We sought to evaluate the influence of obesity level on the medial longitudinal arch (MLA) of the foot in 7- to 12-year-old children.The study group consisted of 925 children (450 girls and 475 boys). All of the children were subjected to podoscopic foot examination and measurement of weight, height, three skinfolds, fat weight, and fat-free body weight.The most common type of MLA was high-arched foot, which was observed in the left foot of 523 children (56.5%) and in the right foot in 592 children (64%). In almost all of the age groups, high-arched foot was the most common disorder. High-arched foot was more common in girls than in boys, and boys displayed a higher percentage of flatfoot. Also, sex-related differences were more prominent in urban children. There was a strongly positive correlation between obesity level and MLA in the examined group.These results suggest that the type of foot arch is influenced by parameters such as age, sex, and obesity level. High-arched foot seemed to be the most frequent pathologic abnormality in the examined group, and flatfoot, which was predominant in boys and obese children, diminished with age. High-arched foot was a more common MLA type than flatfoot regardless of obesity level assessed on the basis of body mass index and sum of three skinfolds.
This study assessed the effect of Pilates exercises on balance and fall risk in older women. Participants comprised 50 older women aged over 60 years, divided randomly into two groups: the experimental group (n = 30), which took part in Pilates sessions two times per week for three months, and the control group (n = 20). The control group did not participate in such sessions but also did not participate in any other rehabilitation programs or additional physical activity except everyday activities. Before and after the training cycle, all women underwent an assessment using Timed Up and Go (TUG), the One Leg Stance Test (OLST), a test performed on a Freestep baropodometric platform, and the tests performed on a Biosway platform. After the training, significantly decreased values of the surface of the ellipse (p = 0.0037) and mean values of velocity (p = 0.0262) for the right foot in the experimental group were observed. The Limits of Stability (LoS) test (p = 0.005) and the Modified Clinical Test of Sensory Interaction on Balance (m-CTSIB) performed on an unstable surface with eyes closed (p = 0.0409) indicated statistically significant changes in the experimental group. None of the above changes were statistically significant in relation to the control group. Pilates training affected the participants’ balance by improving LOS and reducing fall risk.
The COVID-19 pandemic had a very significant negative impact on the physical and mental health of various professional groups. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the psychosocial and health effects of the COVID-19 pandemic experienced by staff employed in social welfare institutions in Poland and Spain. The study involved 407 people, including 207 from Poland and 200 from Spain (346 women and 61 men), working in social care facilities. The research tool was the authors’ questionnaire consisting of 23 closed-ended, single- or multiple-choice questions. The study has indicated that the COVID-19 pandemic had negative health and psychosocial effects on employees of social welfare facilities. In addition, it has been shown that the severity of the psychosocial and health effects of the COVID-19 pandemic differed between the countries studied. Employees from Spain statistically significantly more often declared deterioration in most of the surveyed indicators, except for mood deterioration, which was experienced more by employees from Poland than their peers from Spain.
<b>Introduction:</b> Contemporary European understanding of occupational therapy is based on an individual approach to the person, so it is more apt in defining the purpose of therapeutic intervention. Due to the fact that each person has different occupational problems, it is important to identify them well by conducting interviews, establishing relationships, allowing the person to present their point of view, and to use appropriately tailored therapeutic tools and techniques to achieve the designated goal. The purpose of this paper was to present intervention areas for occupational therapy in people with schizophrenia and to show differences in therapeutic needs of people of the same sex, age and medical condition. <br/><b>Materials and methods:</b> The study group consisted of 5 women aged 50-55 years, suffering from schizophrenia and living in the Social Welfare Home. The study was conducted using two questionnaires: EQ-5 and NHP, which illustrated the quality of life of participants in the study. In addition, each person has participated in therapeutic interview, thanks to which occupational problems were identified. <br/><b>Results:</b> Each of the women examined represented a variety of occupational needs, directly related to their needs and problems, which were most relevant to them at the time of the study. The presented occupational needs referred to several life spheres that has often coincided with their current state of health or well-being. <br/><b>Conclusions:</b> Despite similar age, gender, medical conditions and place of residence, each examined person showed different occupational needs. The therapeutic interview turned out to be the basis for identifying occupational needs.
Introduction: Adequate nutrition is one of the most important environmental factors that have an influence on human development and maintaining good health condition. It consists in meeting the demand of an organism for energy and all the necessary nutrients completely. Material and methods: The survey was conducted in 2014. It covered 93 second year Physiotherapy and Physical Education students (48 females and 45 males) in Bronisław Czech University of Physical Education in Kraków. The average age of the surveyed students was 21. The Tanita scales were applied to define the value of BMI and to calculate the percentage of fat tissue in the organism. Results: The research results have revealed that the respondents represent an average and good manner of nutrition. The majority of the subjects (73.1%) had a normal percentage of fat tissue. While examining the relations between the way of nutrition and fat percentage, it was found that 50% of females who fed themselves well had a low FAT%. Only 13.7% of males representing an average interval of nutrition manner were found to have a high percentage of fat tissue. Among the majority of the respondents (79.6%) the BMI level was within the norm. Overweight was more frequent among males than females, whereas underweight vice versa. Conclusions: The majority of the surveyed students feed themselves in an average manner. The manner of nutrition had a significant influence on body fat only among females. The majority of respondents’ BMI level was within the norm.
Introduction: Many authors share the view that maintaining body balance, as well as the formation of related behaviour patterns, is mainly dependent on the age of the subject and their gender. Therefore, the problem gains in significance with respect to pathological conditions resulting in analysed dysfunctions in the clinical picture. The paper aims to describe the formation of selected variables of body stability of a random group of people, standing upright with both feet on the ground and eyes open. The authors intended to find answers to the following questions: Are there any differences in the values of stability parameters depending on the age of the subject? Are there any differences in the values of stability parameters depending on the gender of the subject? Research material and method: The research involved a group of 120 people aged between 2 and 90, including 69 women (58%) and 51 men (42%). The average age was 37.58 years. They were divided into three age groups, with the first consisting of people between 2 and 19, the second made up of people between 21 and 43, and the third composed of seniors over 61 years old. The research was possible thanks to (COP) PEL 38 equipment, which allowed for the examination of the distribution of pressure on the ground, enabling an analysis of shifts in the centre of pressure in the foot. Result: The research allowed for the preparation of charts (stabilograms) depicting the areas of the body’s instability in the saggital and frontal plane, a chart of posture instability and parameters which can be helpful in further analyses, including: 1. Width, describing the extent of oscillations of a test subject, 2. Average deviation, 3. Average Speed of oscillations. The highest values of individual parameters were recorded in the case of the youngest age group. This goes to show that their posture is least stable, probably due to the fact that their balance system is not yet fully developed. The best parametric values were characteristic of the 21 – 43 age group. Conclusions: 1. The highest values of each parameter were attained by the youngest group. This fact points to the least stable posture in this group of all the examined, probably caused by their incompletely developed balance system. The best parameter values were attained by the group of people between 21 and 43 years old. 2. Gender has an impact on the balance of the erect posture, yet only in group 1, in which females are characterised by lower COG sway values than males.
Introduction. Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disease which occupies a special place among neurological diseases. In human pathology, it is the most frequent demyelination disease, in the course of which primary damage is inflicted on myelin in the central nervous system. The neurological symptoms that accompany the disease cause problems which affect not only patients themselves but also their families. The pharmacological treatments developed so far do not combat the disease, but can visibly improve the patient’s quality of life, provided that they are supplemented by motor physical therapy. In addition, NGOs specialising in welfare work and physiological help for people suffering from multiple sclerosis have an essential role to play. The objective of this study is analysis of the influence of membership in NGOs for MS patients on their quality of life. Research material. The paper is based on research involving a group of 40 people, including 22 women (55%) and 18 men (45%). These were divided into two groups of 20 people. The first group was made up of people not associated with any support group, while the other was comprised of members of organisations supporting MS-affected people. Method. The research was based on the results of the ”Quality of Life Index” survey, taking into account the patients’ satisfaction with various aspects of their life as well as the Repta Functional Index. Results. The level of satisfaction and the functional condition of MS patients is different for each group. It was observed that their satisfaction level depends on their existing functional limitations. The functional condition of the group of people who are active in aid organisations is lower, which has an impact on the assessment of satisfaction with various aspects of life, and on the general assessment of their level of satisfaction with life. In the case of people who belong to NGOs, both indicators are lower than in the case of people who manage on their own. In turn, people who belong to organisations more often take advantage of rehabilitation and specialised help. Conclusions. People who belong to NGOs more often resort to rehabilitation and specialised help. Membership in such organisations makes it easier to receive help or information on how and under what conditions it can be obtained.
Background/Objectives: Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) covers a wide range of parameters in terms of laser properties and dosage, which is important for its effects. It is important to select safe, optimal irradiation conditions to obtain the desired therapeutic effect of LLLT on cells. This article is focused on the selection of favourable (biostimulating) exposure conditions for LLLT, which are the beam application method (continuous [C] or pulsed [P] laser beam), radiation power and LLLT dose, on the viability and secretory activity regarding resting macrophages of the RAW 264.7 cell line. Methods: RAW 264.7 macrophages were seeded on 24-well tissue culture. ASTAR PhysioGo 400C apparatus with a spot applicator generating electromagnetic radiation in the infrared light range of 808 nm and power of 100 mW and 200 mW was used for laser irradiation of macrophages. Cells were treated with different doses of constant radiation 5 J/cm2/well or 10 J/cm2/well. Results: It was shown that the most beneficial radiation parameters for cells were obtained with a pulsed laser beam of 200 mW power and a dose of 5 J/cm2, which caused an increase in macrophage adhesion and viability, as well as an increase in NO secretion by macrophages and their TOS, with a simultaneous decrease in the secretion of TNF-α, MCP-1 and MMP-9 by cells. Conclusions: The research results presented above indicate that the effect of LLLT on resting macrophages modulates their biological activity, and the intensity of photobiostimulation depends on the irradiation parameters, including wavelength, power, dose and method of laser beam application.
Generalised joint hypermobility (GJH) is characterised by the range of motion that exceeds normal limits in multiple joints. GJH is relatively common. When it is accompanied with other manifestations, it is defined as a health-related disorder, like Joint Hypermobility Syndrome (JHS) or the Ehlers–Danlos Syndrome - Hypermobile Type (hEDS). The prevalence of GJH is higher in sporting than in the general population. The aim of the study was to investigate the prevalence of GJH in competitive swimmers and its relation to the number and type of injuries, pain and selected anthropological and training indicators. The research group consisted of 97 competitive Polish swimmers (50 males; 47 females) aged 15-24 years. Body stature and body mass was measured. Participants completed a questionnaire to collect demographic data and information on previous injuries. Concerning joint hypermobility, participants were examined with the Beighton Scale. Spearman’s rank correlation test was applied for analysis. GJH is an often-occurring symptom among the researched group. There was no correlation between selected acute injuries nor chronic pain and GJH in the study group. Several other correlations were noted. Keywords: Generalised joint hypermobility; Swimmers; Pain; Injuries
Abstract LLLT (low-level laser therapy) covers a wide range of parameters in terms of laser properties and dosage, which is important for its effects. To obtain the desired therapeutic effect of LLLT on cells, it is important to select optimal irradiation conditions. This article focuses on the selection of biostimulating exposure conditions for LLLT, which are the method of beam application, the radiation power and dose, and then the assessment of the immunomodulatory effect of LLLT on resting macrophages of the RAW 264.7 cell line. Irradiation of cells with a pulsed laser beam with a power of 200 mW and a dose of 5 J/cm2 results in an increase in the adhesion and viability of macrophages and increase the secretion of protein, NO by macrophages and their TOS, which may suggest the polarization of macrophages towards the M1 phenotype. On the other hand, a decrease in the secretion TNF-α, MCP-1 and MMP-9 by cells may indicate the polarization of macrophages towards the M2 phenotype. It seems that for an optimal response of resting macrophages, they often share common features of the M1 and M2 phenotypes and that their phenotype should be considered as a spectrum of continuous differentiation under the influence of LLLT.
