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BackgroundOsteopathic manual techniques are now widely used in medicine worldwide. At present, there are no clear conclusions regarding the possibility of affecting the function of the autonomic nervous system (ANS), respiratory system and head-cervical-shoulder complex by manual osteopathic techniques.ObjectivesThe aim of the study was to review the current literature regarding the possible impact of osteopathic manual techniques on the state of the autonomic nervous system, spirometric parameters of the respiratory system and the state of the head-collar-shoulder complex.MethodsPublications have been searched in the following databases: PubMed, Virtual Health Library and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials. The search strategy included keywords related to manual osteopathic treatment, autonomic nervous system, spirometry, respiratory function and head, neck and shoulder pain. The methodological quality of the included studies was assessed. The PRISMA guidelines were used for the systematic review. Studies from 2010 to 2023 were selected.ResultsUsing the proposed descriptions and manual searches from the literature of other works, 40 studies were found, out of which 22 were rejected because they did not meet the inclusion criteria. The analysis included: 15 randomized controlled trials, 3 pilot studies.ConclusionStudies clearly show the effect of OMT on both spirometric parameters and the condition of the head-collar-shoulder complex. Most often this translates into improved ANS performance, but there are exceptions.Systematic review registrationhttps://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/, CRD42023476963.

The assumption that autistic individuals do not have the theory of mind – the social-cognitive ability to understand other people by attributing mental states to them – has been widespread in the psychological literature. However, the empirical evidence from the original research and its replications failed to prove and support autistic mind-blindness. Yet, it is still present in literature on autism spectrum. Meanwhile, convincing research, that has been conducted among autistic researchers and their allies, is often overlooked by non-autistic specialists. This paper focuses on how autistic autism researchers have been influencing their field of study and how academy can benefit from their work.

Abstract Back pain may be related to an improper sitting position. The aim of the study was to assess the sagittal curvatures of the spine in a sitting position in children with generalized joint hypermobility (GJH). The study included 302 children aged 8–14 years. The sagittal curvatures of the spine (sacral slope, lumbar lordosis, thoracic kyphosis with its lower and upper part) were assessed using the Saunders digital inclinometer. In order to assess GJH a 9-point Beighton scale was used. The study revealed no significant differences (p > 0.05) in sagittal curvatures of the spine in a relaxed sitting position between children with and without GJH. Regardless of the occurrence of GJH, kyphotic alignment of the spine was noted in a relaxed sitting. GJH does not affect the position of the trunk in a sagittal plane in a relaxed sitting position in children aged 8–14 years. A relaxed sitting position in children with and without GJH is characterized by a kyphotic position of the spine caused by an improper position of pelvis and lumbar segment of the spine.

Background Carrying a schoolbag is a daily activity for most children and adolescents.The perception of a schoolbag’s weight depends upon the individual and is a relevant theme in schoolchildren. Describing the association between the perception of heaviness in carrying a schoolbag and NLBP can facilitate the planning of preventive programs, quite different from those based on specific weight limits for schoolbags in children and youth. Objective To determine the prevalence of non-specific low back pain (NLBP) and to analyse the association between the perception of heaviness in carrying of schoolbags and NLBP in Polish children and youth aged 10–19. Methods This study included 11,423 children and youth (6,252 girls and 5,171 boys) from Poland. An original questionnaire was used to assess NLBP prevalence. Results Among 11,423 of the respondents, 41.5% of the respondents admitted that they had experienced NLBP in the period of the last 12 months. The percentage of individuals reporting NLBP increased with age of participants, p

Abstract Background The aim of the study was (1) to characterise back pain in physically inactive students as well as in trained (with a high level of physical activity) and untrained (with an average level of physical activity) physical education (PE) students and (2) to find out whether there exist differences regarding the declared incidence of back pain (within the last 12 months) between physically inactive students and PE students as well as between trained (with a high level of physical activity) and untrained (with an average level of physical activity) PE students. Methods The study included 1321 1st-, 2nd- and 3rd-year students (full-time bachelor degree course) of Physical Education, Physiotherapy, Pedagogy as well as Tourism and Recreation from 4 universities in Poland. A questionnaire prepared by the authors was applied as a research tool. The 10-point Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) was used to assess pain intensity. Prior to the study, the reliability of the questionnaire was assessed by conducting it on the group of 20 participants twice with a shorter interval. No significant differences between the results obtained in the two surveys were revealed (p 0.05). Back pain was more common in the group of trained students than among untrained individuals (p 0.05). The trained students declared back pain more often than their untrained counterparts (p

BackgroundRespiratory system diseases are some of the most common pathologies worldwide. Although osteopathic manual therapy (OMT) is used predominantly to treat other pathologies, certain OMT techniques have been shown to improve patients' respiratory function.ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to assess the influence of osteopathic techniques on breathing.MethodsTests were performed with the use of a spirometer and the results were expressed as Forced Vital Capacity (FVC), Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 second (FEV1), and Peak Expiratory Flow (PEF). Thirty healthy males and females between the age of 18 and 50 took part in the research. Fifteen individuals were randomly assigned to the experimental group and fifteen persons were assigned to the placebo group. The participants from the experimental group were treated with such osteopathic techniques aimed at the pulmonary system as the thoracic thrust (manipulations of vertebral joints and ribs), the sternal pump technique and stretching of the diaphragm. The placebo group was treated with soft tissue therapy (STT) techniques for the masseter muscle.ResultsThe described set of osteopathic techniques exerts an influence on PEF in healthy individuals; however, it does not affect FVC and FEV1.ConclusionOsteopathic techniques do not seem to improve lung health, as reflected in FEV1 and FVC, but they improve the respiratory function aspects reflected by PEF in the participants without any history of lung disease.

Introduction : Infectious complications in patients with implanted pacemakers are divided into infections of the generator pocket (PI) and lead-dependent infective endocarditis (LDIE). Aim of the research: Identification of risk factors for developing different types of infections and evaluation of the extent of infectious complications. Material and methods : We compared two groups of patients with infectious complications, who underwent transvenous lead extraction (TLE) in the Reference Centre between March 2006 and July 2013. The groups consisted of 414 patients with LDIE and 205 with PI. We analysed risk factors, clinical manifestations, inflammatory markers, microbiology, and echocardiography results. Results : The coexistence of LDIE and PI was observed in 62.1% patients. There were no significant differences in the presence of host-dependent risk factors. Patients with LDIE significantly more frequently had abrasion of leads (35.1.% vs. 21.0%; p = 0.0001) connected with other procedural risk factors: a larger number of the leads (2.2 vs. 2.0; p = 0.004) lead loops (24.6% vs. 13.2%; p = 0.001), and longer time interval from the last procedure prior to TLE (28.7 vs. 22.6 months; p = 0.005). Fever and pulmonary infections, higher level of erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, procalcitonin, vegetation presence, and higher pulmonary systolic pressure were also revealed in patients with LDIE. Positive blood and leads culture were observed in 34.5% and 46.4% patients with LDIE. Conclusions: The frequent coexistence of LDIE and PI confirms their common pathogenesis, but the phenomenon of abrasion suggests also another mechanism for the development of LDIE. Intensity of clinical syndromes, high inflammatory parameters, echocardiography, and microbiology findings are helpful in assessment of the extensity of the infection.

ObjectiveThe aim of the study was to evaluate whether the clinical assessment of the pelvic-hip complex muscle and trunk flexibility is sufficient for diagnosing generalized joint hypermobility (GJH).DesignA cross-sectional study.SettingCenter of Body Posture in Olsztyn, North East Poland.ParticipantsThe study included 136 females and 113 males aged 10-13 years.Main outcome measuresIn order to assess muscle flexibility, the straight leg raise (SLR) test (for hamstring) and modified Thomas test for one- (O-JHF) and two-joint (T-JHF) hip flexors were performed. To evaluate trunk flexibility the fingertip-to-floor (FTF) and lateral trunk flexion (LTF) tests were used. The GJH occurrence was assessed with the use of nine-point Beighton scale (threshold value ≥5 points for females, ≥4 for males). The analysis was carried out separately for females and males.ResultsThere were no significant differences between females with versus without GJH, and males with versus without GJH regarding SLR (p = 0.86, p = 0.19 for females and males, respectively), O-JHF (p = 0.89, p = 0.35 for females and males, respectively), T-JHF (p = 0.77, p = 0.4 for females and males, respectively), FTF (p = 0.19, p = 0.84 for females and males, respectively) and LTF (p = 0.58, p = 0.35 for females and males, respectively) tests results.ConclusionsClinical examination of the pelvic-hip complex muscles and trunk flexibility by use of SLR, O-JHF, T-JHF, FTF and LTF revealed to be insufficient in diagnosing GJH in children aged 10-13 years. Thus, the Beighton scale should be considered a standard element of physiotherapeutic examination of the musculoskeletal system in children and youth.

The aim of the study was to evaluate changes in hamstring flexibility in 120 asymptomatic children who participated in a 6-week program consisting of one physiotherapy session per week and daily home exercises. The recruitment criteria included age (10-13 years), no pain, injury or musculoskeletal disorder throughout the previous year, physical activity limited to school sport. Subjects were randomly assigned to one of the three groups: (1) post-isometric relaxation - PIR (n = 40), (2) static stretch combined with stabilizing exercises - SS (n = 40) and (3) stabilizing exercises - SE (n = 40). Hamstring flexibility was assessed with straight leg raise (SLR), popliteal angle (PA) and finger-to-floor (FTF) tests. The examinations were conducted by blinded observers twice, prior to the program and a week after the last session with the physiotherapist. Twenty-six children who did not participate in all six exercise sessions with physiotherapists were excluded from the analysis. The results obtained by 94 children were analyzed (PIR, n = 32; SS, n = 31; SE, n = 31). In the PIR and SS groups, a significant (P0.05). SLR result in the PIR and SS groups was significantly (P

Brucellosis, mainly caused by Brucella (B.) melitensis, is associated with a risk of chronification and relapses. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) standards for B. melitensis are not available, and the agent is not yet listed in the EUCAST breakpoint tables. CLSI recommendations for B. melitensis exist, but they do not fulfill the requirements of the ISO 20776 standard regarding the culture medium and the incubation conditions. Under the third EU Health Programme, laboratories specializing in the diagnostics of highly pathogenic bacteria in their respective countries formed a working group within a Joint Action aiming to develop a suitable method for the AST of B. melitensis. Under the supervision of EUCAST representatives, this working group adapted the CLSI M45 document to the ISO 20776 standard after testing and validation. These adaptations included the comparison of various culture media, culture conditions and AST methods. A Standard Operation Procedure was derived and an interlaboratory validation was performed in order to evaluate the method. The results showed pros and cons for both of the two methods but also indicate that it is not necessary to abandon Mueller–Hinton without additives for the AST of B. melitensis.