Vinosh Kumar Purushothaman

Introduction: Efficient neuromuscular coordination, appropriate landing and lower limb strength is a key factor in volleyball performance. Non-ideal body composition and poor landing may lead to injury risk and poorly affect the performance. This study aims to investigate the effect of 8-weeks integrated neuromuscular training program on anthropometric characteristics, body composition, jump-landing biomechanics, and vertical jump height among adult male volleyball athletes. Methods: This non-randomized matched controlled study will utilize 28 male volleyball players aged between 18 and 25 years. Following baseline assessment, participants will be allocated to experimental group (INMT along with volleyball training) and control group (volleyball training along with a structured resistance training program) using non-randomized allocation procedure and a set of predefined criteria. The intervention will last 8 weeks, with three sessions per week. Primary outcome parameters such as body composition, anthropometric profiles, landing kinematics will be assessed using bioelectrical impedance analysis and landing error scoring system. The secondary outcome, vertical jump height, will be analyzed using vertec jump tester respectively. Group × time interaction test will be computed using ANCOVA, adjusted for baseline/linear mixed-effects model. Secondary outcome p -values will be adjusted for multiplicity, using the Holm-Bonferroni method. Discussion: To address the gap in the literature, this study will examine whether INMT improves anthropometric and body composition profiles, jump-landing mechanics, and vertical jump height in male volleyball athletes. By testing at 8 weeks, the study may provide data on the velocity of neuromuscular adaptations, validating whether significant changes occur within this specific periods. In addition, the findings may contribute to the specific profiling of male volleyball athletes by establishing how INMT affects both body composition and biomechanical metrics (jump height, Landing Mechanics) specifically in this population. Clinical Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov , identifier, NCT07485348.

Background and Purpose Injuries to the lower limbs are prevalent among basketball players, frequently affecting their performance and longevity. Plyometric training has been demonstrated to improve athletic performance. Therefore, this study examines the effects of 6 weeks of land-based plyometric training compared to regular basketball training on player performance and the incidence of lower limb injuries. Material and methods A randomized trial was adopted in which forty basket players (N=40) aged 18-25 were randomized into two groups of 20 each using a simple randomization technique. The subjects of the land-based plyometric training (LBPT) group received a 10-minute warm-up exercise, 40 minutes of land-based plyometric exercise followed by 10 minutes of cooling period, while the regular basketball training (RBT) group received only regular basketball training for 60 minutes. The intervention lasted three days per week for six weeks. To examine the effectiveness of the interventions, three variables were evaluated: participants' speed (Agility T-test), power (Vertical Jump test), and overuse injury (Oslo Sports Trauma Research Center Questionnaire on Health Problems (OSTRC-H) Questionnaire. The Wilcoxon Signed Ranks and Mann-Whitney Test were employed to assess the pre- and post-mean differences within and between the groups. Results There was a significant improvement (p < 0.05) in agility (9.57±0.69) and vertical jump (50.70±3.52), along with a reduction in players' injuries after a 6-week plyometric training compared with regular basketball training. Conclusions Subjects in both LBPT and RBT significantly improved agility and vertical jump performance and reduced the occurrence and severity of lower limb injuries following 6 weeks of training. However, LBPT improves better than RBT in enhancing agility, vertical jump performance, and reducing injury incidence among basketball players.

Square stepping exercise (SE) and BOSU ball exercise (BE) have independently shown beneficial effects on balance, strength, and coordination; however, their combined effects in badminton players remain unclear. This study aims to present the protocol of a randomized controlled trial designed to investigate the effectiveness of combined SE and BE on postural sway, dynamic balance, and vertical jump performance. Fifty-one badminton players will be randomly allocated into three groups: combined SE and BOSU group (SBG, n = 17), BOSU group (BG, n = 17), and control group (CG, n = 17). The intervention will last 8 weeks. The SBG will perform SE (three sessions per week) and BE (two sessions per week), the BG will receive BE with conventional training, and the CG will follow conventional training only. Outcomes will be assessed at baseline, week 4, and week 8, and post-intervention using the Y-Balance Test for dynamic balance, Wii Balance Board measures for postural sway, and the Sargent jump test for vertical jump performance. Data will be analysed using repeated-measures analysis of variance to determine within- and between-group differences over time. The findings of this study are expected to provide evidence on the effectiveness of combined neuromuscular and balance training strategies for improving lower limb performance and postural control in badminton players and reduce health risks in these athletes.

Telerehabilitation is rapidly transforming the landscape of sports rehabilitation, with benefits for both recreational and elite athletes. The present study explores physiotherapy students’ awareness, application, and perspectives on sports telerehabilitation. It also investigates the feasibility of incorporating telerehabilitation into physiotherapy education by examining infrastructure requirements, available resources, and student willingness. To gain insight, we conducted a global survey that yielded 524 responses from physiotherapy students. The study used a 42-item validated, self-designed questionnaire, focusing on four key aspects: screening, awareness, application, and future outlook. The results demonstrated that 65.3% of the students were familiar with the concept of telerehabilitation. However, only 19.3% had taken it as part of their formal curriculum. The most common sources of knowledge gained are social media (22.5%) and research articles (19.8%). Notably, 59.4% expressed a strong desire to include telerehabilitation in their studies, highlighting the demand for structured training. In terms of awareness, 50.3% demonstrated a moderate level, while 32.5% showed high understanding. Regarding practical implementation, 36.5% reported moderate competency, while 47.7% displayed high application knowledge. Looking ahead, 34.2% had a moderate outlook on the future of sports telerehabilitation. Meanwhile, 49.4% were highly optimistic about the role of sports telerehabilitation in physiotherapy.

Purpose: This study examines the relationship between foot morphology, foot type, and dynamic knee valgus in male football players during single-leg squats using biomechanical analyses.Methods: A cross-sectional study design was adopted. Male football players (n = 151) aged between 18 and 30 years belonging to three Malaysian football clubs were recruited. Of these participants, foot type, single-leg squat (SLS) performance, knee alignment using knee frontal plane projection angle (FPPA), and other measures of foot morphology were recorded, including foot length, foot width, truncated foot length, and navicular height. Chi-square tests were used to examine the association between foot type, SLS, and knee alignment. Bipoint serial correlations were used to determine the relationship between foot morphology, SLS, and knee alignment.Results: A significant association was found between foot type and SLS (p < 0.05). During the SLSs, only navicular height (rpb = 0.154, n = 151, p < 0.05) and dorsal height (rpb = 0.144, n = 151, p < 0.05) showed a statistically significant connection in the dominant leg. In contrast, only navicular height in the non-dominant leg (rpb = 0.169, n = 151, p < 0.05) showed a significant correlation with SLSs.Conclusions: This study established a strong link between foot type and SLS in football players. Specifically, a statistically significant association between navicular and dorsal height in the dominant leg and navicular height in the non-dominant leg. This study emphasises the significance of foot morphology and the dynamic evaluation of knee valgus during functional movements.

Objective: The objective of the study was to explore the influence of text neck syndrome on postural sway and cervical proprioception in adults with and without neck pain. The study also evaluated the connection between cervical proprioception and postural sway in individuals with and without neck pain under both eyes-open and eyes-closed conditions.Material and Methods: This cross-sectional observational study included 16 participants with neck pain and 16 without neck pain. Subjects’ postural sway was assessed with eyes open and closed for 30 seconds on a solid surface using a Wii board and physio-sensing software. Cervical proprioception was assessed with a laser pointer. Pearson correlation and the independent t-test were used to analyze the data.Results: There were significant differences (p-value<0.05) in ellipse area and mean velocity in both eyes-closed and eyes-open conditions, as well as in cervical proprioception between subjects with and without neck pain. A significantly positive correlation (p-value<0.001) was observed between cervical proprioception error (extension, right and left rotation, and right and left lateral flexion) and postural sway in both eyes-closed and eyes-open conditions in adults with and without neck pain.Conclusion: The findings indicate that there are significant differences in cervical joint position inaccuracy and postural sway between individuals with and without neck pain. Assessing cervical joint position sensation and postural sway in patients with neck pain is important, and clinicians should consider this need. To address these issues, we recommend implementing targeted neck rehabilitation intervention programs to enhance patient outcomes.

Background: Cardiovascular fitness is essential for sports performance, enabling players to endure intense training, delay fatigue, and reduce injury risk—all critical factors for achieving optimal results in competitive sports like cricket. Emphasizing inclusive health ensures that all athletes enhance their cardiovascular fitness and overall performance. Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the impact of cardiovascular fitness, assessed using the Harvard Step Test, on the performance indicators of Bangladeshi women cricketers across their respective playing roles. Method: 104 players, including 34 batters, 38 bowlers, and 32 all-rounders, were voluntarily selected from the “Bangladesh National Women’s Cricket League 2021-22”. Cardiovascular fitness was evaluated through the Harvard Step Test, and role-specific performance metrics such as strike rate, bowling economy, and dismissal rates were analyzed. Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics and one-way ANOVA to assess differences in aerobic fitness across player roles and correlation analyses to examine the relationships between performance metrics and Harvard Step Test scores. Results: The multi-group comparison did not reveal a statistically significant difference in aerobic fitness across the playing roles, F(2, 101) = 0.668, p = 0.515. Additionally, the Harvard Step Test scores showed a weak and statistically non-significant relationship with role-specific performance metrics: strike rate (r = 0.20, p = 0.06) for batters, bowling economy (r = -0.09, p = 0.51) for bowlers, and dismissals (r = 0.10, p = 0.38) for fielders. Conclusion: Cardiovascular efficiency is similar across batters, bowlers, and all-rounders among Bangladeshi women cricketers. The Harvard Step Test score is not directly associated with role-specific performance in women's cricket. These findings suggest that training programs should adopt a holistic physical fitness approach, incorporating role-specific training to enhance the overall abilities of female cricketers and contribute to the development of women's cricket in Bangladesh.

Background: Extended electronic devices used for video games can harm adolescent health. Therefore, this study investigates the association between neck pain severity and Insomnia and between sociodemographic variables and neck disability among video gamers in the Malaysian adult population. Methods: A cross-sectional study was adopted. 325 active video gamers were selected via snowball sampling. Neck pain severity and disability were measured with Numerical pain rating scale and Neck disability index, respectively. Insomnia is assessed with the Insomnia Severity Index. Data analysis was performed using SPSS 27.0 at a significant level of 5%. Results: Of the respondents, 48.6% experienced severe neck disability with 50.5% were classified as moderate insomnia. Furthermore, there is a significant association between neck pain severity and Insomnia in video gamers (p<0.05). In addition, sociodemographic variables (gender, age, BMI, type of occupation) exhibit a significant association with neck disability (p<0.05). Conclusion: About half of the participating video gamers who suffered from moderate neck pain and disability had moderate clinical Insomnia. There is a significant association between the severity of neck pain and insomnia, as well as between sociodemographic variables such as gender, age, BMI, occupation and neck disability among video gamers in the Malaysian adult population.

Objectives. Knee injuries are prevalent among professional tennis players and have a significant impact on their athletic performance and longevity. This study aimed to evaluate the dynamic and postural balance differences between injured and healthy professional tennis players, reflecting the broader implications of knee injuries on player stability and performance. Materials and methods. A total of 80 professional tennis players, comprising 40 individuals in the knee injury group (IG) and 40 individuals in the non-injury group (NIG), were selected to participate in this cross-sectional study. Participants’ postural sway was assessed under various conditions, including standing on different surfaces with open and closed eyes using a Wii Balance Board. The Y-Balance Test was performed to evaluate the player’s dynamic balance. An Independent t-test was used to examine the difference in postural sway and dynamic balance between the two groups. Results. The results of this study indicated that players with knee injuries showed significantly worse performance in both dynamic balance (p<0.05 for non-dominant legs) and postural sway (significant differences in mean velocity on foam surfaces with eyes open and closed, p<0.001). These findings suggest that knee injuries contribute to substantial deficits in balance control, which could affect overall athletic performance and injury risk. Conclusion. The study underscores the necessity of incorporating targeted balance and proprioceptive training into rehabilitation programs for tennis players recovering from knee injuries. By improving balance, these interventions can enhance neuromuscular control, reduce reinjury risk, and support better overall performance in high-stakes environments. Future research should focus on refining balance training programs to maximize recovery outcomes and minimize injury impacts.