GENDER DIFFERENCE IN FUNCTIONAL DISABILITY AMONG PATIENT WITH NON-SPECIFIC CHRONIC LOW BACK PAIN

Background of the Study: LBP is a common condition that can be specific or non-specific. Non-specific LBP, which has no known cause, is responsible for 90% of cases and causes pain in the back from the 12th rib to the inferior gluteal folds. Methodology: The study utilized a cross-sectional design in which both males and females completed the Oswestry low back questionnaire. The data was entered and analyzed using SPSS version 21. Results: 85 patients participated in the study with a mean age of 38±9.603. Pain levels varied among patients, with 23 reporting no pain, 29 with light pain, 23 with moderate pain, and 10 with pretty severe pain. Patients had varying degrees of self-care ability with 13 able to care for themselves without triggering pain and 4 requiring daily assistance. Most patients (75 out of 85) had minor disabilities, while 10 had moderate disabilities. The relationship between the ODI score and the question was found to be similar. Conclusion: The data suggest that individuals with non-specific chronic low back pain have only a limited impairment, and only a few suffer from moderate sickness that affects their social lives. Non-specific persistent low back pain is not connected with gender differences in functional impairment.

An Empirical Investigation into the Usefulness of Semibilngual English- English- Urdu Dictionary Amongst the Advanced Learners of English in Pakistan

The study in hand is empirical in nature. It attempts to investigate the significance and the effectiveness of the 2semi-bilingual English to English and Urdu dictionary (EEUD) in catering the needs of the advanced learners of English in Pakistan. The study also explores the1purposes and the contexts of the use of semi-bilingual EEUD. Besides, the merits and demerits of the EEUDs, currently available in Pakistan form part of this research. The triangulation method of data collection has been used 3to find the answers to the research questions. The protocol study, similar in design applied by Diab (1990), has been used to find out different uses of semi-bilingual EEUD. Furthermore, following Hartman (1983), Kipfer (1985), Iqbal (1987), Diab (1990); two separate questionnaires have been used to collect information from four hundred advanced level learners of English and twenty-five teachers. Follow up interviews have also been conducted randomly as a supporting tool. In order 140to find the merits and demerits of the currently available semi-bilingual EEUDs, their review analysis has been provided. The analyses reveal that a large majority of the learners use semi- bilingual EEUD for a variety of purposes. They feel more at ease while using the semi- bilingual EEUD than any other type of dictionary. The learners use this type of dictionary as their first choice, and only in situations where they do not find the required information in the EEUD; they use other types of dictionaries, mainly the monolingual English to English dictionary. Unlike the learners of English, the teachers are divided in their opinion about the role and use of semi-bilingual EEUD. The documentary analysis of the existing dictionaries suggests that the currently available semi-bilingual dictionaries have certain drawbacks in their macro- and microstructures, which need to be improved to meet the needs of the learners and to come up to the level of standard lexicography. The research produces a model for the production of a perfect semibilingual EEUD which could fulfil the 67needs of the advanced level learners of English in Pakistan.