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Background and Purpose: Stroke rehabilitation targets functional retraining of the limbs along with balance and gait. Even after extensive rehabilitation, up to 50% of stroke survivors experience motor deficits and balance problems that linger due to which the individuals are at high risk of falls. Trunk impairments though common do not manifest themselves as an individual problem and can impact balance. The purpose was to study the effect of Pilates mat exercises on balance and limits of stability in chronic stroke patients. It was hypothesized that since core training is not the point of focus in stroke rehabilitation, training the same through Pilates method could give better improvements in balance.Subjects and Methods: 9 individuals were randomly allocated to either Pilates exercise group (PG, n=5) or Control Group (CG, n=4).the CG attended a regular rehabilitation program for stroke & the balance exercises were progressed week-wise. The PG, in addition to conventional treatment, attended 18 Pilates exercise sessions over a period of 6 weeks (3 sessions / week). Tinetti Performance Oriented Mobility Assessment Scale (POMA) and Limits of Stability (LOS) including Reaction Time (RT), End Point Excursion (EPE), Maximum Excursion (MXE), Movement Velocity (MVL), and Directional Control (DC) were measured before and after the exercise program & compared to assess the training effects.[Results]: Pilates exercises positively affected both dynamic balance and LOS in Chronic Stroke patients. For LOS, the RT (0.0427) and MXE (0.0292) components showed significant improvement in the PG while the improvements in CG were not significant. Other components of LOS-EPE, MVL, DC showed improvements clinically in both PG and CG but were not statistically significant via unpaired 't' test. For dynamic balance, the improvements in POMA score were more in PG than CG (p=0.05) and were significant. Conclusion: This pilot study provides initial evidence that Pilates exercises may help improve balance and LOS in chronic stroke patients.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a non-inflammatory progressive degenerative disorder of weight bearing joint. Changes in foot posture may cause increased mechanical rotational stress on the knee joint and may alter alignment and dynamic function of lower limb. To understand the effect of foot orthosis and footwear modification as a non-operative treatment and to identify patients who are most likely to benefit from it, greater knowledge of foot structure in this population is required to find altered foot posture in medial and lateral compartment OA knee using Navicular Drop Test (NDT) and Arch Index (AI). A cross sectional study done on 100 Osteoarthritis patients diagnosed with ACR clinically diagnostic criteria. Patients were evaluated using NDT and AI. NDT: Using a rigid ruler the height of navicular tuberosity in neutral talus position and relaxed standing position was measured. AI: A foot print was taken on graph paper and divided into 3 equal parts A (anterior), B(middle), C(posterior). The results showed that 64% had medial compartmental OA knee and 36% had lateral compartmental OA knee. Out of total population patient showed equal amount of pronation and supination i.e. 36%, while 28% having no alteration in foot posture. Medial compartment had 19.20% pronated foot due to knee adduction moment arm. 28.12% had supinated foot in order to decrease load on lateral compartment and to delay further degenerative process. The study concluded that medial compartment OA and lateral compartment OA showed more pronated and supinated foot type respectively.

Background and Purpose: Stroke survivors are impaired by asymmetric posture, reduced voluntary control of movement, abnormal body balance, and deficit of weight transfer which affects their postural control and walking ability thereby increasing risk of fall.Ankle dorsiflexion plays an major role in balance and gait.The purpose of the study was to see the effect of spring assisted technique of Kinesiotaping on gait speed and rhythmic weight shift in stroke patients. The hypothesis was that it would act as a support as well as stimulate primary dorsiflexors Tibalis Anterior thereby improving gait speed and static balance.Methods and Methods: 10 subjects,both male and female with sub acute and chronic stroke were selected. Pre assessment was done by rhythmic weight shifts in which movement velocity and directional control of both right/left and front/back, gait speed was noted by 3 min walk test and laps counted. Kinesio tape was applied by spring assisted technique. After application immediately and after 3 days, rhythmic weight shift was checked on NeuroCom Balance Master and gait speed by 3 min walk was taken.Results: Paired t test analysis showed there was no significant changes seen in right and left movement velocity and directional control , significant changes observed in anterior and posterior movement velocity and extremely significant changes observed in gait speed immediately as well as 3 days post application if Kinesiotape. Conclusion:Spring assisted technique has a beneficial effect on gait speed and anterior/posterior movement velocity of rhythmic weight shifts. There was clinical improvement in anterior posterior weight shift directional control though not statistically significant.

Background and Purpose: Low back pain is a considerable health problem in all developed countries and is most commonly treated in primary healthcare settings.Improving functional performance in patients with chronic low back pain is of primary importance. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of Muscle Energy Technique (MET) along with supervised exercises, hot pack and TENS to improve functional performance in subjects with chronic nonspecific low back pain.Methods and Measures: 30 subjects, including both males and females diagnosed with chronic nonspecific low back pain were randomly assigned into 2 treatment groups. Patients were selected according to inclusion criteria and positive muscle length tests of Quadratus Lumborum, Erector Spinae, Iliopsoas and Tensor Fascia Latae. The control group received supervised exercises, hot pack and TENS while the experimental group received the same exercises along with MET. Both groups received the selected treatment 9 sessions over a 3-week period (3 sessions per week). Patients completed an Oswestry Disability Index on their first and ninth treatment session and the scores were calculated.Results: Paired t test was used to analyse the ODI within the group. Unpaired t-test was used for between the analyses of ODI for both the control and experimental groups. A 2-tailed p value (P-0.0006) demonstrated a statistically significant difference, with the experimental group showing greater improvement in the Oswestry Disability Index score than the control group.Conclusion: MET has got added beneficial effect for decreasing disability and improving function in patients with chronic nonspecific low back pain along with supervised exercises, hot pack and TENS.