Dance therapy is a physical activity that can lead to balance improvement in older adults. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effects of dance therapy on balance and risk of falls in older women. Twenty-four older women (mean age 66.4 years old) attended dance sessions for three months. Pretest/posttests were completed using the Postural Stability Test, the Limits of Stability Test, and the Fall Risk Test M-CTSIB. Results showed the Limits of Stability Test was significantly higher (17.5%) after dance classes. Regular use of dance therapy shows promise in improving balance by increasing the limits of stability.

Background It’s really important to measure the actual functional physical fitness of elderly independent living persons from different environments to know the level and rate of decrease may inform about the threat of loss of functional independence, hence the need to monitor and assess the senior’s motor realm and adapt to it the appropriate programs and treatments in the care for the elderly person. Methods The study involved 5367 people (mean age 69,63 ± 7,06), including 4164 women (mean age 69,55 ± 7,11) and 1203 men (mean age 69,91 ± 6,86) aged 60 to 93 years old. We have measured basic anthropometric features and physical fitness (by using Senior Fitness Test). Results The average values in individual SFT tests significantly decrease along with age. After age of 80 and 85 there were no sex differences in SFT. The largest deficits concern the dynamic balance and the decrease reaches 69% in men and 62% in women A significantly higher rate of decline in aerobic capacity concerns men (43%) than women (36.9%). A clearly lower rate of loss occurs in the muscular strength of the lower and upper body and does not exceed 30%. Conclusions The results are of great clinical importance for the development of effective prevention and gerontological education programs in terms of promoting active lifestyle and successful ageing, at the same time limiting the economic consequences of treatment and hospitalisation.

This study assessed the effect of Pilates exercises on balance and fall risk in older women. Participants comprised 50 older women aged over 60 years, divided randomly into two groups: the experimental group (n = 30), which took part in Pilates sessions two times per week for three months, and the control group (n = 20). The control group did not participate in such sessions but also did not participate in any other rehabilitation programs or additional physical activity except everyday activities. Before and after the training cycle, all women underwent an assessment using Timed Up and Go (TUG), the One Leg Stance Test (OLST), a test performed on a Freestep baropodometric platform, and the tests performed on a Biosway platform. After the training, significantly decreased values of the surface of the ellipse (p = 0.0037) and mean values of velocity (p = 0.0262) for the right foot in the experimental group were observed. The Limits of Stability (LoS) test (p = 0.005) and the Modified Clinical Test of Sensory Interaction on Balance (m-CTSIB) performed on an unstable surface with eyes closed (p = 0.0409) indicated statistically significant changes in the experimental group. None of the above changes were statistically significant in relation to the control group. Pilates training affected the participants’ balance by improving LOS and reducing fall risk.

The aim of this study was to analyze the changes in blood rheology resulting from regular winter swimming. The study was carried out on 12 male winter swimmers. Venous blood for morphological, biochemical and rheological analysis was sampled twice from each winter swimmer -at the beginning of the season and after its completion. There were no significant changes detected in the median values of most blood morphological parameters. The only exception pertained to MCHC which was significantly lower after the season. Winter swimming entailed significant decrease in median elongation index values at shear stress levels of 0.30 Pa and 0.58 Pa, and significant increase in median values of this parameter at shear stress levels ≥1.13 Pa. No significant changes were observed in winter swimmers' median values of aggregation indices and plasma viscosity. The median level of glucose was lower post winter swimming in comparison to the pre-seasonal values. In contrast, one season of winter swimming did not influence swimmers' median value of fibrinogen concentration. In summary, this study revealed positive effects of winter swimming on the rheological properties of blood, manifested by an increase in erythrocyte deformability without accompanying changes in erythrocyte aggregation.

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Wstęp: Celem artykułu jest przedstawienie opinii osób wykonujących zawody medyczne na temat prestiżu tych zawodów. Materiał i metody: W badaniu wzięło udział 346 aktywnych zawodowo lekarzy, pielęgniarek, fizjoterapeutów, psychoterapeutów i terapeutów zajęciowych. Narzędziem badawczym był kwestionariusz przygotowany przez autorki badania. Badani byli zatrudnieni w placówkach publicznych (szpitalach, przychodniach, ośrodkach rehabilitacji) w Krakowie i Katowicach. Dobór próby miał charakter celowy. Wyniki: Zawód lekarza uzyskał najwyższe noty, zawód terapeuty zajęciowego-najniższe. Lekarze i fizjoterapeuci najczęściej wskazywali społeczny szacunek do zawodu jako czynnik wpływający na prestiż wykonywanej przez siebie profesji, a pielęgniarki, psychoterapeuci i terapeuci zajęciowi podkreślali znaczenie wykształcenia. Ocena prestiżu zawodów medycznych w porównaniu z innymi zawodami była tym niższa, im dłuży był staż pracy. Wnioski: Zawód lekarza zajmował główną pozycję w hierarchii samooceny prestiżu badanych zawodów medycznych. Lekarze zauważali ogólną tendencję dotyczącą oceny prestiżu ich zawodu w szerszym kontekście-pozycja zawodu słabnie na rzecz innych zawodów użyteczności publicznej, mimo że lekarze nadal zajmują istotne miejsce w rankingach prestiżu. W zakresie samooceny prestiżu wykonywanego zawodu w perspektywie 10-letniej negatywne oceny przeważały tylko wśród lekarzy i pielęgniarek. W przypadku innych profesji oceny były pozytywne.