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Diabetic Neuropathy is one of the most common complication known to adversely affect the vestibular system and exacerbatedisbalance and therefore increase the risk of falling. The aim of the study is to compare the effectiveness of Yoga versus Tai Chi exercisesto improve balance, gait disturbance and muscle weakness in patient of diabetic neuropathy. A total number of 60 subjects wasrandomly assigned to one of the two groups. The treatment program was followed for 8 weeks (3 times) each week and were assessedat 4th and 8th week. The two outcome measures of Berg Balance Scale and Sara Scale for assessing muscle weakness, dynamic balanceand gait disturbances were assessed to measure effectiveness. The yoga interventions brought significant improvements across variousoutcome measures over the 8 weeks period of study (BBS, p =0.036**; SARA, p=0.016**).

BACKGROUND: The risk of falling for individuals with stroke is about twice that of healthy older adults. Lack of appropriate initiative to address the fear-related maladaptive behaviour can manifest itself in the form of loss of physical functions resulting in disability and handicap. OBJECTIVE: To examine the effectiveness of the structured balance awareness program (SBAP) in improving the perceived balance confidence, and thereby modifying the fear-related maladaptive behaviour in post-stroke survivors. METHODS: A randomized experimental control design was used on a sample of 97 post-stroke survivors aged between 55 to 75 years. The patients received either the SBAP or health awareness program (HAP) for eight weeks and were compared on Activities-specific Balance Confidence (ABC) Scale, Berg Balance Scale (BBS) and Falls Efficacy Scale International (FESI). RESULTS: A paired t-test demonstrated statistically significant improvement among all the variables in the SBAP group. An independent t-test exhibited a statistically significant improvement on ABC (t = 2.57, p = 0.012*), BBS (t = 3.32, p = 0.001*) and FESI (t = 3.38, p = 0.001*) in the SBAP group. CONCLUSION: The study showed that the SBAP was effective in minimizing the fear-related maladaptive behaviour in post-stroke survivors.

(1) Background: Obesity is one of the most prevalent health problems worldwide. Studies have evidenced that the increase in body weight affects the normal neuromusculoskeletal function, which leads to abnormal gait patterns and impaired balance. (2) Objective: The aim of this study was to examine the influence of dual-task activity (cognitive-motor task) on gait parameters and balance among obese students. (3) Material and methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among students (18–28 years old), including 120 obese and 120 age-matched normal-weight control subjects, selected at random using simple random sampling, from the Majmaah, Riyadh, Dammam, and Jizan regions of Saudi Arabia. The gait speed was measured in seconds while the controls and the obese subjects performed a dual-task activity of walking down a level, well-lit, narrow lane at their own speed, counting backwards from 100 by 4 s. (4) Results: The results of our study suggest a significant difference in the effect of the dual-task paradigm on the gait speed (t = 21.05, p = 000) of obese participants when compared to their age-matched counterparts. A significant correlation was found between BMI and gait speed and balance, irrespective of the gender of the obese student. A high degree of positive correlation (r = 0.705, p < 0.001) was found between BMI and gait speed, and a high degree of inverse correlation (r = −0.648, p < 0.001) was found between BMI and balance among obese students A multiple regression model explained 60% of the variance in gait speed and was statistically significant (R2 = 0.60, F (4, 235) = 90.65, p = 0.000) with BMI (β = 0.018, p = 0.000) and balance (β = 0.015, p = 0.000) significantly predicting gait speed. (5) Conclusion: The results of the current study provide evidence that obesity significantly influences gait speed and balance due to the inclusion of a contemporaneous cognitive task. The results also suggest that the dual-task paradigm affects both genders equally.

??? Physical therapy originated as a professional group that dated back to Per Henrik Ling, who is known as the “father of Swedish gymnastics.” He founded the royal Central Institute of Gymnastics in the year 1813 for massage, manipulation and exercise. In 1851, the term “Physiotherapy” first appeared in its German form “Physiotherapie” in an article written by Dr. Lorenz Gleich, a military physician from Bavaria. [1] In an English article published in Montreal Medical Journal in the year 1894, Dr. Edward Playter used the word “Physiotherapy.” [2,3] With time, the word “Physiotherapie” changed to “Physiotherapy” and then to “Physical therapy.” Physical therapists (PT) who were once known as reconstruction aides evolved through a series of changes to become the present ever-growing confident and accomplished professionals in the health care system. They play a very important role of providing rehabilitation and habilitation services as well as prevention and risk reduction training. In Sweden, PTs were called “sjukgymnast,” which translates to “someone involved in gymnastics for those who are ill”. The world in the year 1916 witnessed the devastating polio epidemic. It was in this period that young women began treating polio patients with residual paralysis by using passive movements. Realizing the need of the hour, PTs developed Manual Muscle Testing for assessing the strength of the muscle and thereby implementing muscle re-education techniques for weaker muscles. In the United States (US), the polio epidemic continued to ravage to such an extent that it even afflicted a man who would become the future President of the US- Franklin D. Roosevelt. He went through various therapies, including hydrotherapy for which in 1926 he purchased a resort at Warm Springs Georgia, which was used as a Hydrotherapy Center for polio patients. This center presently operates as Roosevelt Warm Springs Institute for Rehabilitation. [4]

The professional work usually carried out by the dental surgeons results in developing ergonomic risk factors such as forward bends and rotated positions of the body while handling variety of tools. The successful application of ergonomics assures high productivity, avoidance of illnesses and injuries and increased satisfaction among dental surgeons. The study was carried out to find the effectiveness of ergonomics awareness training programme in minimizing the ergonomic risk factors in dental surgeons. For this purpose, one hundred and thirty dental surgeons among post graduate dental students, faculty members and private practitioners from in and around Mangalore city, Southern Karnataka District, India, with more than one year of experience were selected by using non-probability convenience sampling method. A six week of ergonomics awareness training programme for selected dental surgeons was developed and imparted during the training. In order to determine the effectiveness of ergonomics awareness training programme, a pre-tested structured dental work station observation check list was used. The result indicates that, mean post-test scores of manual material handling (0.23), physical energy demands (0.18), instruments (0.00), environment (0.00) and other musculoskeletal demands (1.35) were lower than the mean pre-test scores i.e., 1.98, 1.95, 0.14, 0.01 and 7.53 respectively. Based on the results of the study we conclude that, ergonomics awareness training programme will be effective in minimizing the ergonomic risk factors in dental surgeons. Key words: Ergonomics awareness; Ergonomic risk factors; Dental surgeons; Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs)

Background: Asthma is growing problem in India and throughout the world. Breathing exercises are commonly incorporated in overall pulmonary rehabilitation program of patients with bronchial asthma. However there is a lack of awareness regarding following a specific exercise prescription which is based on individual’s requirements. Physiotherapist can help in designing an exercise prescription specific to an individual possibly to achieve more control over bronchial asthma. Methods: Thirty patients both male and female aged between 20 and 40 years diagnosed with bronchial asthma by the physician were assigned in two groups. Group-1 patients were given diaphragmatic breathing exercises and group-2 patients were given pursed-lip expiration exercises. Both groups received selected intervention for 6 weeks, 5 days in a week, 2 times in a day, and 20 minutes per session. Pre and post-test measures of forced expiratory flow rate were taken by peak expiratory flow meter and chest expansion was measured by inch tape. Data were analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 17.0 software. The analysis was performed by using students paired t-test. Results: The study shows statistically significant improvement in diaphragmatic breathing exercise group when compared to pursed-lip expiration exercise group. The value of chest expansion has shown 2.04 % improvement in group1 and 1.01 % in group 2 whereas peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) showed 16.9 % improvement in group 1 and 2.27 % in group 2. Conclusion: Diaphragmatic breathing exercises play a vital role in rehabilitation of asthmatic patients to gain functional improvement and independence. &nbsp

Background: Asthma is growing problem in India and throughout the world. Breathing exercises are commonly incorporated in overall pulmonary rehabilitation program of patients with bronchial asthma. However there is a lack of awareness regarding following a specific exercise prescription which is based on individual’s requirements. Physiotherapist can help in designing an exercise prescription specific to an individual possibly to achieve more control over bronchial asthma. Methods: Thirty patients both male and female aged between 20 and 40 years diagnosed with bronchial asthma by the physician were assigned in two groups. Group-1 patients were given diaphragmatic breathing exercises and group-2 patients were given pursed-lip expiration exercises. Both groups received selected intervention for 6 weeks, 5 days in a week, 2 times in a day, and 20 minutes per session. Pre and post-test measures of forced expiratory flow rate were taken by peak expiratory flow meter and chest expansion was measured by inch tape. Data were analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 17.0 software. The analysis was performed by using students paired t-test. Results: The study shows statistically significant improvement in diaphragmatic breathing exercise group when compared to pursed-lip expiration exercise group. The value of chest expansion has shown 2.04 % improvement in group1 and 1.01 % in group 2 whereas peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) showed 16.9 % improvement in group 1 and 2.27 % in group 2. Conclusion: Diaphragmatic breathing exercises play a vital role in rehabilitation of asthmatic patients to gain functional improvement and independence.

Background: Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is a combination of chronic disorders that affect many systems in individuals which requires self-management education and support to prevent acute and long-term complications. Frozen Shoulder (FS) is a common complication among patients with Diabetes Mellitus and tendency to become chronic is high because of inflammation and fibrosis of shoulder capsule. Aim: To evaluate the effect of extracorporeal shock wave therapy for patients with diabetic frozen shoulder. Materials and Methods: Thirty patients with diabetic frozen shoulder were included in the study and they were divided into two groups. Group A consists of 15 patients (9 male and 6 female) and they were treated with extracorporeal shock wave therapy and therapeutic exercises for five weeks. Group B consists of 15 patients (10 male and 5 female) and they were treated with traditional physical therapy which consists of 3MH ultrasonic therapy, infrared and therapeutic exercise for five weeks. Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI) and Digital Goniometer were used as outcome measures to evaluate the pain and functional activities and degree of movements respectively. Results: Both group A and B showed significant improvement (P=0.0001) in reducing the shoulder pain, increasing the functional activities and range of movements of shoulder joint. However group A showed good Improvement Ratio (IR = 91.26%) in reducing the shoulder pain, increasing the functional activities and range of movements of shoulder joint compare to the group B (IR = 81.81%). Conclusion: Extracorporeal shock wave therapy and therapeutic exercises were effective in reducing the shoulder pain, increasing the functional activities and range of movements of shoulder joint for patients with diabetic frozen shoulder.