Currently, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) severely influences physiotherapy education which is based mostly on face-to-face teaching. Thus, educators have been compelled to adapt their pedagogical approaches moving to digital education. In this commentary, we debate on digital education highlighting its effectiveness, the users’ perspectives, and its weakness in the context of physiotherapy teaching aimed at informing post-COVID-19 future directions in this educational field. Existing evidence on digital education produced before COVID-19 supports its implementation into entry-level physiotherapy education. However, some challenges (e.g. social inequality and evaluation of students) threaten its applicability in post-COVID-19 era, calling educators to take appropriate actions.

Olympic-style sliding-seat rowing is a sport that has been extensively researched, with studies investigating aspects related to the physiology, biomechanics, kinematics, and the performance of rowers. In contrast, studies on the more classic form of fixed-seat rowing are sparse. The aim of this study is to address this lacuna by analysing for the first time the specific kinematics of fixed-seat rowing as practised by able-bodied athletes, thus (i) documenting how this technique is performed in a manner that is replicable by others and (ii) showing how this technique compares and contrasts with the more standard sliding-seat technique. Fixed-seat rowing was replicated in a biomechanics laboratory where experienced fixed-seat rowers, marked with reflective markers following the modified Helen–Hayes model, were asked to row in a manner that mimics rowing on a fixed-seat boat. The findings from this study, complimented with data gathered through the observation of athletes rowing on water, were compared to sliding-seat ergometer rowing and other control experiments. The results show that, in fixed-seat rowing, there is more forward and backward thoracic movement than in sliding-seat rowing (75–77° vs. 44–52°, p < 0.0005). Tilting of the upper body stems was noted to result from rotations around the pelvis, as in sliding-seat rowing, rather than from spinal movements. The results also confirmed knee flexion in fixed-seat rowing with a range of motion of 30–35°. This is less pronounced than in standard-seat rowing, but not insignificant. These findings provide a biomechanical explanation as to why fixed-seat rowers do not have an increased risk of back injuries when compared with their sliding-seat counterparts. They also provide athletes, coaches, and related personnel with precise and detailed information of how fixed-seat rowing is performed so that they may formulate better and more specific evidence-based training programs to meliorate technique and performance.

This work presents a qualitative and quantitative pilot study which explores the kinematics of Venetian style forward-facing standing rowing as practised by able-bodied competitive athletes. The technique, made famous by the gondoliers, was replicated in a biomechanics laboratory by a cohort of four experienced rowers who compete in this style at National Level events in Malta. Athletes were marked with reflective markers following the modified Helen Hayes model and asked to row in a manner which mimics their on-water practise and recorded using a Vicon optoelectronic motion capture system. Data collected were compared to its equivalent using a standard sliding-seat ergometer as well as data collated from observations of athletes rowing on water, thus permitting the documentation of the manner of how this technique is performed. It was shown that this rowing style is characterised by rather asymmetric and complex kinematics, particularly upper-body movements which provides the athlete with a total-body workout involving all major muscle groups working either isometrically, to provide stability, or actively.

(1) Objectives: The study aimed to examine data from Malta’s Health Interview Survey (HIS) to assess differences between persons in employment and those retired, across different time periods. (2) Methods: A repeat cross-sectional design was adopted. Data that were collected over a period of 12 years included three cross-sectional HIS waves (2002, 2008 and 2014). Data were analysed cross-sectionally and longitudinally using multilevel analysis. (3) Results: In total, 4690 participants between the ages of 50 and 74 years provided data on physical activity (PA). A statistical difference was found between those employed and retired, with the latter undertaking less PA MET min per week in 2002 and 2008. There was no difference in 2014. When adjusting for covariates, people in employment carried out less PA MET min per week (OR-0.16–−0.02) compared to retired individuals. Using multilevel modelling, this study shows that individual factors such BMI and long-standing illness are predictors of PA behaviour as opposed to time trends. (4) Conclusion: Retirement can increase PA measured in MET minutes per week. Individual factors such as BMI, long-standing health problems and self-rated health could be causing the higher levels seen in the employed population during the studied period.

ID 104 – A current changing on a Polish physiotherapy market in comparison with other European countriesDalia Woźnica1, Rita Hansdorfer-Korzon1, Maciej Krawczyk21Medical University of Gdańsk, Polan...

Introduction: A decreased insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) level has been found in heart failure (HF). There are no reports assessing IGF-2 in HF, although in vitro research has shown that IGF-2 stimulates cardiomyocyte proliferation more than IGF-1. The study aim was to compare the IGF-1 and IGF-2 concentrations depending on HF exacerbation and annual survival.Material and methods: Among 75 patients hospitalized due to newly diagnosed or exacerbated HF, the following evaluations were performed: anthropometric measurements, basic laboratory tests, heart echocardiography, and IGF-1 and IGF-2 concentrations. The annual survival was assessed. The participants were divided into NYHA II and NYHA III/IV groups. They did not differ in age, gender, body mass index (BMI), waist-hip ratio, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, or triglycerides, but differed in echocardiographic parameters, BNP, total cholesterol (TC) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels. Nine (12%) patients died during the 12-month follow-up.Results: There were no differences in IGF-1 between NYHA groups and depending on the BMI, carbohydrate metabolism disorders and annual survival. A significantly lower IGF-2 concentration was found in NYHA III/IV vs. NYHA II: 583.71 (162.35) vs. 676.08 (172.09), p = 0.02, and in those who died: 501.47 (172.89) vs. 645.31 (166.17) nmol/l, p = 0.04. There was a positive correlation between IGF-2 and TC: r = 0.28, p = 0.015 and LDL: r = 0.29, p = 0.011 in the whole group and among patients with BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2: respectively for TC (r = 0.31, p = 0.014) and LDL (r = 0.28, p = 0.028). No IGF-1 correlation was found.Conclusions: Reduced IGF-2 concentration is a better marker of patients with more advanced HF and a higher 1-year death risk than low IGF-1. Its secretion may depend on the cholesterol concentration.