<b>Strategic Management of Lower Back Pain with Application of Different Dynamics</b>

Background: Low back pain (LBP) is the foremost contributor to years lived with disability worldwide, and its prevalence continues to rise, placing substantial demands on healthcare systems. Contemporary guidelines advocate a shift toward individualized, non-pharmacological, and biopsychosocially informed management; however, real-world translation of these recommendations remains inconsistent, especially in low- and middle-income countries where private physiotherapy clinics are often the primary point of musculoskeletal care. Objective: This study aimed to characterize the real-world application of diverse non-pharmacological treatment modalities and technology-enabled strategies for LBP by licensed physiotherapists in Pakistan and to evaluate the extent to which these practices align with current evidence-based guidelines. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was administered to 200 licensed physiotherapists with more than six months of private clinical practice. A validated, structured online questionnaire captured demographic data, clinical characteristics, and frequency of modality use. Data were analyzed descriptively and inferentially (p<0.05) to identify utilization trends and associations with clinician variables. Results: Of the respondents, 61.0% were female and 39.0% male. Passive thermotherapies were the most frequently employed interventions, with heating pads used by 50.0% of clinicians and cold packs by 42.5%. Stretching exercises were reported by 46.5%, followed by transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (37.5%), manipulation (37.0%), weight management interventions (36.0%), and yoga (34.5%). More advanced or specialist approaches were less commonly applied, including neurodynamic techniques (32.0%), dry needling (22.0%), and weight-bearing functional exercises (17.0%). Across all categories, only thermotherapy exceeded the 50% usage threshold, and active guideline-recommended strategies remained underutilized. Conclusion: Physiotherapy practice for LBP in Pakistan remains disproportionately oriented toward passive modalities, underscoring the need for targeted implementation strategies, clinical decision frameworks, and education initiatives to support a transition toward active, personalized, and evidence-informed rehabilitation models

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Publication Details

Journal
Journal of Health Wellness and Community Research
Published
2025-06-18
DOI
https://doi.org/10.61919/geg1vv08
Primary Topic
Musculoskeletal pain and rehabilitation
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00
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article

Strategic Management of Lower Back Pain with Application of Different Dynamics

Muhammad Atif Khan, Muhammad Asif, Nishat Begum, Maryam Liaquat et al.
Journal of Health Wellness and Community Research
Musculoskeletal pain and rehabilitation
article

Strategic Management of Lower Back Pain with Application of Different Dynamics

Muhammad Atif Khan, Muhammad Asif, Nishat Begum, Maryam Liaquat, Hira Islam, Malika
article en

Abstract

Background: Low back pain (LBP) is the foremost contributor to years lived with disability worldwide, and its prevalence continues to rise, placing substantial demands on healthcare systems. Contemporary guidelines advocate a shift toward individualized, non-pharmacological, and biopsychosocially informed management; however, real-world translation of these recommendations remains inconsistent, especially in low- and middle-income countries where private physiotherapy clinics are often the primary point of musculoskeletal care. Objective: This study aimed to characterize the real-world application of diverse non-pharmacological treatment modalities and technology-enabled strategies for LBP by licensed physiotherapists in Pakistan and to evaluate the extent to which these practices align with current evidence-based guidelines. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was administered to 200 licensed physiotherapists with more than six months of private clinical practice. A validated, structured online questionnaire captured demographic data, clinical characteristics, and frequency of modality use. Data were analyzed descriptively and inferentially (p<0.05) to identify utilization trends and associations with clinician variables. Results: Of the respondents, 61.0% were female and 39.0% male. Passive thermotherapies were the most frequently employed interventions, with heating pads used by 50.0% of clinicians and cold packs by 42.5%. Stretching exercises were reported by 46.5%, followed by transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (37.5%), manipulation (37.0%), weight management interventions (36.0%), and yoga (34.5%). More advanced or specialist approaches were less commonly applied, including neurodynamic techniques (32.0%), dry needling (22.0%), and weight-bearing functional exercises (17.0%). Across all categories, only thermotherapy exceeded the 50% usage threshold, and active guideline-recommended strategies remained underutilized. Conclusion: Physiotherapy practice for LBP in Pakistan remains disproportionately oriented toward passive modalities, underscoring the need for targeted implementation strategies, clinical decision frameworks, and education initiatives to support a transition toward active, personalized, and evidence-informed rehabilitation models

Journal of Health Wellness and Community Research
Hamdard University (PK), University of Karachi (PK)
Openalex Percentile: Top 68%
Musculoskeletal pain and rehabilitation
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