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Copyright of Polish Journal of Sports Medicine / Medycyna Sportowa is the property of Agencja Wydawnicza Medsportpress Sp. z o. o. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background Asthma and COPD are common diseases of the respiratory system. An important element in the medical treatment of these patients is physiotherapy, focused on the reduction of symptoms and improvement of quality of life. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the response of patients with asthma and COPD on a three-week sanatorium rehabilitation in terms of exercise capacity and perception of health. Material/Methods COPD group (n = 17; age 52 ±3 years); asthma group (n = 20; age 55 ±5 years). During the three-week rehabilitation, patients used breathing and group exercises, inhalation, magnetic therapy, crenotherapy, Sollux lamp irradiation, massage. Exercise capacity was evaluated by 6-minute walk test, while health status by VAS. Results After rehabilitation, patients with COPD and asthma much better (p = 0.05) evaluated their health. Distance covered in the walk test in patients with COPD increased by 9 m, and in patients with asthma by 17.5 m (p = 0.05). Blood pressure after test was lower in both groups (p = 0.05). There was observed a decrease in heart rate, both at rest and exercise- -induced, in patients with COPD and asthma (p = 0.05). Conclusions The three-week comprehensive rehabilitation led to an increase in exercise capacity and health self-assessment of patients with both COPD and asthma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Physiotherapy / Fizjoterapia is the property of Physiotherapy and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background. The aim of this study was to answer the question of whether disabled weightlifters' workouts conducted in the sub-period of specific preparation improves anaerobic performance, and whether the training combined with wellness treatments further increases the athlete's progress in this aspect. Material and methods. The study included 19 athletes (13 men and 6 women) from "Start" Wrocław. To assess the anaerobic capacity, modified TWB 5/15 test was used. It was performed twice -- at the beginning and in the last week of the specific preparation sub-period. Three athletes also benefited from wellness treatments (sauna and Scottish showers). Results and Conclusions. The results showed an increase in anaerobic capacity of weightlifters with disabilities in the sub-period of specific preparation. However, the proceedings conducted in the field of wellness, even in a small scale, contributed to optimize the training process with disabled weightlifters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. One of the elements considered in selecting people to play sports is a somatic construction of the athlete. In swimming, such elements as length and width measurements of various parts of the body objectified by anthropometric indicators may be helpful in predicting future sporting success. The aim of this study was to compare selected anthropometric characteristics of able-bodied and disabled swimmers, and to answer the question of whether there are somatic differences between the groups not directly resulting from disability. Material and methods. The study consisted of 3 groups: one consisted of eight high performance disabled athletes (average age was 16 ± 1.3 years) and the other two included top able-bodied swimmers (aged 16) from two different Wrocław clubs. Three parameters were measured: arm, leg and trunk lengths in relation to the swimmers' heights multiplied by 100%. Results. Five disabled swimmers had the arm length parameter higher than the average in the control groups, whereas seven had the leg length parameter much lower than the average in the control group. In the case of trunk length parameter there was no rule. Conclusions. The results revealed that there are further possibilities of improving the selection process for people with disabilities to engage in swimming, but in this case the key was the type of dysfunction and functional assessment of a potential competitor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Polish Journal of Sports Medicine / Medycyna Sportowa is the property of Agencja Wydawnicza Medsportpress Sp. z o. o. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate whether a single bout of core stability exercises improves body balance immediately after the bout of exercise and during a retention test., Methods: The study involved 16 women (age 22-25 years, body weight 60.5 ± 5.2 kg, height 166 ± 5.4 cm). Postural stability was assessed in the mediolateral (ML) and anteroposterior (AP) planes separately on a force plate (Kistler 9286 AA) during quiet standing on a soft support surface with the eyes closed. Subjects were measured 4 times: just before (T0), 1 minutes after (T1 m), 30 minutes after (T30 m), and 24 hours after the workout (T24 h). Postural balance was evaluated by five parameters based on the center of pressure (COP) signal: variability (VAR), mean velocity (VEL), sample entropy (ENT), frequency (FRE), and fractal dimension (FRA)., Results: We observed a decrease in VAR and VEL in the ML plane at T30 m and T24 h, compared to T0. The COP entropy significantly increased in the ML plane at T24 h, compared to T0., Conclusions: A single bout of core stability exercises improved the control of the mediolateral body balance. This effect was evident within 30 minutes after exercise, and remained for at least 24 hours. In addition, 24 hours after exercise we observed an increased automaticity in the strategy to maintain a stable upright stance.

Introduction: In the elderly, balance control in dynamic situations is often disrupted due to postural instability, leading to an increased risk of falls. Regressive changes are observed fastest in the free movements. As a result of the aging of the central nervous system is reduced precision, the pace of the independent precise movement and proprioception in the joints. Concentration and reaction time also deteriorate. It is considered that falls are one of the causes of loss of performance in the elderly., The Aim: The impact assessment of group therapeutic exercises on the efficiency of gait, the 'ability to' maintain the balance and the degree of the risk of falls in people over 55 years of age., Material and Methods: The tested group were women aged 56-80 years old, physically active, participating in group therapeutic exercises. To the control group were assigned women in a similar age group, physically inactive., Results: The research revealed the presence of significantly lower the risk of falls in physically active people., Conclusions: Physically inactive people have a worse balance and gait than physically active people.

Background. The shoulder joint has a very complex structure. Normal shoulder function is dependent on joint stability and proper neuromuscular control. Given its anatomical structure and range of movement, this joint is highly susceptible to numerous disorders and injuries. Normal stability of the shoulder guarantees physiological function, and is also the most important element of injury prevention. Disturbances of the strength and reciprocal proportions of the inner and outer rotator muscles, as well as the shoulder abductors, can be a mechanism leading to shoulder instability. The goal of our study was to evaluate the muscle strength of the shoulder rotators in terms of the abduction angle in healthy individuals. Material and methods. We examined 100 healthy volunteers (200 shoulders), 50 men and 50 women. Each subject enrolled in the study performed 32 measurements of muscle strength in the shoulder rotators, for a grand total of 3200 measurements, performed in alternation (outward and inward rotation) at various angles of shoulder abduction. Results. The strength of the muscles responsible for inward and outward rotation in persons without shoulder injury rose along with shoulder abduction, from 0 degrees to 70 degrees . When the shoulder was abducted to 70 degrees , the strength of the inner rotators was the highest, significantly higher than that of the outer rotators. When the shoulder was abducted to 90 degrees , there was relative equilibrium of muscle strength (N) between the inner and outer rotators. Conclusions. 1. Muscle strength in the outer and inner shoulder rotators in healthy individuals was dependent on the abduction angle. 2. The overall strength was higher in the men than in the women, but there were no significant differences in the direction of changes in strength at various angles of abduction. 3. The results obtained here in persons without shoulder injury can serve as norms for evaluating progress in physiotherapy in 20-30-year-old patients with shoulder injuries.