Objective: To compare the mean pain score and range of motion in chronic knee osteoarthritis patients treated with intraarticular Steroid injection versus ultrasound therapy. Study Design: Quasi-experimental study. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Combined Military Hospital, Pano Aqil Pakistan, from Oct 2020 to Apr 2021. Methodology: Patients were divided into two groups (50 patients in each group). One group received ultrasound therapy for six weeks, with three sessions per week. The second group received a single 80mg intraarticular Triamcinolone Acetonide. Patients in both the groups were monitored for six weeks to assess the pain score and range of motion. Results: A total of one hundred (100) patients with knee pain due to chronic osteoarthritis were included in the study. The mean age in the ultrasound group was 54 ± 4.8 years and in the intra-articular group, the mean age was 54 ± 4.7 years. The mean reduction in pain score and mean improvement in the range of motion were compared between two groups and statistically significant difference was observed (p-value <0.001). Conclusion: According to our findings, intra-articular Corticosteroid injection is more effective in comparison to ultrasound therapy. However, there were statistically significant reductions in pain scores and improvements in the range of motion in both groups.

Objectives: To compare the mean improvement in pain on Visual Analogue Scale by Suprascapular Nerve block and Intra-articular steroid injection in patients with hemiplegic shoulder pain. Study Design: Randomized Controlled Trial Place and Duration of Study: Pain Clinic, Armed Forces Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine Rawalpindi from 25th October 2017 to 24th April 2018 Patients & Methods: 60 patients with CVA and shoulder pain on hemiplegic side for at least 2 weeks were included in study after non-probability consecutive sampling after meeting inclusion criteria. Subjects were randomized by lottery into two groups; Group A receiving Suprascapular Nerve block with 5ml of 1% Lignocaine with Group B receiving Intra-articular 40mg Triamcinolone Acetonide plus 1 ml of 1% Lignocaine injections. Mean change in pain scores on VAS was calculated between score at baseline and at 4 weeks post-intervention Results: The mean age of patients in group A was 59.17 ± 9.81 years and in group B was 39.96 ± 11.11 years. Out of 60 patients, 34 (56.67%) were males and 26 (43.33%) were females with male to female ratio of 1.3:1. Mean duration of stroke was 7.50 ± 2.66 months. Mean pain change on VAS in Group A (Suprascapular Nerve block) was 3.83 ± 1.12 cm while in Group B (Intra-articular steroid injection) it was 2.17 ± 0.99 cm (p-value = 0.0001). Conclusion: This study concluded that Suprascapular Nerve block offered better improvement in hemiplegic shoulder pain on Visual Analogue Scale at 4 weeks as compared to intraarticular steroid injection.

Background: The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has adversely impacted the Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine (PRM) residency training program in many countries. Aims and Objectives: To describe and analyse the issues and challenges faced by PRM trainees in Asia, Eastern Mediterranean and Oceania, and to discuss strategies to encounter the training and educational challenges amidst the pandemic. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional survey was completed by Country Ambassadors of the International Society of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine (ISPRM) World Youth Forum Task Force, to assess the COVID-19 impact on PRM trainees across Asia, Eastern Mediterranean, and Oceania. Results: Participants reported issues including training program disruption, limited practical skills training, examination postponement, negative psychological consequences, PRM service delivery restructuring, and deployment to acute services. Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic has variably impacted PRM residency training programs in the countries. The role of National Societies, training programs, and ISPRM is crucial to support trainees during the pandemic.