Physiotherapy practices for patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting: A cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate physiotherapy practices in the rehabilitation of patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting. METHODS: The cross-sectional study was conducted from October 2016 to January 2017 in cardiac care units of two private and two government hospitals in Karachi, and comprised physiotherapists dealing with patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting. Data was collected using a modified and validated version of 'tucker q' questionnaire. Data was analysed using SPSS 21. RESULTS: Of the 101 physiotherapists, 60(59.4%) were females and 41(40.6%) were males. The overall work experience was 4.89+2.08 years. Of the total, 60(59.4%) physiotherapists used air suctioning in preoperative physiotherapy practices. Relaxation techniques were used by 86(85.10%) professionals and postural drainage by 85(84.20%), while breathing exercises were used by 65(64.4%) subjects in postoperative physiotherapy practices. CONCLUSION: Physiotherapists were found to be more or less keeping abreast with advances made regarding managing patients undergoing cardiac artery bypass grafting.

Frequency of sleep disturbance with chronic low back pain: a cross sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the frequency of sleep disturbance among individual with chronic low back pain, and to explore the association between the two. METHODS: The cross-sectional study was conducted from January to March, 2017, at the Physiotherapy Department of the Institute of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, and comprised patients of either gender aged 18-40 years with at least a three-month history of chronic low back pain. . Data was collected using insomnia severity index for sleep disturbance and Rolland Morris questionnaire for disability due to chronic low back pain. Data was analysed using SPSS 21. RESULTS: Of the 110, patients 68(62%) were males. The overall mean age of the sample was 31.79±6.18 years. Mean functional disability score was 13.66+2.44, while 84(76.4%) had sleep disorder; 78(70.9%) having sub-threshold insomnia, and 6(5.5%) with clinical insomnia of moderate severity. There was a positive intermediate correlation between sleep disorder and functional disability (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Frequency of sleep disturbance was high in patients with chronic low back pain. There was an intermediate positive correlation between the two.