Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy Journal

Obesity is a common implication during pregnancy and childbirth. The objective of this review is to provide a comprehensive overview of the effect of physical exercise on pregnancy outcomes, the change of physical activity during pregnancy, with a particular focus on women who are obese. Obese women and their infant are at increased risk of adverse perinatal outcomes, which may be improved by regular physical exercise. Obese women are usually less physically active and tend to further reduce activity levels during pregnancy. This review highlights the potential short- and long-term benefits of exercise in obese pregnant women and their child. Current guidelines recommended that all obese pregnant women without medical complications should engage in low to moderate-intensity exercise on a daily basis. Available literature revealed that there are very few studies supporting the evidence so there is need of more randomized controlled trials to strengthen its evidence.

Keywords: Obesity; Maternal Health; Physical Activity; Pregnancy. 

Background and Purpose: A large number of stroke patients present with dysphagia and aspiration especially in early phase of disease. On the other hand lung functions are also surely affected in stroke patients and constitute the largest factor behind mortality and longer hospital stay in such patients. We believe this might be the prime reason behind dysphagia, aspiration and pulmonary infections in stroke patients. This research with help of bedside assessment tool tries to assess the lung efficiency in acute stroke, chronic stroke and compares it with that of normal nonsmoking age and gender matched controls. Methodology: This study was carried out with 60 male subjects between age 50-80 at Himalayan hospital premise. 15 Acute stroke subjects (Group-A), 15 chronic stroke subjects (Group-B) and 30 healthy age and gender matched non-smokers (Group-C) were selected according to the selection criteria for the study. After thorough assessment and informed consent, PEFR readings were obtained at the specified timed during the day. After a visual demonstration and instructions, three consecutive readings of PEFR were recorded in each subject and duly noted according to the type and duration of stroke. Results: Comparison of PEFR value among acute stroke, chronic stroke and control group shows that there is a statistically significant difference between the PEFR values. Acute stroke shows PEFR values ï‚£ 50% of age and gender matched control. While chronic stroke demonstrates PEFR values only 60-70% of normal. Conclusion: There exists a statistically significant difference between the PEFR values of acute stroke, chronic stroke and control group. Acute stroke patients has less than half of capacity of exhaling out air as compared to normal age and gender matched subjects, perhaps this is the reason why acute stroke patients are most likely to present with dysphagia and aspiration. Although chronic stroke patients also demonstrate dysphagia and aspiration but at much lower rate. This is in line with their PEFR values which show an improving capacity of force of exhalation. The study points out for more elaborate research on the topic and need of cardiorespiratory rehabilitation in stroke patients as early as possible.

Keywords: Peak Expiratory Flow Rate; Ischemic Stroke; Lung Functions; Dysphagia; Aspiration.

Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) ankylosis involves fusion of the mandibular condyle to the base of the skull. Surgical treatment is the only choice of treatment in this condition. One main drawback is that despite of extreme care during surgery, facial nerve get damage. The present study aims to determine the effect of electrical stimulation & facial exercises for improving the motor function of facial nerve & mouth opening exercises in patients with reduced mouth opening. The commonly used outcome measure was House Brackmann Score & Maximum mouth opening (MMO). Both the parameters showed improvement by the end of the intervention program.

Keywords: Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) Ankylosis; House Brackmann Score & Maximum Mouth Opening (MMO). 

Objectives: 1. to study the effect of balance training on balance control of Hemiplegics. 2. To study the effect of balance training on gait in Hemiplegics. Materials and Method: Thirty hemiplegics were selected and divided into two groups of 15 each. Control group received conventional training and Experimental group received conventional training along with phyaction balance training.Duration of treatment was 30 minutes, five days a week for four weeks. Pre and post training evaluation of Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Wisconsin Gait Scale (WCS), and Global Balance performance Anteroposterior (GBAP), Global Balance performance Mediolateral (GBML) was done for both the groups. Statistical analysis was done by t test. Result: Statistically significant improvement was seen in all the outcome measures in experimental group and no significant improvement was seen in case of control group which shows that balance exercise is effective in controlling balance in hemiplegics and has an improvement in gait. Conclusion: Balance exercise is effective in controlling balance of Hemiplegics. So Phyaction balance training should be incorporated in the rehabilitation of Hemiplegics.

Keywords: Balance Training; Fedback; Gait; Hemiplegics. 

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the changes in heart rate, respiratory rate, blood pressure and energy expenditure while walking without and with backpack in school going children. Method: Forty six subjects, (24 boys and 22 girls) were taken in the study. Their resting parameters ie H.R, R.R and B.P were recorded. Then subjects were asked to walk for 6 minutes on the level ground and their parameters were recorded immediately, after 3 minutes and 5 minutes and their physiological cost index was calculated. Resting time was given to the subjects to bring their parameters to baseline and then subjects were asked to walk again for 6 minutes with 20% of their body weight in backpack and the same procedure was repeated. Result: There was a significant difference in H.R, R.R and P.C.I in walking without and with backpack (p<0.01). However their was no significant difference in B.P. in without backpack walk and with backpack walk.

Keywords: Heart Rate (H.R.); Respiratory Rate (R.R.); Physiological Cost Index (P.C.I.); Systolic Blood Pressure (S.B.P) and Diastolic Blood Pressure (D.B.P).

Human foot posture is highly variable among healthy individuals and ranges from flat- to higharched. The Foot Posture Index (FPI) is a validated method for quantifying standing foot posture, and is being used in a variety of clinical settings. Therefore objective of the study was to find correlation between Foot Posture Index-6 (FPI-6) and Navicular Drop Test (NDT) with functional Ankle Stability in Running Male Athletes. 60 Male Running athletes participated in the study. Foot Posture Index- 6, Navicular Drop Test, Side Hop Test were performed by them and data was recorded. Correlation between them was determined by Pearson correlation coefficient. Functional Ankle Stability using side hop test were calculated of both the feet and correlation with FPI & NDT. Results showed that there is significant correlation between the foot posture index - 6, Navicular Drop Test and Side Hop Test for ankle stability. Hence it was concluded that the ankle instability is correlated with foot posture & navicular drop in healthy running athletes.

Keywords: Foot Posture Index- 6; Navicular Drop Test; Side Hop Test.