ABSTRACT
Background: National Health Policy 2017 recognizes the need to nurture Ayurveda, Yoga, Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy (AYUSH) system of medicine through the development of infrastructural facilities of teaching institutions, improving quality control of drugs, capacity building of institutions and professionals. It also recognizes the need for building research and public health skills for preventive and promotive health care. Linking AYUSH systems with Accredited Social Health Activists and Village Health Sanitation and Nutrition Committee would be an important plank of this policy. Objectives: The objectives of the study were to determine patients’ subjective feeling of well-being and outcomes after naturopathy treatment. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted among inpatients (IP) of a naturopathy center in the field practice area of an Rural Health Training Centre attached to the Department of Community Medicine in a Medical College, Navi Mumbai. Questionnaires were distributed for 3 months to all the IP who were willing to participate and give their feedback at discharge. A total of 64 subjects responded. They were personally interviewed, their history and presenting complaints were listed, clinical examination was done, positive findings were noted, details of treatment and advice given were enumerated. Obtained data were tabulated in MS Excel and analyzed using SPSS software. Patients received normal care from the respective therapists and no intervention was done from our side. Permission from the Institutional Review Board for conducting the study was taken. Results: Systolic blood pressure before and after therapy was compared, there was a difference of mean reduction in 4 mmHg with P = 0.00. Significant reduction in weight was noticed among overweight and obese people taking the therapy. A strong positive correlation was seen when quantity of weight reduction was correlated with initial Body Mass Index (BMI). The correlation constant was 0.811 with a significance level of 0.00. Conclusion: Naturopathy therapy as well as yoga practice results in a broad range of outcomes from physical and emotional change through to wider benefits involving the patients’ lifestyle, outlook, and attitude toward their health.
ABSTRACT
Background: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic degenerative joint disease with a prevalence of about 29% in India. Reduced kinesthetic receptors in joint especially around the ligaments in the knee can lead to impaired proprioceptive information to an individual. Core muscle endurance deficiency leads to an increase in the loading of the knee, as well as in knee joint contact force during dynamic movement. Hence, poor core stability may be one of the contributing factors that lead to knee OA development as well as its progression. Objectives: The objective of this study was to find a correlation between core muscle endurance and balance in subjects with OA. Material and Methods: The observational study was conducted on 50 healthy, male and female subjects, age >40 years diagnosed with OA knee using convenience sampling. Subjects underwent core stability assessment consisting of plank, bilateral side bridge, Sorenson, and 60-degree trunk flexion endurance tests. Y-balance test -Lower quarter (YBT-LQ) was used to measure dynamic balance in individuals. The data were analyzed at a 5% level of significance using SPSS. Outcomes were correlated using Spearman’s correlation of coefficient. Results: Correlation was found between YBT-LQ and plank r = 0.402 (P = 0.004), YBT-LQ and right side bridge 0.425 (P = 0.002), YBT-LQ and left side bridge r = 0.490 (P = 0.001), YBT-LQ and 60° trunk flexion test r = 0.369 (P = 0.008), and YBT-LQ and Sorenson test r = 0.324 (P = 0.022). Conclusion: There is a weak to moderate correlation between core endurance and balance in subjects with OA knee.