Malakand

Kyphosis, an excessive forward curvature of the upper spine causing a rounded back, is increasingly common among office workers due to prolonged sitting and poor posture. This research evaluates how physical therapy alone compares with physical therapy combined with bracing in improving posture, reducing pain, and enhancing function in people with postural kyphosis. The study also aims to find effective, non-surgical ways to manage this condition in the workplace. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups physical therapy with bracing or physical therapy without bracing. Both approaches focus on strengthening upper back muscles and reducing tension through exercises like sitting or standing upright and squeezing shoulder blades together. The study will run for at least 4 weeks to assess short-term effects. Participants will undergo assessments including the Oswestry Disability Index and Visual Analogue Scale to measure disability and pain levels after 4 weeks. The study involves office workers aged 30 to 45 who experience upper back or neck pain and spend a minimum of 6 hours daily seated for work. Researchers will monitor posture, pain, and functional outcomes to understand the benefits of each treatment approach.

Researchers are evaluating the effectiveness of the McKenzie technique compared to manual therapy in adults with nonspecific low back pain lasting more than 4 weeks. The study aims to find out which treatment better reduces pain and improves functional mobility. Participants are adults aged 35 to 45 years, and the trial is conducted by Riphah International University. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two treatment groups. The McKenzie group will receive physical therapy focused on repeated movements, posture correction, and exercises such as prone press-ups, soft tissue mobilization, lumbar mobilization, muscle energy techniques, core stabilization exercises, as well as hot packs and TENS therapy. The manual therapy group will receive hands-on techniques like soft tissue mobilization, lumbar mobilization, muscle energy techniques, core exercises, general stretching, plus hot packs and TENS therapy without McKenzie methods. During the study, participants will undergo assessments to measure changes in pain intensity and disability scores over six months. Researchers will monitor treatment effects through these evaluations to compare outcomes between the two groups. The total study duration for each participant is six months, allowing sufficient time to observe changes in pain and functional ability.

This research aims to determine if adding mirror therapy to conventional physiotherapy can improve upper-limb motor recovery, hand function, spasticity, and range of motion in people who have had an acute stroke. The study compares mirror therapy plus standard physiotherapy against physiotherapy alone, focusing on stroke patients aged 40 to 55 years within one month of their stroke. The trial evaluates outcomes using established scales such as the Action Research Arm Test ARAT, Motor Assessment Scale, Modified Ashworth Scale, and goniometric range of motion measurements. Participants are randomly assigned to one of two groups. The experimental group receives mirror therapy sessions lasting 20 minutes each twice a week for one week, where a mirror reflects movements of the non-affected limb to create the illusion of normal movement in the affected limb. This is immediately followed by 20 minutes of conventional physiotherapy involving strengthening and functional tasks. The control group receives only conventional physiotherapy of the same duration and schedule but without mirror therapy. Centers may extend treatment duration as needed under protocol amendment. During the study, participants will undergo assessments of motor function and hand abilities at baseline and follow-up, including standardized tests like the ARAT at six months. Researchers will monitor muscle spasticity, range of motion, and motor skills using clinical scales and measurements. The total participation includes initial treatment over one week and outcome evaluation at six months to assess long-term motor recovery after acute stroke.

Researchers are evaluating the effectiveness of different posture correction exercises to improve forward head posture FHP in people who frequently use smartphones and laptops. FHP is a condition where the head leans forward, causing extra strain on the neck and shoulders, which can lead to discomfort and pain. The study focuses on young adults aged 18 to 40 who use their devices for at least 2 to 3 hours daily, aiming to find exercise methods that realign the head and reduce discomfort. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups. One group will perform posture correction exercises including chin tucks, cervical retraction with resistance bands, shoulder blade squeezes, and wall posture alignment, combined with hot pack and TENS therapy for muscle relaxation and pain relief. The other group will do strengthening and stretching exercises targeting muscles affected by FHP, also with hot pack and TENS therapy. Both interventions will be done three times per week for six weeks under supervision. During the study, participants will be assessed for improvement in neck movement range and neck pain intensity over six months. Researchers will monitor progress through standardized measurements and ensure exercises are done properly. The total participation duration covers the six-week exercise period plus follow-up assessments at six months to evaluate long-term benefits and changes in posture and discomfort.