Aim: The study was designed to assess the effects of surface instability in the response of the balance control system in children and youths with visual impairment (BL) and in normally sighted controls (NE). Materials and Methods: The empirical research study involved 80 individuals, aged from 6 to 20 years, with a mean age of 14.37 (±4.68), including 40 blind individuals and a randomly selected control group 40 normally sighted. Stabilometric measurements were performed with the use of the Platform CQ Stab 2P, with eyes open (EO) and closed (EC) on the solid surface, and then, the same procedure was performed on the platform covered with 1-centimetre-thick foam. Results: Statistical analyses (Wilcoxon matched-pairs test, Mann–Whitney U test) of the results identified during the trials reveal the following findings in the BL group in the EO and EC tests. The results of the foam surface test were higher and the differences were statistically significant in the BL group (sway path EO p = 0.009, EC p = 0.006; mean amplitude EC p = 0.030; mean velocity EO p = 0.009, EC p = 0.006; sway area EO p = 0.017, EC p = 0.009; and number of COP deflections along the sagittal plane EO p = 0.004). No similar correlations were observed in the NE group, except for the mean amplitude EO p = 0.033 and sway area EO p = 0.030. There was one difference between the BL and the NE group for the mean amplitude parameter, p = 0.018, in a solid surface test with open eyes. The results were higher in the BL group. Conclusions: The present study showed no worse balance in the BL group than in the NE group but worse performance on the foam than without it. It indicates the need to develop body balance skills in blind people by improving their proprioceptive sensitivity. In everyday life and training, blind people should experience exteroceptive stimuli, different textures, and unstable surfaces as much as possible.

Aims. The purpose of the study was to assess body posture asymmetries in the standing and sitting position in prematurely born children at six years of age. Study Design and Subjects. We measured trunk symmetry in coronal plane. The study was carried out in a group of 101 children, aged 6-7 years, mean age of 6.63, including 50 preterm children born at gestational age <32 weeks (preterm group) and 51 full-term children (control group). Outcome Measures. Trunk symmetry in coronal plane was measured using photogrammetric technique with Mora 4G CQ Elektronik. The subjects were examined in standing and sitting position. Statistical analyses were carried out using Shapiro-Wilk W-test, Student’s t-test, Mann–Whitney U test, and Pearson’s chi-squared test. Statistical significance was assumed at p<0.05. Results. No significant differences were found between the groups in the asymmetries identified in the relevant anthropometric points, relative to the position assumed during the examination or to the subjects’ sex. Conclusions. There are no significant differences in body posture in the coronal plane, between preterm children and full-term children. Premature birth does not have adverse effects related to body posture asymmetry in preterm children at the age of six.

BACKGROUND: Systematic observations of fetal posture show that, although for most of the time the fetus does not have a preferred posture, it has a certain repertoire of repeated active postures. The observed postures cannot be considered random conf

Introduction and objective: Idiopathic scoliosis is a three-dimensional deformity of the spine with an unknown aetiology. Untreated idiopathic scoliosis may lead to trunk deformities that compromise body aesthetics, reduce chest wall mobility, and decrease physical capacity. Therefore, early detection of idiopathic scoliosis is crucial as it can minimise the risk of idiopathic scoliosis progression, and can eliminate the need for surgical treatment. In Poland, there is no standardised screening system for early detection of idiopathic scoliosis. The aim of the study was to develop the recommendations for screening of idiopathic scoliosis. Materials and methods: Fifteen experts, including physiotherapists, physicians and physical education teachers, created a Team of Experts in order to develop recommendations. Team members were divided into three groups, each tasked with addressing the following issues: “How to screen?”, “Who and when to screen?”, and “Who should screen?”. The recommendations were evaluated using the Delphi technique and the nominal group technique in two areas: agreement and the strength of recommendations. Results: A total of 16 recommendations for early detection of idiopathic scoliosis were developed. Conclusions: 1. Screening should use reliable, sensitive, and specific diagnostic tools and methods to minimise the risk of under- and overdiagnosis. Measurements of the angle of trunk rotation performed using a scoliometer meet the above criteria. 2. A recommended cut-off for angle of trunk rotation for early detection of idiopathic scoliosis should be ≥7°.

Introduction and aim. The paper aims to present the prospects of using the „Talk To Me” application in the case of a child with this neurodevelopmental disorder. Description of the case. The subject of the study was a 53-month-old boy who did not communicate verbally, but behaved forcefully. A child underwent a speech therapy using the „Talk To Me” application for a period of 12 weeks. The scale of acquiring language skills in the field of communication competence was used to monitor the progress of therapy. In the analyzed period, a decrease in the score on the scale from 23 to 15 points was observed, which means a result indicating an improvement in the communication sphere. The use of a newly developed therapeutic tool was an important motivational factor and, in the opinion of the boy’s mother, significantly influenced the progress in therapy, which had not been observed before using a conventional approach. Conclusion. The „Talk To Me” application is a therapeutic tool with potential effectiveness in the case of speech delays in children with autism spectrum disorder, and it is also compatible with behavioral therapy, a widely used therapeutic method with proven effectiveness in autism spectrum disorder.

Background: The increasing number of people receiving benefits due to incapacity for work is a heavy burden for the state budget. In order to reduce the scale of this phenomenon, the Social Insurance Institution (ZUS) carries out a rehabilitation program as part of disability pension...