Blood flow restriction - short insight of the method

Introduction: The blood flow restriction method is a training method that is based on the partial occlusion of circulation during a workout. This technique combines low-intensity exercise with the occlusion of the bloodstream which produces results similar to high-intensity training.Aim: We aimed to identify the areas in which this method is applicable, its potential benefits and effects, recommendations regarding the rules of use for maximal effects (dosage, intensity, etc.), and also possible contraindications or warnings regarding the use of this method.Methods: We have analyzed a number of 20 articles on this topic from the field literature of the last 10 years, using ”google academic” as a search engine.Results: After this study we concluded that blood flow restriction is a method with wide applicability in the field of sports training, but also in the recovery process; however, it requires attention in choosing the necessary equipment. For healthy individuals, best training adaptations occur when combining low-load blood flow restriction resistance exercise with traditional high-load resistance exercise.Conclusion: Low-intensity resistance exercise with blood flow restriction is as effective as high-intensity training (for strength and muscle mass gains), but only the high-intensity protocol promotes significant hypotensive responses after exercise.

The necessity of rehabilitation in children with Down syndrome

Introduction: Children with Down syndrome have associated impairments of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue (joint hypermobility), and of the neurologic system (hypotonia, mental retardation, developmental delay).Aim: We conducted a retrospective study that had in view the quantification of the number of children suffering from Down syndrome who attended rehabilitation programmes in the Rehabilitation Department of “Louis Ţurcanu” Emergency Children’s Hospital Timisoara for a 3-year period (between November 2016 and October 2019).Methods: The study included 21 children with Down syndrome; their age ranged from 2 weeks to 15 years, with 52% of the children being in the 0-12 months group. All patients were included in a rehabilitation programme of the outpatient Rehabilitation Department (with 10 daily sessions) every 6 months.Results: We point out the importance of the rehabilitation team in the management of children with Down syndrome.Conclusion: The physical therapy programme should be for a long term, it should be started as early as possible (even in the first weeks of life) and followed continuously through the entire growth period and also during adulthood.

Statistical comparison related to service and reception of the volleyball team CSM Volei Alba Blaj in the CEV Champions League Final Four 2018

Background: Volleyball game has developed and spread all over the world being more and more spectacular and dynamic. The importance of an objective analysis of the game has become decisive for obtaining the victory, and the statistical analysis of the specific parameters such as serve receiving, serves, points obtained, blocks can influence the results of the game.Aim: The purpose of the experiment was to analyze the decisive factors in the success or failure of the CSM Volleyball team Volei Alba Blaj in the Final Four CEV Champions League for women’s volleyball.Methods: The statistical analysis included descriptive statistics elements (mean, median, standard deviation), and elements of inferential statistics. The D’Agostino & Pearson test was applied to determine the distribution of the analyzed data series. For the comparison of means and medians the t-Student test was applied, for pair data, and the Wilcoxon test, respectively. The significance threshold chosen for the p value was 0.05. The statistical analysis was performed using the Graph Pad Prism utility.Results: We compared the two main parameters in the first phase of the volleyball game that consisted of service and service reception. The results were significant regarding the service parameter, where we compared the total number of good serves, serve errors and ace serves. Then, we have also analyzed the second parameter found in the first phase of the volleyball game, the serve reception. The results were also statistically significant showing that both parameters, service and service reception, are decisive in the volleyball game.Conclusions: The statistical analysis in the volleyball game can emphasize objective and decisive factors and parameters that can influence the result of a volleyball game. It is important to use statistics in modern volleyball game and to prepare the game or even action in real time so as to obtain the best results.

The efficiency of rehabilitation programs in the case of unoperated lumbar disc herniations

Introduction: More and more young people with low back pain address family doctors or orthopaedists, being subsequently directed to the medical rehabilitation centres. Recent studies have shown that the medication only, prescribed in these cases, is not sufficient for the complete reintegration of these people into the workplace and into society. Physical exercises play an important role in the rehabilitation of these subjects.Aim: We conducted this study starting from the hypothesis that regular exercise can reduce pain and improve the well-being of patients diagnosed with lumbar disc herniation.Methods: The study was conducted at the “Politehnica” University of Timisoara within the Department of Physical Education and Sports, between September and November 2019. Ten subjects diagnosed (both clinically and by imaging) with lumbar disc herniation were included in the study. All patients followed an exercise program 3 times a week, for 90 days. As evaluation methods we used: the subjective pain evaluation scale (VAS scale) and the health assessment questionnaire (HAQ).Results: All the parameters followed in this study were improved following the application of the physical exercise program (muscle stretching, toning of the back and abdomen muscles, and as a result of the correct implementation of the notions of ergonomics at work and at home). In conclusion, we consider it is necessary to implement a protocol of exercises performed regularly for a long period in the case of patients with lumbar pain secondary to disc herniation.

New study on the neuromuscular dystrophy rehabilitation program

Neuromuscular dystrophy is a progressive disease, interesting skeletal muscles by progressive weakness and loss of voluntary motor function.Material and Methods: A prospective study was developed on 16 patients with progressive neuromuscular dystrophy, over a three months period. The initial and final assessment included muscle manual testing, range of motion and, for the functional outcomes, the Vigos Scale, Barthel Scale, Activity of Daily Living (ADL) Score, and Muscular Dystrophy Scale were used. The physiotherapy program was developed on four stages and a guiding protocol was used for the individualization of the physical therapy program. The statistical analysis was performed in Microsoft Excel, using a Paired samples T-test.Results: Statistical significant results were obtained within all assessment tools. Muscle strength and ADL capacity improved, with the highest increases in patients with low levels of disability.Conclusion: The main results suggest that individualized physiotherapy can slow the progressivity of the disorder and improve the quality of life, especially when started at an earlier stage of the disease.

Impact of mirror movements on the bimanual hand function and functional independence with comparison of the bimanual hand function in children suffering from spastic cerebral palsy, with and without mirror movements

Objective: To compare the bimanual hand function in children with and without mirror movements and to find the correlation between the bimanual hand function, functional independence and severity of mirror movements.Design: Comparative cross sectional study.Place and duration of the study: The study was conducted in special education schools of Lahore and Islamabad, Pakistan, from August 2017 to January 2018.Patients and Methods: Children suffering from spastic cerebral palsy including both males and females in age groups ranging from 5 to 18 years who were able to make a gross grip were included in the study. Children having low tone, not able to make a gross grip and with any deformity that makes the assessment difficult were excluded. The non probability sampling technique was used. The Woods and Teuber criteria were used to check the severity of the mirror movements and bimanual activities to compare the hand functions. Data was analyzed using SPSS 21.Results: The mean age of the participants was 11.17±3.69 years. Children who presented with mirror movements had a mean age of 12±3.70 years and those without mirror movements had mean age of 10.72±3.63 years. According to the results of the bimanual task scale, there was no difference in the bimanual hand function of children with mirror movements and without mirror movements (P value >0.05)Conclusion: According to the results of the bimanual task scale there is no significant difference in the bimanual hand function of children suffering from spastic cerebral palsy, either with with or without mirror movements. However, functional independence was found more in the children suffering from cerebral palsy who presented without mirror movements.

Body mass index and quality of life among students aged nineteen to twenty two years

Aim: The purpose of this research is to identify and analyze the association of the Body Mass Index (BMI) and quality of life (QoL) components in students aged 19 to 22 that attended physical education classes once a week during a whole semester. The students come from different faculties of the West University of Timişoara.Methods: The research was conducted during the physical education classes to which they participated during one semester. The research has begun in October 2018 and ended in January 2019. A total of 400 students were asked to participate in this study, 200 female and 200 male students. As research methods, we used the RAND 36 Item Short Form Health Survey SF-36 questionnaire to assess the quality of life, as well as the statistical-mathematical method.Results: Our results showed that 66% of the students had a normal BMI, 12% are underweight, 17% are overweight and 12% are obese. It has been found that the quality of life score does not depend on the body mass index. No correlation has been found between the QOL total score and BMI in neither male students r=0.035, R²=0.0012, p=0.62, nor female students r=-0.01, R²<0.001, p=0.88.

Study regarding the development of the front crawl and backstroke swimming techniques in children aged 7-10

Background: The biggest advantage of swimming is that the muscles and joints can move without the need to bear weight, thus the tension is limited which reduces most risks of injury. The water environment allows freedom of movement and exercise choices that are impossible on land.Aim: The objective of our study is to test the hypothesis that the execution of a well designed training plan will result into the improvement of the technique and swimming speed in the front crawl and backstroke styles for the participants.Methods: 16 children have been selected, 10 boys and 6 girls. Their mean age (8.4±0.96) is between 7 and 10. We chose 5 specific tests in order to evaluate our hypothesis.Results: The final tests demonstrate that both performance and technique have been considerably improved as a result of the training plan.Conclusion: After a well designed training plan for a period of 3 months, the group of children experienced a positive change in the quality of their motor skills associated with swimming which improved their technique and performance.

The training, nutrition and physical conditioning programme: a challenge for kickboxing athletes to achieve athletic greatness

Introduction: In the last decade in Romania, following the international trend, the interest for combat martial arts sports increased among the young generation. From all the contact sports, kickboxing was one of the most accessed athletic disciplines by both amateurs and professional athletes due to all the benefits of the complex training sessions.Aim: The aim of the study was to analyze the differences between professional and non-professional males concerning the evolution of food habits and performance improvement when they follow the same training programme.Results: Data analysis reveals an increase of physical performance in all performed tests. A significant improvement has been shown for both professional and non-professional athletes after 8 weeks of specific training. In the non-professional athletes group, the improvement of physical performance was even greater than in the professional group. Data analysis according to the age group revealed that in the case of the mature athletes the physical performance progress showed a lower augmentation than in the young ones, but the level of performance was at higher values than the performance of the young ones. In terms of nutrition, both groups need an improvement of their dietary habits, even if the professional ones revealed a better nutritional approach than the non-professional participants.Conclusion: The results of this pilot study indicate that an integrative approach of a martial art athlete training is important in order to develop sports elites. The long term training programmes combined with proper nutrition are the key factors of the strategy for achieving greatness. Further studies are necessary in order to set the best physical and metabolic parameters in order to create the framework for a long term training strategy.

Evaluation of the ventilometric parameters of two football teams in different leagues

Introduction: Spirometry testing is a physiological test measuring lung volume and flows. Compared to the other components of the respiratory system, training does not result into significant improvements as for the increase of the expiratory flow. The assessment of the respiratory function may indicate certain disorders of the bronchi and of the lungs, but, on the other hand, it offers little information on the aerobic capacity of the individuals or the effects of physical exercises.Aim: The purpose of this research was to study the respiratory volumes in two football teams that are part of two different leagues (2nd league, and 5th league, respectively), and to compare these results with the ones at the international level.Materials and methods: We included in this research two football teams in two different leagues (2nd league, and 5th league, respectively) and, from each team, we chose the players with the highest number of minutes spent playing throughout the championship return phase. In order to perform spirometry, we used a portable spirometer (Spirotube Spirometer, PC Spirometer). The prediction method used by the spirometer software was the one presented by the European Respiratory Society and Kudson.Results: By comparing the environments of the two groups we can see that, in terms of height and weight, the two samples present close values. According to the results recorded with the help of the spirometer, the value of the forced vital capacity (FVC = 4.50) represents 98% of the normal level, and the Expiratory volume per second FEV1 (FEV1 = 4.50) represents 97% of the normal level. Within the ASU group, the value of the forced vital capacity (FVC = 5.19) represents 95% of the normal level, and the Expiratory volume per second (FEV1 = 4.45) represents 95% of the normal level. As we can see, neither of the groups reaches the normal potential. However, the CS UVT group reaches a higher percentage than the other, although they play their matches in a lower league.Conclusions: Considering that we could not compare the types of training that the two teams had during the preparation phase, we cannot say whether such trainings had a certain effect on the subjects. Further research should be carried out in order to determine if the type of training had a beneficial effect in the case of the CS UVT group.