Background:Young adults have grown up today with mobile phones as an evident part of their lives. Text neck syndrome and SMS thumb may occur due to repetitive use of hand held devices (HHDs) resulting in repetitive stress injury or an overuse syndrome while using their mobile phones or other electronic devices for prolonged periods of time. Our aim is to assess self reported addiction to smartphone use and correlate its use and musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) in neck and hand in young healthy adults. Methods:The study examined 100 healthy physiotherapy students of a college in Ahmedabad by random table sampling, in the age group of 20-25 years. Students were asked to fill a proforma with the questionnaires of Smartphone Addiction Scale (SAS), Neck Disability Index (NDI), and Cornell Hand Discomfort Questionnaire (CHDQ) attached. Level of significance was kept at 5%. Spearman correlation coefficient was used to correlate between the SAS and NDI, and SAS and CHDQ respectively. Results:There was a predominance of females over males (females-76, males-24). Mean±SD of SAS, NDI and CHDQ was 102.49±22.15, 30±0.10 and 6.12±8.73 respectively. Spearman correlation coefficient showed a significant moderate positive correlation between both SAS and NDI (r=0.671, p<0.001) and between SAS and CHDQ (r=0.465, p<0.001). Conclusions: The study showed that musculoskeletal problems in neck and hand(predominantly thumb) can be seen in smartphone addicted students which may be short term initially but may later lead to long term disability.

Background: Diminished muscular performance & greater functional impairment leads to restricted quality of life in chronic low back pain (CLBP) patients. The transverses abdominis (TrA) has been implicated as part of the cause of LBP. The purpose of the study was to compare the effects of treadmill walking and stationary cycling in subjects with non-specific CLBP. Methodology: A quasi-experimental study was conducted with 30 subjects divided into 2 groups. Group A consisted of treadmill walking & group B of cycling. Subjects aged 18 to 45 years with chronic LBP without radiating pain with absence of any cardiac & pulmonary conditions were included. Moderate intensity aerobic exercise for 10-20 minutes, 5 days/week based on FITT principle was given. Outcome measures were pain, TrA endurance, disability & quality of life. Results: Statistically significant difference (p<0.001) was noted for all outcome measures in both groups A & B with non-significant difference (p>0.05) between groups. For Group A, NRS (Numerical Rating Scale) at rest (95% CI 2.182 to 3.685), NRS on activity (95% CI 3.056 to 4.410), TrA endurance (95% CI -3.61 to -2.79), MODI (Modified Oswestry Disability Index) (95% CI 20.05 to 29.01), physical health (95% CI -18.80 to -9.33) & overall QOL of WHOQOL (95% CI -2.06 to -1.26). For Group B, NRS at rest (95% CI 2.034 to 3.699), NRS on activity (95% CI 2.214 to 4.186) & TrA endurance (95% CI -4.78 to -2.01), MODI (95% CI 21.75 to 31.04), physical health (95% CI -23.36 to -10.77) & overall QOL of WHOQOL (95% CI -2.32 to -1.27). Conclusion: Treadmill walking & stationary cycling were equally effective in improving pain, TrA endurance, disability & quality of life in subjects with non-specific CLBP. Clinical Implication: Aerobic exercise such as walking & cycling at moderate intensity can be used to reduce pain & disability & increase core muscle (transversus abdominis) endurance thereby improving quality of life in patients with CLBP.

Background: Primary dysmenorrhea is a difficult menstrual flow in the absence of any pelvic pathology where pain is spasmodic in character and felt mainly in the lower abdomen. Women that participated in sports experienced fewer occurrences of symptoms of dysmenorrhea. Aims & Objective: To assess the effect of stretching exercise on primary dysmenorrhea in adult girls. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted at SBB College of physiotherapy. A convenience sample was taken consisting of 30 participants, 15 in each group. Group A received Stretching Exercises. Participants completed an active stretching exercise program for 4 weeks (6 days per week, 2 times per day) at home. They were asked to perform 9 stretching exercises. Group B was in control group. All Participants were examined for pain intensity VAS (10-point scale). Verbal Multidimensional Scoring System for Assessment of Dysmenorrhea Severity (VMS) Level of significance was kept at 5%. Results: The results of Groups A and B were analyzed by Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test. In group A-VAS showed significant improvement in pain. Pain intensity was reduced from 6 to 3.80 (difference in mean 2.2 ± 0.16, W = 120, p = 0.001). VMS also showed significant improvement in pain. VMS was reduced from 2 to 1 (difference in median 1, W = 66, p = 0.002). In group B, there was no significant improvement in pain. VAS score reduced from 6.20 to 6.10. Difference in mean VAS (0.10 ± 0.30, W = 36, p = 0.5). There was no difference in mean VMS at the end of 4 weeks. Comparison of Group A and Group B was done with Mann Whitney U Test. There was a significant difference in improvement in VAS between Groups A and B (2.30 ± 0.21, U = 31.0, p < 0.01). There was a significant difference in improvement in VMS between Groups A and B (U = 12.0, p < 0.01). Conclusion: Stretching exercises are effective in reducing pain in young females with primary dysmenorrhea.

Neurodynamic mobilization is a set of techniques designed to restore the plasticity of the nervous system and the ability of neural tissue to stretch and tension along with pain alleviation and functional improvement.The study aimed to determine the effect of neurodynamic mobilization on pain and function in subjects with lumbo-sacral radiculopathy.24 males and females between 25-50 years of age having low back pain radiating to any one lower limb since more than 3 weeks were randomly allocated into two groups.Group A received neural mobilization and conventional treatment.Group B received conventional treatment alone.Intervention was given for 6 sessions on 6 days/week.Pain and function were measured using Numerical Pain Rating Scale(NPRS) and Modified Oswestry Disability Index (MODI) respectively.Location of symptoms was also recorded using a body diagram.There was a significant difference in pain at rest and pain during activitywithin each group, but only group B showed significant difference in function. Pain during activity showed significant difference in group A over groupB(U=-1.47;p=0.04) along with function(U=-1.52;p=0.02). Compared to conventional treatment, there is significant decrease in pain during activity and improvement in function following neurodynamic mobilization,however there is no significant improvement pain at rest.

Objectives:As the hamstrings and lumbar extensors have their muscular origin in the pelvis, there may be possible relationship among these structures. So weakness or inflexibility of one structure may correspondingly change the strength and position of the other to maintain pelvis control, which may lead to development of low back pain. So the aim of the study is to compare the prevalence of hamstrings tightness in subjects with chronic low back pain versus normal individuals. Methods: A comparative study was conducted at S.B.B. College of Physiotherapy. A convenience sample of 60 participants with age group between 20 to 60 years was taken, 30 in each group. Group A were patients with chronic low back pain who were not taking any physiotherapy treatment and Group B were age and gender matched normal individuals. For both the groups, persons with previous history of knee injury, knee deformity and fractures around knee joint with limited range of movement and radiating pain were excluded. Patients with low back pain of more than 3 months and normal individuals who were not involved in any flexibility programme were approached