Piotr Gawda

Evaluation of influence of stretching therapy and ergonomic factors on postural control in patients with chronic non-specific low back pain

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES The vertical orientation of the body in the upright standing position is maintained by keeping the bodys centre of gravity (COG) upright, above the base of support, by a dynamic interplay of visual, vestibular, and somatosensory control systems. The objectives of this study were: to compare the postural control strategy between people with and without low back pain (LBP), to estimate the influence of the stretching therapy on the postural control strategy, and to discover the relationship between the restriction of spine mobility and occurrence of some ergonomic factors. MATERIALS AND METHODS The study consisted of 32 patients with LBP and 25 healthy controls. Postural characteristics of the subjects were measured with the use of a computerized force platform. The software programme filters and measures COG sway velocity in different conditions. Additional measurements and tests were conducted in patients after stretching therapy. Based on survey research, all individuals were selected and evaluated from the aspect of ergonomics. RESULTS The results of the COG sway velocity vary under the testing conditions. From the aspect of ergonomic attitude and influence of the rehabilitation, results varied in the groups. CONCLUSIONS Ergonomic factors are often accompanied by the appearance of LBP. The restrictions within the musculoskeletal system cause disorders in muscle synergies, which is expressed by an increase in the angular velocity of the COG. In patients with chronic back pain syndrome, selected stretching therapy techniques improves the range of motion of the spine and reduces pain.

What factors can affect lumbopelvic flexion-extension motion in the sagittal plane?: A literature review

Clinicians use forward bending and backward return in routine clinical examinations for evaluating spine mobility. The magnitude and timing of lumbar spine and pelvic contributions have been described in the literature as lumbopelvic rhythm. There is still limited knowledge about the factors which can determinate lumbar and hip mobility and coordination in the sagittal plane. The aim of this study is to demonstrate those factors contributing to the lumbopelvic rhythm and to explain the differences observed between subjects. The studies included in the review present possible explanations of observed lumbar-pelvic motion and/or coordination. They measure movement of the lumbar spine, the pelvis and/or the hip in the sagittal plane. The search was conducted in August 2017. Two databases (PubMed and Web of Science) were searched. The search identified 126 potentially relevant articles (53 in PubMed, 73 in Web of Science). Initial screening based on titles and abstracts retrieved 35 articles. The second stage of selection involved reading the full texts of articles. Twenty-four papers were selected in this stage. After careful bibliographic study, seven papers were added for this review, resulting in a total of 31. This literature review demonstrates those factors contributing to lumbopelvic motion. Age and gender, hamstring muscle tightness, feet position, muscle fatigue, movement speed and external loading as well phase of motion can affect various aspects of lumbopelvic rhythm.

The Dopamine Receptor D4 Gene (DRD4) and Financial Risk-Taking: Stimulating and Instrumental Risk-Taking Propensity and Motivation to Engage in Investment Activity

The Dopamine receptor D4 gene (DRD4) has been previously linked to financial risk-taking propensity. Past works demonstrated that individuals with a specific variant of the DRD4 gene (7R+) are more risk-seeking than people without it (7R−). The most prominent explanation for this effect is the fact that 7R+ individuals are less sensitive to dopamine and thus seek more stimulation to generate “normal” dopaminergic activity and feel pleasure. However, results about this relationship have not been conclusive, and some revealed a lack of the relationship. In the current work, we tested if those unclear results might be explained by the motivation that underlies the risk-taking activity; i.e., if people take risks to feel excitement or if they take risk to obtain a specific goal. In our study we tested the differences in risk-taking between 7R+ and 7R− among people who are experienced in financial risk-taking (113 investors) and non-experienced financial decision makers (104 non-investors). We measured risk-taking propensity with the Holt-Laury test and the Stimulating-Instrumental Risk Inventory. Moreover, we asked investors about their motivations for engaging in investment activity. Our study is the next one to report a lack of differences in risk-taking between 7R+ and 7R− individuals. As well, our results did not indicate any differences between the 7R+ and 7R− investors in motivation to engage in investment activity. We only observed that risk-taking propensity was higher among investors than non-investors and this was noticed for all measures. More research is needed to better understand the genetic foundations of risk-taking, which could answer the question about the substantial variation in the domain of risky financial decisions.

Differences in myoelectric manifestations of fatigue during isometric muscle actions

INTRODUCTION Muscle fatigue has been studied for a long time with the use of a wide variety of exercise models, protocols and assessment methods, among which surface electromyography (sEMG) is most commonly used. The main sEMG parameters (amplitude and frequency) are prevalently used to evaluate the level of muscle fatigue in static and dynamic contractions. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study is to determine and compare 2 separate indices: IF1 basis of the sEMG signal amplitude analysis and IF2 basis of the sEMG median frequency analysis, related to muscles fatigue during an isometric contraction. MATERIAL AND METHODS The study was performed on 60 professional runners divided into 2 equal groups. The first group comprised sprinters, competing in short distance track and field events (100 and 200 meters). The second group consisted of middle-distance runners, competing in middle-distance track and field events (800 and 1,500 meters). The electrical activity of the VMO muscles of the right and left lower limbs was recorded simultaneously during isometric activity in a squatting position. The sEMG data was used to determine and compare IF1 and IF2 indices. RESULTS During isometric measurement, sprinters presented a much more significant increase in the mean amplitude of sEMG signal in comparison to middle-distance runners (mean IF1 difference: 0.228; p=0.007). Analysis of the median frequency did not show significant differences between the 2 groups (mean IF2 difference: 0.037; p=0.12). CONCLUSIONS Change in sEMG amplitude during isometric exercise may be related to muscles fatigue. The use of fatigue indices, based on sEMG amplitude, as an objective indicator of the efficacy of an endurance training programme for sportsmen requires further research.

Difference in vertical jumping abilities, endurance and quickness of regeneration lower extremity muscle groups after physical effort between CrossFit and climbing athletes

Abstract Introduction. Productive sporting performance in various sports disciplines often heavily depends on jumping abilities as well as on lower limb muscles power and endurance of the athletes involved. Both CrossFit, a popular high-intensity training program and sport climbing require lower extremity muscular power and endurance. Aim. The aim of this study was to compare vertical jumping abilities, endurance and quickness of the regeneration in gastrocnemius lateralis (GL), vastus medialis (VMO) and gluteus maximus (GM) muscles in CrossFit athletes and sport climbers. Material and methods. The study comprised 20 male athletes aged 24.3±4.7, divided into two equal groups: training CrossFit (CF) and sport climbers (SC). Vertical jump test was recorded by Vicon® motion capture system and AMTI® biomechanics force platforms. The myoelectric activity of the GL, VMO and GM muscles was recorded by myon®. Results. Significant difference in height of vertical jump in CrossFit athletes and sport climbers was observed (SC: 125.43 cm, 120.92 cm; CF: 110.42 cm, 110.86 cm; p<0.05). The endurance of the GL muscles in athletes using CrossFit training is significantly higher in comparison to sport climbers. Athletes training CrossFit have a better ability to recover GL, GM and VMO muscles than sport climbers. Conclusions. Sport climbers have better results in vertical jump tests than the athletes doing CrossFit. The endurance of the GL muscles in athletes doing CrossFit is higher in comparison to sport climbers. Athletes doing CrossFit have also better ability to muscles recover than sport climbers.

Severity of work in opinions of rural women living in the Bieszczady region of south-eastern Poland

OBJECTIVE The objective of the study was recognition of the opinions of rural women living in the Bieszczady region of south-eastern Poland, concerning their perception of the degree of severity of work. The study was conducted among the inhabitants of the Cisna commune. MATERIAL AND METHODS The basic research instrument was a questionnaire form containing 15 items. The study covered 101 women living in the Cisna commune in the Bieszczady. The self-reported degree of work load on a farm was analyzed among women who were occupationally active, and those who were not occupationally active. The effect of assistance from family members on the severity of work perceived by women was considered. RESULTS The women in the study focused on agro-tourism, a few of them were engaged in agricultural work and the majority worked in household gardens. The study showed that occupationally active women work considerably longer, on average, and are the most loaded, compared to those not engaged in occupational activity. The mean daily time devoted to duties on a farm did not significantly differ between occupationally active and non-active women, and amounted to 380 and 320 minutes, respectively. The majority of women who were non-active occupationally evaluated their household chores as the highest work load. In turn, the women who undertook occupational activity assessed them as most burdensome, despite great help from their family. The body positions assumed while performing field work were: standing, standing-bent-over, and walking. The mean evaluations of work load while standing and standing-bent-over did not significantly differ, but affected the work load among women who, however, could not assess the severity of their work resulting from the body position assumed.