ABSTRACT
Objective@#To investigate the effect of 6 weeks of home-based boxing training on trunk performance, balance, fear of falling, and level of therapy enjoyment in individuals with chronic stroke. @*Methods@#Eighteen participants with chronic stroke were randomly divided into boxing and control groups (9 patients per group). The boxing group received home-based boxing training for 25 minutes plus balance and trunk exercise training for 15 minutes, while the control group received only home-based balance and trunk exercise training for 40 minutes, three days a week for 6 weeks. The Trunk Impairment Scale (TIS), Mini-Balance Evaluation Systems Test (Mini-BESTest), Activities-specific Balance Confidence (ABC) scale, and Physical Activity Enjoyment Scale (PACES) were assessed at baseline, and at 2, 4, and 6 weeks post-training. The Wilcoxon signed rank test and Mann–Whitney U-test were used to determine differences between pre- and post-training within and between groups. Statistical significance was set at p<0.05. @*Results@#The TIS scores significantly increased from 13 to 17 points in the boxing group (p<0.05) compared to an increase from 15 to 17 points in the control group (p<0.05). The Mini-BESTest scores significantly increased from 14 to 22 points in the boxing group (p<0.05) compared to an increase from 17 to 20 points in the control group (p<0.05). There were no differences in the TIS, Mini-BESTest, ABC, and PACES scores between the two groups. @*Conclusion@#Home-based boxing training with balance and trunk exercise training had a similar training effect compared to home-based balance and trunk exercise training.
ABSTRACT
@#Introduction: During the time of volcano eruptions, farmers have to harvest their crops before the stipulated harvest time, which leads to quality and quantity loss. Besides, farmers also have to continue their farming activities, including purchasing farming necessities. These unaddressed issues of the agricultural restoration could be one of the key factors to malnutrition. Therefore, this study assessed the associations between farmers’ expenditures and the nutritional status of children in areas affected by Indonesia’s Sinabung eruption. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out among 444 (158 farmers, 228 farmers cum farm labourers, and 58 farm labourers) households headed by farmers. The questionnaire used for data collection was the Indonesian Family Life Survey questions (IFLS). Results: Non-food expenditures had a huge impact on household livelihoods, which was significantly associated with children’s nutritional status. Among the three groups of farmers, children of farmers and farmers cum farm labourers were prone to malnutrition. This was because these two groups had to limit food expenditures over their farming necessities and cigarettes expenditure, which took more than half of their income. However, the prevalence of malnutrition was highest in children of farmers. Children of farm labourers had better nutritional status compared to children of the other two groups. Conclusion: Children of farmers and farmers cum farm labourers were prone to malnutrition due to limited expenditure on food. This study suggests that policymakers in Indonesia should provide food and nutrition security to children who were impacted by the Sinabung eruption.