By Daniel P. Tapaoan, Jr. 

Physical therapy instructors and students of Mariano Marcos State University won awards in the 2023 Seirei International Research Conference (SIRC) conducted online by the Seirei Christopher University (SCU) in Japan. 

Mr. Richard Callo and Mr. Lordman Gregor Aldoz of the MMSU College of Health Sciences (CHS) - Department of Physical Therapy bagged the best poster presentation award for their entry, “Effectiveness of mHealth using Internet- and mobile-based applications in improving physical activity and endurance of adolescents and young adults.”

Two groups of PT students also won best student poster presentation awards. The team of Joechebed Andres presented a poster on the “Presence of post COVID-19 symptoms among COVID-19 survivors of Ilocos Norte,” while the team of Jaira Mae Pastor showcased a poster on the “Prevalence and factors associated with work-related musculoskeletal disorders among university instructors.”

Prof. Ryan Dean Sucgang, CHS OIC-Dean, congratulated the winners and lauded the college’s PT department for its efforts and courage in showcasing research results in the international arena. 

The online conference showcased 19 posters and 28 papers from various universities worldwide. Held on February 21-22, the fifth SIRC featured clinical research studies of SCU and its partner-institutions. It also served as an avenue in promoting future research collaborations. 

SCU is one of MMSU’s partner-universities in Japan. The two institutions forged ties in 2021 to enhance their health sciences programs through academic and research exchanges. (HLY/JVBTStratCom)