Journal of Health and Rehabilitation Research

Incidence and Contributing Factors of Low Back Pain Among Nursing Professionals

2026-03-02T11:24:25+00:00

Background: Low back pain (LBP) is a common occupational health problem among nurses and may reduce productivity and functional capacity in hospital settings. Objective: To determine the prevalence of LBP among female nursing professionals and evaluate associations between LBP severity and selected occupational and individual risk factors. Methods: An observational cross-sectional study was conducted over six months in Lahore hospitals using purposive sampling. Female nurses (n=130) completed a modified Nordic low back pain questionnaire and a visual analogue scale (VAS). Occupational exposures included bending/twisting movements, lifting activities, and patient transfers; individual factors included exercise status and body mass index (BMI). Data were analyzed using SPSS version 21.0, with chi-square tests for associations. Results: Ever-LBP prevalence was 63.8% (83/130) and 12-month prevalence was 53.8% (70/130). Among nurses reporting ever-LBP, 6.0% reported daily pain and 24.1% reported pain for >30 days but not daily during the past 12 months. Reduced work activity and reduced leisure activity were reported by 51.8% and 49.4% of symptomatic nurses, respectively. Severity was significantly associated with bending/twisting (p<0.05), lack of regular exercise (p=0.008), lifting activities (p=0.009), patient transfers (p=0.01), and BMI (p=0.001), while shift time, standing time, and sleep duration were not significant. Conclusion: LBP was highly prevalent among nurses and was linked to modifiable ergonomic exposures and BMI.

High Frequency Chest Wall Oscillations Versus ACBT With Percussion in COPD Patients

2026-03-02T16:20:35+00:00

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is characterized by persistent airflow limitation and impaired mucociliary clearance, and airway clearance strategies are commonly used in physiotherapy-based COPD management to reduce secretion burden and improve functional status. Objective: To compare the effects of High-Frequency Chest Wall Oscillation (HFCWO) versus Active Cycle of Breathing Technique (ACBT) with percussion on pulmonary function and functional capacity in adults with advanced COPD. Methods: A randomized clinical trial was conducted at the Pulmonary Department, DHQ Hospital Narowal. Eligible adults with GOLD stage III–IV COPD were randomized to ACBT with percussion (n=19) or HFCWO via vest therapy (n=19). Both groups received 12 sessions over 4 weeks (3 sessions/week). Outcomes were assessed at baseline and week 4, including FEV1% predicted, 6-minute walk distance (6MWD), modified Medical Research Council dyspnea scale (mMRC), and BMI. Parametric tests were applied following normality checks. Results: At week 4, HFCWO showed superior outcomes versus ACBT for FEV1% predicted (67.79±12.73 vs 53.89±9.30; mean difference +13.90, 95% CI 6.56 to 21.24; p<0.001) and 6MWD (409.47±108.25 vs 346.47±45.01; mean difference +63.00, 95% CI 8.45 to 117.55; p=0.025). Differences in mMRC (p=0.247) and BMI (p=0.124) were not statistically significant. Conclusion: Over four weeks, HFCWO produced greater improvements in airflow and walking capacity than ACBT with percussion in advanced COPD, while dyspnea and BMI did not differ significantly at the endpoint.

Senobi Exercises with Jacobson’s Muscular Relaxation Exercises in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

2026-03-02T12:26:53+00:00

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterized by persistent airflow limitation and symptom burden, particularly exertional dyspnea and sleep disturbance, which contribute to functional decline and impaired quality of life. Objective: To compare the effects of Senobi exercises versus Jacobson progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) on pulmonary function, dyspnea, functional capacity, and sleep quality in adults with COPD. Methods: An assessor-blinded randomized clinical trial was conducted at Sarwet Anver Medical Complex, Lahore, enrolling 40 adults (35–50 years) with COPD (stage 2–3). Participants were randomized to Senobi (Group A, n=20) or Jacobson PMR (Group B, n=20), delivered alongside conventional COPD care for 8 weeks. Outcomes included spirometry (FVC, FEV1), Modified Borg Dyspnea Scale following a 6-minute walk test procedure, and sleep quality via the SATED questionnaire, assessed pre- and post-intervention. Results: Both groups improved significantly within-group across all outcomes (p<0.001). Between-group post-intervention comparisons favored Jacobson PMR for dyspnea (mean difference −2.30 Borg units; p=0.0004) and functional capacity score (mean difference 1.40; p=0.0009), while Senobi favored sleep quality (mean difference −0.70 SATED units; p=0.0006). Spirometric post-intervention differences favored Jacobson PMR numerically but were not statistically robust with the reported dispersion. Conclusion: Both interventions were beneficial; Jacobson PMR showed greater benefit for dyspnea and functional capacity, whereas Senobi showed greater benefit for sleep quality.

Impact of Nordic Hamstring Exercises on Hamstring Injuries in Male Cricket Players

2026-03-02T16:51:38+00:00

Background: Effective shared decision-making is central to cardiovascular disease prevention, yet patients frequently experience decisional conflict, limited confidence, and inadequate engagement when risk information is conveyed through usual care alone. Decision aids have been shown to improve decision quality, but comparative evidence on the impact of decision aid intensity remains limited, particularly in primary care settings within low- and middle-income countries. Objective: To evaluate the comparative effectiveness of two decision aid intensities, strong and moderate, versus usual care in improving decision quality among adults undergoing cardiovascular risk assessment. Methods: A single-center, parallel-group randomized controlled trial was conducted at Lahore General Hospital, Lahore, enrolling 39 participants allocated equally to control, moderate decision aid, or strong decision aid groups. Continuous outcomes included decisional conflict, decision self-efficacy, knowledge, decisional regret, and participation/satisfaction, while binary outcomes assessed decision attainment, family history behaviors, lifestyle changes, and screening completion. Group differences were analyzed using analysis of variance with effect sizes, followed by Bonferroni-adjusted pairwise comparisons, and categorical outcomes were evaluated using chi-square tests and odds ratios. Results: Significant between-group differences were observed across all continuous outcomes (all p ≤ 0.002), with the strong decision aid demonstrating the largest effects, including marked improvements in decision self-efficacy (d = 3.42) and participation/satisfaction (d = 2.82), and substantial reductions in decisional conflict (d = −1.45) and regret (d = −1.92). Binary outcomes showed favorable trends for decision aids but were underpowered for statistical significance. Conclusion: Decision aids significantly enhance decision quality in cardiovascular risk assessment, with greater benefits observed with higher intervention intensity, supporting the clinical value of comprehensive decision aids in primary prevention.

Prevalence and Intensity of Musculoskeletal (Joint) Pain in Patients with Hyperuricemia Among Population of Lahore

2026-03-02T15:48:41+00:00

Background: Hyperuricemia is increasingly prevalent and may contribute to musculoskeletal pain even in the absence of overt gout. Early identification of joint involvement patterns remains limited in South Asian populations. Objective: To determine the prevalence, anatomical distribution, and intensity of musculoskeletal joint pain among hyperuricemic adults in Lahore and evaluate the association between serum uric acid (SUA) levels and pain severity. Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted in 102 adults aged 20–60 years with laboratory-confirmed hyperuricemia recruited from two tertiary hospitals in Lahore. Pain intensity was measured using a 10-cm Visual Analogue Scale. Joint involvement was recorded by anatomical site. Pearson correlation assessed associations between SUA and pain intensity and between SUA and joint-specific involvement. Results: Males constituted 55.9% of participants. The knee was the most prevalent symptomatic joint (27.5%), followed by ankle (24.5%) and shoulder (17.6%). The MTP joint showed the strongest association with SUA (r = 0.302, p = 0.002). SUA demonstrated a moderate positive correlation with pain intensity (r = 0.564, 95% CI 0.415–0.684, p < 0.001). Conclusion: Elevated serum uric acid levels are significantly associated with increased musculoskeletal pain intensity. While knee pain is most prevalent, the MTP joint shows the strongest metabolic association. Early metabolic assessment and lifestyle modification may reduce musculoskeletal morbidity.