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ObjectiveTo determine the pattern of physical activity specific to age and gender among young Indian school going girls and boys aged 8-14 years.DesignCross-sectional study.SettingPrivate and government sponsored schools in Patiala and Mansa District of Punjab, India. Participants: Two hundred thirty four school going girls and boys aged 8–14 years.MethodologyA structured questionnaire recorded the various forms of daily physical activity, sedentary activity as well as physical activity level of all the participants. The energy expenditure was also calculated using the standard metabolic equivalent index.ResultsThere is a significant difference between mean weights of participants belonging to different physical activity levels (p < .04). In comparison to boys, the girl participants have significant lower values of physical activity duration as well as total metabolic equivalent expenditure (p < .05). The total duration of moderate/vigorous physical activity declined in both girls and boys as the age increased.ConclusionPhysical activity among children in Northern regions of India is on decline as their age increases especially among girls. It is important to determine physical activity duration in early age groups and motivate children for daily physical activity.

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Athletes such as long-distance runners, sprinters, hockey, and/or football players may have proximal hamstring tendinopathy (PHT). Laser therapy has been shown to be effective in tendinopathies. High power laser therapy (HPLT) is used for the treatment of several musculoskeletal conditions; however, its efficacy on PHT has not been investigated. This study is aimed at examining the effects of HPLT on pain and isokinetic peak torque (IPT) in athletes with PHT. The two-arm comparative pretest-posttest experimental design was used with random allocation of 36 athletes aged 18-35 years into two groups (experimental and conventional group). The experimental group included the application of HPLT for 3 weeks. The conventional group included treatment with a conventional physiotherapy program including ultrasound therapy, moist heat pack, and home exercises for a total of 3 weeks. Pain and IPT of the hamstring muscle were measured before and after the application of the intervention. Pain score decreased, and IPT increased significantly ( p < 0.05 ) after application of HPLT, by 61.26% and 13.18%, respectively. In the conventional group, a significant difference ( p < 0.05 ) was observed in pain scores only, which decreased by 41.14%. No significant difference ( p > 0.05 ) was observed in IPT in the conventional group. When HPLT was compared with conventional physiotherapy, a significant difference was found in pain scores only. HPLT for 3 weeks was found to be effective in improving pain in athletes with PHT. However, no significant difference was found between HPLT and conventional physiotherapy (US, moist heat, and home exercises) in improving the IPT of the hamstring muscle.

An ultrasonic measurement of IAF is a better predictor of the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases in middle aged Indian population. In male subjects, physical activity of 5 or more days a week showed lesser amount of IAF as compared with those with physical activity <5 days a week.