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Chapter 2 PED
Chapter 2 PED
Chapter 2 PED
Unit : 2
Children &
Women in
Sports
Exercise Guidelines of WHO for different age groups
Adults should try to be active always. They should do brisk walking, bike riding, dancing, and swimming
with moderate intensity. They should also indulge in running, aerobic exercises, weight training, push-ups,
sit-ups, etc., for muscle strengthening.
Common Postural Deformities and their Corrective Measures
or a physiotherapist.
Common Postural Deformities
Various types of Postural deformities are discussed
below :
1) Knock Knee.
2) Bow legs.
3) Flat Foot.
4) Round Shoulders.
5) Spinal Curvature.
1) Knock – Knees :
Knock-knees is one of the major postural deformities. In this deformity,
both the knees-knock or touch each other while in normal standing position.
The gap between the ankles goes on increasing. He cannot walk or run in a
proper manner.
Causes of Knock – Knees :
Generally, the lack of balanced diet, especially vitamin D, calcium and
phosphorus is the main cause of knock-knees. It may also be caused due to
rickets.
Chronic illness, obesity, flatfoot and carrying heavy weight in early age may
be other possible causes of knock-knees.
Precautions :
Balanced diet should be taken.
Babies should not be forced or encouraged to walk at an early age.
Remedies :
To rectify or treat this deformity, the following points should be taken :
1) Horse-riding is the best exercise for remedying this deformity.
2) Perform Padmasana and Gomukhasana regularly for some time every
day.
3) Cod liver oil may be beneficial in reducing this deformity up to some
extent.
2) Bow Legs :
Bow legs is also a postural deformity. It is opposite to knock- knees
position. If there is a wide gap between the knees when standing
with feet together, the individual has bow legs or genu varum. In
this deformity, knees are wide apart.
Causes of Bow Legs :
The main cause of bow legs is the deficiency of calcium and
phosphorus in bones. Long bones of legs become soft, hence they are
bent outward.
Precautions :
Don't let the children be overweight.
Don't force or encourage babies to walk at an early age.
Balanced diet should be given to children. There should not be any
deficiency of calcium, phosphorus and vitamin D in the diet.
Remedies :
The following measures should be taken for the remedy of bow
legs :
1) Vitamin D should be taken in required amount.
2) Balanced diet should be taken.
3) Bow legs can be corrected by walking on the inner edge of the
feet.
3) Flat - Foot :
Our feet act as the base of support for the body while standing, walking, running and
jumping.
Flatfoot is commonly found among newborn babies but it becomes a postural deformity if it
still persists during later childhood.
The children with flatfoot deformity cannot become efficient sportspersons.
Causes of Flat Foot :
The main cause of flatfoot is weak muscles. Weak muscles of the foot cannot bear the body
weight. Hence, the feet become flat or without arches.
Along with this, rapid increase in body weight, improper shoes, and carrying
heavy weight for a longer period are also the causes of flatfoot.
Precautions :
The shoes should be of proper shape and size.
Don’t walk barefoot for a long duration.
Obesity should be avoided.
Remedies :
The following exercises should be done to rectify or treat flatfoot deformity.
1) Walking on heels.
2) Walking on inner and outer side of feet.
3) Walking on toes.
4) Round Shoulders :
In this postural deformity, the shoulders become round
and sometimes they seem to be bent forward.
Causes of Round Shoulders :
Round shoulders may be due to heredity.
Precautions :
Don't sit, walk or stand in bent position.
Avoid tight – fitting clothes.
Avoid sitting on uncomfortable furniture.
Remedies :
The following exercises should be done for the remedy of round shoulders
deformity :
1) Keep your tips of fingers on your shoulders and rotate your elbows in
clockwise and anticlockwise direction.
2) Hold the horizontal bar for some time.
3) Perform Chakrasana and Dhanurasana regularly.
5) Lordosis :
Lordosis is the inward curvature of spine. In fact, it is an increased
forward curve in the lumber region. It creates problem in standing
and walking.
Causes of Lordosis :
Generally, imbalanced diet, improper environment, improper
development of muscles, obesity and diseases affecting vertebrae
and spinal muscles are the causes of lordosis.
Precautions :
Balanced diet should be taken.
Obesity should be kept away specially in early age.
Remedies :
For the remedy of lordosis, the following exercises should be
performed.
1) While maintaining a standing position, bend forward from hip
level. Repeat this exercise 10 times.
2) Lie down on your back and raise your head and legs
simultaneously for 10 times.
3) Perform sit-ups regularly.
4) Halasana should be performed regularly.
6) Kyphosis :
Kyphosis implies an increase or exaggeration of a backward or posterior
curve or a decrease or reversal of a forward curve. It is also called round
upper back. Depression of Chest is common in Kyphosis.
Causes of Kyphosis :
Kyphosis is caused by malnutrition, illness, crowded areas, unavailability
of pure air, insufficient exercise, rickets, carrying heavy loads on
shoulders, unsuitable furniture, weak muscles, shyness among girls, habit
of doing work by leaning forward, etc.
Precautions :
If specific precautions are not followed, it may result in Kyphosis. From the
very beginning, they should teach appropriate posture of sitting, standing
and walking to children so that their posture may remain balanced.
Remedies :
1) Sit in a chair such that your hips should touch the back of the chair. Your
shoulders may remain stretched backward. Remain in this position for
some time.
2) Always keep a pillow under your back while sleeping.
3) Bend your head backward in standing position.
4) Perform Dhanurasana, the yogic asana regularly.
7) Scoliosis :
Postural adaptation of the spine in lateral direction is called scoliosis.
In fact, these are sideways curves and may be called scoliotic curves. Scoliosis curves
may be found in ‘S’ Shapes.
Causes of Scoliosis :
Scoliosis may be due to many reasons but the main reasons are diseases in the joints of
bones, under-developed legs, infantile paralysis, rickets, carrying heavy loads on one
shoulder, unhealthy conditions, such as inadequate lighting arrangement,
uncomfortable desks, partial deafness and wrong standing posture.
Precautions :
Balanced diet should be taken.
Studying should be avoided in sideways bending position.
Remedies :
Scoliosis can be remedied by doing the following exercises.
1) Bending exercise should be done on the opposite side
of the 'C’ shaped curve.
2) Hold the horizontal bar with hands and let your
body hang for some time.
3) Swim by using breastroke technique.
CORRECTIVE MEASURES FOR POSTURAL DEFORMITIES
Corrective Measures for Knock – Knees
Horse-riding is one of the best exercises for correction of knock-knees.
Keep a pillow between the knees and stand straight
for some time. Both the feet should touch each other.
Perform padmasana and gomukhasana regularly.
Lie on the back, i.e., in supine position with knees drawn up and feet flat on the ground. Both
hands should be at sides. Then move your arms sideways in horizontal position. Palms should
face upward. Raise your arms upward over the head, palms still facing upward. Hold this
position for some time. After that bring your arms back in horizontal position. Repeat the
exercise at least 10 times.
Lie down in the prone position, i.e., on the chest with hands on your hips. After that, raise your
head and trunk several inches from the ground. Your chin should be in during this exercise. Hold
this position for some time and then come back to the previous position. Repeat this exercise at
least 10 times.
Sit in a normal position, with a stick held in
horizontal position over head, hands well-spread.
After that lower the stick and then raise it behind
your head and shoulders. While doing this exercise,
keep your head and trunk straight. Repeat this
exercise 10-12 times.
Corrective Measures for Scoliosis :
Scoliosis exercises are designed to
correct the rotatory curvature of the
spine.
Lie down in prone position, i.e., on the chest. Right arm should be upward and
left arm at side. After that, move right arm towards the left over head; press
down with left hand and then slide the left hip up.
Stand erect with feet few inches apart. After that raise the left heel and left hip.
Extend right arm in an arch overhead to the left. Press left hand against the ribs
on the left side.
Stand in the erect position with feet several inches apart. Keep left hand's finger
tips on left shoulder and bend the upper body on the right side if there is an
opposite 'C' curve in the spine. But if there is no opposite 'C' curve which means if
there is just 'C' curve, bend the upper body to the left side. The tips of the fingers
of the right hand should be on right shoulder. Repeat the exercise for some time
as per the 'C' curve.
Sports Participation of Women in India
The participation of women in sports in India is very small. Gender inequality is
strongly evident in every field of life including sports. The problem is more
socio-psychological than anything else. The Government of India instituted the
National Sports Festival for Women with the objective to promote women’s sports. However, this
programme could not bring any noticeable improvement in women’s participation in sports.
I. Physical Benefits
1) Lifestyle Diseases
Sports participation helps women to stay active which, in turn, reduces chances of lifestyle diseases
such as Diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity etc. and enables them to live a healthy life.
2) Bone Density
There is a higher chance of osteoporosis in female than males. Sports help them to increase their
bone density and have stronger bones.
3) Toned Muscles
Regular exercise and participation in sports increases the muscle tone of women which helps them
to stay strong.
4) Cardiovascular System
Regular exercise helps increase the number of capillaries, helping them in the intake of oxygen.
This enables women to participate in sports for a longer period without getting fatigued.
5) Obesity
Obesity is one lifestyle disease which is found in every part of the world. Most of the India’s
population is also suffering from this disease. Women has more chances of being obese than men,
regular participation in sports helps them to stay in shape and stay fit.
II. Psychological Benefits
1) Stress Management
Any physical activity releases lot of hormones in our body which helps us to stay happy and reduces stress
levels. Sportspersons, men and women, who participate in sports can manage their stress better than those
who don’t participate in the sports.
2) Control Emotions
Women, like their male counterparts, who participate in sports are well equipped to manage their
emotions as they face difficult situations in the game which take a toll on them, and regular participation
makes them emotionally stronger.
3) Confidence
Every small win increases the confidence of the winner. Thus, when a woman participates in sports and
wins, it gives not just her, but other women sportspersons a sense of achievement and really boosts their
confidence. This renewed confidence in themselves they bring to all areas of their life.
4) Self – esteem
Sports helps women to realize their self-worth and when they achieve or even participate in sports, they
get a boost in their self-image and that helps them to realize their own worth, which is very important for
an individual.
5) Leadership
One of the best quality about sports is that it inculcates or bring out the leadership skills or qualities of an
individual. Those women, or men, who participate in sports better are able to lead people even outside the
sports as well.
III. Social Benefits
1) Coordination
Sport helps in increasing and improving the coordination between team players and
women who participate in sports learn the skill of working in coordination with others.
2) Communication
Communication is an integral part of sports as players must communicate with each
other while playing. It helps women participants to be more vocal and expressive.
3) Inter-relationships
A sport is not played in isolation, it’s a team effort, whether it is inside the team or as
supporting staff, the player must maintain her relationship with everyone in the team.
Women participants learn to maintain their relationships and respect each other
whether it is on the field or off the field.
4) Cooperation
Women learn to cooperate with each other when they are playing on the field. This
becomes a part of their life also as they learn to work and cooperate with others in
total harmony and peace.
Special Consideration
(Menarche and Menstrual Dysfunction)
Special care should be taken by sportswomen because of
the problems associated with their physiology. Problems
faced by women during their life are :
A. Menarche
Menarche is the first period or first menstrual bleeding that a young girl has. Menarche usually occurs
approximately at the age of 12; however, it can happen as early as during 8 or 9 years of age or as late as
during 16 years of age.
B. Menstrual dysfunction
Menstrual dysfunction is a disorder or irregularity in women's menstrual cycle. In other words, it can be
defined as an 'abnormal bleeding' during the menstrual cycle.
Normal menstrual cycle varies from 21 to 35 days. Its flow lasts approximately two to seven days. Menstrual
irregularities seem to be higher in women athletes in comparison to non-athletic women.
Female Athlete Triad (Osteoporosis,
Amenorrhoea and Eating Disorders)
Female athlete triad is a syndrome in which osteoporosis,
Amenorrhoea and eating disorders are included. It is simply
known as ‘Triad’.
Symptoms of Triad
The symptoms of triad may include fatigue, frequent injuries, loss of
endurance and power, irritability, increased healing time for injuries,
enhanced chances of fracture, cessation of menstruation, low self-esteem, etc.
Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis refers to decreased bone mineral density. It is a
skeletal disorder. A reduction in bone mass may cause fracture.
There are various factors which usually lead to osteoporosis
among women athletes :
1) Insufficient Calcium in the Diet :
The main cause of osteoporosis is the insufficient intake of calcium in the diet.
In fact, 100 mg calcium should be included in daily diet by a woman athlete.
In addition to calcium, vitamin D should also be included because it is
essential for absorbing calcium in our body.
2) Amenorrhoea :
Women suffering from menstrual dysfunction or amenorrhoea for more
than six months are likely to face osteoporosis because the secretion of
the hormone called 'oestrogen' is decreased in this condition.
This hormone is necessary for the absorption of calcium in our body.
If calcium is not absorbed in our body, there will be less amount of
calcium in our body which may lead to osteoporosis.
3) Eating Disorders :
Eating disorders like anorexia and bulimia may also cause osteoporosis because the calcium
intake may be less or insufficient.
Amenorrhoea is a menstrual disorder or illness in women where girls of 18 years and
above either never began menstruating or there is an absence of menstruation for three
months or more than that in women with a history of normal menstrual cycle.
Amenorrhoea can also be defined as the cessation of woman's menstrual cycle for more
than three months or more.
Types of Amenorrhoea
Intensive Exercise
The Intensive exercises may lead to primary Amenorrhoea
and secondary Amenorrhoea