Fadilj Eminović

The Impact Of Sports Activities On Quality Of Life Of Persons With A Spinal Cord Injury: VPLIV ŠPORTNIH AKTIVNOSTI NA KAKOVOST ŽIVLJENJA OSEB S POŠKODBO HRBTENJAČE.

Abstract Objectives Studying the quality of life of people with a spinal cord injury is of great importance as it allows the monitoring of both functioning and adaptation to disability. The aim of this study was to determine the difference between persons with a spinal cord injury involved in sports activities and those not involved in sports activities in relation to their quality of life and the presence of secondary health conditions (pressure ulcers, urinary infections, muscle spasms, osteoporosis, pain, kidney problems-infections, calculosis and poor circulation). Methods The study included a total of 44 participants with spinal cord injury-paraplegia of both genders; 26 of them were athletes and 18 were not athletes. The athletes were training actively for the last two years, minimally 2-3 times per week. A specially designed questionnaire, medical documentation and the Spinal Cord Injury Quality of Life Questionnaire (SCI QL-23) were used for research purposes. Chi-square test was used to analyze the differences between the groups, while multiple analysis of variance (MANOVA) was used to determine the differences between the sets of variables. Results Among the participants, the athletes perceived higher quality of life than the non-athletes (male gender p<0.001 and female gender p<0.05). Regarding secondary health conditions, the athletes reported the presence of less pain (p=0.034) and a subjective feeling of better circulation (p=0.023). Conclusion The implementation of sports activities significantly improves quality of life in the population of people with spinal cord injury-paraplegia. However, sports activities only partially affect secondary health conditions.

Relationship between hand grip strength and endurance and postural stability in active and sedentary older women

Physical activity, muscle strength and the ability to maintain postural stability (PS) are important for well-being in old age. Therefore, the first aim of this study was to assess the contractile abilities of the hand muscles (CAHM) in physically active (PA) and sedentary (SED) older women. The second aim was to examine the relationship between CAHM and PS indicators in older women. The sample of 75 women (aged 65-86u202fyears), was divided into PA and SED group. Differences in CAHM, namely rate of force development and muscular endurance, were confirmed in favor of PA group, whereas, no differences were found between PA and SED group regarding maximum force. Moreover, CAHM were moderately associated with PS indicators. Obtained results could open space for designing routine tests that might serve as a potential prescreening analysis, which could indicate early risk factors for falls along with other age related health issues.

Quality of life and depression in elderly persons engaged in physical activities

Backgroung/Aim. Since the number of elderly persons is gradually increasing worldwide, there is a need to identify the factors that affect the quality of healthy ageing. On the other hand, depression is the most common psychiatric disorder in the elderly and one of the most serious health problems that modern society is facing. Considering the importance of physical activity for healthy ageing, the question is whether there are differences in quality of life and depression in the elderly in relation to the certain characteristics of physical activities practicing. Methods. Differences in the quality of life and occurrence of depression in elderly were examined in relation to duration of a single training session and frequency of physical activities per week. This non-experimental, descriptive and comparative cross-sectional study involved a total of 188 persons aged 65–84 years, where 90 persons are engaged in a physical activity while 98 persons are not. The Older People’s Quality of Life Questionnaire and the Geriatric Depression Scale were used. Results. Statistically significant difference was found in the following domains of quality of life: health, social relationships and psychological and emotional well-being as well as in the total score of quality of life and in the occurrence of depression. The highest values of quality of life and the lowest level of depression manifestation were observed in the group of persons whose single training session lasted for 60 minutes, and in the group of persons engaged in a physical activity twice a week. Conclusion. The main finding indicates that the differences in the duration of a single training session and the frequency of physical activities per week reflect on the overall quality of life, individual domains of quality of life and the occurrence of depression in the elderly persons. [Project of the Serbian Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development, Grant no. III47015: Efekti primenjene fizicke aktivnosti na lokomotorni, metabolicki, psiho-socijalni i vaspitni status populacije R. Srbije]

Functional relationship between dominant and non-dominant hand in motor task - hand grip strength endurance

The aim of this study was to determine the functional relationship between dominant and non-dominant hand in the strength endurance motor task - hand grip, in the referent population of healthy and young persons. For the purpose of the research we have implemented the method of isometric dynamometry and standardized hand grip test. The study included 48 participants, 23 of them being of female and 25 of male gender. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to determine the difference between the sets of variables in the function of gender and functional dimorphism, while the Bonferroni criterion was applied to determine the differences between pairs of individual variables. The difference between the maximum hand grip of dominant and non-dominant hand in female participants amounted to 9.28%, and in male ones 7.39% in favor of the dominant hand. There is no statistically significant difference between nondominant and dominant hand regarding the force endurance time aspect at 30%, 50% and 80% out of the maximum hand grip level, as well as at the absolute and relative force impulse indicators as an endurance measure. The value of gender dimorphism in relation to the absolute indicators of force momentum at 30%, 50% and 80% out of the maximum hand grip level in female participants is 0.9714, 0.9145, 0.9301, and in male participants 0.9515, 0.8264 and 0.8606. The force momentum indicators value at 30%, 50% and 80% out of the maximum hand grip level in female participants is ImpF30%=21167.58±6923.67 Ns, ImpF50%=10846.94±3800.56 Ns and ImpF80%=5438.46±1993.12 Ns, and in male participants ImpF30%=17734.03±6881.92 Ns, ImpF50%=13903.61±3437.76 Ns and ImpF80%=5117.53±1894.78 Ns. The obtained results can be used as the criteria for further research in special education and rehabilitation, medical and professional rehabilitation.

Vocational rehabilitation models after traumatic brain injury

The aim of this study is identification main models of vocational rehabilitation after traumatic brain injury as described in the literature, describe its characteristic and identifying similarities and differences between these models. Traumatic brain injury can cause a series of physical, cognitive, emotional and behavioral effects, and the outcome can vary from complete recovery to permanent disability or death. Because of its complexity rehabilitation of persons after traumatic brain injury involves the continuous care from the acute phase to the reentry into community. Rehabilitation can be divided into early rehabilitation and medical and vocational rehabilitation. Different types of rehabilitation after traumatic brain injury have developed over the past three decades, and these are: the traditional outpatient program, holistic, supported employment, residential, and behavioral. Recent literature on rehabilitation after traumatic brain injury regarding to the modern vocational rehabilitation concept as a strategy for rapid and successful return to work was reviewed by research Medline database. Holistic rehabilitation program and supported employment program were found as two main models of vocational rehabilitation after traumatic brain injury.