Background and Study Aim. Dance and movement therapy defined as culturally creative, unique, but at the same time and a universal phenomenon encompassing bodily movements, bodily self – expression, feelings, stories, body interactions with self and others. Aim of the Study was to evaluate the impact of dance and movement therapy on the physical capacity, flexibility and psycho – emotional state of individuals under constant stress. Material and Methods. The study included 18 – 45 years old females (N=20) who has psycho – emotional disorders and came to this facility for rehabilitation treatment procedures. To assess functional physical capacity was used 6 – minute walk test. For flexibility assessment, to determine the mobility of the lumbar cross section of the spine was used Schober's sample. For psycho – emotional state assessment and for setting the symptoms of depression and anxiety in subjects was used Hospital Anxiety and Depression Symptom (HADS) Scale. The fatigue was measured by Fatigue Impact Scale. Results. Positive statistically significant change in the psycho – emotional state of the subjects was in both groups, however in dance and movement therapy group this state improvement is twice large than in physiotherapy group. The mean values of the HADS scale decreased by 3.1 ± 3.981 points in the first group of subjects treated with physiotherapy and by 6.9 ± 4.62 points in the second group treated with dance and movement therapy. During physical capacity assessment we observe a statistically significant basic change in both groups. In the first study group the average 6 – minute test increased by 35.2 ± 24.89 meters and in the second study group by 27.5 ± 19.44 meters. Conclusions. Dance movement therapy has a positive effect on psycho – emotional state, flexibility and physical ability of people experiencing constant stress. As observed, dance and movement therapy have a positive effect not only on flexibility or physical ability, but also on psycho – emotional state. Dance and movement therapy can be easily applied among different age population. All this makes physiotherapy a highly essential tool to improve person‘s well – being and quality of life.

Background/Objectives : The most common post-acute consequences of SARS-CoV-2 include lung dysfunction, the impairment of cognitive functions and mental health, as well as the impairment of the musculoskeletal system in the form of fatigue and muscle weakness. Post-COVID-19 patients often experience impaired balance and reduced physical capacity. It is important to implement a rehabilitation program that eliminates the side effects of COVID-19 and allows for significant improvement in the patient’s functionality. The aim of our study was to assess patient functionality after a 6-week rehabilitation program on balance, foot pressure distribution, and physical capacity in post-COVID-19 patients. Methods : The clinical study group consisted of 53 people 3 months after COVID-19 infection, confirmed by a positive PCR test. Exclusion from the study included people with comorbidities that impaired balance and gait. The patients underwent a posturographic assessment—Romberg test, a baropodometric assessment—static and dynamic, and a performance assessment—a 6 min walk test determining shortness of breath on the mMRC scale, blood pressure, heart rate, and saturation. Patients participated in rehabilitation until the sixth week, after which they were assessed again. Comparisons were made using IBM SPSS Statistics 27.0 software using the Wilcoxon pairwise order test, at a significance level of p < 0.05. Results : The result of the postural control assessment showed an improvement in the ability to maintain the centre of gravity in terms of the foot support area—statistical decreases were observed in the ellipse area, from 745.28 mm² to 453.52 mm² (p = 0.009), as well as maximum (from 3133.5 gr/cm² to 2994.2 gr/cm²; p = 0.065) and average load on the left foot (from 1010.1 gr/cm² to 969.38 gr/cm²; p = 0.028). In the 6 min walk test before and after exercise, the heart rate decreased after the therapy (shortness of breath on the mMRC scale also decreased from 79.12 to 74.95). This means that patients achieved better physical fitness and efficiency. Conclusions : Rehabilitation significantly improved balance, as measured by a decrease in ellipse area during the Romberg test.

BACKGROUND: Physical activity is the key factor in a child’s development and strong health. This includes physical, mental and functional body states. In Lithuania, as in the whole world, the physical activity of children is decreasing and this affects their growth and maturation.OBJECTIVE OF STUDY: To evaluate the effect of exercises on the thickness and function of the quadriceps thigh muscle of sporting and non-sporting children 11-13 years of age.METHODS: The research was carried out at one of Kaunas basic schools. Two tests were performed for this purpose before and after the study. In the study, a dominant leg measuring test and the thickness, volume and strength measuring of the quadriceps thigh muscle was performed. The received data was processed using SPSS 17.0 and a mathematical calculator in Microsoft Office Excel. The study lasted 5 months and a leg muscle strengthening exercise program was performed for 30 minutes twice a week. The participants performed 30 exercises in total.RESULTS: The study involved 36 participants, which were grouped in two groups of 18 participants. Assessing the results of a study between a dominant and non-dominant leg, we found that the results of all measurements in both groups were not significantly different (p>0.05). By analyzing the results of sporting and non-sporting groups before as well as after the study and after calculation of Pearson correlation coefficients, a greater link between the measured parameters was determined in the sporting group.CONCLUSION: The results showed that the studied parameters (thickness, force and volume of the quadriceps thigh muscle) statistically increased significantly after strength exercises.