OBJECTIVE To determine the awareness and perception of Physical Therapy as a career among the intermediate students of Karachi. STUDY DESIGN It is a cross sectional study. STUDY SETTINGS AND PARTICIPANTS The settings of this study were two Private and two Government sector Intermediate colleges, offering Pre-medical and participants were students studying in these colleges. SAMPLING TECHNIQUE Non-probability convenience sampling technique. RESULTS Results revealed that only 13.5% of students were well aware of physical therapy as a profession in government and private colleges whereas, 31% in government colleges and 26.5% in private colleges had little knowledge. While 28% government and 30.5% in private were totally unaware of it. 75.7% and 83.5% from government and private sector students responded that physical therapy will be most rewarded in Orthopedic/Musculoskeletal fields respectively. CONCLUSIONS The awareness of Physical Therapy as a career among intermediate students would help in creating more effective marketing strategies. Unfortunately, a small percentage of the students are aware of physiotherapy and the services provided by this profession which implies that there is an urgent need for marketing campaign.

Acute back pain is the fifth most common reason for visiting the physicians and practitioners. It is one of the most common musculoskeletal problems in the society. This research has been conducted on experimental method by using sample size of 60 patients including both the genders. The participants have been selected from the OPD of physical therapy and rehabilitation of the tertiary care hospital. 60 patients was divided into two groups where Group A was treated with hot packs at low back for 25 minutes with low back strengthening exercises and whereas Group B was treated with SWD (continuous mode) for 15 minutes with the exercises. Exercises were started from the 4th day of treatment in both conditions after being relieved from acute back pain and spasm. Both groups received 5 sessions per week for consecutive 3 weeks. Therefore, the symptoms have been reassessed at 8th and 15th day of treatment. After analyzing the data it was found that, the patients in group A treated with hot packs and back strengthening exercises were relieved from pain more quickly and efficiently than the group B treated with short wave and exercises.