Bartosz Kochański

Effects of Nordic Walking and Pilates exercise programs on blood glucose and lipid profile in overweight and obese postmenopausal women in an experimental, nonrandomized, open-label, prospective controlled trial.

Objective:Cardiometabolic effects of physical exercise depend on its intensity, duration, and type. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of two exercise models, Nordic Walking (NW) and Pilates, on postmenopausal women. Methods:The study comprised 196 overweight or obese women: 20 were advised to maintain their previous level of physical activity (control group) whereas the others started either an NW exercise program (n = 88) or a Pilates exercise program (n = 88). Blood was collected twice for testing: before the program commenced and after it had ended. Results:Of the 196 women who enrolled in the study, 147 (75%) completed the study; among those women, 69 (47%) completed a 10-week NW exercise program, 58 (39%) completed a 10-week Pilates exercise program, and 20 (14%) were in the control group. After 10 weeks, women in the NW group showed a significant reduction in body weight (6.4%), body mass index (6.4%), blood glucose (3.8%), total cholesterol (10.4%), non-high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (16.7%), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (12.8%), and triglycerides (10.6%), as well as an increase in HDL cholesterol (9.6%). Significantly smaller—although still favorable—changes, except for glucose and HDL cholesterol levels, were observed in the Pilates group (decreases of 1.7%, 1.7%, 1.6%, 5.3%, 8.3%, 7.5%, and 6% and an increase of 3.1%, respectively). Nevertheless, at the end of the study, the percentage of women with target concentrations of the lipid fractions had significantly increased in both exercise groups. No significant changes in the studied parameters were found in the control group. On multiple regression analysis, type of exercise program was an independent predictor of amplitude changes in most of the studied parameters. Conclusions:Exercise training in accordance with the NW model causes statistically and clinically more significant changes in glucose and basic blood lipid levels than do Pilates and dietary intervention alone.

The Effect of Two Different Cognitive Tests on Gait Parameters during Dual Tasks in Healthy Postmenopausal Women

Introduction. The paper aims to evaluate the influence of two different demanding cognitive tasks on gait parameters using BTS SMART system analysis. Patients and Methods. The study comprised 53 postmenopausal women aged 64.5 ± 6.7 years (range: 47–79). For every subject, gait analysis using a BTS SMART system was performed in a dual-task study design under three conditions: (I) while walking only (single task), (II) walking while performing a simultaneous simple cognitive task (SCT) (dual task), and (III) walking while performing a simultaneous complex cognitive task (CCT) (dual task). Time-space parameters of gait pertaining to the length of a single support phase, double support phase, gait speed, step length, step width, and leg swing speed were analyzed. Results. Performance of cognitive tests during gait resulted in a statistically significant prolongation of the left (by 7%) and right (by 7%) foot gait cycle, shortening of the length of steps made with the right extremity (by 4%), reduction of speed of swings made with the left (by 11%) and right (by 8%) extremity, and reduction in gait speed (by 6%). Conclusions. Performance of cognitive tests during gait changes its individual pattern in relation to the level of the difficulty of the task.

The influence of a ten-week Nordic walking training-rehabilitation program on the level of lipids in blood in overweight and obese postmenopausal women

[Purpose] The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of a ten-week Nordic Walking (NW) rehabilitation program on chosen anthropometric parameters and the level of basic lipids in overweight and obese postmenopausal women’s blood. [Subjects and Methods] The subjects were 32 women aged 50–68 (average: 59.7 ± 5.9 years). The study was carried out following a non-randomized model and entailed NW rehabilitation 5 times a week, which lasted for 10 weeks, as well as a low-calorie 1,500 kcal diet. The therapeutic results of the study were measured through changes in anthropometric and biochemical parameters. The results were subjected to a statistical analysis. [Results] After 10 weeks of NW rehabilitation it was observed that participants lost weight and their body mass index dropped. Additionally, whereas levels of total cholesterol, LDL and triglycerides dropped, and the level of HDL increased. [Conclusion] Rehabilitation carried out according to the NW model resulted in statistically significant changes in basic lipids in blood which, considerably increased the percentage of persons who achieved the recommended level of blood lipids. Obese persons were characterised by a smaller rehabilitation weight loss. More intense workouts and cooperation with a dietician are required.

THE INFLUENCE OF THE COMPREHENSIVE TREATMENT PROCEDURE ON BALANCED POSTURE IN PATIENTS WITH LUMBOSACRAL SPINE AILMENTS

W s t e p . W momencie wystąpienia objawow klinicznych związanych z dolegliwościami bolowymi odcinka ledźwiowo krzyzowego obserwuje sie szereg zMarta Halas et al.mian w biomechanice kregoslupa oraz postawie rownowaznej pacjenta. W wyniku mimowolnego i nieświadomego odciązenia strony „zajetej” dochodzi do przemieszczenia środka ciezkości w strone niezajetą, co z kolei jest powodem nasilania istniejących dolegliwości lub powodem wystąpienia nowych. C e l e m p r a c y jest ocena postawy rownowaznej pacjentow z dolegliwościami bolowymi kregoslupa w odcinku ledźwiowo-krzyzowym przed i po postepowaniu rehabilitacyjnym. M a t e r i a l i m e t o d y . Badania przeprowadzono na grupie 33 osob z dolegliwościami bolowymi kregoslupa w odcinku ledźwiowo-krzyzowym w wieku 60-70 lat. Oceny postawy rownowaznej dokonano na platformie TecnoBody PK 252 w trakcie pobytu w 21 Wojskowym Szpitalu w Busku Zdroju. U kazdego pacjenta zastosowane zostalo kompleksowe 21 dniowe postepowanie lecznicze polegające na stosowaniu kinezyterapii, fizykoterapii oraz balneologii. Oceny postawy rownowaznej dokonano przed rozpoczeciem terapii i bezpośrednio po jej zakonczeniu. Wy n i k i . Kompleksowe leczenie uzdrowiskoworehabilitacyjne wplynelo na poprawe parametrow postawy rownowaznej tj: odchylenie standardowe przod-tyl, odchylenie standardowe prawa-lewa, pole elipsy, perymetr oraz średnia predkośc wychylen posturalnych u pacjentow w wieku 60-70 lat z dolegliwościami bolowymi kregoslupa w odcinku ledźwiowo-krzyzowym. Wn i o s k i : 1. Kompleksowe leczenie uzdrowiskowo-rehabilitacyjnego w 21 WSzUR, ma wplyw na poprawe parametrow opisujących postawe rownowazną u pacjentow w wieku 60-70 lat z pacjentow z dolegliwościami bolowymi kregoslupa w odcinku ledźwiowo-krzyzowym. 2. Wystepują istotne roznice w ocenie postawy rownowaznej pacjentow z dolegliwościami bolowymi kregoslupa w odcinku ledźwiowo-krzyzowym w wieku 60-70 lat z oczami otwartymi i oczami zamknietymi. Zarowno przed rozpoczeciem leczenia, jak i po zakonczonym leczeniu.