Effect of a Structured Physical Therapy Intervention on Perceived Stress among Medical Students: A Quasi-experimental Study

Abstract

Background: Perceived stress is highly prevalent among medical students due to demanding academic workloads, clinical duties, and frequent assessments. Physical therapy (exercise, stretching, breathing, and relaxation techniques) offers an accessible, non-pharmacological approach to stress management, but evidence in medical students remains limited. Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of an 8-week structured physical therapy intervention on perceived stress among medical students. Methods: A quasi-experimental, pre-test–post-test controlled study was conducted using convenience sampling. Forty-six students completed the study (Experimental, n=23; Control, n=23). The Experimental group received a supervised programme (3×45–60-min sessions/week for 8 weeks: warm-up, therapeutic exercise, breathing exercises, relaxation); the Control group received no intervention. Perceived stress was measured with the PSS-10 at baseline and post-intervention. Analyses used independent- and paired-samples t-tests and a 2×2 mixed ANOVA, with Cohen's d (α=0.05). Results: Groups were equivalent at baseline (t(44)=0.51, p=.615). The Experimental group's PSS-10 fell from 25.78±3.46 to 13.39±2.81 (t(22)=12.11, p<.001); the Control group showed no significant change (25.22±4.08 to 24.52±4.50; t(22)=0.52, p=.609). The Group×Time interaction was significant, F(1,44)=48.12, p<.001 (Cohen's d≈−2.05). At post-test, no Experimental participant remained in the Severe category, while Control-group Severe-category membership rose (5→10). Conclusion: An 8-week structured physical therapy programme was associated with a statistically significant and clinically meaningful reduction in perceived stress among medical students. Given the quasi-experimental design, modest sample, and unusually large effect size, findings warrant confirmation in an adequately powered randomised controlled trial.