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Combating Sedentary Lifestyle: Effect of Static Workplace Stretching on Balance in Medical Students
Mrudula Chandrupatla1, Punnapa Raviteja2, Ariyanachi Kaliappan3
1Professor, Department of Anatomy, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bibinagar, India.
Background:
Medical students often lead sedentary lifestyles due to prolonged academic commitments, which may negatively affect balance and overall physical well-being. Incorporating short bouts of physical activity into daily routines may help counteract these effects.
Objectives:
To investigate the efficacy of integrating short periods of stretching and physical activity into daily routines on balance and physical well-being among medical students.
Method:
A total of 60 healthy medical students aged 18-21 years, without neuromuscular abnormalities, were randomly assigned into two equal groups, including the study group (n=30) and the control group (n=30), using simple random sampling. Members of the control group continued their routine activities without intervention, while those of the study group performed supervised stretching exercises along with their regular activities. Balance was assessed both before and after the intervention using the single leg balance test (SLBT) and the Berg balance scale (BBS).
Results:
The study group demonstrated significant improvements in balance following the intervention. Post-test scores showed marked enhancement in eyes-open SLBT (p=0.0025, Z=-3.019, Cohen's d=0.874), eyes-closed SLBT (p=0.0007, Z=-3.372, Cohen's d=1.175) and BBS (p < 0.0001, Z=-6.86, Cohen's d=3.998), indicating moderate to large effect sizes.
Conclusion:
Incorporating short periods of stretching and physical activity into daily routines significantly improves balance and physical well-being among medical students.
