In children, balance develops in everyday activities through play and exercise. It is essential for learning, and participation in educational work and physical activities. The aim of the study was to evaluate the balance abilities of younger children with typical development and children with moderate intellectual disability. The survey was conducted on a sample of 38 male children (23 with typical development and 15 with moderate intellectual disability). To assess the balance we used Bruininks - Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency, 2nd edition - BOT 2 (Bruininks & Bruininks, 2005), subtest 5. Results show that total average achievement of children with typical development at all the tasks was 31.07, and 11.34 for children with intellectual disability. Statistically significant difference was achieved on 6 of 9 tasks (p <0.05). Compared to the norms, children with typical development are within the average, while respondents with moderate intellectual disabilities are below average on balance test. Obtained results of this study, can be used as a basis for further research in the field of (special) education and rehabilitation. They can be used to create programs of preventive and corrective work in order to support and assist students in school activities, also.
The aim of the study was to determine the type and localization of sports injuries in people with disabilities who play sports professionally or recreationally and to examine whether there was a difference in sports injuries between these two categories of para-athletes. The research sample consisted of 30 men with an average age of 40.96 years. The sample had two subsamples. The first group consisted of 13 respondents who participated in para-sports professionally. The second group comprised of 17 respondents who take part in para-sports recreationally. The respondents trained individual and team para-sports (parashooting, parataekwondo, paraswimming, paracycling, para-athletics, para-table tennis, sitting volleyball and wheelchair basketball). A questionnaire was created to gather overall demographic data, and a part of the Musculoskeletal Discomfort Form was used to localize musculoskeletal complaints. Descriptive statistics, measures of central tendency, the Mann-Whitney U test and Spearman's rank correlation coefficient were applied. The results showed that 76.6% of all para-athletes have suffered at least one injury, with most injuries occurring during training (63.3%). Shoulder trauma and soft tissue injuries were the most common. Both subsamples reported that they had experienced the most problems in the form of pain, discomfort and numbness in the neck and lower back. As far as people with disabilities are concerned, participation in para-sports carries inseparable and associated risks. Therefore, the data achieved in this study can be used in order to understand the risk factors leading to injury which are specific to para-athletes (disability-sport) and to develop injury prevention programs.
Background/Objectives: Functional mobility includes gait and balance. People with multiple sclerosis often experience gait impairment and difficulties with walking, as well as an increased risk of falling. The aim of the research was to assess functional mobility and to examine the relationship between gait and balance in people with multiple sclerosis, as well as the impact of falls on these two variables. Methods: The study sample consisted of 92 people with multiple sclerosis, with an average age of 45.10 (SD = 9.57) years, and both sexes (82.6% were female). The Activities-specific Balance Confidence Scale was used to assess an individual’s confidence in maintaining balance throughout daily activities, and the 12-item Multiple Sclerosis Walking Scale was employed to evaluate the impact of multiple sclerosis on walking ability. Descriptive statistics, measures of central tendency, Pearson’s correlations, and partial correlations were applied to the data. Results: The results indicated moderate gait impairment and a high level of function in people with multiple sclerosis. There was a correlation between confidence in maintaining balance and walking ability. Conclusions: The results of this study can be used to develop appropriate treatments and support programs for individuals with multiple sclerosis.
Since ancient times, the great moral topics or dilemmas are euthanasia (for or against), the issue of disclosure of medical secrets (when and under what circumstances), and the question of the artificial termination of pregnancy (yes or no). Artificial or intentional termination of pregnancy, a long period of time was unacceptable in terms of law and morality. The aim of this paper is to show how the views of abortion changed throughout history and what is the impact of church / religion and the right to decide on the artificial termination of pregnancy. Emphasis is placed on eugenic abortion. Comparing and linking the legal and moral views on abortion seems very impossible. Each of the positions carries different shades of opinions and conclusions, and the issue of abortion, in fact, should be assessed as a comprehensive range of unique opinions and conclusions.
19 April 2024 in Experimental and Applied Biomedical Research (EABR)
The quality of life of people with multiple sclerosis is not only influenced by factors that lead to neurological disability or factors from the spectrum of a person’s demographic characteristics, but also by various mental and psychological factors that lead to altered states of these people. The aim of the research was to determine the correlation of anxiety and depression with the quality of life of people with multiple sclerosis. The sample consisted of 100 participants with multiple sclerosis (40% male, average age 47.8). The instruments used in the research included: The Beck Depression Inventory, The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and Multiple Sclerosis Quality of Life Instrument. 75% of our participants showed significant symptoms of state anxiety, and 71% of them showed significant symptoms of trait anxiety. At the same time 59% had minimal depression and 7% had severe depression. A negative correlation was found between state anxiety and physical health (r = -0.609, p < 0.01), trait anxiety and physical health (r = -0.757, p < 0.01), state anxiety and the mental health (r = - 0.639; p < 0.01), trait anxiety and mental health (r = -0.819, p < 0.01), as well as depression and physical health (r = - 0.670, p <0.01) and depression and mental health (r = - 0.750, p <0.01). Depression and anxiety correlate negatively with quality of life and require psychosocial and social support planning programs in rehabilitation of people with multiple sclerosis.
This study evaluated participation outcomes one year after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) compared with matched healthy controls and identified factors associated with participation within the patient group. Forty aSAH survivors and seventy-five controls were assessed 12–14 months post-ictus. Participation was measured with the Utrecht Scale for Evaluation of Rehabilitation–Participation (USER-P), psychological distress with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), coping with the Brief COPE, and cognition with the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). Compared with controls, patients reported greater participation restrictions (82 vs. 100, p < 0.001), lower frequency (35 vs. 51, p < 0.001), and reduced satisfaction (65 vs. 75, p < 0.001). Anxiety, depression, and avoidant coping independently predicted restrictions (adjusted R2 = 0.48), while satisfaction was predicted by employment, fewer depressive symptoms, and less avoidant coping (adjusted R2 = 0.52). Lower MoCA scores predicted reduced participation frequency (p = 0.032), and patients with cognitive impairment showed significantly greater restrictions and lower satisfaction. One year after aSAH, survivors experience substantial participation limitations associated with psychological distress, maladaptive coping, and cognitive deficits. These results underscore the importance of cognitive and psychological rehabilitation to enhance long-term participation and social reintegration after aSAH.