BACKGROUND: Impaired trunk control is common in most of the hemiplegic patients during subacute stage that interferes with daily activities and worsens quality of life (QOL) of patients. PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to investigate the effect of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) techniques on trunk control and QOL in subjects with hemiplegia. DESIGN: This was a pre-post design. SETTING: The study was conducted at a tertiary care hospital in Belagavi. PATIENTS: Totally, 16 hemiplegic patients were recruited between the age group 18–65 years having trunk control test score ≥50 and were given PNF techniques. INTERVENTION: PNF techniques for 45 min, three times in a week for 4 weeks. MEASUREMENTS: Patients were assessed at baseline using Trunk Impairment Scale (TIS) and Stroke Specific-QOL (SS-QOL) and reassessed after 12 sessions. RESULTS: Statistical analysis was done using paired t-test. PNF showed significant results (P < 0.05) for both outcomes, i.e., TIS and SS-QOL scale. CONCLUSION: The study concludes that PNF techniques are beneficial in improving trunk control and QOL in hemiplegic population. Hence, this costless technique, which does not require any equipment, can be regularly incorporated to all hemiplegic patients in any setup or at home.

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BACKGROUND: Musculoskeletal injuries are common among physiotherapy students and these are increasing nowadays. In the recent years, there has been an increase in musculoskeletal complaints, work-related stress, and reduced quality of life among physiotherapy students. OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted to identify the prevalence and associated risk factors of musculoskeletal health and health-related quality of life of physiotherapy students. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among physiotherapy students from three different physiotherapy colleges of Surat, India, from November 2013 to January 2014. A total of 457 physiotherapy students (22 males and 435 females) completed the demographic and personal data along with questionnaires such as Cornell Musculoskeletal Discomfort Questionnaire, International Physical Activity Level Questionnaire, Quality of Life Short-Form Questionnaire, and Brief Multidimensional Students' Life Satisfaction Scale. RESULTS: Most of the students had experienced some kind of a musculoskeletal pain in the past 6 months. On comparing different locations of pain (neck, shoulder, upper back, lower back, and lower legs), the lower back was found to be most commonly affected location (29.1%) followed by the neck (13.4%) and lower legs (13.8%). CONCLUSION: Musculoskeletal pain is prevalent among physiotherapy students, and mostly, back, neck, and lower leg pains are very common among them. Moreover, these pains reduce the physical and mental health of the students and also affect their life satisfaction.

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BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Poststroke shoulder pain is one of the most common (34%–86%) and significant problems that impairs the normal functioning and rehabilitation in stroke survivors. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of scapular proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) on shoulder pain in hemiplegic patients. METHODS: A total of 30 stroke survivors with hemiplegia were recruited and randomly allocated to Group A (n = 15) and Group B (n = 15). The experimental group was administered conventional treatment plus scapular PNF-hold relax technique, whereas the control group received only conventional treatment comprised of passive shoulder range of motion exercises, stretching exercises, and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) for 12 sessions (4 sessions per week). The outcome measure used to assess the level of shoulder pain before and after the intervention was visual analog scale (VAS). RESULTS: Statistical analysis showed significant reduction in poststroke shoulder pain (PSSP) in both the experimental and control groups. Although the relief in PSSP was found, no statistically significant differences could be obtained between the groups. CONCLUSION: The reduction in shoulder pain observed in both the groups signifies the effectiveness of conventional measures (i.e., passive range of motion exercises, stretching exercises, and TENS) in relieving the shoulder pain in hemiplegic patients. Clinically, it was seen that the experimental group exhibited better improvement around the shoulder. Hence, it can be stated that scapular PNF has a positive impact on PSSP, but it demands more vigorous future researches to prove the hypothesis correct statistically.

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BACKGROUND: Kathak dancers are required to perform certain complex mudras at their foot involving extreme ranges. This may make them prone to ankle instabilities. The purpose of this study was to find out the prevalence of ankle instabilities and disabilities among the Kathak dancers. METHODS: Screening of forty female Kathak Dancers was done for the study from the Department of Dance, Punjabi University, Patiala, on the basis of inclusion criteria. Subjects were assessed for Ankle Instabilities and Disabilities through Foot and Ankle Disability Index (FADI) and Cumberland Ankle Instability Tool (CAIT). RESULTS: Percentile analysis of the scores obtained from both FADI and CAIT was done. 70% of the Kathak Dancers were found to suffer from Foot and Ankle disability. 90% of the Kathak dancers were found to have ankle instability at left side while 75% were having ankle instability at the right side. CONCLUSION: Kathak dancers are prone to develop functional disability and instabilities at ankle joint. This may be attributed to the complex postures accomplished by them at foot. It is important to advise them about the prevention and treatment of their foot problems. Ergonomic education to these dancers also holds importance.

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BACKGROUND: Among vestibular functions benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is one of the common conditions leading to dizziness, visual vertigo, and postural instability. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to find the effect of postural stability exercises on postural instability in BPPV patients. DESIGN: This was pre–post experimental study. SETTING: The study was conducted at a tertiary healthcare center, Belagavi, India. PATIENTS: A total of 12 patients positive for Dix-Halpike test between the age group of 20 and 60 years of both the genders were included in the study. INTERVENTION: Postural stability exercises were given for postural instability in BPPV patients. Treatment was administered for 2 weeks. MEASUREMENTS: Patients were assessed at baseline using libra electronic balance master, dizziness handicap inventory, visual vertigo analog scale, and Berg Balance Scale, and re-assessed after 2 weeks. RESULTS: Mean, standard deviation, independent t-test, and dependent t-test were used. There was statistically significant change in terms of dizziness, postural stability, visual vertigo, static, and dynamic balance with the value of P < 0.05 CONCLUSION: Improvement in postural stability was seen in the participant receiving postural stability exercises. The exercises were found effective in reducing postural instability among BPPV patient. The study also concluded that BPPV was found common among females and in the age group of 30–40 years.

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BACKGROUND: To find out whether there is any movement impairment difference in the normal mechanics of musculoskeletal system between low back pain (LBP) patients and healthy individuals, applying battery of movement control impairment (MCI) tests and also relationship of diagnosis to major clinical measures. METHODS: Design is a case–control study. Three-trained physiotherapists executed a test battery of six tests, for which the reliability has been shown to be acceptable. A total of 180 participants, ninety LBP patients and ninety age-matched normal individuals were recruited to participate in the study after given consent. The differences between the groups were analyzed using the effect size (ES) (d). Chi-square test with cross-tabulation was done to find out odds and risk ratios of the participants to represent or remain in the patient group. A correlation analysis was done between all the movement impairment tests and the clinical measures such as numerical pain rating scale, straight leg raising, pain location, flexion, and extension ROM and pain duration. RESULTS: This study results demonstrated that there is a difference between participants with and without back pain which could be a diagnostic and in clinical practice may help to identify subgroups of patients in LBP. Tests such as one leg standing, rocking backward, and prone knee flexion are negatively related to back pain functional outcome indicating more difficulty in function if they are positive with LBP patients. There was no difference found regarding the presence or positive test result between the acute and chronic pain patients. CONCLUSION: The present study concluded that there was a significant difference between patients with LBP and normal individuals without back pain in actively controlling the movements of the low back. The ES between patients with LBP and healthy controls in movement control is large. Moreover, the pain score and extension range of motion are not related to any of the MCI tests.

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