Roman Maciej Kalina

The method to evaluate the body balance disturbation tolerance skills – validation procedure of the “Rotational Test”

Background Body balance disturbation tolerance skills (BBDTS) can be defined as the ability to maintain the vertical posture in the circumstances of the fall hazard. The aim of this study is appropriateness and reliability of ‘Rotational Test’ (RT) as BBDTS measurement tool. Material & Methods: RT consists of six tasks (consecutive jumps with body rotation of 360° alternately to the right and to the left). The overall result is the sum of the six tasks and includes 0 to 18 stipulated points. Criterion-oriented validity (concurrent validity and predictive validity); content validity; construct validity have been assumed to be the main criteria of appropriateness. Reliability of the RT is based on the ‘test-retest’ formula. Following all phases of the validation process we have examined 1398 people aged from 6 to 60 years. Results: RT individual results consisted of 0 to 18 points, however in homogeneous groups the average RT result varied from 0.33 to 11.06 points. RT satisfies methodological criteria of appropriateness and reliability of a tool which indirectly indicates the quality of the body mechanisms responsible for balance and postural control. Reliability of the RT has been determined as high (‘test-retest’ correlation varies from 0.828 to 0.848). Conclusions: RT is sensitive to the factors modifying BBDTS – especially adaptive changes related to a long-term training as well as the influence of the current state of the body and/or a sudden change in the conditions of motor action. Thus, RT can be widely used in rehabilitation, health-related training, motor control (sport, physical education, etc.), the selection process in the army, police, emergency services, etc.

The profile of Sense of Positive Health and Survival Abilities indices (subjective assessment) as a diagnostic tool used in health-related training

Background The main objective of the article is a methodic of the profile of the sense of positive health and survival abilities indices in relation “patient (client) personal trainer (leader)”. The objective of empiric sphere was the profile based on subjective assessment of young women possessing different level of everyday physical activity. The question is whether there is a significant difference in the profile of sense of positive health indices in all its dimensions and own survival abilities between young women who declare engagement in everyday physical activity and their peers, who are occasionally active? Material/Methods: The profile based on the subjective sense of various positive health indices covers three dimensions: somatic A, mental B, social C and D dimension, which represents sense of indices and assessment reflecting individual’s survival abilities. The sense of intensity of particular indices is evaluated in the 1 to 5 scale (where its value is as follows: 1 very low, 2 low, 3 average, 4 high, 5 very high). The “0” index is used for the purpose of evaluation of specific abilities (D dimension). The arithmetic mean of indices (after decomposition to diagnostic values) calculated for particular dimensions (from A to D) constitutes a general measure of a given health dimension and survival abilities. The arithmetic mean calculated for A to D indices represents the most general index of Sense of Positive Health and Survival Abilities (SPHSA). The study group consisted of 23-year old female students of the 2-cycle university program in physiotherapy, (22 declared engagement in everyday physical activity whereas 100 were occasionally active). Results: Women who reported engagement in everyday physical activity possess higher values of SPHSA than their peers, who are occasionally active (respectively 3.641 and 3.479; p<0.05). The highest value was recorded for social health sense (4.12 and 4.14), whereas the lowest value was noted for the survival abilities (2.956 and 2.828). Students who are active on daily basis possess statistically higher values than women who occasionally engage in physical activity as far as the following indices are concerned: muscular strength (p<0.01) and aerobic capacity, reduced aggressiveness, swimming ability, precision skills in various status of organism (p<0.05). Conclusions: From the methodological point of view the assumption that the profile indices do not directly reflect the sense of health but rather the imaginative value of a specific virtue, ability etc. proved positive. Diversification of assessment is higher in the case of indices, for which the reliability of an individual’s assessment is considered to be relatively high (especially in the A, B and D dimensions).

Applying non-apparatus and quasi-apparatus tests in a widely understood concept of health promotion – an example of flexibility measurement and assessment

Background The main aim of the paper is the application of the test as an exemplification of an infinite number of empirical systems, which can be created by individual researchers, physiotherapists or health-related trainers. The study aims at providing the answer to the question whether health-related training based on the exercises of safe falling and avoiding collisions significantly improves flexibility of young men. Material/Methods: Author’s non-apparatus flexibility test. Assessment of flexibility is based on raw result, which is interpreting in general (six grade scale), relatively accurate (ten grade scale) and is calculated with an accuracy of 0.1 the raw result rate. 5 young males, aged between 20 and 23 years were measured before and after 65 and 91 minutes of training Results: The significant improvement (between 0.6 and 1.9) has been observed in 60% cases. Participants, who revealed very high and high level of flexibility before the training, have not been prone to the stimulus enhancing their flexibility, even though in physiological terms the indicators prove high stimulation of the organism. The effort of both participants has been performed with high intensity (76% and 78% HRmax). Conclusions: The applied test meets the criteria of the reliable tool for measuring flexibility in every condition, in the safe way and adopted specific assessment criteria are sufficient in the professional diagnostic. The test can be used independently by people of all ages, including blind.

Methodology of measurement, documentation and programming of optimal continuous workload with variable intensity - applications in sports medicine, physiotherapy, geriatrics, health-related training and sport for all

Background Continuous effort can be defined as the activity of every muscle since the impulses of any intended movement aiming at implementation of a given goal result in an increase of heart muscle contractions beyond resting heart rate until the end of a given activity. The goal of this paper is the methodology of measurement and documentation of continuous physical effort with variable intensity. Material/Methods: Methods used in the study included the Delphi method, analysis of the literature and scientific documentation, participant observation, case study and designing elements. The analysis of over 3000 reports of researches performed by students of physiotherapy and recreation (n=855) during standard health-related training including those based on the exercises of safe falling and avoiding collisions (participant observation) was conducted in 2008-2012. Results: The considerable advantage of the methodology of measurement, documentation and programming of the workload presented herein is the possibility to express this variable with the use of universal index, referred to as LE and based on conventional units. The index can be used at any level of preliminary analysis i.e. from particular exercises and set of exercises, training sessions to microcycles, mesocycles, macrocycles and long-term cycles. Conclusions: The reduction of health promotion and physical activity mainly to walking, running, cycling or other simple forms of exercise may counterproductive in the longer term. That is, instead of achieving the ultimate goal of common physical activity we will achieve its negation.

Non-apparatus, Quasi-apparatus and Simulations Tests in Diagnosis Positive Health and Survival Abilities

Many of the recommendations relating to the estimated of positive health (also by WHO experts) emphasizes the need to measure the following somatic health indicators: BMI, resting HR, systolic and diastolic heart pressure, aerobic capacity, muscle strength, flexibility, balance. Ignored is the need to measure the mental health, social health. Innovative is a comprehensive approach that takes into account the two stages. First – the subjective sense of various positive health indices covers three dimensions: somatic A, mental B, social C and D dimension, which represents sense of indices and assessment reflecting individual’s survival abilities. The second – the measurement of these indicators using mainly non-apparatus, quasi-apparatus and simulations tests. Simple tools measuring positive health and survival abilities can ensure high reliability of the diagnosis. The necessary condition is to meet methodological criteria.

Risk of Injuries Caused by Fall of People Differing in Age, Sex, Health and Motor Experience

Falls are one of main causes of unintentional injuries. Measuring risk of injury caused by a fall is principal basis in teaching safe fall techniques to reduce such risk. There were several studies which measures risk of injuries caused by fall by susceptibility test of body injuries during a fall (STBIDF). All available works which involves measuring participants by STBIDF were collected and screened. 527 participants in 18 different groups were tested. The lowest indicator were noticed in group of karate athletes on advanced level (SBIDF = 0.2), while the highest value were shown by group of people with intellectual disability (SBIDF = 11.12). Overall risk of injury level of tested people is high. Lower risk is connected to physical activity and experience in martial arts. Higher risk of injury is connected with low physical activity level and co-occurrence of different forms of disabilities.