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BACKGROUND Latissimus dorsi plays an important role in bowlers. Different bowling techniques recruit latissimus dorsi at different phases of bowling. This causes the muscle to undergo excessive contraction than its limit. Despite widespread knowledge about the recruitment of latissimus dorsi in bowling, there is limited electromyographic (EMG) studies about latissimus dorsi. It is necessary to evaluate and document the recruitment of latissimus dorsi in dominant and non-dominant arm in bowlers, which is focused in this study. This study was done to analyse the surface EMG activity of latissimus dorsi muscle in dominant and non-dominant arm during bowling. METHODS A cross-sectional analytical study was carried out among 96 professional cricket bowlers from deluxe cricket club and Yashwanthrao Chavan’s cricket club in Karad. EMG electrodes were applied over the latissimus dorsi muscle and the bowlers were asked to perform the action of bowling. The root mean square (RMS) and mean peak amplitude of the dominant and non-dominant arm were recorded. RESULTS The RMS (12.45 ± 2.84) values and mean peak amplitude (131.77 ± 44.11) of the dominant latissimus dorsi varied significantly from non-dominant muscle (P = 0.0015). Wilcoxon test was utilized for analysis of within group parameters. CONCLUSIONS The result of the present study showed strong evidence to support high recruitment of dominant latissimus dorsi in professional bowlers suggests the changes occurred in the physiological as well as biomechanical muscular structure. KEY WORDS EMG, Dominant, Non-Dominant, Latissimus Dorsi, Fast Bowlers

BACKGROUND The balance plays an indispensable role in many sports. Static balance is crucial for a postural control and has an exceptional effect on the performance of sports players and for injury prevention. Sports like cricket, football, track and field, and badminton requires static balance for the execution of a sports-specific skill. Single leg stance test was used to assess balance on a surface during a 30 sec single-leg standing posture with eyes open and eyes closed. The main goal of this study was to determine that, in which sport the static balance was more and in which sport the static balance was inferior. The objectives were to assess the static balance in cricket, badminton, track and field, football athletes and compare the static balance in all 4 sports [cricket, badminton, track and field, football] METHODS A total of one hundred and twenty - four athletes [124], cricket {N = 31}, football {N = 31}, badminton {N = 31}, track and field {N = 31} voluntarily participated in the study. Static balance was assessed by using single leg stance test with eyes open and eyes closed. RESULTS By comparing all sports, it showed that there was a statistically significant difference between cricket, football, badminton and track and field athletes in dominant and non - dominant leg with eyes open and eyes closed. With eyes open, a static balance was demonstrated superior in track and field followed by football, cricket and least in badminton players in the dominant leg and non-dominant leg. (P < 0.0001) Whereas, with eyes closed, comparing between sports individually, there showed no such significant difference between dominant and non-dominant leg. Static balance was superior in track and field followed by football, by cricket and least in badminton in dominant and non-dominant leg (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS Track and field players did not differ in dominant and non-dominant legs. In contrast, badminton players displayed mediocre static balance with eyes open and football players displayed mediocre static balance with eyes closed. There was no significant difference between open and closed eyes. But the balance score showed superior balance in open eyes when compared with closed eyes. KEY WORDS Athletes, Static Balance, Single Leg Stance Test, Balance, and Sports Performance.

BACKGROUND Pregnancy creates a radical change in a woman’s life. The physical, hormonal, and psychosocial changes during pregnancy affect the quality of life in post pregnancy phase. Diastasis recti abdominis (DRA) is one of the most common problems seen in post-partum period. DRA is a separation between two bellies of the rectus abdominis muscle connected by the linea alba. A significant DRA, if left untreated at the right time can lead to delirious complications. Prior researches have shown that diastasis recti abdominis is a very common condition seen in the post-partum period. Previous studies have shown that DRA can be reduced with help of an abdominal binder but have very less recorded data. Fewer studies have been conducted showing the combined effect of use of abdominal binder with core strengthening exercises in reduction of DRA. The purpose of this study was to find out the effect of a conventional abdominal binder on diastasis recti abdominis in post-partum women and determine the effect of a conventional abdominal binder on diastasis recti abdominis in post-partum women. METHODS This experimental study included 9 post-partum women with significant DRA. Their age ranged from 25 - 30 years, body mass index (BMI) less than 40 kg/m2. The outcome measures included DRA, lumbar lordosis measurement, low back pain and disability in post-partum period. The subjects were instructed to use an abdominal binder and were taught core strengthening exercises up to 3 months post-partum. RESULTS The obtained results show that there is statistically significant reduction in DRA after use of conventional abdominal binder and exercises. The before treatment values for mean and standard deviation at, above and below umbilicus were 59.39 ± 14.24, 51.87 ± 12.37, 38.15 ± 12.13 respectively which reduced to 41.19 ± 12.21, 37.76 ± 12.98, 30.76 ± 8.94 respectively after using conventional binder with exercises for 3 months. The P value at all three levels of measurements namely - at, above and below umbilicus was < 0.0001 which is statistically considered to be extremely significant. The study duration was of 3 months. CONCLUSIONS The findings conclude that the mean value of DRA decreases with the help of abdominal binder and core strengthening exercise regime. Hence, the abdominal binder and core strengthening exercises were effective in reducing the DRA. KEY WORDS Abdominal Binder, Diastasis Recti Abdominis, Rectus Abdominis, Core Strengthening, Post-Partum