Bid goodbye to neck and back pain. An Apeejay alumna tells you how 

Alumna of Apeejay College of Fine Arts (ACFA) Dr. Khushboo had recognised at an early age that she wanted to pursue a career through which she can make a difference in the society and lives of people. The Jalandhar-based specialist believes that physiotherapists help patients in every aspect of their existence –  be it their physical health, confidence, or even overcoming obstacles that seem insurmountable. Emphasising that physiotherapy is a noble profession that adds quality to life, she says, “I have always been motivated by this quote: medicine adds days to life, physical therapy adds life to days.” This led her to pursue a Bachelor of Physiotherapy (BPT) course from ACFA. After completing her four and half year degree programme, Dr Khushboo then completed a diploma course in Sports Rehab from Prehab121 Academy, Pune. In addition, she is a certified cupping practitioner, taping practitioner as well as dry needling practitioner. Besides being a member of Indian Association of Physiotherapist, she has the experience of working with the Punjab Institute of Medical Science, Nasa Hub Superspeciality Hospital, Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital as well as Moolraj Charitable Physiotherapy Centre. At Present, Dr. Khushboo is working with Dr Sanjiv Goel’s Guardian Hospital, Jalandhar. 

Adding to her achievements, the physiotherapist has treated former Punjab chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh at the age of 24 and is currently providing physical therapy sessions to Kabaddi player Pardeep Toofan. In an interview, she highlights how exercise can improve muscle strength and boost endurance.

Why did you choose Apeejay to pursue your Bachelor’s programme? What is the scope for the profession of a physiotherapist in the job market? 

Apeejay is the best institute in the city. It provides an individual studying in every field with excellent opportunities to evolve and lead them to grow holistically. In terms of career opportunities, it’s booming.  Even the foreign countries are looking for specialists in this field as paramedical science has a larger role and responsibility to play not just in the hospital segment but also in the sports sector. People are looking at choosing alternative solutions than having medicines for back or neck pain. In fact, post-Covid the role of physiotherapy has garnered more popularity. People suffering from pneumonia are going for chest physiotherapy. The techniques followed are percussion, cupping as well as patients are advised to practice different breathing exercises. These help in strengthening lungs.

When you come across a physiotherapy case, what is the standard therapy procedure that is being followed?

When we get a patient, we first assess them completely – their present body condition and alignment. We then study their MRI and X-ray reports and then we start with the planning of the treatment. There are two types of treatments – Electrotherapy or  Exercise Therapy. It normally takes around 10 days to complete the entire procedure for an old case. If it’s an acute case, it might be done in 5 to 7 days and if it is a major condition, then it may take months. Suppose, a patient has a back pain – it may take 10-15 days but if it’s a neuro/paralysis case, then it may take more than 2-3 months of physical therapy. But we don’t always look at a particular timeline to complete the physiotherapy process because each case is different and unique.     

Spondylitis is a common lifestyle concern among working professionals. How is this becoming a growing concern? 

We are observing an increasing number of cases of neck and back pain among the young generation that is between 20 to 30 years of age. We have a lot of young professionals coming for physiotherapy sessions.  Especially after the lockdown, the cases have suddenly spiked. People have been working from home and using their phones and laptops for more than 12-15 hours. The reason why it picked was because there was literally no physical activity and no proper diet being followed. Moreover, lack of proper sleep further aggravates back or neck pain leaving one feeling weak for the rest of the day. And so many of them are suffering from cervical spondylosis. Most of them are also suffering from Vitamin D deficiency. Another set of people are those who go to the gym and do repeated heavy lifting.   

Do you advise to go for a physiotherapy session immediately if you feel any kind of pain in your back or neck?

 If the pain lasts for more than a day or recurs after two days, then you should not ignore it. Physiotherapy will help in relaxing the pain without any medicines. When the pain is at the initial level, it’s easy to tackle it through different physical therapy treatments and modalities. Exercises may be prescribed to help improve endurance, strength, or range of motion. Like if you have cervical spondylosis, then you must do neck exercises regularly to avoid it from recurring in the long run. 

other precautions one can take to avoid  back or neck pain

• Consciously work on your posture while sitting, lying or standing. 
• Back pain caused by spondylosis tends to get worse when you are sitting or lying down for too long. So take a walk at regular intervals.
• Get sound sleep
• Sleep on a semi-hard mattress and in a posture your are comfortable in 
• Don’t bend your neck for a long time 
• While you are working on your laptop or using a mobile phone – make sure to keep them at your eye level or it may cause posture problems. Elevate the laptop a few inches using books. 
• Invest 30-45 minutes every day to do strengthening and stretching exercises. Exercise has no side-effects and it must be a part of your daily routine. 
• If you have back pain – then no bending forward or lifting heavy objects. Avoid deadlifts in the gym. 
• Eat your meals on time