Awareness, Perception, and Application of Aviation Motion Sickness among Physiotherapy Students: A Cross-sectional Correlational Study

Purpose: This study aimed to examine the association between academic year and awareness, perception, and application of aviation motion sickness (AMS) among physiotherapy students. Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted among 128 physiotherapy students from a single institution in India using a validated questionnaire. The survey captured demographic characteristics, prior experience with motion sickness, awareness of AMS, and perception of its relevance in physiotherapy. Descriptive statistics, Chi-square tests, and Spearman's rank correlation were used to assess the data. Results: Awareness of AMS was low (42.19%), with no significant association between academic year and awareness (p = .567). However, a significant positive correlation was found between the academic year and interest in AMS specialization (ρ = 0.18, p = 0.048). While 40.32% supported physiotherapy for AMS, specific techniques like balance training (22.13%) and gaze stabilization (13.11%) were moderately recognized. A majority of students (90.63%) expressed a desire to learn more, and 73.17% supported the inclusion of the curriculum. Conclusion: Despite limited awareness, interest in AMS specialization increases with academic progression. Integrating AMS content into physiotherapy curricula may enhance preparedness and interdisciplinary competence. Key words: Aviation Motion Sickness; Physiotherapy; Vestibular Rehabilitation; Education, Perception