Title:
Transcranial Stimulation in Rehabilitation Setting; Challenges and Opportunities, A Pakistani Perspective

Abstract:
As rehabilitation professionals, we're constantly seeking innovative solutions to improve patient outcomes. Transcranial stimulation, including techniques like transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), offers promising opportunities for rehabilitation. However, in Pakistan, we face unique challenges in implementing transcranial stimulation in rehabilitation settings including; limited awareness and education among healthcare professionals and patients, infrastructure and resource constraints, including limited availability of devices and trained personnel, absence of clear guidelines and regulations for the use of transcranial stimulation, cultural and socioeconomic barriers, including stigma associated with mental health and neurological disorders. Despite these challenges, there are opportunities as well including growing demand for rehabilitation services, driven by an increasing burden of neurological disorders, emerging research and development in transcranial stimulation, including collaborative efforts with international partners, potential for cost-effective solutions, including the development of low-cost devices and protocols, capacity building and training opportunities for healthcare professionals.

Bio:
Dr Mirza Obaid Baig is a physiotherapist primarily with a focus on neurorehabilitation, neuroscience and physiotherapy for more than 16 years. He engaged patients with stroke, migraine, geriatrics, cognition, neuropsychiatric conditions, by using the evidence-based approaches focusing the noninvasive brain stimulation (NIBS), and advanced physiotherapy. In the area of research, published numerous original articles in prestigious journals, supervised much postgraduate research in the field of NIBS, stroke, cognitive decline etc. He has been leading the Rehab & Research Centers of Riphah International University targeting the standardized clinical training as well as providing the research opportunities to the local and international fellows from the globe, hosted and facilitate multiple institutions from Australasia, Europe and Asia. .