EFFECTS OF KINESIO-TAPING VS DRY NEEDLING IN THE MANAGEMENT OF MECHANICAL LOW BACK PAIN

Background of the study: Mechanical pain of musculoskeletal origin, known as nonspecific LBP (NSLBP), has symptoms that change depending on the type of physical activity [1]. About 85% of her LBP patients present in primary care settings are NSLBP patients. Methodology: Randomized control trial (RCT) conducted between between January 2020 and October, 2021, Rawal General and Dental Hospital and Al-Nafees, the hospital in Islamabad. Thirty patients were included in the study. Two participants were discontinued. There were two groups of patients i.e., 15 patients in the KT group and 13 patients in the DN group diagnosed of NSCLBP by orthopedic surgeon and referral to outpatient physiotherapy clinic. The Sample size was calculated using the OpenEpi scale. The Consent form was filled out by the participants before the initiation of the study. Pain Rating Scale, Roland-Morris Disability Index Questionnaire (RMDQ) and Global patient rating scale (PGR) were assessed at baseline, two weeks post-intervention and four weeks post-treatment. Results: Before treatment, there were no differences between the groups for PNRS, RMDQ and PGR. Both DN and KT produced significant improvements in all baseline measures (PNRS, RMDQ and PGR) after two weeks and four weeks of treatment (p<0.05). Considerable improvements were observed in all variables in both groups after treatment. However, Statistical analysis ANOVA showed no significant differences in almost all measures between groups. (p>0.05). Conclusion: Kinesio-taping is as effective as DN in managing back pain. When treating back pain, adding DN or KT to your exercise program can make a significant contribution to your treatment.

Facilitating Social Studies Teachers in Teaching Controversial Issues for Developing Political Literacy in Students

This research study a small scale action research attempted to look into the role of a teacher educator in facilitating social studies teachers in teaching controversial issues to develop political literacy in students. A need for teachers to be educated and facilitated in teaching controversial issues was felt by the researcher which led to this study. The study was conducted with two secondary social studies teachers in a private English medium school in Karachi. The process of action research started with the teacher educator studying her own and the participants' existing beliefs and practices regarding the teaching of controversial issues and political literacy. The situation was also studied to gain an understanding of what was going on. Using the training model by Joyce and Showers, the researcher followed the steps of planning, implementation, observation and reflection, through two main and several small cycles. Data was collected through observations, semi structured interviews, pre and post discussions and reflective conversations. Analysis of data was done side by side with data collection. The study reports some possible strategies for teacher educators which facilitated the preparation of teachers to teach controversial issues. Findings and key learning include the researcher's learning as a teacher educator and an action researcher, learning about the teachers and the situation. The study explains how the teacher educator was able to facilitate the teachers and improve her practice as a teacher educator in the process. Based on the findings some implications are put forward along with some recommendations and suggestions.