Assessment of dynamic balance and bone density in premenopausal and postmenopausal middle-age women: a comparative study

Background: Dynamic balance control is required to perform simple and complex mobility task in our day-to-day life. Deficit in balance can results in falls and fractures which can affect health-related quality of life. Menopause is also considered as a risk for fracture due to osteoporosis, which at later life becomes difficult to manage and causes higher morbidity. So, evaluation of balance and bone density is important in middle-age in women, so that we can plan and administer proper treatment strategies at an early stage which can reduce risk of falls and fractures. Therefore, the aim of the study was to assess and compare dynamic balance and bone density in premenopausal and postmenopausal middle-age women.Methods: Female participants in the age-group of 40-60 years were divided into premenopausal and postmenopausal group based on the criteria of cessation of menstrual cycles for minimum one year. Participants were assessed barefooted for dynamic balance by physical performance mobility tests such as narrow walk test (NWT), Figure-of-8 walk test (F8WT), obstacle walk test (OWT) and normal gait speed (NGS). Bone density was evaluated by using ultrasound bone densitometer at calcaneus in community setting. Results: The time taken to complete the NWT, F8WT, OWT was reduced significantly (p<0.05) in post-menopausal group, showing dynamic balance is significantly affected in postmenopausal women when compared with premenopausal women in middle-age group. Gait speed was also reduced in both the groups but it was significantly reduced (p<0.05) in postmenopausal group. Also bone density decreases significantly in post-menopausal group showing osteoporosis, premenopausal group also showed osteopenia when assessed by ultrasound bone densitometer in community setting.Conclusions: Dynamic balance and bone density significantly decreases in post-menopausal middle-age women as compared with pre-menopausal middle-age women

PULMONARY FUNCTIONS IN ADOLESCENTS WITH SICKLE CELL ANAEMIA: A CASE-CONTROL STUDY

Introduction: Sickle cell diseases are one the commonest hemoglobinopathies in the central and southern India. About 20-30% deaths in Sickle cell anaemia (SCA) patients occur due to respiratory disorder. Studies had shown that highest mortalities in Sickle cell disease (SCD) patients is due to pulmonary complications. Pulmonary function test (PFT) assess the functional status of respiratory system so the study was planned to determine the changes in lung functions in SCA adolescent patients and to compare it with age, gender and body mass index (BMI) matched healthy adolescent individuals using Spirometry. Material and methods: 60 adolescent subjects (30 cases (SCA) and 30 controls) were included in the study whose pulmonary function test parameters using spirometry were measured. Results: 22 (73.4%) had abnormal spirometric results, 18 (60%) had restrictive pattern, 2(6.6%) had obstructive pattern, 2(6.6%) had mixed pattern and 8 (26.6%) had no abnormality. Conclusion: Pulmonary functions are significantly decreased in sickle cell anaemia adolescents. Possible restrictive pattern is the predominant spirometric abnormality in these patients

Abstracts of Scientifica 2022

This book contains the abstracts of the papers presented at Scientifica 2022, Organized by the Sancheti Institute College of Physiotherapy, Pune, Maharashtra, India, held on 12–13 March 2022. This conference helps bring researchers together across the globe on one platform to help benefit the young researchers. There were six invited talks from different fields of Physiotherapy and seven panel discussions including over thirty speakers across the globe which made the conference interesting due to the diversity of topics covered during the conference. Conference Title:  Scientifica 2022Conference Date: 12–13 March 2022Conference Location: Sancheti Institute College of PhysiotherapyConference Organizer: Sancheti Institute College of Physiotherapy, Pune, Maharashtra, Indi