The aim of this study was to examine the association between sleep disturbances, as an indicator of sleep quality, Body Mass Index, and age in adult participants. The study involved 73 participants ...(62 women and 11 men) with an average age of 35.74 years. Through an online questionnaire, we collected the data on participants’ height, body mass, gender, and sleep disturbances. Based on their height and mass, we calculated the Body Mass Index as an indicator of body fat for each participant. We used items from a shorter version of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index to assess sleep disturbances. Participants were asked to answer how often they experienced different disturbances while falling asleep or sleeping in the last month. The results of the study indicated an association between sleep disturbances and Body Mass Index. Compared to participants who rarely experienced sleep disturbances, participants with frequent disturbances were more likely to have a high Body Mass Index (indicating excess mass or obesity). Although older participants in most cases had a high Body Mass Index compared to younger participants, no significant association was found between sleep disturbances and age. The results of the study also suggest that the association between sleep disturbances and Body Mass Index did not depend on the age of the participants. The research findings indicate that in addressing the issues of obesity and excess mass, public health attention should also be given to sleep quality issues.
Cilj ovog istraživanja bio je ispitati povezanost poremećaja spavanja kao pokazatelja kvalitete spavanja, indeksa tjelesne mase i dobi odraslih sudionika. U istraživanju je sudjelovalo 73 sudionika (62 žene i 11 muškaraca) prosječne starosti 35,74 godine. Kroz internetski upitnik prikupljeni su podaci o visini, tjelesnoj masi, spolu i poremećajima spavanja sudionika. Na temelju njihove visine i mase izračunali smo indeks tjelesne mase kao pokazatelj tjelesne masti za svakog sudionika. Za procjenu poremećaja spavanja koristili smo stavke iz kraće verzije Pittsburgh indeksa kvalitete spavanja. Sudionici su trebali odgovoriti koliko su često doživljavali različite smetnje dok su zaspali ili spavali u posljednjih mjesec dana. Rezultati studije ukazali su na povezanost poremećaja spavanja i indeksa tjelesne mase. U usporedbi sa sudionicima koji su rijetko imali poremećaja spavanja, sudionici s čestim smetnjama vjerojatnije su imali visok indeks tjelesne mase (što ukazuje na prekomjernu tjelesnu masu ili pretilost). Iako su stariji sudionici u većini slučajeva imali visok indeks tjelesne mase u usporedbi s mlađim sudionicima, nije pronađena značajna povezanost između poremećaja spavanja i dobi. Rezultati studije također sugeriraju da povezanost poremećaja spavanja i indeksa tjelesne mase nije ovisila o dobi sudionika. Nalazi istraživanja pokazuju da bi se u rješavanju problema pretilosti i prekomjerne tjelesne težine, pozornost javnog zdravstva trebala posvetiti i problemima kvalitete spavanja.
Introduction: Research shows that urinary and sexual dysfunction is very common neurological sequelae of stroke with a markedly significant impact on body self-image and quality of life. Still, there ...is a lack of recent research to address this problem in female stroke survivors. The study aimed to examine the existence and level of urinary and sexual dysfunction, quality of life, and self-reported body image in a group of women after stroke and compare findings with those found in a group of women with other chronic non-neurological diseases.
Methods: This study’s sample consisted of 30 females; two groups composed of 15. The stroke group consisted of subjects after stroke and the non-neurological group with different chronic non-neurological, mainly muscle-skeletal conditions. This study’s specific interest data were collected from respondents through pelvic floor distress inventory (PFDI-20), the pelvic floor impact questionnaire (PFIQ-7), female sexual function index (FSFI), and an eight-item body image scale (BIS). The SPSS v.26 program was used for statistical processing.
Results: Results show a statistically higher scores in stroke group (M = 219.65 ± 34.573) on PFDI-20 than in non-neurological group (M = 118.54 ± 27.734). Furthermore, statistically significant higher scores were found in stroke group in PFIQ-7 (Mdn = 233.33) and BIS (Mdn = 16.00) than in non- neurological group (Mdn = 28.57) – PFIQ-7; (Mdn = 11.00) – BIS. Also, statistically significant lower scores were found in stroke group (Mdn=10.40) on FSFI index than in non-neurological group (Mdn=24.60).
Conclusions: Women after stroke show significantly more urinary and sexual dysfunction, lower quality of life, and poorer body self-image than the non-neurological group of chronic non-neurological conditions. There is a clear need for research on this issue in women after stroke.
Physical activity (PA) during normal pregnancy has various positive effects on
pregnant women’s health. Determination of the relationship between PA and health outcomes requires
accurate measurement ...of PA in pregnant women. The purpose of this review is to provide a
summary of valid and reliable PA questionnaires for pregnant women. During 2013, Pubmed, OvidSP
and Web of Science databases were searched for trials on measurement properties of PA questionnaires
for pregnant population. Six studies and four questionnaires met the inclusion criteria: Pregnancy
Physical Activity Questionnaire, Modified Kaiser Physical Activity Survey, Short Pregnancy
Leisure Time Physical Activity Questionnaire and Third Pregnancy Infection and Nutrition Study
Physical Activity Questionnaire. Assessment of validity and reliability was performed using correlations
of the scores in these questionnaires with objective measures and subjective measures (self-report)
of PA, as well as test-retest reliability coefficients. Sample sizes included in analysis varied from
45 to 177 subjects. The best validity and reliability characteristics (together with effect sizes) were
identified for the Modified Kaiser Physical Activity Survey and Pregnancy Physical Activity Questionnaire
(French, Vietnamese, standard). In conclusion, assessment of PA during pregnancy remains
a challenging and complex task. Questionnaires are a simple and effective, yet limited tool for assessing
PA.
Introduction: Research on low back pain (LBP) indicates sex differences in the prevalence and degree of disability, which is more significant in females and shows possible balance deficiencies. This ...study aimed to answer the following research questions: (i) is there a difference in static balance between healthy and females with LBP, (ii) is there a correlation between pain and static balance in females with LBP, and (iii) is there a correlation between static balance and disability in females with LBP. Methods: A cross-sectional research was conducted in a physiotherapy outpatient setting on a sample of 50 subjects, females with LBP and healthy volunteers, divided into two equal groups. Data collected from all respondents were: age, weight and height, the centre of pressure path length and rectangle area, Romberg area quotient and space quotient measured via a stabilometric force platform. In the LBP group, the pain was assessed using the Numeric Pain Rating Scale, and disability was assessed using the 24-item Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire. Nonparametric statistical tests were used: the Mann-Whitney test (i) and the Spearman correlation coefficient (ii and iii) with a defined significance level set at p<0.05. Results: Statistical analysis revealed (i) a difference in static balance between healthy females and those with LBP, (iii) a correlation between disability and static balance and (ii) no correlation between pain and static balance in LBP. Conclusion: Females with LBP have static balance deficiencies, which are correlated with their disability but not with pain which should be considered during physiotherapy.
The Pilates method is often used in the treatment of nonspecific low back pain (NSCLBP). The effect of Pilates group exercising (mat and apparatus combined) on women with NSCLBP is unknown. Studies ...on the Pilates method often use ultrasound (US) to measure transversus abdominis (TrA) thickness in one anatomical location. We recruited 40 women, 22 with NSCLBP and 18 healthy women (active control group), to join five weeks of biweekly Pilates group exercising (apparatus and mat). Measurements included TrA thickness (left and right) at rest, during active draw-in maneuver (ADIM), and its TrA% change in three anatomical areas; Roland-Morris disability questionnaire (RMDQ); and pain level (VAS). Before the study, no asymmetry in TrA thickness was noted as well as no between-group differences in TrA-thickness in three anatomic areas (in rest and ADIM). Following the intervention, TrA thickness increased during rest in the healthy group in two areas. No differences were noted between the two groups in ADIM in the anatomical locations. No between-group differences were found before the intervention in the TrA% change. Following the intervention, an increase in the TrA-% change was noticed in the NSCLBP group. A decrease in the healthy group was observed in area C. No effects were noted on the RMDQ and VAS. Five weeks of Pilates group exercising increased TrA thickness in healthy women and its percentage changed in women with NSCLBP. Measuring TrA thickness with US should be performed in three different anatomical locations on both sides. This measuring procedure has good inter- and intra-rater reliability and the potential to reveal physiological effects.
Introduction: Urinary incontinence (UI) in female athletes (FA) is a globally concerning but neglected topic in Croatia. The purpose was to examine the occurrence and severity of UI in Croatian FA ...and occurrence-associated factors. Methods: In May 2022, an anonymous online survey collecting general sports characteristics and the Incontinence Questionnaire-Urinary Incontinence Short Form (ICIQ-UI SF) were sent to individual FA. Obtained data were analysed with the PSPP program: chi-square test, t-test and analysis of variance with a defined significance level of p < 0.05. Results: The presence of UI in the total sample of 70 FA competing in 12 different sports is 24.3 %: 8 (29.6 %) handball players, 3 (42.9 %) tennis players, 2 (40 %) water polo players, one (14.3 %) synchronised swimmer, seven soccer players (14.3 %), one weightlifter (50 %) and the only swimmer (100 %). According to ICIQ-UI SF, in 70.59 % of FA with UI, a small amount of urine leaks approximately once a week or less often, mainly after urination and dressing up (35.29 %). The UI interference with quality of life is mild (70.59 %) and moderately severe (29.41 %), and the UI severity is slight (47 %) to moderate (53 %). Smokers report UI to a greater extent (χ2(1, n = 70) = 4.666, p < 0.05), while other sports and FA characteristics did not yield significant findings. Conclusions: UI is present in a quarter of examined Croatian FA, with mild to moderate severity. It mildly interferes with the quality of life and seems to be associated with smoking. Our findings contribute to preserving women's health in sports and apply to UI assessment in FA and counselling on smoking cessation as a proven UI risk.
Abstract Background Transverse friction massage (TFM), as an often used technique by therapists, is known for its effect in reducing the pain and loosing the scar tissues. Nevertheless, its effects ...on neuromotor driving mechanism including the electromechanical delay (EMD), force transmission and excitation-contraction (EC) coupling which could be used as markers of stiffness changes, has not been computed using ultrafast ultrasound (US) when combined with external sensors. Aim Hence, the aim of this study was to find out produced neuromotor changes associated to stiffness when TFM was applied over Quadriceps femoris (QF) tendon in healthy subjcets. Methods Fourteen healthy males and fifteen age-gender matched controls were recruited. Surface EMG (sEMG), ultrafast US and Force sensors were synchronized and signals were analyzed to depict the time delays corresponding to EC coupling, force transmission, EMD, torque and rate of force development (RFD). Results TFM has been found to increase the time corresponding to EC coupling and EMD, whilst, reducing the time belonging to force transmission during the voluntary muscle contractions. Conclusions A detection of the increased time of EC coupling from muscle itself would suggest that TFM applied over the tendon shows an influence on changing the neuro-motor driving mechanism possibly via afferent pathways and therefore decreasing the active muscle stiffness. On the other hand, detection of decreased time belonging to force transmission during voluntary contraction would suggest that TFM increases the stiffness of tendon, caused by faster force transmission along non-contractile elements. Torque and RFD have not been influenced by TFM.
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