Objectives:The most frequent manner of attending childbirth imposes on midwives assuming poor body position affecting the musculoskeletal system. Long professional experience does not mitigate the negative effects. The adopted movement habit, as well as the type, number and frequency of actions influence the body posture. The aim of the study was to identify ergonomic threats of basic occupational midwives activities and how particular spinal segments arrangements while attending childbirth using the same technique in senior midwives differ from those of junior ones. It was also checked whether pain influences the working position assumed by midwives. Materials and Methods: Examinations were conducted in 95 midwives aged 21-50 (X = 29.25±9.34): 51 graduates of BSc midwifery who worked 680 h in delivery rooms during obligatory practical classes and apprenticeship and 44 senior midwives with professional experience of 7-27 years (X = 14.84±5.98). The study was threefold. The spinal alignment while performing work activities associated with attending childbirth was assessed using the OWAS system and the SonoSens Monitor, the center of gravity projection on basal plane -using the AccuGait AMTI stabilometric platform. The measurements were taken during a simulation of attending childbirth (on examination model). A survey was conducted aimed at identifying spinal pain. Results: Midwives' working postures require unnatural body alignments. Postural instability in the working position and no maximal usage of basal plane were observed. The work overload may afflict the musculoskeletal system, which was confirmed by different pain discomforts in 67.3% of the examinees. Conclusions: Spinal alignment while attending childbirth is individually differentiated and in every case non-ergonomic. Identifying explicitly spinal overloads is difficult, but the most prevalent ones affect lumbar and cervical regions altogether. Spinal pain is frequently noted, both in junior and senior midwives, and is characteristic for midwives working in maximal movement ranges. occupational duties involve various tasks. Excluding those connected with nursing care it may be generalized that a continual and a recurrent component of their work is attending childbirth. A characteristic feature of midwives' work is the requirement of adopting a specific body position which has adverse effects on their musculoskeletal system. This motivates for seeking the causes of locomotor system overloads and finding possibilities to alleviate them. OBJECTIVESThe aim of the study was to identify ergonomic hazards associated with routine basic occupational activities performed by midwives and how particular spinal segments arrangements while attending childbirth using the same technique differ in senior midwives from those of the young graduates of BSc midwifery. It was also checked whether experiencing pain influences the working position of midwives. MATERIALS AND METHODSExaminations were conducted in 95 midwives aged 21-50 (X = 29.25±9.34). There were 51 g...

The purpose of the research was to evaluate the efficiency of body balance regulation in the elderly and verify whether physical activity in adolescence could influence later physical efficiency. Research was carried out on 62 persons aged between 65 and 96 years of age. Fifty people declared that they undertook physical activity in adolescence, while 12 reported no activity. Stabilographic examinations were performed during trials with open and closed eyes on a horizontally situated platform tilted forward and backward. The centre-of-pressure (COP) path length, sway range area and centre-of-pressure velocity (COP velocity) were assessed. The safety margin when a person leans forward and backward was evaluated as well. On a horizontally situated platform, exclusion of visual control in most of the examined participants resulted in a significant increase in values of examined parameters. Tilting the platform caused in both groups an increase in values of all the parameters. These changes were more visible when a trial with eyes closed was performed and the group of active people obtained better results. These people were also able to use the support area more effectively when changing the position of the body. It was found that body balance disorder affects more often elderly people who were less active in adolescence and that with age visual balance control dominates the proprioceptive one. This means that physical activity directed towards, among other things, forming and improving the body balance regulation system is needed at an early age.

BACKGROUND: The occurrence of back pain is associated with many factors, which include among others, workloads such as: the type and time of work execution as well as repetitive work. The work of a paramedic must also take into account the impact of stress on the increased tension of soft tissues. Overload often occurs due to the shearing forces of forced static positions, as well as dynamic loads during the handling of sick and injured people. A I M : The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of the work and work-time of paramedics on the occurrence of back pain.

Background: Wind instruments musicians are particularly prone to excessive respiratory efforts. Prolonged wind instruments performing may lead to changes in respiratory tracts and thus to respiratory muscles overload. It may result in decreasing lung tissue pliability and, as a consequence, in emphysema. Aim of the research has been to describe basic spirometric parameters for wind players and causes of potential changes. Material and Methods: Slow and forced spirometry with the use of Micro Lab Viasys (Micro Medical, Great Britain) was conducted on 31 wind musicians (group A). A survey concerning playing time and frequency, weight of instruments, and education on diaphragmatic breathing was conducted. The control group included 34 healthy persons at similar age (group B). The results were statistically described using Excel and Statistica programmes. Results: The respiratory parameters were within the range of physiological norms and forced expiratory volume in 1 s to forced vital capacity (FEV1/FVC) exceeded in both groups the values of 100%. Forced vital capacity and expiratory vital capacity (EVC) values were significantly lower in the group of musicians than in the control group (p < 0.001). In 45% the group A used diaphragmatic breathing, in 31% of examinees mixed respiratory tract was observed. The significant discrepancy of individual parameters was obtained regarding age and the length of time when performing wind instrument. Conclusions: Spirometric parameters relative to standards may prove a good respiratory capacity. Peak expiratory flow (PEF) and FEV 1 may indicate that a proper technique of respiration during performance was acquired. The length of time when performing wind instrument may influence parameters of dynamic spirometry. Med Pr 2016;67(4): [427][428][429][430][431][432][433]

AB ST R ACT O B J E C T I V E S :The aim of the work was to assess the level of physical activity of women before and during pregnancy and to determine whether physical exercise influences the course and duration of labor and the postpartum period. M A T E R I A L A N D M E T H O D S :The study encompassed 63 pregnant women aged 19-36, with a mean pregnancy weight gain of 7-27 kg, no contraindication to physical activity, and term birth. Physical activity was assessed at three stages: before and during pregnancy, and during the postpartum period, with the use of the seven-day international IPAQ questionnaire. The respondents' physical condition in the postpartum period was assessed with an original 26-item questionnaire. R E S U L T S : The self-assessed level of physical activity before pregnancy was moderate in most respondents (60.3%); only 12.7% of the respondents declared a low level of physical activity. During pregnancy the level of physical activity decreased in 25.4% of the respondents and significantly reduced in 11%. Women who were inactive before pregnancy remained inactive during pregnancy. The mean duration of the second stage of labor in women with moderate and high levels of physical activity was 43.61 min. The length of the entire postpartum period was the shortest (four weeks) in active women. C O N C L U S I O N S : Physical activity before and during pregnancy has an impact on the duration of labor and the postpartum period. K E Y W O R D Sphysical activity, exercise, pregnancy, labor, postpartum, antenatal classes