Context: The prevalence of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) is significant in many professions including health care. WMSDs among health-care professionals in developing countries like India are overlooked. Aims: This study aimed to assess the prevalence and risk factors of WMSD among health-care professionals. Settings and Design: A descriptive survey study design done at a private health-care organization. Materials and Methods: It was a descriptive survey study design involving 310 male health-care professionals working in a private health-care organization. Self-reported questionnaires included (i) Demographic information, (ii) Extended nordic musculoskeletal questionnaire, and (iii) Physical workload questionnaire. Statistical Analysis Used: The values were expressed in mean, frequencies, and percentages. Results: Of the 310 forms, 296 valid responses were considered for the analysis. The prevalence of WMSD was 46.28% with surgeons being most affected. The most frequent WMSD reported was low back pain (69.34%). Most frequently reported risk factor (52.55%) was “working in uncomfortable postures.” Conclusion: A high prevalence rate of WMSDs was found among the health-care professionals. Ergonomics including specific exercises and physical fitness programs for the employees are the important measures to be taken to prevent/control the WMSD.

Context: For a successful performance, influence of certain biomechanical factors enhances learning and mechanical effectiveness of performance in football. For a player, dynamic strength ability gives acceleration to the body which affects explosive strength and physical abilities. Aims: The aim of the study was to find out the relationship between explosive strength and agility among college level footballers. Settings and Design: A pilot study was conducted among college level football players from different colleges of Dakshin Kannad. Materials and Methods: Twenty male college level football players (21.25 ± 2.0 years) participated in this study, wherein each participant took part in two kinds of testing sessions: countermovement jump and t-test. Explosive strength was assessed using My Jump application, and agility was assessed using t-test. Statistical Analysis Used: Karl Pearson correlation coefficient test was used for analysis. Results: There was a significant moderate negative correlation between explosive strength and agility among college level football players (r = −0.536 and P = 0.015) and was statistically significant. Conclusions: The present study concluded that there was a moderate negative correlation between explosive strength and agility among college level football players. Greater the explosive strength, lower is the time taken to perform t-test.

Context: Currently, multiple researches demonstrate that proprioception of the neck has a favorable effect and a direct association with balance in individuals with chronic neck pain (CNP). However, there is a paucity of the literature that has attempted to quantify the impact of proprioception on balance in CNP patients and to determine the function of central nervous system sensitization (CS) in CNP patients. Aims: The goal of this study was to determine the variance component of proprioception on balance in CNP patients and to examine if there was a difference between centrally sensitized and nonsensitized CNP patients. Settings and Design: A cross-sectional, observational study was conducted in the outpatient department of a tertiary care hospital. Materials and Methods: Thirty-seven patients with CNP were assessed for proprioception, static and dynamic balance was using head repositioning accuracy (HRA) test, Brief Balance Evaluation Systems Test, step test, four-step square test, and Y-balance test. Disability and nervous system sensitization was assessed using the Neck Pain and Disability Scale and central sensitization inventory (CSI). Statistical Analysis Used: Kolmogrov–Smirnov test, Pearson correlation coefficient was used for statistical analysis. Results: The impact of CSI and HRA scores on static and dynamic balance scores was unpredictable, ranging from a minimum of 10% to a maximum of 38.7%. Conclusion: There is a weak evidence to suggest that proprioception component could have contributed to the variance in static, dynamic balance and disability in patients with centrally sensitized CNP.

Context: There has been an increase in the incidence of gastrointestinal and gynaecological cancers and advancement in surgeries has made surgical treatment more for these participants more feasible. Aim: To evaluate the effect of structured early mobilization programs in postoperative gastrointestinal and gynaecological cancer patients on 30second chair stand test, functional assessment of cancer therapy-general (FACT-G) and length of hospital stay. Settings and Design: This was a clinical trial conducted at tertiary care hospital on gastrointestinal and gynecological cancer patients. Materials and Methods: Participants diagnosed with gastro-intestinal (n = 23) and gynaecological (n = 17) cancers who underwent surgery were included in the study. Lower extremity strength was assessed using 30 s chair stand test and the quality of life (QOL) was assessed using the FACT-G Scale. Length of hospital stay was noted from the postoperative day 1 till the day of discharge. Statistical Analysis Used: Wilcoxon Test and Spearman's rank correlation coefficient test were used for analysis. Results: Early mobilization program in postoperative gastro-intestinal and gynecological surgery participants showed improvement in the lower extremity strength in terms of 30 s chair stand test (P = 0.001). Moreover, improvements were also observed in the components of QOL viz., physical (P = 0.004), social (P = 0.041) and functional (P = 0.004) components. Conclusion: The study findings demonstrate improvement in lower extremity strength in terms of 30 s chair stand test and QOL according to FACT-G.

Context: Learning style is an approach wherein learners save, recall, and process concepts efficiently and effectively. Determining students' learning styles provides information about specific preferences and encourages participation in the courses opted by them. Aims: The aims of the study are to determine the learning styles of 1^st-year students studying in Health Science University in India using visual/auditory/read-write/kinesthetic (VARK) questionnaire and to establish an association of gender and academic performance with a preferred learning style. Settings and Design: This was a cross-sectional study conducted in 1^st-year students studying in Health Science University, Belagavi, Karnataka, India. Materials and Methods: The VARK questionnaire was distributed to 626 students of 1^st year of their graduation. There were 413 females and 213 males across eight faculties including Dental, Medical, Physiotherapy, Nursing, Allied Sciences, Ayurveda, Homeopathy, and Pharmacy. The academic performance of 12^th standard was noted and they were assessed and categorized based on their performance. Statistical Analysis Used: One-way ANOVA followed by post hoc using Tukey test was used for the level of significance. Results: The common learning style was multimodal (70.2%) and the individual sensory modality was kinesthetic style (8.63 ± 3.37). Among kinesthetic, significant mean difference in males (7.98 ± 3.41) and females (8.98 ± 3.31) was found. Kinesthetic learners showed significance between >60% to ≤70% with ≥80% and >70% to ≤80% with ≥80% in academics. Conclusions: Within the university, regardless of gender, students had multimodal learning style. The preferred individual sensory modality, irrespective of performance of previous academic year, was kinesthetic learning, and significant association was found with both genders and academic performance.

Context: Overweight and obesity being a health hazard for people of any age and profession requires an effective treatment protocol for weight loss. The benefits of land and aquatic exercises on obesity have been researched individually. Clinical trials are lacking where effectiveness of a structured exercise program in water and on land was compared for weight loss on health care professionals. Aim: The present study aims to compare the effectiveness between structured land and aquatic-based exercises on anthropometric measures, serum lipid level, and body fat. Settings and Design: A randomized clinical trial was conducted at the tertiary health-care center of Belagavi. Materials and Methods: Thirty-two overweight or obese health care professionals were recruited for the study. Participants were divided into two groups, i.e., aquatic and land exercise group. An exercise program for 6 days a week for 3 week was performed. The study outcomes included were ultrasonographic assessment of abdominal obesity along with blood triglyceride and cholesterol levels. Statistical Analysis used: SPSS Version 23.0 was used for analysis. Pre and post data were compared and analyzed using paired t-test. Results: Statistically significant reduction in body fat percentage with respect to anthropometric measurements, serum lipid levels, and fat thickness was observed in both the groups. However, there was a greater change in the mean difference of the aqua group as compared to the land group which suggests structured exercises in water are more effective than on land. Conclusions: The current study concludes that a structured exercise program for 3 weeks in water for overweight and obese health-care professionals showed better outcomes compared to land exercises.

Context: Anatomical alteration in the alignment of the foot leads to changes in proximal joints that in turn cause mechanical variations in the spine. Changes in the lower kinematic chain can have functional consequences in the form of low back pain and may be seen in professions requiring long-standing. This is often an unexplored, under-evaluated component of low back pain and hence proves its need. Aim: To study the relationship between ankle-foot complex and lumbar spine, and also to determine the association between Foot Posture and Lumbar Lordosis angle in teachers. Settings and Design: Data for the observational study were collected from school and college teachers of Belagavi city. Materials and Methods: Foot posture of 200 teachers in the age group of 20–50 years was assessed using Chippaux Index and Foot Posture Index-6 (FPI-6). Lumbar curvature was measured using Flexi curve ruler and angle was calculated. Functional limitation was assessed using Low Back Pain Rating Scale and Modified Oswestry Low Back Pain Disability Questionnaire. Statistical Analysis Used: Spearman's rank correlation and t-test were used for analysis. Results: Statistically significant association was noted between FPI-6, lumbar angle, Low back pain scores, and Modified Oswestry score with P = 0.0001. Gender comparison of the outcome measures did not reveal any significant relationship. Conclusion: Alteration in foot posture leads to changes in lumbar lordosis angle, which in turn may cause low back pain.

Context: The advent of smartphone armed with various downloadable “apps” has created a new wealth of clinical resources available to various healthcare professionals. However, the level of usage of physiotherapy-related applications for health information among clinical physiotherapists in Nigeria needs to be investigated. Aim: The aim of the study is to investigate the use of smartphones and physiotherapy-related applications for health information among clinical physiotherapists. Settings and Design: This was an observational study conducted on clinical Physiotherapist of Ondo and Ekiti State, Nigeria. Materials and Methods: The study recruited 48 physiotherapists from government-owned hospitals in Ondo and Ekiti State. Data on demographic characteristics, work experience, knowledge, and the use of physiotherapy-related applications for health information were obtained using a self-administered questionnaire. Data were summarized using a descriptive statistics of percentage and frequency distribution. Statistical Analysis used : Descriptive statistics of percentages and frequency table was used. Results: Forty-eight physiotherapists participated in this study. All the (100%) participants own smartphones, however, only 50% (24) have heard about physiotherapy-related smartphone applications. Twenty-five percent (12) of respondents have physiotherapy-related smartphone applications on their smartphones, 43.8% (21) are not aware of the availability of physiotherapy-related smartphone applications, while 27.0% (13) never explore the possibilities. About 70.8% (34) recommended the development of various physiotherapy-related smartphone applications, while 79.2% (38) recommended that the usage of smartphone for health information during a consultation should be avoided to avoid loss of professional image before patients. Conclusion: Majority of physiotherapists are not aware of physiotherapy-related smartphones applications hence its usage for health care information is very low.

There are many physiotherapy treatment options available to treat decubitus ulcer in normal individuals. However, for cancer patients, no useful modality has been proved beneficial to treat the same. Matrix Rhythm Therapy (MaRyThe©) is a new therapeutic approach, with minimum or no side effects, that has demonstrated to restore the good tissue resonance and proved relatively safe to be used in cancer patients for pain relief. This case report presents a 65-year-old female suffering from rectal cancer, who underwent low anterior resection procedure, with complaints of difficulty to walk and a large bed sore on a sacral area. Twelve sessions of MaRyThe© demonstrated a significant improvement in terms of reduction in pain and decubitus ulcer size and improved ambulation.

Use of information, communication, and technology in higher education is known to enhance learning experience. Thoughtful mixing of online and face-to-face activities is identified as blended learning (BL). Owing to its advantages, health professional education programs adapted this method globally. Understanding the concept of BL will be useful for Health Professional Educators (HPEs) in improving learner's engagement. The objective of this article is to introduce the concept of BL in HPE and to discuss its advantages and disadvantages based on available evidence.