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BACKGROUND: Flexibility is important for general health and fitness, athletic performance, injury prevention and rehabilitation. Sedentary behavior of students leads to decreased physical fitness levels which affects flexibility. There is little evidence regarding relationship between BMI and flexibility. Aim: To study the relationship between BMI and flexibility and BMI and physical activity in young adults. Study Design: Observational study Place and Duration Of Study: The study was carried out at College of Physiotherapy, Sumandeep Vidyapeeth, Vadodara from September 2019 to March 2020. Methods: Males and females between 18 to 30 years were included in the study. BMI, Sit and Reach Test for low back and hamstring flexibility, Active Knee Extension Test (AKET) for hamstrings and Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ) for physical activity levels were assessed. Results: 570 participants with mean age of 20.23±2.07 years were included. Mean BMI was 21.83±4.81 kg/m2. Number of females were 462 and males were 108. There was no significant correlation between BMI and flexibility of low back (P=.247) and hamstring (Rt) (P=.668) (Lt) (P=.354). BMI and GPAQ showed a statistically significant association (P=0.02). There was a weak positive correlation which was statistically significant between GPAQ and SART (P =0.000) and a weak negative correlation which was statistically significant between GPAQ and Rt AKET (P=0.004). Conclusion:  There was no significant correlation found between BMI and flexibility. There was a statistically significant association between BMI and physical activity, a weak negative correlation between GPAQ and hamstring flexibility and weak positive correlation between GPAQ and SART.

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Background: Tyre manufacturing workers are at risk of developing WRMSDs as their job repeatedly involves elevated arm postures, lifting of tyres, pushing or pulling trolleys, trunk bending and twisting. Aim: To assess WRMSDs in tyre manufacturing workers. Methodology: This was an observational study involving 99 tyre manufacturing workers. Persons with any history of recent trauma, major hospitalization or surgery in past 12 months were excluded. Workers were screened according to Nordic questionnaire for assessing the musculoskeletal disorders and REBA analysis was done. They were also assessed for flexibility of hamstring using AKE test and isometric endurance of back extensors using Sorenson test. Results: 97% workers were under 30 years of age and 91% were males. The average duration of work was 27 months. In the past 12 months, 36% workers reported low back pain, 24.2% shoulder pain, 24.2% neck pain, 19% knee pain and 20% ankle/foot pain. REBA analysis revealed TBR and PCR manufacturing workers to be at higher and lower end of medium risk category, respectively. Average AKE values were 39.45 0 and 38.45 0 on the right and left, respectively, indicating that hamstring tightness was common, average back muscle endurance was 40.68 sec. However, AKE or back muscle endurance was not statistically related to back pain ( P > 0.05). Conclusion: Tyre workers showed involvement of multiple joints. LBP was predominant complaint but was not related to hamstrings tightness or back muscle endurance.

Background: Physiotherapy has been a routine component of rehabilitation to improve strength and function following hip arthroplasty (HA). Supervised outpatient exercise program can be costly and inconvenient for people who live in the remote areas. Hence, the present study developed Home-based exercise program (HEP) and studied its effect in patients with HA. Materials and Methods: Thirty-six patients with HA were allocated into HEP and control group through the lottery method. Both groups received physiotherapy during hospital stay and were assessed for muscle strength of hip abductors and extensor apparatus with sphygmomanometer, Numerical Pain Rating Scale (NPRS), and Harris hip score (HHS) at discharge. At discharge, HEP group was given a written home program leaflet, record sheet, and telephonic reminder once a week. The control group received all instructions and demonstration of exercises. All patients were assessed at the 1-month follow-up. Results: A total of 36 patients; 18 in HEP group, (12 males and 6 females) with a mean age 39.24 ± 14.59 years and 18 in the control group (11 males and 7 females) mean age 53.44 ± 19.24 years, out of which 35 completed follow-up (18 in HEP, 17 in control group). A statistically significant difference was found in NPRS (P = 0.001), muscle strength-hip abductors (P < 0.001), extensors apparatus (P = 0.008), and HHS in HEP group between discharge and follow-up. No significant difference was found between the two groups. Conclusion: HEP was effective in reducing postoperative pain, improving hip muscle strength, and function in patients with HA. There was no difference found between the groups