Evaluation of Surface EMG in Masticatory, Sternomastoid, and Trapezius Muscles among Smartphone Users with Varying Duration of Mobile Usage: An Observational Cross-Sectional Study Avinash E. Thakare, Pooja S. Salkar, Sandip M. Hulke, Santosh L. Wakode, Rajay N. Bharshankar, Anshul Rai Advanced Biomedical Research, 2025 Background: The overuse of smartphones can cause and trigger painful musculoskeletal conditions due to the derangement of muscle function. This study aimed to investigate the impact of daily smartphone usage on the surface electromyographic activity of the masticatory, sternomastoid, and trapezius muscles as there is limited research in this area. Materials and Methods: A total of 120 young adult smartphone users were categorized into three groups based on their daily duration of mobile usage. They underwent surface electromyography (sEMG) assessment using the Neuropack X1 surface EMG device from Nihon Kohden. Using appropriate statistical methods, the sEMG parameters were compared and correlated within the three groups. Results: The study found a significant increase in resting sEMG activity in the right Trapezius muscle among smartphone users who used their devices for more than 7 hours daily, compared to the other user groups (median interquartile range: 0.49 (0.026, 0.161) vs 0.025 (0.014, 0.049)). Furthermore, the maximum voluntary contraction testing revealed significantly higher sEMG activity in the right Temporalis muscle among smartphone users who used their devices for more than 7 hours daily, compared to the other user groups (median interquartile range: 2.342 (0.972, 3.364) vs 1.391 (0.525, 2.732) vs 1.301 (0.482, 2.083)). Conclusions: The findings suggest that the daily duration of smartphone usage could potentially impact the surface EMG activity of the masticatory, neck, and upper back muscles.
Assessment of Neural Respiratory Drive Using Surface Electromyography Parameters of Parasternal Muscles in Three Different Body Positions Among Healthy Young Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study Santosh Wakode, Pooja Salkar, Avinash Thakare, Sandip Hulke, Varun Malhotra, Rekha Jiwne Journal of Musculoskeletal Neuronal Interactions, 2025 OBJECTIVES: The neural respiratory drive (NRD) is a critical determinant of breathlessness, influenced by the balance between ventilatory load and respiratory muscle capacity. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of body positions on NRD in young healthy adults (18-50 years) and to identify the optimal position for assessing NRD among the healthy subjects. METHODS: Surface electromyography (sEMG) data from the 2nd intercostal space parasternal muscle was collected in supine, sitting, and standing positions among young healthy adults. NRD parameters, including EMG Para max% and Neural Respiratory Drive Index (NRDI), were analysed and compared among positions using ANOVA. RESULTS: Significant differences in NRD values were observed across body positions, with standing vs. supine vs. sitting yielding higher values in both sexes respectively (Males: 5.113±0.437, 4.404±0.576, 4.913±0.623; P<0.001 and Females: 7.444±0.416, 6.435±0.266, 6.748±0.390; P<0.001). Post hoc analysis reveals significant difference in standing vs supine vs sitting position. These findings highlight the influence of body position on NRD measurements. CONCLUSIONS: The study emphasizes the importance of considering body position when evaluating NRD in healthy individuals. These factors should also be taken into account in clinical assessments to ensure accurate interpretation of NRD and related respiratory functions.
Heart rate variability among healthy untrained adults during mild intensity stationary cycling exercise Varun Malhotra, Avinash E. Thakare, Sandeep M. Hulke, Danish Javed, Ashish K. Dixit, Santosh L. Wakode, Francisco Cidral Advanced Biomedical Research, 2023 Background: Stationary cycling is the popular, preferred, and convenient form of exercise. During exercise, autonomic modulation is seen which can be assessed by heart rate variability (HRV). The aim of the study was to evaluate the changes in HRV during mild-intensity cycling exercise. Materials and Methods: An observational cross-sectional study was done on 20 healthy male volunteers with the age (35.44 ± 4.12), height (71.12 ± 11.98), and weight (161.23 ± 11.65), BMI (27.12 ± 3.49) attending various YOGA sessions in AYUSH OPD. Volunteers underwent an exercise program at the mild intensity of 30% to 50% of maximal heart rate on a stationary cycle for 20 min. HRV was recorded by the HRV mobile unit Dynamika Machine at rest, every 5 min (4×) over 20 min and during the recovery period. Repeated measures of analysis of variance with post-hoc analysis with Bonferroni and Holm's multiple comparisons. Results: Significant change was observed in mean heart rate and time domain parameters. Frequency domain parameters that showed significant change were total power, High Frequency- HF (ms2), Very Low Frequency -VLF (ms2), Low Frequency -LF (ms2), and Very Low Frequency %-VLF (%). Conclusions: The HRV parameters conclusively point towards cardiac parasympathetic withdrawal and sympathetic dominance at the initiation of exercise. With the progression of exercise, the sympathetic influence is retained. In the recovery period parasympathetic reactivation gains control over heart rate as well as HRV. The HRV response to exercise challenges may be helpful in designing exercise programs based on variations in the autonomic response.
Immediate autonomic changes during right nostril breathing and left nostril breathing in regular yoga practitioners Varun Malhotra, Ragini Srivastava, Poovarasan Parasuraman, Danish Javed, Santosh Wakode, Avinash Thakare, Ananyan Sampath, Ankita Kumari Journal of Education and Health Promotion, 2022 BACKGROUND: The ancient Indian science of Yoga makes use of voluntary regulation of breathing to make respiration rhythmic and calm the mind. This practice is called pranayama. Nadisuddhi pranayama means “purification of subtle energy paths,” inhalation and exhalation are through alternative nostrils for successive respiratory cycles. Surya Anuloma-Viloma pranayama means “heat generating breathing particle” when the respiratory cycle of inhalation and exhalation is completed through the right nostril exclusively. When completed through the left nostril alone, the practice is called “Chandra Anuloma-Viloma pranayama,” which means a heat-dissipating or cooling liberating practice. We compared the effect of right nostril breathing (RNA) and left nostril breathing (LNB) pranayama on heart rate variability. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was conducted at the Department of Physiology at an institute of national importance, after obtaining necessary ethical approvals from the Institutional Ethics Committee. Twenty healthy kriya yogi volunteers (mean age: 44 years), who are regular practitioners for the last 10–20 years, were inducted into the study. RNB pranayama starts with closing the right nostril with the thumb of the left hand followed by exhalation through the right nostril and inhaling slowly through the same nostril. This forms one round of RNB pranayama. In contrast, inhalation through the left nostril and exhalation through the right nostril exclusively is called chandrabhedana pranayama (chandrabhedana means moon-piercing breath in Sanskrit) with a similar variation called Chandra Anuloma-Viloma pranayama in which inhalation, as well as exhalation, is performed through the left nostril exclusively. The recording of electrocardiogram (ECG) for heart rate variability (HRV) analysis was taken by heart rate variability (Dinamika HRV-Advanced Heart Rate Variability Test System, Moscow, Russia). The resting and during readings of heart rate variability parameters were compared and post hoc analysis was done using Bonferroni and Holm multiple comparisons for repeated measures. RESULTS: Time domain parameters: Standard deviation of normal to normal RR intervals (SDNN) and root mean square of successive NN interval differences (RMSSD) were increased at a high level of statistical significance during both pranayama maneuvres. Frequency domain parameters: LF, LF/HF ratio increased significantly. Parasympathetic activity is represented by LF when the respiration rate is lower than 7 breaths per min or during taking a deep breath. Thus, when the subject is in a state of relaxation with slow and even breathing in both RNB—right nostril and Chandra—LNB, the LF values can be very high, indicating an increase in parasympathetic activity rather than an increase in sympathetic regulation. CONCLUSION: Our study is an acute study, where changes in HRV were seen after 5 min of RNB and LNB. However, statistically, there is not much difference in the immediate effects of the two pranayamas on heart rate variability in regular yoga practitioners.
Perception of e-learning in medical students and faculty during COVID time: A study based on a questionnaire-based survey Sandip Meghnad Hulke, Santosh L. Wakode, Avinash E. Thakare, Rachna Parashar, Rajay N. Bharshnakar, Ankur Joshi, Yuganti P. Vaidya Journal of Education and Health Promotion, 2022 BACKGROUND: With the emergence of COVID, we are forced to use e-learning in form of arranging online classes for students. Medical educators all over the world are conducting online classes for students. This study aimed to evaluate the perception of online learning among MBBS students and teachers through a questionnaire-based survey. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was done in the AIIMS, Bhopal. The study was based on questionnaire (online Google form) response received from 43 number of faculty and 156 number of students. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: Chi-square test and unpaired t-test were used for statistical analysis using statistical software Systac 13.2. RESULTS: Handling software, technical issues, and lack of face-to-face interaction were more significant problems in students compared to faculty. The desire for the social site which causes disturbances in learning was a significant problem in the students compared to faculty. Giving and taking assessment problem was reported by 60% and 63.8% of faculty and students, respectively (P = 0.67). Both groups preferred the Google Classroom platform (P = 0.16). Students (65.3%) preferred audiovisual recording, while faculty (72%) preferred PowerPoint with narration. PowerPoint presentation without narration was the least preferred (10.8%). Both groups stressed the importance of training (P = 0.17) and infrastructure development (P = 0.85). Students, as well as faculty, strongly discouraged e-learning for practical/clinical teaching. CONCLUSIONS: Students, as well as faculty, have mixed reactions toward e-learning. Most importantly affected in the present scenario is practical/clinical teaching and assessment. Every attempt needs to be done to strengthen infrastructure and impart training to students and faculty.
Role of Music Therapy in Neurological Practice , Avinash Thakare, Amit Agrawa, and Romanian Journal of Neurology Revista Romana De Neurologie, 2022 Music has marked its presence since the evolution of human society and has occupied our day-to-day life. It has also contributed in forming society and civilizations. Advancement in technology and portability of multimedia devices have made the access to music a common norm. It has various purposes like social cohesion, emotional expressions, interpersonal communication, recreation. It has a great bonding power and is important in terms of social dynamics. As it has an effect on society, so does it have an effect on an individual’s mind and body as well. Music intervention is convenient, inexpensive, user controlled and seems to be influencing the physiological system in a positive way if rightly used, this therapy and its intervention is applied now-a-days in various ailments and disease states as an adjuvant therapy. Vast research is going on to find the right music that could have the desired therapeutic effect where the physiology is deranged from the normal. Effect of music on pain modulation, exercise performance, Cardiac and Autonomic functions, Heart rate variability, emotions, anxiety, stress and entrainment of biological rhythms are well evaluated. Its application in enhancing higher functions like memory tasks and learning are also known. The evident physiological implications of music on various physiological parameters are being elaborated.
Use of mtt assay for proliferation of u937 cell line and its inter-rater reliability-best taken with a grain of salt Kathmandu University Medical Journal, 2020
Clinical Utility of Blood Pressure Measurement Using the Newer Palpatory Method for Both Systolic and Diastolic Blood Pressure Mohammad Danish, Avinash E. Thakare, Pooja S. Salkar, Santosh L. Wakode Advanced Biomedical Research, 2020 Background: Blood pressure (BP) measurement being a part of clinical examination gives a fair idea about the hemodynamic status. The auscultatory method is considered as a gold standard, a simple, noninvasive way to measure BP in patients as well as in the healthy controls. The present study was designed to compare systolic BP (SBP) and diastolic BP (DBP) readings using a newer palpatory method with the standard auscultatory method and further assessing the reliability of the newer palpatory method. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study comprising of a total of 400 (240 males and 160 females) individuals in the age range of 20–60 years were included in this study. BP measurement was done by the standard auscultatory method by one observer. Another observer blinded with BP records of the auscultatory method, measured BP using the newer palpatory method on the same individuals. The two methods were compared for the inter-rater reliability using intraclass correlation (ICC) statistics and agreement between two methods using Bland–Altman analysis. Results: The present study observed excellent reliability of the newer palpatory method with the standard auscultatory method with an ICC value of 0.997 and 0.993 for SBP and DBP, respectively. Bland–Altman plot for both SBP and DBP using the auscultatory and newer palpatory method has shown minimum variability and good reliability when both methods are used by independent observers. Conclusions: With practice and experience newer palpatory method can be used to assess BP with accuracy.
Effect of music tempo on exercise performance and heart rate among young adults International Journal of Physiology Pathophysiology and Pharmacology, 2017
Antioxidant level in the seminal plasma of human subjects with different fertility potential Research Journal of Pharmaceutical Biological and Chemical Sciences, 2012
Effect of formalin on pulmonary function: A nine months longitudinal study Research Journal of Pharmaceutical Biological and Chemical Sciences, 2012
