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Background and objective: Prolonged standing is one of the significant contributors to chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) in industry workers. Yoga is proven to be an effective therapy in treating occupational hazards. The current study aimed to investigate the effect of yoga on CVI among industry workers. Methodology: Male workers ( n  = 100) from machinery manufacturing industries in Bangalore meeting the inclusion and exclusion criteria were recruited for the study. The yoga group received a specifically designed yoga module for 6 days a week for 12 weeks, and the control group was offered lifestyle suggestions. Plasma homocysteine was used as the primary outcome variable, whereas Venous Clinical Severity Score, ankle brachial pressure index (ABPI), ankle and calf circumference, CVI questionnaire, and Chalder fatigue scale were assessed as secondary variables at baseline and the end of 12 weeks of intervention. Results: Eighty-eight participants (yoga = 43, control = 45) completed the study. A one-way analysis of covariates (ANCOVA) was used to determine the significant differences between groups in the post-values. A significant difference was found between groups in plasma homocysteine (partial eta squared = 0.34, p  < 0.001). All variables, except for ABPI, calf circumference, and ankle circumference, had shown statistically significant differences between the yoga and control groups after 12 weeks of intervention, with moderate to high effect sizes. There were no significant adverse events associated with the intervention. Conclusions: Yoga practices can reduce the symptoms of CVI along with vascular inflammation as indicated by reduced plasma homocysteine. Overall, yoga practices are found to be safe and efficacious for managing CVI. IEC Reference Number: RES/IEC-SVYASA/184/2021 Trial Registration Number (If Clinical Trial): CTRI/2021/02/030944.

Background: Prolonged standing is a part of several professions, which can have physical and psychosocial implications. Yoga as a mind-body therapy may be useful to prevent and manage such health issues. However, there is a lack of a standardized yoga module addressing the health issues of workers with prolonged standing., Objectives: Thus, the present study was undertaken to design and validate a specific yoga module for the target population., Methods: A yoga module was prepared by reviewing yoga texts for the specific needs of the target population. This was validated for content validity for the experts on a Likert scale. 71 yoga experts validated the module. The content validity ratio (CVR) above 0.70 was considered to be valid., Results: The validated yoga module consists of joint loosening and strengthening exercises, asana, pranayama and relaxation techniques. The average CVR for the module was found to be 0.80., Conclusion: The designed yoga module is found to be valid by the experts. The module needs to be assessed for feasibility and efficacy in the target population., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The pathogenesis of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is multifactorial. The severity of abnormal reflux burden corresponds to the dysfunction of the antireflux barrier and inability to clear refluxate. The crural diaphragm is one of the main components of the esophagogastric junction and plays an important role in preventing gastroesophageal reflux. The diaphragm, as a skeletal muscle, is partially under voluntary control and its dysfunction can be improved via breathing exercises. Thus, diaphragmatic breathing training (DBT) has the potential to alleviate symptoms in selected patients with GERD. High-resolution esophageal manometry (HRM) is a useful method for the assessment of antireflux barrier function and can therefore elucidate the mechanisms responsible for gastroesophageal reflux. We hypothesize that HRM can help define patient phenotypes that may benefit most from DBT, and that HRM can even help in the management of respiratory physiotherapy in patients with GERD. This systematic review aimed to evaluate the current data supporting physiotherapeutic practices in the treatment of GERD and to illustrate how HRM may guide treatment strategies focused on respiratory physiotherapy., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Background: Intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) is an important mechanism stabilizing the spine and trunk. IAP regulation depends on the coordination of abdominal muscles, diaphragm and pelvic floor muscles., Objective: To determine the differences in abdominal wall tension (AWT) of various postural positions, first without any correction, then after verbal and manual instructions according to Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilization (DNS) principles., Methods: In a cross-sectional observational study, thirty healthy individuals (mean age = 22.73 ± 1.91 years) were fitted with two Ohmbelt sensors contralaterally above the inguinal ligament and in the upper lumbar triangle. AWT was measured during five postural positions: sitting, supine with legs raised, squat, bear and hang position. First, spontaneous AWT was measured, then again after manual and verbal instructions following DNS principles., Results: AWT increased significantly with DNS instructions compared to spontaneous activation. Both sensors recorded significant increases (p < .01; Cohen's d = -1.13 to -2.06) in all observed postural situations. The increase in activity occurred simultaneously on both sensors, with no significant differences noted in pressure increases between the sensors. The greatest activation for both sensors occurred in the bear position. Significant increases in activity were identified for both sensors in the supine leg raise position and in the bear position compared to spontaneous activation in sitting (p < .001). There were no statistically significant differences (for both sensors) between women and men in any position., Conclusion: The amount of AWT significantly increases after verbal and manual instructions according to DNS. The greatest abdominal wall activation was achieved in the bear position., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest None., (Copyright © 2022 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: Dysfunctions in the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) and the upper esophageal sphincter (UES) levels can occur owing to poor muscle coordination, contraction, or relaxation. Such condition can possibly be addressed by functional rehabilitation. The aim of this study was to measure pressure changes in the UES and LES at rest and during routine rehabilitation techniques, that is, cervical manual traction and trunk stabilization maneuver., Methods: This study was conducted in a University Hospital Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Center. Cervical manual traction and a trunk stabilization maneuver were performed in a convenient group of 54 adult patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease. High-resolution manometry was used to measure pressure changes in the LES and UES at rest and during manual cervical traction and trunk stabilization maneuver., Results: Average initial resting UES pressure was 90.91 mmHg. A significant decrease was identified during both cervical traction (average UES pressure = 42.13 mmHg, P < .001) and trunk stabilization maneuver (average UES pressure = 62.74 mmHg, P = .002). The average initial resting LES pressure was 14.31 mmHg. A significant increase in LES pressure was identified both during cervical traction (average LES pressure = 21.39 mmHg, P < .001) and during the trunk stabilization maneuver, (average pressure = 24.09 mmHg, P < .001)., Conclusion: Cervical traction and trunk stabilization maneuvers can be used to decrease pressure in the UES and increase LES pressure in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease., (Copyright © 2021. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Background and Objective: The practice of yoga is associated with enhanced psychological wellbeing. The current study assessed the correlation between the duration of yoga practice with state mindfulness, mind-wandering and state anxiety. Also, we examined if an additional 20 min of yoga breathing with intermittent breath holding (experimental group) for 8 weeks would affect these psychological variables more than regular yoga practice (control group) alone., Methods: One hundred sixteen subjects were randomly assigned to experimental (n = 60) and control (n = 56) groups. State mindfulness attention awareness scale (SMAAS), Mind-Wandering Questionnaire (MWQ) and State anxiety inventory were administered at baseline and at the end of 8 weeks., Results: Baseline assessment revealed a positive correlation between duration of yoga practice with SMAAS scores and negative correlation with MWQ and state anxiety scores. At the end of 8 weeks, both groups demonstrated enhanced psychological functions, but the experimental group receiving additional yoga breathing performed better than the group practicing yoga alone., Conclusion: An additional practice of yoga breathing with intermittent breath holding was found to enhance the psychological functions in young adult yoga practitioners., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)