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Background: The six-minute walk test (6MWT) is considered to be a simple and inexpensive tool for the assessment of functional tolerance of submaximal effort. The aim of this work was 1) to background the nonlinear nature of the energy expenditure process due to physical activity, 2) to compare the results/scores of the submaximal treadmill exercise test and those of 6MWT in pulmonary patients and 3) to develop nonlinear mathematical models relating the two. Methods: The study group included patients with the COPD. All patients were subjected to a submaximal exercise test and a 6MWT. To develop an optimal mathematical solution and compare the results of the exercise test and the 6MWT, the least squares and genetic algorithms were employed to estimate parameters of polynomial expansion and piecewise linear models. Results: Mathematical analysis enabled to construct nonlinear models for estimating the MET result of submaximal exercise test based on average walk velocity (or distance) in the 6MWT. Conclusions: Submaximal effort tolerance in COPD patients can be effectively estimated from new, rehabilitation-oriented, nonlinear models based on the generalized MET concept and the 6MWT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An abstract of the article "WALK TEST IN THE PROCESS OF QUALIFYING CARDIOLOGICAL AND PULMONOLOGICAL PATIENTS FOR PHYSIOTHERAPY," by Jacek Łuniewski, Jan Szczegielniak, and Katarzyna Bogacz is presented.

According to the World health Organization (WHO), "physiotherapy is a comprehensive and coordinated use of medical, social, professional supplies and educational measures in order to adapt patients to new lifestyle and allow them to get better physical fitness." In the case of patients who suffer from cardiovascular diseases it refers to complex cardiological rehabilitation (CRR). Constant elements of CRR: review of clinical status of patient, optimization of pharmacological treatment, rehabilitation -- gradual and controlled exercises adapted to individual possibilities. At the time of CRR implementation, the period of early rehabilitation (stages I, II) and the period of late rehabilitation (stage III) are distinguished. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) most frequently affects smaller joints in the hands and feet. Among the most common deformations resulting from the progression of the disease are ulnar deviation, Boutonniere deformity, swan neck deformity, contractures and limited range of movement in the hand and wrist joints, muscular atrophy of long and short muscles. The topic of this article is the influence of using Kinesiology Taping method on the functioning of the hand of the patient suffering from rheumatoid arthritis., Material and Methods: The research involved 20 patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis (16 women, 4 men), treated in the Hospital in Kup. Average age of patients was 62.2. Research subjects, apart from pharmacological treatment in the hospital ward, received standard physiotherapy. In case of 10 patients additional K-Active Tape applications were used to correct ulnar positioning of the hand and improve hand functioning. Prior to physiotherapy, all patients were given a hand functioning test and a dynamometer measurement was made. The tests were repeated after the 2-week rehabilitation process has been completed. The results were subjected to statistical analysis with the use of the Wilcoxon test and the U Mann-Whitney test. The assessment of the correlation between analysed parameters was made with the use of linear correlation test., Result: In the group where Kinesiology Tape applications were used, hand muscle strength increased significantly (p<0.05) in comparison with the group treated with standard physiotherapy. Hand muscle strength increase correlated with the tempo of carrying out the hand functioning test (r>0.8)., Conclusion: Results suggest Kinesiology Taping method useful for physiotherapy of rheumatoid hand.