Effect of exercise program and calcium supplements on low bone mass among young Indian women- A comparative study

Low bone mass is a major health concern among young women nowadays due to sedentary lifestyle and lack of calcium rich food intake. Therefore there is an increase in the incidence of LBM among young university women so our main purpose of study was to compare effects of exercise program and calcium supplements on bone mass in young women. This single blinded, cross sectional study included data collection in the form of SOS T-scores at distal radius for 104 young university women of mean age 22.3 years using Sunlight Omnisense Bone Sonometer 7000S. Of these, 62 women with low bone mass were included in a 3 month study but 60 subjects completed the study. They were randomly divided into 3 groups: exercise group [n=21], calcium supplementation group [n=21] and control group [n=20]. All participants were evaluated pre and post protocol for T-score distal radius and midshaft tibia. After measuring SOS T-score of 104 subjects; we found that 60.57% had low bone mass and remaining 39.43% had normal bone mass. After 3 months, the exercise group showed significant improvement in distal radius SOS T-score [t=5.10, P<0.001], at midshaft tibia [t=3.71, P<0.001] followed by improvement in calcium group at distal radius [t=6.28, P<0.001], midshaft tibia [t=2.33, P<0.05] as compared to control group which showed a marginal increase. Exercise group showed more improvement in T-scores than calcium and control group. Exercise is important modifiable factor to improve bone accretion at this age and reduce risk of developing osteoporosis related debilitating conditions later in life

Role of biofeedback in optimizing psychomotor performance in sports

Biofeedback is an emerging tool to acquire and facilitate physiological and psychological domains of the human body like response time and concentration. Thus, the present study aims at determining the reconstitution of psychomotor and performance skills in basketball players through biofeedback training. Basketball players [N=30] with different levels of expertise [university, state and national] aged 18-28 years [both male and female] were randomly divided into 3 equal groups - Experimental group, Placebo group and Control group. The experimental group received Heart Rate Variability Biofeedback training for 10 consecutive days for 20 minutes that included breathing at individual's resonant frequency through a pacing stimulus; Placebo group was shown motivational video clips for 10 consecutive days for 10 minutes, whereas Control group was not given any intervention. At session 1, 10 and 1 month follow up, heart rate variability, respiration rate, response time [reaction and movement time], concentration and shooting performance were assessed. Two way repeated measure ANOVA was used to simultaneously compare within and between group differences. Response time, concentration, heart rate variability, respiration rate and shooting differences were statistically significant in each group along with interaction of group and time [P<0.001]. Also, all the measures showed statistically significant inter group difference [P<0.05]. The results of the study suggest that biofeedback training may help to train stressed athletes to acquire a control over their psychophysiological processes, thus helping an athlete to perform maximally

Functional performance testing in athletes with functional ankle instability

To determine if functional performance deficits are present in athletes with functional ankle instability [FAI] compared to healthy athletes using various functional performance tests. Sixty two athletes [mean age-21.7 +/- 1.8years; height-168.2 +/- 9.1cm; weight-63.8 +/- l 1.0kg] participated in this case control study. Athletes were divided into two groups: athletes with FAI [FAI group, n=31] and healthy athletes [Non-FAI group, n=31]. The FAI group was further divided into two subgroups: FAI with giving way [FAI-GW], FAI with no giving way [FAI-NGW]. Functional performance was assessed with the single-limb hopping test, figure-of-8 hop test, side-hop test, single-limb hurdle test, square hop test and single hop test. Significant differences [P<0.05] were observed for all the functional performance tests [FPTs] except the single hop test between FAI and Non-FAI groups; between FAI-GW, FAI-NGW and Non-FAI groups. Additionally, the involved limb performed significantly worse [P<0.05] than the contra-lateral uninvolved limb of the FAI-GW group for the above-mentioned FPTs. Significant functional performance deficits were observed in the FAI group in all tests except single hop test with greater deficits observed in the FAI-GW group. Hence, these tests can be used to determine the presence of FAI. However no deficits were identified for the test involving sagittal plane functional activities suggesting that this test can not be used as a criterion to discriminate individuals with FAI. It was further ascertained that functional performance was not affected by limb dominance

Prediction equation for calculating fat mass in young Indian adults

Accurate measurement or prediction of fat mass is useful in physiology, nutrition and clinical medicine. Most predictive equations currently used to assess percentage of body fat or fat mass, using simple anthropometric measurements were derived from people in western societies and they many not be appropriate for individuals with other genotypic and phenotypic characteristics. We developed equations to predict fat mass from anthropometric measurements in young Indian adults. Fat amass was measured in 60 females and 58 males, aged 20 to 29 yrs by using hydrostatic weighing and by simultaneous measurement of residual lung volume. Anthropometric measure included weight [kg], height [m] and 4 skinfold thickness [STs [mm]]. Sex specific linear regression model was developed with fat mass as the dependent variable and all anthropometric measures as independent variables. The prediction equation obtained for fat mass [kg] for males was 8.46+0.32 [weight] - 15.16 [height] +9.54 [log of sum of 4 STs] [R2=0.54, SEE=3.42 kg] and -20.22 +0.33 [weight] + 3.44 [height] + 7.66 [log of sum of 4 STs] [R2+0.72, SEE=3.01 kg] for females. A new prediction equation for the measurement of fat mass was derived and internally validated in young Indian adults using simple anthropometric measurements

effects of aerobic versus resistance training on cardiovascular fitness in obese sedentary females

The present study was designed to evaluate the effects of aerobic and strength training on cardiac variables such as blood pressure, heart rate [HR], and metabolic parameters like cholesterol, high density lipoprotein [HDL], triglycerides and anthropometric parameters of obese women of Punjab. This study was performed as an experimental study, in which subjects were randomly selected. There were thirty obese women, aged between 35-45yrs with body mass index [BMI] of above 30. Subjects were grouped into control [n=10], aerobic training [n=10] and resistance training [n=10]. Aerobic training was given for three days a week at 60-70% of maximum HR for 6 weeks. Resistance training [Delorme and Watkins Technique] was given for alternate days for 6 weeks. HR and blood pressure were measured before and after the exercise. Recovery HR was also measured. The findings of the study indicate statistically significant differences in recovery heart rate [Pre-exercise: 97.40 +/- 5.378 [mean +/- standard deviation [SD]], post-exercise: 90.70 +/- 4.599, t=8.066, P<0.001] and in post-diastolic blood pressure [Pre-exercise: 85 +/- 3.265, post-exercise: 86.20 +/- 2.820, P<0.001] in aerobic training and in systolic blood pressure [Pre- and post-exercise] in both training groups [P<0.001]. Significant differences were observed in very low-density lipoprotein [pre-exercise: 28.10 +/- 1.415, post-exercise: 26.86 +/- 0.760, t=6.318] and HDL [pre-exercise:45.40 +/- 3.533, post-exercise:53.60 +/- 3.134, t=6.318] levels in aerobic training group with P<0.001. BMI and body fat percentage showed significant improvements in both training groups. Aerobic training is more beneficial and can be used as a preventive measure in patients who are at risk of developing cardiovascular diseases due to obesity