Cervical proprioception and its implications on postural stability are crucial in older adults. Understanding their relationship is important in understanding and preventing falls in older adults. This research aims to evaluate the proprioceptive, functional mobility, and limits of stability (LOS) variables among two age groups: individuals aged 65 and above and those below 65. A secondary goal of the study is to analyze the relationship between cervical proprioception, functional mobility, and the LOS. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 100 participants each were included in the older and younger groups. Researchers employed the target reposition technique to assess cervical proprioception and measured the joint position error (JPE) in degrees. Functional mobility was estimated using the Berg balance scale (BBS) and timed up-and-go test (TUG). In addition, dynamic posturography was utilized to evaluate variables related to the LOS, including reaction time, maximum excursion, and directional control. Results: The magnitudes of the mean cervical JPE are larger (p < 0.001), and functional mobility (p < 0.001) and the LOS (p < 0.001) are impaired in older individuals compared to the younger ones. The cervical proprioception is significantly associated with functional mobility (p < 0.001), and the LOS (p < 0.001). Conclusion: In older adults aged above 65 years, cervical proprioception, functional mobility, and the LOS are impaired. Older adults with greater cervical JPE had more impaired functional mobility and LOS parameters. When evaluating or treating older adults with problems with their balance or falls, these factors should be considered.

Background: Pronated foot is a deformity with various degrees of physical impact. Patients with a pronated foot experience issues such as foot pain, ankle pain, heel pain, shin splints, impaired balance, plantar fasciitis, etc. Objective: The study intended to compare the effectiveness of IASTM (instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization) and static stretching on ankle flexibility, foot posture, foot function, and balance in patients with a flexible pronated foot. Methods: Seventy-two participants between the ages of 18–25 years with a flexible pronated foot were included and allocated into three groups: Control, stretching, and IASTM group using single-blinded randomization. Range of motion (ROM) measuring ankle flexibility, foot posture index (FPI), foot function index (FFI), and dynamic balance was measured at baseline and after 4 weeks of intervention. Soft tissue mobilization was applied on to the IASTM group, while the stretching group was directed in static stretching of the gastrocnemius-soleus complex, tibialis anterior, and Achilles tendon in addition to the foot exercises. The control group received only foot exercises for 4 weeks. Results: The result shows the significant improvement of the right dominant foot in ROM plantar flexion, (F = 3.94, p = 0.03), dorsiflexion (F = 3.15, p = 0.05), inversion (F = 8.54, p = 0.001) and eversion (F = 5.93, p = 0.005), FFI (control vs. IASTM, mean difference (MD) = 5.9, p < 0.001), FPI (right foot, control vs. IASTM MD = 0.88, p = 0.004), and in dynamic balance of the right-leg stance (anterior, pre vs. post = 88.55 ± 2.28 vs. 94.65 ± 2.28; anteromedial, pre vs. post = 80.65 ± 2.3 vs. 85.55 ± 2.93; posterior, pre vs. post = 83 ± 3.52 vs. 87 ± 2.99 and lateral, pre vs. post = 73.2 ± 5.02 vs. 78.05 ± 4.29) in the IASTM group. The FFI was increased remarkably in the stretching group as compared to the control group. Conclusions: Myofascial release technique, i.e., IASTM with foot exercises, significantly improves flexibility, foot posture, foot function, and dynamic balance as compared to stretching, making it a choice of treatment for patients with a flexible pronated foot.

Background: The global rise in work‐related musculoskeletal ailments has led to issues like neck discomfort, scapular muscle dysfunction, reduced neck mobility, and functional limitations. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of scapular functional exercises (SFE) and cervical isometric exercises (CIE) on pain, cervical range of motion (CROM), and functional limitations in individuals with chronic mechanical neck pain (CMNP).Methods: A two‐arm, parallel group pretest‐post‐test randomized comparative trial was conducted. Thirty participants (21 females, 9 males; average age 28.94 ± 3.77 years) were randomly divided into two groups, 1 and 2 (n = 15/group). Both groups received common treatments of CIE and hot packs, while Group 1 was given SFE additionally. To assess the outcomes, which included pain, cervical range of motion (CROM), and functional limitations, measurements were taken using a numeric pain rating scale (NPRS), a standard universal goniometer, and a neck disability index (NDI) questionnaire at the beginning of the study and 4 weeks after the interventions. A one‐way multivariate followed by univariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA and ANCOVA) was applied to examine the outcomes disparities within‐group and between‐group, with a significance level at 95% (i.e., p < 0.05).Results: MANCOVA analysis revealed a significant impact of interventions on CROM in all directions, NPRS, and NDI scores, even after adjusting for initial scores (F (8, 13) = 90.1; p = 0.001). Univariate ANCOVA showed significant improvements in outcomes for Group 1 compared to Group 2.Conclusions: Adding SFE to CIE and conventional physiotherapy was more effective than just using CIE and conventional physiotherapy alone. This approach better alleviated neck pain, improved CROM (particularly in forward and left‐side flexion), and reduced functional limitations in individuals with CMNP.Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05624021.

Background: Tobacco and obesity control is among the major health priorities. Previous studies have mixed opinions about their association. The present study was done to investigate the association between Body Mass Index (BMI) and tobacco use (smokers, smokeless tobacco users and dual users) among Indian adults. Methods: Secondary analysis of the fifth National Family Health Survey (2019–21) was conducted that included 724,115 women (15–49 years) and 101,839 men (15–54 years). Nutritional status (BMI) was dependent variable. Current tobacco use was primary independent variable. Using sampling weights, bivariate analysis assessed the association, the determinants were explored using the binary logistic multinomial regression. Propensity Score Matching (PSM) was employed using STATA software to control for potential confounding and strengthen causal inference. Results: Weighted prevalence of overweight/obesity and underweight was 38.17%, and 18.05%. Underweight prevalence was highest in smokeless tobacco users (17.09%). Overweight/obesity was highest among smokers (41.62%). Compared to non-users, tobacco users had higher odds of being underweight (AOR: 1.2; 95% CI: 1.2–1.2) and lower odds of being overweight (0.9; 0.9–0.9). PSM confirmed the BMI lower effect of Tobacco (ATT: 0.159), with a non-significant impact on overweight/obesity (ATT: -0.360). Conclusions: We present clear evidence that tobacco use, especially smokeless forms, is significantly associated with undernutrition among Indian adults, while its impact on overweight/obesity remains minimal, which otherwise was more common in smokers. The findings clarify the previously mixed evidence and highlight the nutritional impact of tobacco, reinforcing the need for integrated interventions targeting both tobacco cessation and nutritional improvement.

Aims & Objective: The aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of Vestibulo-Postural Training Using a Bipodalic Stabilometric Platform in patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy. Methodology: Thirty-two participants were randomly allocated into either Level Bipodalic Stabilometric Training Group (LBSTG) or Tilted Bipodalic Stabilometric Training Group (TBSTG), using a computer-generated randomization sequence. The study's approach to evaluating postural control in individuals with Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy (DPN) involved a precise methodology using a state-of-the-art ProKin 252 balancing platform (ProKin 252, TecnoBody, Italy). Results: The study revealed that while the LBSTG training did not produce a significant change in postural control for individuals with DPN, the TBSTG training led to a significant improvement. These results highlight the potential benefits of incorporating challenging balance tasks into rehabilitation programs for individuals with DPN to enhance postural control and stability. Conclusions: this study advocates for the importance of innovative balance training interventions in enhancing the stability and mobility of patients with DPN, potentially leading to improved clinical outcomes in the management of this condition.

Introduction Obesity is a multifactorial condition that is not well captured by conventional anthropometry. Emerging frameworks, including the Lancet Commission approach, objectively stratify obesity and provide a more clinically informative characterization of the burden. The present study compares obesity estimates based on conventional BMI criteria with those derived using the revised framework and examines the distribution and determinants of pre-clinical and clinical obesity (CO) among older Indian adults. Methods We used data from the first wave of the Longitudinal Aging Study in India (2017–2018), including 59,854 adults aged ≥ 45 years. A high body mass index (BMI; > 25 kg/m²) was used to estimate the conventional obesity burden. Pre-clinical obesity and CO were defined using framework guidance and based on variables available in datasets. Weighted prevalence and multivariable logistic regression estimates were calculated using Stata version 16.0. Results Weighted prevalence of high BMI was 27.1% (95% confidence interval: CI 21.5–33.5), while the prevalence of pre-clinical obesity and CO was 27.0% (21.4–33.4) and 15.1% (10.9–20.6), respectively. CO showed marked geographic variation, with the lowest prevalence in Central India (7.77%) and the highest in South India (24.33%); Meghalaya had the lowest state-level prevalence (4.52%) and Chandigarh the highest (37.88%). Women, urban residents, and participants with higher education and wealth had higher odds of both obesity states. Participants with pre-clinical obesity more often reported excellent self-rated health, whereas poor self-rated health was more common among those with CO. Conclusion The revised framework meaningfully differentiates high BMI burden into pre-clinical and CO and identified sociodemographic and spatial disparities. Such classification may help distinguish excess adiposity from obesity with morbidity and functional limitation, although interpretation should remain cautious given the proxy operationalization possible within survey data.