality of life. It is important to identify these challenges at an early age because early intervention has been observed to enhance the performance in various areas of development [1,2].

Recent studies have provided evidence on the crucial nature of early intervention especially speech therapy in solving these challenges. Systematic reviews have shown that early speech therapy has the potential to make a significant contribution to language acquisition, social skills, cognitive ability, and self esteem. Although it is possible that the severity of autism cannot be changed by early intervention, meaningful functional differences can be observed, enabling children to communicate more efficiently and interact with their surrounding [3].

New interventions in speech therapy are also improving the outcome of children with ASD. The speech-enabled games have been designed in a customized manner and are directed at specific speech production difficulty areas. Such interactive programs lead to children being able to control the prosodic features of their speech in real-time, and therefore, the therapy is efficient and entertaining. The results of pilot studies carried out over a long-time show that vocabulary skills, eye and mouth fixation, prosody, and general communication can be improved, indicating the possibility of using technology in speech therapy interventions [1].

The COVID-19 epidemic emphasized the importance of telerehabilitation and online speech therapy as a means of continuity in ASD children whom in-person therapy was unavailable. Research has also shown that distance interventions are as efficient as face-to-face therapy to enhance language abilities, social interaction, and general participation. Telerehabilitation is both able to overcome geographic barriers in families residing in rural or underserved regions and offer an option that is more convenient and secure during times of a pandemic or other factors that restrict access to the clinic. Moreover, online therapy enables therapists to track the progress in real-time, give instant feedback, and customize the interventions to the needs of particular children [4].

The presence of parents, education, and stress management are the key aspects of the therapy. The studies have revealed that stress on caregivers may adversely influence the outcomes of interventions, but that parental education and coaching have a positive impact on the experiences of children and their caregivers. The role of teachers and mentors is also significant to provide the supportive environment and help communicate the skills of communication. Those programs which incorporate caregivers, offer practical advice, and provide community support always result in high outcomes [1,2,4].

Although these developments have taken place, there are still challenges. The shortage of resources, the delay in starting treatment, and the ignorance of the community remain the hindrance in most areas. The skills of trained professionals, financial assistance, and dedicated caregiver involvement are needed in early therapy, and usually, they are limited in underserved regions. The increase in access to early and innovative interventions in speech therapy, training caregivers, and enhancing support systems are critical measures that will allow providing children with ASD with equal opportunities [1,2,3].

Early and novel speech therapy is a transformative intervention in improving communication and social outcomes of children with ASD. The combination of traditional therapy and technology-based interventions, support of caregivers, and the creation of awareness among the community members are the main tools needed to help each child reach his/her full potential. Further researches, awareness creation, and allocation of resources are needed so that children with ASD can have access to effective communication support so that they can be able to achieve their full developmental potential and be useful members of the society.