Project ‘Perfect Posture’ is a unique initiative by Colorss Foundation

In today’s increasingly fast paced life, we push ourselves to achieve more and end up neglecting something very important - ‘Our Body’. One very common example is incorrect body postures while performing day to day activities. The ill effects manifest only after a while though the damage is happening continuously. While the problem is ‘Negligence’ for some it is ‘Ignorance’ for many others.

Project ‘Perfect Posture’ is a unique initiative by Colorss to make lives healthier by creating awareness about good body postures among children. The project aims to make good ergonomics a part of their lifestyle through constant support and education using creative and innovative means.

The necessity for this project was realized when ‘Risachi’, the research wing at Colorss conducted a study in 2012 which shockingly showed a large percentage of school going children suffering from musculoskeletal pains. Further analysis showed that students who complained of musculoskeletal pains demonstrated bad ergonomics. The fact that ergonomics education is not a part of schools nor is it provided at home could make the situation worse.

Project ‘Perfect Posture’ is a programme designed specially keeping in mind the environment with which the children interact on a day to day basis, hence, making it very effective. It has been targeted at children above the age of 10 years with regular sessions planned every month for the entire year.

Extensive efforts are taken to understand the current situation of children and their specific problem areas and the knowledge is used to tailor the programme for them. Each step is performed under the guidance of community physiotherapists. Cognizant of the fact that catching and holding the attention of children is a tough task the sessions have been designed in an unconventional manner making them simple, understandable and enjoyable at the same time.

‘Habits Die Hard’, changing lifestyle is definitely not a one day task which is why the programme stresses on reiterating the learning regularly till it becomes internalized. The benefits are manifold which include - increased efficiency, higher productivity, improved concentration, proper breathing and good digestion being some of the benefits of good ergonomics.

Colorss has always strived for brighter future of children and the project ‘Perfect Posture’ is a big leap in that direction which could take us closer to our vision of a healthy pain free future generation. In our next phase; this project would focus upon the adults.

For Love,

Anand

Colorss goes international with first research work published

A study carried on musculoskeletal health among urban poor pupils in Western India by Colorss’ Foundation research division, Risachi, has been published in the International Journal of Management and Behavioural Sciences, IJMBS.

The acclaimed study, the very first to be conducted in India, was the initiative and hard work of two researchers: Pavithra Rajan, a community physiotherapist and Anand Koti, the founder of the Colorss Foundation.

According to the article co-authored by Rajan and Koti, bad postures and ergonomics –the study on how things interact with the human body – are prevalent during adolescence and earlier studies have shown that this could lead to musculoskeletal aches and pains in later life. To back this hypothesis – idea, a pilot study was carried out across selected urban slums in India. Using focus group discussions and a set of practical controlled school activities, the findings obtained, confirmed that this undervalued problem does exist.

During the study carried out in July 2012 in Vadodara, Gujarat, India, school children in urban slums were sampled and congregated into two separate groups based on gender for focus group discussions. Information gathered from these group discussions were used as base to design two research tools further used to assess the ergonomics of boys and girls in schools in five different activities. The activities range from reading a book, to lifting books from floor level, to sitting on a chair, to carrying a backpack, to using a computer. Data collected from each activity and compared with others all show that these activities actually caused maximum discomfort to most of the children.

Effects of musculoskeletal health problem

Interpreting the results, Rajan and Koti, found out that out of the 64 children who participated in the controlled study, 17 experienced musculoskeletal pains around the lower back, ankle and foot, knee and at the neck as well. Referring back to an earlier study conducted elsewhere on musculoskeletal health, the two researchers noted that musculoskeletal pain in this group – adolescence had been identified as a major public health problem and could be one of the causes of school absenteeism. In further analysis it was also discovered that some of the children could not take part in some activities at school simply as a result of this musculoskeletal ache and pain.

Before concluding the study sponsored by some individuals of goodwill and assisted by volunteers, Rajan and Koti stressed that it is important to plan cost effective and preventive strategies to bridge the problem from manifesting in this juvenile population who they say are equally the pillar of the future of India. Such strategies, according to them, may reduce the cost of treatment of musculoskeletal aches and pain on India’s health system that is already overburdened by other health issues.

After this groundbreaking publication, the Risachi research team has been burning the candles at both ends working on other big projects. So far, another research work has been approved and is due for publication in June 2013. The research teams also have plans to extend more projects on musculoskeletal health across India, but are relying heavily on the kind contributions from donors as well volunteers, especially students to join them carry out research on a vast scale. 

At the moment Risachi projects are sponsored by individual donors, but Rajan and Koti are optimistic that donor organisations and individual donors would soon come on board as more and more research work get published. Support us and donate to make us strong. Contact us

Full report of this research paper can be read on the link below:

http://www.slideshare.net/colorss/colorss-research-paper-publication

For Love,

Mizuh Mbah 

Colorss 1st International Research Paper Publication

             It is said that necessity is the mother of invention. At Colorss, we believe in doing things differently as well as doing different things. It was during one casual visit to the school in Vadodara that Mr. Anand Koti realized that some of the school children seem to be suffering from pains at tender age of 12 years. That was only the beginning of some ground breaking knowledge dissemination projects that came under the umbrella of “Risachi”- the research wing of Colorss Foundation that came into being in July 2012.

The Published Research Paper - snapshot

            Dr. Pavithra Rajan, a community physiotherapist with her graduate degree in Kinesiology and community rehabilitation from Canada, was invited to conduct a workshop on ergonomics for the slum women in the Sanjay Nagar slums in Vadodara, Gujarat. There seemed to be an urgent need to develop a tool to examine the ergonomic behavior of not only the mothers residing in these slums but also the school children – both boys and girls. Risachi was officially launched in July 2012 – this led to the start of the three-pronged community research survey. The first project was to look into the musculoskeletal health problems that the community women and school children face in Vadodara, Gujarat, and suggesting cost effective solutions for the same. The second project was done approximately six months after the first and it looked at the effectiveness of the intervention workshop held in the first project. This project was accepted for presentation at the 7^th International Conference of Management and Behavioral Sciences in March 2013 at Delhi, India. Out of the many conference papers, this research work was chosen to be published as a full paper in the Third Volume of the International Journal of Management and Behavioral Sciences – click here to read the paper.  The third phase of the project looked at the ergonomic problems in the slum school children in Pune, India.

            The team at Risachi consists of volunteers from diverse backgrounds- each contributing in their unique but substantial way. Dr. Pavithra Rajan heads Risachi. Mr. Anand Koti is the research co-ordinator. There are many volunteers who aid with the data collection and data entry. While one research work is published in one of the top international journals, other research work has been submitted to other renowned journals and is under review.

                The major crisis that Risachi faces right now is funds. With the wing being run solely by volunteers, it becomes difficult to design ambitious projects and ensure their smooth progression toward completion without adequate funds. While we appreciate all the volunteer help that you can provide us, what would be equally valued are your donations that could help us put our ideas into practice! Please help spread the word so that the modest work of Risachi can reach new heights! 

For Love

Risachi - the research wing of Colorss Foundation

Risachi - It is the research wing of Colorss Foundation, recently formed in early July 2012. Dr. Pavithra Rajan (physiotherapist) is heading the Risachi wing at Colorss Foundation. 

Dr. Pavithra is a physiotherapist from Mumbai, India. She worked as a clinical physiotherapist for close to two years in India, after which she went to Canada in 2008 to pursue her Master of Science in Kinesiology- specialization in gerontology and community based rehabilitation. She has been working in the field of community physical therapy, education and research for the past 7 years, in India as well as Canada. She is currently involved in many projects through United Nations Online Volunteering Program, on international projects from over 12 countries. She is especially interested in community based rehabilitation/research, orthopedic and musculoskeletal rehabilitation/research.

Risachi team consists of 
Dr. Pavithra Rajan - Principal Investigator
Mr. Anand Koti - Research Co-ordinator
Data Collection team - 
Vadodara, Gujarat - Ms Ankita Bhagwat and Ms Shreya Hiryur 
Pune, Maharashtra - Ms Stuti Prasad and Ms Rachita Kapoor.

Despite its recent inception, Risachi has successfully completed one major survey study involving 62 subjects and has three other major projects in different phases. The outcome of the research will involve designing novel strategies to improve the health of the underprivileged population.

We also undertake research projects.. you can reach us: contact@colorss.org | emailcolorss@gmail.com 

For love,

Anand