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This study investigates the relationship between thumb fingerprint ridge counts and basketball skill abilities--specifically passing, shooting, and dribbling--among junior basketball players aged 14 to 17 years. Utilising a sample of 60 participants from Idukki and Kottayam districts in Kerala, India, the research employs a non-invasive ink method to collect thumbprint data, which is subsequently analysed using the Henry Classification System. Statistical analyses, including Pearson correlation coefficients, reveal significant positive correlations between the thumb fingerprint ridge count of the dominant hand and basketball skills: passing (r = 0.81, p < 0.0001), shooting (r = 0.86, p < 0.0001), and dribbling (r = 0.92, p < 0.0001). These findings suggest that higher ridge counts may be indicative of superior athletic performance, potentially due to enhanced tactile sensitivity and neuromuscular coordination. The study contributes to the growing body of literature on dermatoglyphics in sports talent identification, highlighting the potential of thumb fingerprint ridge counts as biomarkers for early talent detection in basketball. The results underscore the importance of integrating scientific methodologies into traditional talent scouting practices, paving the way for innovative approaches to athlete selection and training. Future research should expand on these findings by exploring diverse populations and examining the underlying genetic mechanisms that may influence athletic performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research paper aims to investigate the effects of a twelve-week corrective exercise program on lower extremity postural deformities, including knock-knee, flat foot, and bow leg, among high school boys in Kerala, India. A total of 22 students with lower extremity postural deformities were selected as subjects, with 12 assigned to the experimental group and 10 to the control group. The age range of the participants was between 8 and 14 years. The experimental group underwent a corrective exercise training program, while the control group did not receive any specific intervention. Prior to the administration of tests and implementation of the exercise program, a comprehensive meeting was conducted with the subjects to explain the study's objectives and procedures in detail. The study focused on three groups of selected deformities: knock knee (genu valgum), flat foot (pes planus), and bow leg (genu varum). The corrective exercise program was designed specifically to address these lower extremity postural deformities. The study employed a randomized controlled trial design, with the experimental group receiving the corrective exercise intervention and the control group acting as a comparison group. Various outcome measures, including postural assessments, were conducted before and after the twelve-week intervention period to evaluate the effectiveness of the corrective exercise program. The findings of this study are significant for understanding the potential benefits of corrective exercise in addressing lower extremity postural deformities among school boys in Kerala. By exploring the effects of the intervention, this research contributes to the existing knowledge on corrective exercise and its role in improving postural alignment and function in this specific population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Covid 19 has forced everyone to curtail their outdoor physical activity and restrict themselves to indoors. With the commencement of online classes, college teachers found themselves isolated, stressed out and confined to homes. Teachers were initially worried about their ability to cope up with the new norms in education which was online teaching as well as concerned about their financial security. In order to deal with stress, many of the teachers turned to one or other healthy behaviors like joining for online Yoga, Zumba, Dance and other aerobic exercises. The study assessed the connection among physical activity patterns and financial well-being of college teachers in Kerala. The study focused on college teachers working in Autonomous, Government, University Departments, and Self Financing and Government- Aided Colleges in Kerala. A sample of 250 college teachers was surveyed. The samples had a total service experience ranging from 1 to 30 years. The survey was conducted using IPAQ Questionnaire, abbreviation of which is International Physical Activity Questionnaire, that consists of 7 questions, and Financial Wellbeing Scale, which consists of 10 questions. According to the results, 31.20 per cent of participants (N=78) were inactive with a MET score below 600, while 20 per cent (N=50) were 'minimally active' with a score ranging between 600 and 1499. The majority of teachers with MET scores above 1500 were in the "HEPA (Health enhancing physical activity)" category (N=122). Financial well-being was found to be low among 1.20 per cent of teachers, average among 94 per cent of teachers, and high among 4.80 per cent of teachers. In addition, no significant correlation was found between MET total and financial well-being (-0.0148) among male college teachers, female college teachers (-0.049) and the total population of college teachers in Kerala (-0.098). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]