Analyze of relation between passive stiffness of pelvic girdle muscles and foot architecture in preschool children

Background: The aim of the study is assessment of relation between passive stiffness of chosen pelvic girdle muscles and formation of heel angle (gamma) and medial longitudinal arch (MLA; determined by the Clarke's angle (AC) ). Material/Methods: 124 preschool children underwent observation. The examined group included 46 five years old children and 78 six years old children (girls (n=53); boys (n=71). Passive stiffness of chosen muscles that have insertions within pelvis were assessed in participants and gamma and Clarke's angles were evaluated with use of plantography. Results: Analysis of ANOVA variance showed significant diversification (p<0.01) of iliopsoas muscles stiffness between groups designated in regard to gamma angle (between body sides). Statistically substantial differences of passive stiffness of hamstrings and adductors (P<0.01, respectively) was also obtained in these groups. In case of analyze of passive stiffness of pelvic girdle muscles in the groups appointed in regard to Clarke's angle the only essential effect (P<0.01) was noted within iliopsoas between body sides, but without important interactions.

Physiotherapeutic interventions in patients with migraines

Migraine headaches represent one of the most frequent chronic problems which significantly impact on the limitation of everyday human functioning. Despite pharmacological treatment, many people also need preventive care to reduce intensity of the symptoms of the disease, reduce frequency of migraine attack and to enhance the response to the abortive treatment. New strategies of combining pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment have been demonstrated to be as effective as taking modern medicines. Unfortunately, the awareness of availability and effectiveness of non-pharmacological methods to treat migraines remains to be insufficient. Therefore, the need arises for educating medical staffs and patients and continuation of the research in this field of science. The study presents a brief characterization of the disease, discusses non-pharmacological methods to treat migraines and proposes the guidelines for physiotherapists to be used in the clinical practice.

Knowledge and social opinions about physiotherapists

Background: Physiotherapy is an integral part of medicine, both in terms of prevention and treatment. Despite the long history of healing with movement and other physical factors, physiotherapy is considered to be a young field of medicine, and the occupation of the physiotherapist in the social consciousness is in the building phase. The aim of the study was to investigate the interest in physiotherapist Material/Methods: The study involved 199 people, including 117 women (58.79%) and 82 men (41.21%), residents of the Silesian Voivodship. Age of respondents: 16-81 years (x = 46.22, SD = 13.45). The research tool was an original questionnaire. Closed questions concerned the interest in physiotherapist profession, self-assessment of knowledge and its sources, opinions on the availability and quality of services, and the social prestige and profitability of the physiotherapist profession. Results: Respondents most often declared that their interest in the profession is poor or average, but they evaluate their level of knowledge of the profession as high. The prevailing opinions are that the availability of physiotherapist services is large, but at patients own expense, and the cost-effectiveness of the profession is average. Women revealed greater interest and declared more knowledge of the profession than men. Differences also concerned the opinions on the profitability of the profession. Conclusions: The public interest in physiotherapist profession is on an average level, positive opinions about physiotherapists prevail, especially among older people. The profession is considered to be averagely profitable.

Comparing lumbopelvic stabilization exercises and yoga on functional stability and low back pain in young, non-elite, female gymnasts

Background: It is beneficial for gymnasts to train key lumbopelvic musculature to decrease or prevent low back injury. This study compares lumbopelvic exercises and yoga on lumbar muscle endurance, lumbopelvic stabilization, abdominal strength and balance in adolescent female gymnasts and the effect on low back pain. Material/Methods: 13 participants were randomly allocated to a lumbo-pelvic or yoga group intervention and performed specific exercises for 6 weeks. Biering-Sorensen Test, Lumbopelvic Control Test, Side Bridge Test, and Star Excursion Balance Test were conducted on the participants before and after the 6-week intervention and low back pain logbooks were completed. Results: The Biering-Sorensen Test was significantly greater results for the lumbopelvic group compared to the yoga group. Both groups had significant changes over time with the Lumbopelvic Control Test but no group difference. Both groups had significant improvement with the Side Bridge with the yoga group benefitting more on the left. Out of the six fully completed logbooks, the yoga group showed less occurrence of low back pain compared to the lumbopelvic group. Conclusions: Yoga and lumbopelvic stabilization exercises are equally effective in developing lumbar muscle endurance, lateral stability and front-on stability for young non-elite gymnasts. This is important as they are under-represented in research but overrepresented in participation. This study sets the basis for further research on the incidence of low back pain in young gymnasts and the effects of age-appropriate exercises as a preventative matter.

Treatment of the frozen shoulder by combination of cervical adjustment, ultrasonic therapy and muscle stretching

Background: Physical therapy is an intervention commonly used in the treatment of subjects with frozen shoulder symptoms. The purpose of this study was to determine the influence and treatment efficiency of combination therapy of cervical adjustment, ultrasonic therapy and stretching on the frozen shoulder. Material/Methods: We studied 39 patients (male 22, female 17) who had frozen shoulder and divided them into test group (20, male 12, female 8) and control group (19, male 10, female 9). Results: The result of combination therapy of cervical adjustment, ultrasonic therapy and stretching was higher than control group, in study group 95.0%, in control group 78.9%.

Quality of Life and Burden in caregivers of Multiple Sclerosis patients

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is one of the most disabling disorders of the central nervous system. Caregivers of individuals with MS may experience unique caregiver strain due to the age at onset and progressive nature of the disease. Additionally, because MS is more prevalent in women, men often become spousal caregivers. This places women in the position of being care recipients rather than caregivers. Some results also supported hypothesis that female caregivers reported a higher need for emotional support than male caregivers. As with female caregivers, decreased emotional support predicted poorer QoL among male caregivers. Caring for a MS patient may negatively impact several objective and subjective aspects of caregiver's life, such as physical and emotional health, morale, work life, finances, social mobility, interpersonal relationships and sexual life. In studies assessing the psychological consequences of care a higher level of anxiety and depression in caregivers than in the general population has been reported. Caregivers who experience burden are more likely to have a higher risk of depression and a lower quality of life. Early recognition of caregiver burden is important in determining appropriate interventions. In this review report the current state of knowledge about the QoL of MS caregivers as well the burden of MS caregivers has been described.

Healthy Athletes Program as a chance for a good quality of life of persons with intellectual disability and their families in the context of health and pro-health activities

Background: One of the consequences of improperly extending the process of socialization is incorrect health education and thus, different structure of the behaviors associated with taking care of their own health. More difficult socio-economic situation of families with children with intellectual disabilities may not adequately protect the needs of family members (especially children’s) associated with health. Up to 1/3 of the cases of people with intellectual disabilities of poorer health state can result from lower socio-economic position (Emerson and Hatton, 2007). Educational failure, typical for families of children and young people with intellectual disabilities (especially mild) can result in the children not acquiring appropriate behaviors, important for health. If these behaviors are missing, consequently, can be expected to accelerate the deterioration of health. The health status of people with intellectual disabilities is worse than the state of health in the general population (Allerton, Welch, Emerson, 2011; Tample et al., 2006). The most serious consequence of the poorer health of people with intellectual disabilities is a higher mortality rate (Krahn et al, 2006). The average life expectancy of people with intellectual disabilities is 66 (excluding people with Down syndrome whose life expectancy is even shorter), and so more than 10 years shorter than of people. In so-called intellectual norm! Bearing in mind that access to the highest standard of health care for all people with disabilities is a law that was adopted on 13 December 2006 under the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, Special Olympics Poland have taken the initiative leading to beneficial changes in quality of life for the players and their families in the context of health and modeling appropriate health behavior through the implementation of the Health Programme, which includes the two related projects: Healthy Athletes and Healthy Special Olympics Community.

Estimation of changes of lower limbs reactivity among mountain cyclist under the influence of sauna treatment - abstract

Background: Elaborated system of neuromuscular connections gives to a human ability of body control, possibility to move and perform any complicated moves. The issue of neuromuscular conduction appears more frequently in physiotherapy, biological restoration or, widely perceived, sport training. Physiotherapists often wonder how sauna treatment, mainly used in biological restoration, influence on changes of its conduction and, on which level of a rehabilitation, training process or biological restoration should it be used. The aim of this paper was to check how an organism would react after methodically conducted sauna treatments in a form of whole body biological restoration. Material/Methods: Competitors of cycling group GR AIRCO Team participated in research. Twelve men were classified and divided onto two age groups. On the basis of questionnaires personal details as well as basic antropometric parameters were collected. Tool used to measure reactivity was chosen to research method: Reactivity Measure MCZR/ATB 1.0. Results: Analysis of variance of following measurements did not show any statistically crucial differences between the group under the age of 30 and over 30 (p>0,05). Results are shown respectively for right leg, left leg, both lower limbs tested simultaneously with the division onto age groups. Analysis of variance show increase of reactivity for all tested participants after sauna. Conclusions: Sauna treatment among cyclist has impact on a rate of lower limbs reactivity tested simultaneously with impulse differentiation to an appropriate legs.

The role of postural control in physical activity

Background: Postural control concerns control of body position in space in two aspects: 1. stability that is understood as ability to maintain projection of center of gravity on support surface 2. orientation understood as proper relation of individual body segments towards each other and towards surrounding In pediatric physiotherapy different term is used that constitute synonym of postural control - it is postural reflex mechanism of which the most important factor is postural tone Aim of study: To determine relation between postural control and moderate physical activity in children? Material/Methods: Method used in the study encompasses physiotherapeutic assessment of postural control before and after two weeks period of moderate physical activity. It included multi-sport activities (with prevalence of activities with use of water equipment), that stimulate postural control. 23 children (11 girls and 12 boys) aged 7-16 were examined. Their postural control was assessed with use of two parameters: size of postural tone (Postural Tone Coefficient) and body stabilization (Body Stabilization Test). Obtained results were processed statistically Results: After two weeks of moderate physical activity, parameters that concern postural control were improved. In the statistical analyze improvement appears to be statistically significant on the level of p < 0,05. Conclusions: Moderate physical activity influences postural control improvement.

The effect of selected elements of lifestyles on the sitting position

Background: According to the Lalonde’s health field, health is determined in more than 50% by human lifestyles. Nowadays, the sedentary lifestyles are dominant and all types of physical activities discussed by Drozdowski are being gradually ousted from everyday life. This results in maladaptive sitting positions. Therefore, the goal of this study was to evaluate the effect of selected components of lifestyle on sitting position. Material/Methods: The study examined 372 people who declared a healthy status. The research program involved the questionnaire which concerned selected components of lifestyles and measurements of spinal column to evaluate the sitting position. Results: The study demonstrated a statistically significant positive effect of time of sitting during the day on the sitting position, i.e. the element of lifestyles which can be directly controlled by study participants. Conclusions: Of the evaluated components of lifestyles, the most essential effect is from time of sitting during the day. The study demonstrated the need for promotion of healthy lifestyles.