Complementary and Integrative Medicine and Eating Disorders in Youth: Traditional Yoga, Virtual Reality, Light Therapy, Neurofeedback, Acupuncture, Energy Psychology Techniques, Art Therapies, and Spirituality.

Eating disorders (EDs) are a non-heterogeneous group of illnesses with significant physical and mental comorbidity and mortality associated with maladaptive coping. With the exception of lisdexamfetamine (Vyvanse) for binge eating disorder, no medications have been effective for the core symptoms of ED. ED requires a multimodal approach. Complementary and integrative medicine (CIM) can be helpful as an adjunct. The most promising CIM interventions are traditional yoga, virtual reality, eye movement desensitization and reprocessing, Music Therapy, and biofeedback/neurofeedback.

Acceptability of Online Yoga Among Individuals With Chronic Conditions and Their Caregivers: Qualitative Study.

BACKGROUND: The online delivery of yoga interventions rapidly expanded during the COVID-19 pandemic, and preliminary studies indicate that online yoga is feasible across multiple chronic conditions. However, few yoga studies provide synchronous online yoga sessions and rarely target the caregiving dyad. Online chronic disease management interventions have been evaluated across conditions, life spans, and diverse samples. However, the perceived acceptability of online yoga, including self-reported satisfaction and online delivery preferences, is underexplored among individuals with chronic conditions and their caregivers. Understanding user preferences is essential for successful and safe online yoga implementation. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to qualitatively examine the perceived acceptability of online yoga among individuals with chronic conditions and their caregivers who participated in an online dyadic intervention that merged yoga and self-management education to develop skills (MY-Skills) to manage persistent pain. METHODS: We conducted a qualitative study among 9 dyads (>18 years of age; individuals experiencing persistent moderate pain) who participated in MY-Skills online during the COVID-19 pandemic. The intervention consisted of 16 online, synchronous yoga sessions over 8 weeks for both dyad members. After the completion of the intervention, participants (N=18) participated in semistructured telephone interviews for around 20 minutes, discussing their preferences, challenges, and recommendations for improved online delivery. Interviews were analyzed by using a rapid analytic approach. RESULTS: MY-Skills participants were, on average, aged 62.7 (SD 19) years; were primarily women; were primarily White; and had a mean of 5.5 (SD 3) chronic conditions. Both participants and caregivers reported moderate pain severity scores (mean 6.02, SD 1.3) on the Brief Pain Inventory. The following three themes were identified related to online delivery: (1) participants indicated a preference for the intervention to be in person rather than online because they were distracted in the home setting, because they felt that in-person yoga would be more engaging, because the yoga therapist could physically correct positions, and because of safety concerns (eg, fear of falling); (2) participants indicated good acceptability of online MY-Skills delivery due to convenience, access, and comfort with being in their home; and (3) recommendations for improving online delivery highlighted a need for additional and accessible technical support. CONCLUSIONS: Both individuals with chronic conditions and their caregivers find online yoga to be an acceptable intervention. Participants who preferred in-person yoga did so due to distractions in the home and group dynamics. Some participants preferred in-person corrections to ensure correct positioning, while others felt safe with verbal modifications in their homes. Convenience and access were the primary reasons for preferring online delivery. To improve online delivery, future yoga studies should include specific activities for fostering group engagement, enhancing safety protocols, and increasing technical support. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03440320; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03440320.

Inviting the body, movement, and the creative arts into telehealth: A culturally responsive model for online EMDR preparation

This chapter addresses the emerging need to enhance the cross-cultural applications of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) over telehealth to effectively respond to the COVID-19 crisis. The chapter aims to provide therapists with skills to expand Phase Two of EMDR treatment to increase safety and readiness for online trauma reprocessing. It presents The COME BACK Tool, a set of eight stabilization practices that integrates movement and creative arts, as a comprehensive framework for Phase Two of EMDR. The chapter discusses the benefits of using body-based practices when working with complex trauma and dissociation as well as its application to intercultural work, and also presents a case example of using yoga to facilitate dual attention during trauma reprocessing in Phase Four of EMDR over telehealth. The chapter then outlines eight COME BACK Tool scripts, one practice for each letter, so that readers can easily and immediately begin offering these practices to clients and even applying them to their own self-care routine. By integrating movement and creative arts therapies, the whole body is engaged for a present-moment experience and provides a concrete, external focus so mindfully connecting to thoughts, feelings, and sensations is more tolerable and titrated. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)

To Study the Role of Yoga in Physical Wellbeing and COVID Antibody Production in COVID Vaccine Recipients

Aim: To study the role of yoga in physical wellbeing and COVID antibody production in COVID vaccine recipients. Material and Methods: The study was conducted on 186 patients, who were randomly allocated to either Group A (Study group or Yoga group) or Group B (control group) for the purpose of the study. Out of them, a fairly large number of patients (176 patients) completed the study. While in Group A (patients undergoing yoga therapy along with dietary restrictions), out of 93 patients who were enrolled, 89 patients (95%) completed 6 months follow up and the rest were lost to follow up;in the Group B (patients on dietary restrictions only), out of 93 patients, 87 patients (91%) completed 6 months follow up, and the rest were lost to follow up. The patients were followed thoroughly and at the end of three months they were measured again for WHOQOL-BREF score, COVID antibody titres, routine investigations along with Blood Pressure and other parameters. Results: The difference in mean COVID antibody titres between - Yoga Participants (Study Group) and Non- Yoga Participants (Control Group) one and three month after vaccination is significant (p value= 0.003), and, it is higher in Yoga participants group. Also WHOQOL-BREF is higher in Yoga participants group than in non-Yoga participants group, one and three month after vaccination. Conclusion: From the present study, we found that Yoga therapy is beneficial in increased production of COVID antibodies and overall sense of physical wellbeing assessed using WHOQOL-BREF score. Yoga did not have significant effect in reducing the side effects of COVID vaccination, however, practicing yoga can significantly increase the tolerance of side effects, i.e. those who practice yoga tolerate the side effects better. [ FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Journal of Cardiovascular Disease Research (Journal of Cardiovascular Disease Research) is the property of Journal of Cardiovascular Disease Research and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full . (Copyright applies to all s.)

Yoga and Physical Exercises as Immunogenic Fortifiers for Coronavirus Vaccine Responses

Background and aim: Coronavirus has emerged as a pandemic leading to pneumonia and death in susceptible populations, especially in immunocompromised hosts and the elderly. Though national governance and drug firms work in cohesion to develop vaccines, the fear and anxiety towards misconceptions about vaccine efficacy and adverse effects lead to underutilization of the vaccines. Though known for its immunogenic responses against infections, conservative lifestyle modifications such as Yoga and physical exercise's synergistic effects with coronavirus vaccine's immunogenic response remains unknown. Methods: We administered a systematic search on the contemporary evidence investigating the immune responses of physical activity or Yoga in three databases: PubMed, Embase and Web of Science. In the present review, we reviewed the empirical evidence that explored the role of Yoga and physical exercise as an immunity booster and extrapolated their effects against coronavirus infection. Results: We found sixteen articles emphasizing physical activity to augment immune responses towards Coronavirus. Discussion and Conclusion: Considering the contemporary evidence, complementary therapies such as Yoga or physical activity are speculated to improve the influenza vaccines' immune responses. We recommend that Yoga and physical exercises be affordable, practical and effective strategies that could be advocated along with vaccination doses. We hope the present review may help readers and policymakers explore complementary therapies that could be administered as adjuncts to vaccine-mediated immunity in combating the deadly pandemic. © 2023 by authors, all rights reserved.

Asynchronous Technologies in Mental Health Care and Education.

Purpose of review: Patients, providers, and trainees should understand the current types of asynchronous technologies that can be used to enhance the delivery and accessibility of mental health care. Asynchronous telepsychiatry (ATP) removes the need for real time communication between the clinician and patient, which improves efficiency and enables quality specialty care. ATP can be applied as distinct consultative and supervisory models in clinician-to-clinician, clinician-to-patient, and patient-to-mobile health settings. Recent findings: This review is based on research literature and the authors' clinical and medical training, using experiences with asynchronous telepsychiatry from before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Our studies demonstrate that ATP provides positive outcomes in the clinician-to-patient model with demonstrated feasibility, outcomes and patient satisfaction. One author's medical education experience in the Philippines during COVID-19 highlights the potential to utilize asynchronous technology in areas with limitations to online learning. We emphasize the need to teach media skills literacy around mental health to students, coaches, therapists, and clinicians when advocating for mental well-being. Several studies have demonstrated the feasibility of incorporating asynchronous e-tools such as self-guided multimedia and artificial intelligence for data collection at the clinician-to-clinician and patient-to-mobile health level. In addition, we offer fresh perspectives on recent trends in asynchronous telehealth in wellness, applying concepts such as "tele-exercise" and "tele-yoga." Summary: Asynchronous technologies continue to be integrated into mental health care services and research. Future research must ensure that the design and the usability of this technology puts the patient and provider first.

Research article An interprofessional collaborative approach to alleviate workplace stress among medical college faculty during COVID pandemic

Introduction and Aim: Job and stress are not mutually exclusive;in fact, stress is inherent to job. In the present era of COVID pandemic, working as health care providers may entail highest levels of stress leading to burnout. Thus, affecting work efficiency of faculty, in turn reflecting on students' performance and health care services to patients. However, de-stressors like yoga and art-based interventions are scarce and not well documented to date. Hence, the present study was undertaken to determine the efficacy of stress alleviating yoga and creative art therapy through interprofessional collaborative approach. Method(s): Sixty medical faculty of either gender aging 30-60 years, were randomly divided into two equal groups-control and intervention group. The intervention group underwent yoga and creative art therapy for 10 days duration each. International stress management association (ISMA) stress questionnaire and Kessler's psychological distress (K-10) scale were administered before and post-intervention, to compare the stress levels. Blood pressure (BP), pulse rate, body mass index (BMI) and waist hip ratio (WHR) were also measured. Comparative analysis of pre-post test scores was done using Student's paired 't' test. Result(s): According to ISMA and K-10 scores, the intervention group showed statistically significant (p <= 0.05) decrease in stress levels among faculty. However, BP, BMI and WHR didn't show any significant change after the intervention. Conclusion(s): Yoga and art therapy were proved to be beneficial in reducing the stress levels among faculty significantly. Comparative analysis also showed significant reduction irrespective of their gender and specialty.Copyright © 2023, Indian Association of Biomedical Scientists. All rights reserved.

Comparing the Effects of Aerobic Exercise and Yoga on Stress Levels in College Students

Purpose of Study: College for many is a time of transition. This transition from adolescence to young adulthood can be very stressful. During the COVID-19 pandemic, rates of suicide, depression and anxiety increased in adolescents and young adults. Recently, Wang and colleagues (2020) found that among 2,031 students in a large US university, 48% reported having moderate-to-severe depression, 38% had moderate-to-severe anxiety, and 18% had thoughts of suicide. Effective strategies to help emerging adults cope with stress is critically needed to decrease these alarming data. The primary aim of this study was to compare the effects of aerobic exercise and yoga on college students' perceived levels of stress. A secondary aim of the study was to examine whether athlete status would moderate the effectiveness of either intervention. Methods Used: A sample of 55 college students were recruited via email during the spring of 2022. Students were randomly assigned to complete a single, 20-minute session of either yoga or aerobic exercise. Participant's current and chronic stress levels were recorded both before and after exercise. Chronic stress was measured using Cohen's Perceived Stress Scale and current stress was measured using a modified version of the same scale. To support the second research aim, participants were asked to report if they were a member of a college-affiliated athletic team during the 2021-2022 academic year. Demographic characteristics including age, gender, and ethnicity were also collected. Summary of Results: A 2 (Time) X 2 (Condition) x 2 (Athlete Status) mixed factorial ANOVA was conducted. Results indicated that both aerobic exercise and yoga led to a significant decrease in chronic stress (p=.03), although there were no meaningful differences between the two conditions (p=.075). This pattern of results held for current stress as well, with both groups experiencing an equivalent decrease in current stress (p<.001). Athlete-status did not significantly predict changes in current or chronic stress, nor did it moderate the efficacy of either intervention. Conclusion(s): Taken together, these findings indicate that a small bout of exercise, regardless of type, can help decrease reported stress for college students. They also provide preliminary evidence about the efficacy of exercise as stress reduction for college athletes. Our findings provide further support for using exercise as a practical strategy for coping with stress. (Table Presented).

2023 Western Medical Research Conference

The proceedings contain 549 papers. The topics discussed include: interleukin-2 kinase-mediated T-cell receptor signaling is critical in the development of type 1 diabetes by OT-1 T-cells;the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on anxiety and depression in adolescents in the military population;dollars sense: a school-based effort to increase financial literacy in high school students;fostering the next generation of healthcare leaders in a pandemic world;walkability of San Bernardino county?s elementary schools in relation to various school characteristics;placebo-controlled trial in tanner 2-3 males with Klinefelter syndrome: effect of testosterone gel versus placebo in motor skills outcomes;my implant is expiring: a national secret shopper study of extended use of the contraceptive implant;comparing the effects of aerobic exercise and yoga on stress levels in college students;and are patients with a history of chest radiation therapy at higher risk for sternal wound problems after heart transplant?.

Feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of yoga to improve maternal mental health and immune function during the COVID-19 crisis (Yoga-M2 trial): a pilot randomized controlled trial.

Introduction: Women are vulnerable during pregnancy as they experience multiple physical and psychological problems which can lead to stress and poor quality of life ultimately affecting the development of the fetus and their health during and after pregnancy. Prior evidence suggests that prenatal yoga can improve maternal health and well-being and can have a beneficial effect on immune system functioning. To date, no study has been conducted in a rural, low-resource setting in India to assess the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of a yoga-based intervention on perceived stress, quality of life, pro-inflammatory biomarkers, and symptoms of upper respiratory tract infections. Methods: To address this gap and assess whether a yoga-based intervention could improve maternal mental health and immunity during the COVID-19 crisis (Yoga-M2 trial), a single-blind individual randomized parallel group-controlled pilot trial with a 1:1 allocation ratio was implemented. We randomly allocated 51 adult pregnant women, with gestational age between 12-24 weeks in the Yoga-M2 arm (n = 25) or the enhanced usual care arm (EUC) (n = 26). Feasibility and acceptability were assessed using the process data and In-Depth Interviews (IDIs) with the trial participants and yoga instructors. Multiple linear regression was used to compare follow-up scores for quantitative outcomes. Results: A three-month follow-up assessment was completed for 48 out of 51 participants (94.12%). We did not find any statistically significant difference between both arms in total Perceived Stress Scale scores, quality of life (Eq-5D-5L index), and serum C Reactive Protein levels at the three-month follow-up assessment. The critical barriers to practicing yoga were lack of knowledge about the benefits of yoga, lack of 'felt need' to practice yoga, lack of time to practice, lack of space, lack of transport, and lack of peer group to practice yoga. Despite this, women who regularly practiced yoga described the benefits and factors which motivated them to practice regularly. Discussion: The learnings from this trial will help design the explanatory trial in the future and the study findings can also be used by the primary health care system to deliver yoga-based interventions in the newly created health and wellness centers. Trial registration: This trial was prospectively registered with the Clinical Trials Registry of India on 25 January 2022. https://www.ctri.nic.in/Clinicaltrials/showallp.php?mid1=65173&EncHid=&userName=CTRI/2022/01/039701. Trial registration number: CTRI/2022/01/039701.

Yoga for Preventive Health: A Holistic Approach.

Yoga has been prevalent for over 5000 years; it originated in India and has become an essential lifestyle ingredient for achieving optimal health. The goal of this article in lifestyle modification is to increase awareness about the benefits of yoga and how its practice can reduce the overall risk of chronic diseases. Yoga has been proven to be therapeutic for enhancing immunity and support management of chronic diseases such as cardiovascular, respiratory, endocrine disorders, obesity, cancer, and metabolic syndrome. Yoga techniques called asanas, such as pranayama for breathing regulation and dhyana for meditation, boost innate immune response, interrupt inflammation, and thereby prevent the manifestation of chronic diseases. Yoga also provides symptomatic relief for chronic arthritis by increasing joint flexibility and microcirculation. Yoga and meditation regulate neurotransmitters, neuropeptides, hormones, and cytokines that mediate interactions between the central nervous system and the immune system. These techniques reduce the psychological and physiological effects of chronic stress. Serotonin, oxytocin, and melatonin released directly due to practicing yoga have been shown to better manage anxiety and fear, especially during the pandemic. We believe the current trends of chronic disease management will become more effective with the implementation of lifestyle changes using yoga.

Exploring the Benefits of Yoga for Mental and Physical Health during the COVID-19 Pandemic

This article examines the efficacy of the postures, breath control techniques, and meditative states of yoga, specifically Haṭha Yoga, in promoting overall mental and physical health. It then examines whether this form of yoga could be effective in reducing morbidity or serious illness during the COVID-19 pandemic. We assess the potential efficacy of three claims made for Haṭha Yoga. They are the following: (1) breathing exercises associated with yoga may help maintain pulmonary health and protect the upper respiratory tract, the portal of entry for the SARS-CoV-2 virus infection;(2) improved immunity resulting from sustained yoga practice may help prevent COVID-19 contraction;(3) stress reduction of yoga may be effective in maintaining the mental well-being needed to combat the extra stress of living during a pandemic. Related to this claim, we examine testimony to the effect that yoga also gave people meaning and purpose in their lives during the isolating lockdown period. While exploring these beneficent advantages, we further address a serious health-related counterclaim that the community practice of yoga has the potential to create conditions that facilitate disease transmission due to heavy breathing in small, enclosed spaces. This balanced analysis introduces an interesting tension relevant to public health policy, namely that well-intended attempts to minimize indoor interaction for the sake of reducing the spread of infection may impact the effectiveness of yogic therapies and impede the freedom to practice the spiritual discipline of yoga. They may also not reduce the spread of infection enough to warrant their damaging effects on yoga practice. We suggest ways for resolving this tension and conclude with some concrete recommendations for facilitating yoga practice in future pandemics. These include (1) that public health policymakers consider programs that provide access to yoga by ensuring hospital prayer rooms appropriate in size and that, where feasible, yoga studios conduct their lessons outside in open areas;(2) that resources be devoted to providing therapeutic access to virtual yoga as a federal program, despite potential resistance to this idea of government involvement due to concerns that yoga has its origins in heterodox religious practice.

Clinical effectiveness of training for awareness, resilience, and action for adolescents and young adults with depression: The pilot phase of a multicenter randomized controlled trial.

Background: Depression is a top-ranking global health concern increasing in magnitude. Available treatments for adolescents and young adults are not convincingly effective and relapse rates remain high. Training for Awareness, Resilience and Action (TARA) is a group treatment program targeting specific pathophysiological mechanisms of depression in young people. TARA is feasible, acceptable, preliminarily efficacious in depressed American adolescents, and it affects postulated brain-circuitry. Methods: As an initial step of a multicenter randomized controlled trial (RCT) we performed a single-arm multicenter pilot-study on TARA. Thirty-five depressed individuals (15-21 years old, 28 females) received TARA for 12 weeks face-to-face or online. Data was collected before (T0), during, and after the intervention (T1). The trial was pre-registered at clinicaltrials.gov, NCT Registration: identifier [NCT04747340]. Feasibility outcomes included recruitment, attendance rates, and session ratings. Adverse events were recorded weekly and extracted from medical records at the end of the trial. Primary effectiveness outcome was self-rated depression severity on Reynolds Adolescent Depression scale 2nd ed. at T1. Secondary outcomes were Children's Depression Rating Scale-revised (CDRS-R) and Multidimensional Anxiety Scale for Children (MASC) at T1. Results: TARA was feasible and safe in the present trial. No significant RADS-2-change was seen (adjusted mean difference -3.26, 95 % CI -8.35 to 1.83; p= 0.20), however a significant decrease in CDRS-R scores is reported (adjusted mean difference -9.99, 95% CI -14.76 to -5.22; p < 0.001). MASC-scores did not change significantly (adjusted mean difference 1.98, 95% CI -0.96 to 4.91; p=0.18). Additional feasibility aspects are presented and discussed. Discussion: Limitations include substantial loss-to-follow-up, no randomization to control, and that some participants received concomitant treatment(s). The Coronavirus pandemic complicated both implementation and interpretation of the trial. In conclusion TARA was feasible and safe in depressed adolescents and young adults. Preliminary signs of effectiveness were seen. The initiated RCT will be important and worthwhile to conduct, and several improvements to the design are suggested based on the present results. Clinical Trial Registration: clinicaltrials.gov, identifier NCT04747340.

Effect of Yoga involvement on mental health in times of crisis: A cross-sectional study.

Background: Yoga involvement can be understood as a degree of immersion in the philosophical/spiritual teachings of Yoga. Previous research has shown a positive association between Yoga involvement and mental health. This study further investigates the effect of Yoga involvement on several parameters of psychological well-being and distress amidst a global crisis precipitated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A total sample of 246 participants (216 females; 118 Yoga versus 128 age-matched Pilates practitioners) were included in the study. Via an online-survey the following questionnaires were completed: the WHO-Five Well-Being Index, the Multidimensional Inventory for Religious/Spiritual Well-Being short version, the Leipzig Short Scale of Sense of Coherence, the Brief Symptom Inventory and the Yoga Immersion Scale which was adapted for the control group to Pilates Immersion Scale. Results: When controlling for occupation and psychiatric disorder, involvement in general was higher for Yoga practitioners than for Pilates controls. Furthermore, Yoga practice was associated with increased religious/spiritual well-being and decreased sense of coherence, but neither with psychological well-being nor with psychological distress. Involvement, in general, positively predicted psychological well-being, religious/spiritual well-being and sense of coherence, but there was no connection with psychological distress. Lastly, involvement mediated the positive relationship between Yoga practice and religious/spiritual well-being and suppressed the negative effect of Yoga practice on sense of coherence. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that involvement in a certain relaxation practice has a positive impact and might be a key component in understanding Yoga's influence on mental health. Further randomized controlled research, including clinical groups, is necessary to explain how involvement changes and how it effects well-being more specifically.

Yoga Recommendation System for the Mental Well-Being of Students using Machine Learning

Many expectations placed on students by society have made stress a part of their academic lives. Youth are susceptible to the issues brought on by academic stress since they are going through a phase of transitions in both aspects i.e personal and social. Academic stress has been shown to lower academic achievement and lower motivation toward academics. Therefore, it becomes crucial to develop appropriate and effective intervention options. In recent times, due to COVID, the utilization of online health blogs and sites recommending health, exercise, and yoga has been significantly increased. The blog will provide solution to a problem and then provide precautions to common people but they lack the dynamics to suggest yoga that can be done any person or a personalized yoga by considering their health condition and not a static article. This research work intends to develop an AI model to predict the possible practices a student can do to alleviate their problem by considering their BPM, blood pressure (both systole and diastole), sleep time and some questions related to stress. The proposed stress prediction model has achieved an accuracy of 94.4% and the yoga pose recommendation system has achieved an accuracy of 97.3%. © 2022 IEEE.

Effect of COVID-19 on Working Women's Physical and Mental Health: A Descriptive Study of Pre and Post Pandemic Era

Background and Aim: In 2019, the World Health Organization (WHO) recognized the coronavirus outbreak as a pandemic and a public health emergency of global significance. Recent studies have revealed that these restrictions and women's anxiety of the virus itself may have had an adverse effect on their mental health. Children and family members are spending more time at home;thus, society needs to be conscious of how this is affecting working women's emotional and physical health especially in the absence of any assisting maid. Thus, the purpose of this study was to evaluate how the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown affected working women's physical and mental health. Material(s) and Method(s): To examine the effects of COVID-19 on the physical and emotional health of working women, a cross-sectional survey was conducted. Data is collected using an online survey platform. To investigate the impact of lockdown on the women's mental and physical health, a semi-structured questionnaire comprising a number of open-and closed-ended questions was prepared. Additionally, any mental health disorders and emotional difficulties that developed during lockdown or became worse were enlisted. Another goal was to gauge how much family members understood and were sympathetic to the physical and mental strain the working women were under. Result(s): The study involved 200 women from different states of India. The hours spent in the kitchen and other associated activities increased from 1.5 hours to 5.5 hours when the time between before and during the lockdown was compared. The amount of time spent engaging in physical activity, such as yoga and morning and evening walks, significantly decreased during the lockdown are coming to normal after the lockdown. 68 per cent of those surveyed said that women's behaviour had changed. About 58 per cent of the women suffered physical changes such fatigue, headaches, lower back discomfort, and other issues with women's weight gain. Conclusion(s): Additional research is required to better understand the long-term effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on women's mental health, particularly in regard to the identification of additional variables that may be connected to the pandemic's potentially multiplicative effects on women.Copyright © 2023, Institute of Medico-legal Publication. All rights reserved.

The doctor within: Integrative health, social work, and palliative care

Integrative medicine, social work, and palliative care overlap and complement each other in a variety of ways. This chapter presents an overview of this synergy;reviews integrative therapies as a whole;and describes examples of specific modalities and their applications to social work and palliative care. Professional and family caregivers are often the primary contact for palliative care patients. If the caregiver is distressed, the patient will be distressed. Integrative therapies offer a means to heal and support both caregiver and care receiver. Social workers will find integrative approaches to health and healing to be an important aspect of palliative care. Palliative care, integrative medicine, and social work share common values and approaches toward healthcare. For many palliative care older adults, loneliness is a risk factor for mortality during COVID-19. Additionally, persons with comorbidity, usually older adults, are at high risk for COVID-19 with accompanying anxiety. Currently, there are many offerings of mindfulness-based classes, yoga, and meditation available online. In more ordinary times, these methods of delivering interventions will be beneficial for rural and homebound palliative care receivers and caregivers. The holistic approaches of integrative medicine have the potential to bring relief from both chronic physical suffering and spiritual distress. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)

Pose Estimation of Yoga Poses using ML Techniques

POSE ESTIMATION is a technique to identify joints in a human body from an image or video given as input to a computer. Pose estimation can be performed using Machine Learning (ML) techniques and Deep Learning techniques. Lately, it has been receiving lots of attention in the fields of Human Sensing and Artificial Intelligence. The main aim of pose estimation is to predict the poses of humans by locating key points like elbows, knees, wrists etc.In this work, we have proposed a model which uses Mediapipe, an ML framework, to obtain key point coordinates and ML algorithms like SVM, Gaussian Naive Bayes, Random Forest, Gradient Boost and K Neighbours classifier, which are compared and used to predict Yoga poses. Yoga is practised by people of all ages alike these days to fight issues caused both physically and mentally, thus improving the overall quality of life. Especially since the rise of the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of people practising yoga has only been increasing. In the model, human joint coordinates obtained are used as features. The model with the best accuracy and f score (MediaPipe+ SVM) is chosen for the final work.The yoga poses we used are Plank, Warrior 2, Downdog, Goddess, Tree and Cobra. On implementing the work, a real-time video feed from the webcam of the user's system is obtained, and pose estimation and classification of the yoga pose are done. Unlike in most current systems, suggestive measures to correct the yoga posture are also displayed in real-time alongside the webcam display of the person performing yoga along with some other basic pose information. © 2022 IEEE.

Home Remedies, Dietary and Lifestyle Changes during Covid-19 Pandemic

December 2019 has become one of the most surprising days in the whole world in light of the flare-up of a most infectious sickness brought about by novel Covid or Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Corona virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). This study is conducted to assess the benefits of the use of home remedies to prevent the cause of Covid-19 and evaluate the assessment of dietary changes and physical activity in the prevention of Covid-19. A questionnaire-based online survey is conducted using Google forms consisting of multiple-choice questions about home remedies, lifestyle and dietary changes made by the people during this pandemic. These home remedies included using different types of herbal preparations, steam inhalation, physical exercise and OTC medications for prophylaxis. Questions likewise included about being infected by Coronavirus-19(during first wave or second) and their recovery period, additionally collected their viewpoint for changes made, for example how much they are useful in the prevention of the attack and whenever encountered any undesirable impacts. Total responses were 210, among which 121(57.6%) responses were from females and 89(42.4%) from males. 65 people tested Covid positive (42 during the first wave and 23 during the second wave). 118(56.2%) of people think these changes are very beneficial. (Rated 4 and 5 out of 5 points). From our survey, we concluded that different herbal preparations of their composition, which they thought are helpful, and steam inhalations have been used. Rating regarding the use and effectiveness was also found to be average. Further studies are needed to prove and provide clear evidence about adverse and side effects associated with the use of herbal products.Copyright © 2022 Society of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research. All rights reserved.