Introduction: Usage of vacuum therapy and dry needling in physical therapy management of musculoskeletal cases have gained increasing usage but there is a limited number of literatures regarding its effect. This study determines the effect size of the interventions, which are vacuotherapy and dry needling as adjunct treatment to exercises, performed in a local PT clinic to musculoskeletal cases in three different treatment sessions with a week gap in between. Methods: The study is a retrospective-cohort where sampling was purposive in gathering historical patient charts. The numerical pain rating scales and relevant range of motion in the musculoskeletal cases were collected for analysis. Results: Results showed large significant reduction in pain scale between sessions but no significant changes in all ranges of motion across different anatomically categorized musculoskeletal cases. Discussions: The results of this study imply that using vacuum therapy and dry needling as adjunct to therapeutic exercises can reduce pain intensities significantly but not ROM. Further research is recommended regarding effects of these tools for ROM and their retention of effects.

Rice is the most important crop grown in the Philippines since it is an essential food and a source of income for many Filipinos. The study’s purpose is to determine the various influencing factors affecting the rice production of small-scale farmers in Albuera, Leyte, Philippines. Using Slovin’s formula, a total of 73 rice farmers were randomly selected as respondents to the survey. Some descriptive techniques were employed to summarize the different variables. A categorical relationship analysis using a Chi-square test was used to analyze the significant factors of rice production. Results showed that about 57.53% and 42.47% of the farmers are experiencing low and high production levels, respectively. On average, rice farmers are "moderately affected" (M=23.00, SD=4.55) by the different constraints in the rice production process from planting to harvesting. In addition, farmers are  "uncertain" (M=19.67, SD=3.01) about the effectiveness and usefulness of extension agents' role in their production process. Moreover, it is revealed that the demographic profile, constraints in rice farming, and extension agents' role does not affect the farmers' rice production level. On the other hand, other sources of income (p=0.034), monthly income in farming (p=0.13), and farm size (p<0.001) are the only significant determinants in the rice production level. Hence, the study suggested that rural farmers must be supported by the government concerning their agricultural inputs, capital, and equipment, among others. Furthermore, the local government must train their extension agents rigorously to appropriately disseminate the new technologies to farmers so that they can adopt them systematically to improve their level of rice production.

One of the problems being addressed in the care of chronic pain patients is pain catastrophizing, an exaggeration of the threat of pain that results in a distorted perception of patients’ quality of life. Literature has yet to explore the relationship between pain catastrophizing and the perceived wellness of chronic pain patients. This descriptive-correlational study explores the relationship between the pain catastrophizing of chronic pain patients and their degree of perceived wellness. Historical patient charts in a local physical therapy clinic were used to gather data. Male patients are significantly more likely to be non-catastrophizers. Clinically significant pain catastrophizing scores strongly correlated to lower perceived wellness [rs(33)= -0.626, p=0.000], while non-catastrophizing scores only moderately correlated to higher perceived wellness [rs(54)= -0.520, p=0.000]. Both correlations were statistically significant. The concomitance between psychosocial perceptions and chronic pain necessitates the creation of a pain counseling program by pain specialists and counselors to holistically understand and treat chronic pain patients.