Background and Objectives: This study aimed to translate the Hip disability and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (HOOS) into the Polish language, to determine its validity and reliability, and to assess its main psychometric properties. Materials and Methods: A total of 332 hip osteoarthritis (OA) subjects were recruited to the study group and 90 healthy subjects to the control group. The study consisted of the HOOS translation and the assessment of the discriminative power, internal consistency, and the potential floor and ceiling effects followed by the determination of the construct validity and test-retest reliability. The analysis was performed using Western Ontario and McMaster Universities osteoarthritis index (WOMAC) and SF-36 questionnaires. Results: The translation process consisted of forward translation, reconciliation, backward translation, review, harmonization, and proofreading. The hip OA patients reported a reduced HOOS score when compared to the control subjects. The discriminant validity of the questionnaire was confirmed. A Cronbach’s alpha of 0.97 was found, indicating a high internal consistency. The HOOS showed a significant correlation with the SF-36 and WOMAC, which ranged from r = −0.93, p-value < 0.05 for WOMAC total score to r = 0.92, and p-value < 0.05 for WOMAC daily living. No floor or ceiling effects were found. A very high intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was found (0.93–0.97) for the total score and the individual domains of the HOOS. Conclusions: The Polish HOOS is valid and reliable for evaluating the outcomes of hip OA patients in Poland. This questionnaire may be used with confidence for clinical and research purposes.

The influence of high-heel footwear on the lumbar lordosis angle, anterior pelvic tilt, and sacral tilt are inconsistently described in the literature. This study aimed to investigate the impact of medium-height heeled footwear on the static posture parameters of homogeneous young adult standing women. Heel geometry, data acquisition process, as well as data analysis and parameter extraction stage, were controlled. Seventy-six healthy young adult women with experience in wearing high-heeled shoes were enrolled. Data of fifty-three subjects were used for analysis due to exclusion criteria (scoliotic posture or missing measurement data). A custom structured light surface topography measurement system was used for posture parameters assessment. Three barefoot measurements were taken as a reference and tested for the reliability of the posture parameters. Two 30-degree wedges were used to imitate high-heel shoes to achieve a repeatable foot position. Our study confirmed the significant (p < 0.001) reduced vertical balance angle and pelvis inclination angle with large and medium-to-large effects, respectively, due to high-heel shoes. No significant differences were found in the kyphosis or lordosis angles. High-heeled shoes of medium height in young asymptomatic women can lead to a straightening effect associated with a reduced vertical balance angle and decreased pelvic inclination.

Quantitative research of bone tissue related to physical activity (PA) and sport has a preventive dimension. Increasing the parameters of bone tissue strength, especially reaching the maximum value of peak bone strength in childhood, adolescence, and early adulthood due to practicing sports can contribute to maintaining bone health throughout life. Practicing martial arts (tai chi, traditional karate, judo, and boxing) can effectively improve the quality of bone and reduce the risk of falls and fractures. The study aimed to evaluate the calcaneus bones among Okinawa Kobudo/Karate Shorin-Ryu practitioners using the quantitative ultrasound method as an indicator for assessing bone fracture risk. Forty-four adult martial arts practitioners with a mean age of 36.4 participated in this study. Quantitative ultrasound (QUS) with a portable Bone Ultrasonometer was used in this study. Speed of sound (SOS), broadband ultrasound attenuation (BUA), and the stiffness index (SI) were measured. Subjects were assigned to two groups of black and color belts, according to the advancement in Kobudo/karate practice. The measurements of the SI, BUA, SOS, T-score, and Z-score were significantly higher in subjects from the advanced, long-term practice (black belts) (p < 0.05). The long-term martial arts training in traditional karate and Kobudo significantly impacts the parameters of the calcaneus quantitative ultrasound measurements. Significantly higher bone density was observed among the black belt holders. Long-term practice subjects achieved results far beyond the norm for their age groups. Further studies using non-invasive methods of bone quantification are needed to determine the specific conditions for preventing osteoporosis through physical activity, sports, and martial arts, particularly the duration of the activity, the magnitude of loads, and other related factors.