By Roy Zia Ur Rahman ISLAMABAD, Jun 04 (APP):As awareness of physical rehabilitation continues to grow in Pakistan, healthcare professionals are playing an increasingly important role in helping patients recover from injuries, regain mobility and improve their quality of life. With growing participation in sports, rising rates of musculoskeletal disorders and increasing demand for post-surgical and neurological rehabilitation, physiotherapy is becoming an essential part of healthcare rather than a secondary service. …
Modern rehabilitation care gains momentum through sports injury recovery in Pakistan
By Roy Zia Ur Rahman
ISLAMABAD, Jun 04 (APP):As awareness of physical rehabilitation continues to grow in Pakistan, healthcare professionals are playing an increasingly important role in helping patients recover from injuries, regain mobility and improve their quality of life.
With growing participation in sports, rising rates of musculoskeletal disorders and increasing demand for post-surgical and neurological rehabilitation, physiotherapy is becoming an essential part of healthcare rather than a secondary service.
Modern rehabilitation now focuses not only on relieving pain but also on restoring function, preventing future injuries and helping individuals return safely to their daily activities.
Sports rehabilitation, once primarily associated with professional athletes, is increasingly benefiting people from all walks of life. The same principles used to help athletes recover from injuries are now being applied to patients suffering from joint problems, chronic back and neck pain, post-operative complications and mobility limitations.
Based in Karachi, Dr. Waqas Ahmed serves as a Senior Physiotherapist at Ziauddin Hospital, where he specializes in patient assessment, functional rehabilitation, pain management and recovery planning. His experience also includes working as a sports physiotherapist with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), providing him with valuable expertise in both clinical and athletic rehabilitation.
Talking to APP, Dr. Waqas said, “The goal of rehabilitation is not only to reduce pain but to help patients return to movement with confidence and safety.”
At Ziauddin Hospital, he works with patients recovering from sports injuries, orthopedic surgeries, strokes and chronic musculoskeletal conditions. His responsibilities include designing individualized rehabilitation programs, monitoring progress, educating patients and coordinating treatment plans with other healthcare professionals.
According to rehabilitation specialist, sports injury recovery has emerged as an effective model for modern physiotherapy because it emphasizes long-term recovery, functional improvement and safe return to activity rather than short-term symptom management.
Dr. Waqas noted that rehabilitation services remain underutilized in many parts of Pakistan, often due to limited awareness and misconceptions about physiotherapy.
“Many patients seek help only after their condition has worsened. Early intervention and structured rehabilitation can significantly improve recovery outcomes and reduce long-term disability,” he added.
His professional experience covers musculoskeletal rehabilitation, sports injuries, post-operative care, stroke rehabilitation, chronic neck and back pain management and functional mobility training. In addition to his clinical work, he has contributed to research in sports physiotherapy, including studies related to dry needling, soft tissue mobilization, post-stroke strength recovery and cervical pain management.
Trained in evidence-based physiotherapy techniques such as manual therapy, dry needling and instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization, Dr. Waqas believes successful rehabilitation depends on combining clinical expertise with individualized patient care.
The healthcare expert said Pakistan’s rehabilitation needs are expected to expand significantly in the coming years due to increasing sports participation, road traffic injuries, aging populations and lifestyle-related health conditions.
As the country’s healthcare system continues to evolve, professionals like Dr. Waqas Ahmed are helping strengthen rehabilitation services by promoting evidence-based treatment, patient education and a comprehensive approach to recovery that enables individuals to regain independence and return to active, healthy lives.
