Flat foot pain is a common complaint that requires therapeutic intervention. Currently, myofascial release techniques are often used in the therapy of musculoskeletal disorders. A group of 60 people ...suffering from flat feet with associated pain. Patients were assigned to four groups (15 people each): MF-myofascial release, E-the exercise program, MFE-myofascial release and the exercise program, C-no intervention. The rehabilitation program lasted 4 weeks. The NRS scale was used to examine pain intensity and FreeMed ground reaction force platform was used to examine selected static and dynamic foot indicators. Statistically significant pain reduction was obtained in all research. A static test of foot load distribution produced statistically significant changes only for selected indicators. In the dynamic test, statistically significant changes were observed for selected indicators, only in the groups subjected to therapeutic intervention. Most such changes were observed in the MF group. In the dynamic test which assessed the support phase of the foot, statistically significant changes were observed only for selected subphases. Most such changes were observed in the MFE group. Both exercise and exercise combined with myofascial release techniques, and especially myofascial release techniques alone, significantly reduce pain in a flat foot. This study shows a limited influence of both exercises and myofascial release techniques on selected static and dynamic indicators of a flat foot.
Seniors are a constantly growing group of people in many societies. It is necessary to develop physiotherapeutic programs to improve their mobility. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of ...the physiotherapeutic program conducted unstable ground on selected indicators of motor functions of elderly women. Sixty women (60-80 years) participated in the research. Group A (
= 20) underwent a 12-week physiotherapeutic program on stable ground, group B (
= 20) followed an exercise program on unstable ground, and group C (
= 20) (control group) had no therapeutic intervention. The effects of the therapy were assessed by using a FreeMed platform (foot load analysis) and a Biosway balance system. The results were compared using ANOVA (the one-way analysis), the Kruskal-Wallis test and also the post hoc tests (Tukey's test and the multiple comparison test). In group A, a statistically significant change was observed in the static test and balance assessment, in group B this was observed in the static and dynamic foot tests and balance assessment, in group C, no statistical significance was achieved. The authors' physiotherapeutic program had a statistically significant effect on changes in the balance and selected indicators of the motor functions of the examined people. Comparing the results before and after the therapy more improvement changes were noted in women training on an unstable ground compared to women training on a stable ground.
The aim of this article is to present the prestige of selected medical professions in the opinion of people practicing these professions.
The study was conducted by means of the survey technique. The ...research tool was an original questionnaire prepared by the authors of the study, which was carried out on a sample of 346 professionally active physicians, nurses, physiotherapists, psychotherapists, and occupational therapists. Those people were employed in public institutions (hospitals, outpatient clinics, rehabilitation centers) located in Kraków and Katowice. The selection of the sample was deliberate.
The profession of a physician received the highest score of prestige, while the lowest one was achieved by the profession of an occupational therapist. As factors influencing the prestige of a given profession, physicians and physiotherapists most often indicated social respect for the profession, while nurses, psychotherapists, and occupational therapists emphasized the importance of education. The level of prestige of medical professions, as compared with other professions, decreased with seniority.
The profession of a physician occupies the leading position in the hierarchy of the self-assessed prestige of medical professions. Physicians notice a general tendency to assess the prestige of their profession in a broader context - the position of this profession is weakening in favor of other public utility jobs, despite the fact that physicians still occupy an important place in the rankings of prestige including all professions. A negative self-assessment of the prestige of the occupation performed over the period of ten years prevail only in the case of physicians and nurses. Med Pr. 2019;70(5):587-95.
Aim
The aim of the present study was to analyze the effects of two rehabilitation protocols, dance movement therapy exercises (DMT) and general rehabilitation exercises (GRE), on erythrocyte ...deformability and plasma levels of nitrite plus nitrate as end products of nitric oxide (NOx) in elderly women.
Methods
The study included 39 women aged 61–82 years, subjected to either GRE (n = 20) or DMT (n = 19). Women were subjected to 5‐months programs of GRE and DMT, with each session lasting no longer than 45–50 min, and the intensity of exercising corresponding to no more than 40–60% of heart rate reserve. Plasma levels of NOx were determined spectrophotometrically before and at the end of the intervention.
Results
A significant increase in the total nitrate/nitrite concentration from 1.341 μmol/L to 1.590 μmol/L (7.3%) was observed in women subjected to the DMT rehabilitation program. Furthermore, an increase in erythrocyte deformability was observed in this group at shear stress 0.30. No significant difference was found between the pre‐ and post‐rehabilitation NOx levels of women participating in the GRE program.
Conclusions
Participation in DMT rehabilitation program might be reflected by an increase in plasma NOx levels and an improvement of erythrocyte deformability at lesser shear stress, and thus could potentially result in better vascular function. DMT should be offered to older adults, especially to persons who do not find conventional forms of rehabilitation as attractive, as they might refrain from physical activity and suffer from a faster decline in nitric oxide production. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2017; 17: 2479–2484.
It's really important to measure the actual functional physical fitness of elderly independent living persons from different environments to know the level and rate of decrease may inform about the ...threat of loss of functional independence, hence the need to monitor and assess the senior's motor realm and adapt to it the appropriate programs and treatments in the care for the elderly person.
The study involved 5367 people (mean age 69,63 ± 7,06), including 4164 women (mean age 69,55 ± 7,11) and 1203 men (mean age 69,91 ± 6,86) aged 60 to 93 years old. We have measured basic anthropometric features and physical fitness (by using Senior Fitness Test).
The average values in individual SFT tests significantly decrease along with age. After age of 80 and 85 there were no sex differences in SFT. The largest deficits concern the dynamic balance and the decrease reaches 69% in men and 62% in women A significantly higher rate of decline in aerobic capacity concerns men (43%) than women (36.9%). A clearly lower rate of loss occurs in the muscular strength of the lower and upper body and does not exceed 30%.
The results are of great clinical importance for the development of effective prevention and gerontological education programs in terms of promoting active lifestyle and successful ageing, at the same time limiting the economic consequences of treatment and hospitalisation.
The main aim of this study was the analysis of Joint Hypermobility Syndrome (JHS) occurrence in Polish volleyball players. The research group consist of 61 active players, aged between 16 and 33. ...Hypermobility of the joints was estimated using Beighton scale. All participants filled anonymous questionnaire prepared by the Authors. In 18 (78.3%) out of 23 participants with increased JHS we reported pain symptoms during or after playing. Only 14 (36.8%) out of 38 participants without JHS.
Systematic participation in dance therapy may improve balance and reduce risk of falls. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of dance therapy on balance and risk of falls in adults with ...Down syndrome. Study participants comprised 23 persons with Down syndrome aged 26– 49 years who underwent dance therapy. Before and after the therapy, all participants were measured on a BioSway balance platform using three tests: postural stability, limits of stability, and M-CTSIB fall risk. Mean result was lower following intervention (2.40 ± 1.81 vs. 1.65 ± 1.32; p = .006) in the postural stability test. The limits of stability test found a statistically significant difference (26.30 ± 8.99 vs. 37.90 ± 12.54; p < .001). The results of this study only partially supported the hypothesis that dance therapy improves balancing skills in adults with Down Syndrome.
Introduction Adequate adaptation of establishments to the needs of various groups of users is important both because of users’ physical ability to enter and move around a certain place, and also ...because it allows these users to participate in social life. It is the competence of occupational therapists to design ergonomic environmental space for various people, including those with motor system dysfunctions. Material and methods The study was conducted in randomly chosen culture and entertainment establishments of Cracow. The studied establishments were art houses, libraries, museums and pubs. The study tool was our own questionnaire for assessment of accessibility of the establishments for wheelchair users. Results We assessed the accessibility of the entrance. In this criterion, museums had the best results, and pubs had poorest results. In changes of the level inside the establishment, libraries and cinemas were best, and museums were poorest. In toilet assessment, museums had best results, and pubs and libraries had poorest results. In most of the establishments, toilets were not accessible for people in wheelchairs. Conclusions The mean level of adaptation of the studied culture and entertainment establishments in Cracow shows that they are only partially accessible. The type of establishment was related to the its accessibility level. Museums proved to have best accessibility, and pubs had the poorest accessibility. The location of the establishments (the district) impacted the architectural barriers.
The research tool was an original questionnaire prepared by the authors of the study, which was carried out on a sample of 346 professionally active physicians, nurses, physiotherapists, ...psychotherapists, and occupational therapists. Conclusions: The profession of a physician occupies the leading position in the hierarchy of the self-assessed prestige of medical professions. Hinze S.W.: Gender and the body of medicine or at least some body parts: (Re)constructing the prestige hierarchy of medical specialities. Bonsall A., Mosby A., Waltz M., Wintermute K.: Health care professionals' knowledge of occupational therapy.
Wstep: Celem artykulu jest przedstawienie opinii osob wykonujacych zawody medyczne na temat prestizu tych zawodow. Material i metody: W badaniu wzielo udzial 346 aktywnych zawodowo lekarzy, ...pielegniarek, fizjoterapeutow, psychoterapeutow i terapeutow zajeciowych. Narzedziem badawczym byl kwestionariusz przygotowany przez autorki badania. Badani byli zatrudnieni w placowkach publicznych (szpitalach, przychodniach, osrodkach rehabilitacji) w Krakowie i Katowicach. Dobor proby mial charakter celowy. Wyniki: Zawod lekarza uzyskal najwyzsze noty, zawod terapeuty zajeciowego--najnizsze. Lekarze i fizjoterapeuci najczesciej wskazywali spoleczny szacunek do zawodu jako czynnik wplywajacy na prestiz wykonywanej przez siebie profesji, a pielegniarki, psychoterapeuci i terapeuci zajeciowi podkreslali znaczenie wyksztalcenia. Ocena prestizu zawodow medycznych w porownaniu z innymi zawodami byla tym nizsza, im dluzy byl staz pracy. Wnioski: Zawod lekarza zajmowal glowna pozycje w hierarchii samooceny prestizu badanych zawodow medycznych. Lekarze zauwazali ogolna tendencje dotyczaca oceny prestizu ich zawodu w szerszym kontekscie--pozycja zawodu slabnie na rzecz innych zawodow uzytecznosci publicznej, mimo ze lekarze nadal zajmuja istotne miejsce w rankingach prestizu. W zakresie samooceny prestizu wykonywanego zawodu w perspektywie 10-letniej negatywne oceny przewazaly tylko wsrod lekarzy i pielegniarek. W przypadku innych profesji oceny byly pozytywne. Med. Pr. 2019;70(5):587-595