Background: Dysfunctional breathing patterns may impair autonomic regulation and increase perceived stress. Breathing-based interventions, particularly those involving guided exercises and supportive tools, have the potential to provide non-pharmacological benefits. Methods: In this parallel two-arm randomized controlled trial, 14 women aged 35–45 years with signs of dysfunctional breathing and no comorbidities were recruited from a fitness club. Participants were randomly assigned (1:1) using a computer-generated sequence to an intervention group (n = 7) or a control group (n = 7). Blinding was not applied. Both groups completed a 6-week program of guided breathing exercises using the iBreathe app, while the intervention group additionally used mouth tape during sleep. The primary outcomes were heart rate variability (HRV) indices—root mean square of successive differences (RMSSD) and the high-frequency (HF) component. Secondary outcomes included respiratory rate, Hencho test performance, and perceived stress measured using the Perceived Stress Scale-10 (PSS-10) and a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). All participants were included in the final analysis (no loss to follow-up). Results: The intervention group showed a significant increase in the HF component of HRV (p = 0.018) and improved Hencho test performance (p = 0.018). Both groups demonstrated significant reductions in respiratory rate (p < 0.05) and PSS scores (p < 0.05). Between-group differences were not significant for RMSSD or perceived stress. No adverse events were reported. Conclusions: A 6-week breathing intervention improved respiratory efficiency and reduced perceived stress among women with dysfunctional breathing. The additional of night-time mouth taping provided further benefits for HRV and respiratory control. Larger and longer trials are needed to confirm these findings.

Background Dysfunctional breathing patterns can impair autonomic regulation and increase perceived stress. Breathing interventions, particularly those incorporating guided exercises and supportive tools, may offer non-pharmacological benefits. Methods In this parallel two-arm randomized controlled trial, 14 women aged 35–45 years with signs of dysfunctional breathing and without comorbidities were recruited from a fitness club. Participants were randomly assigned (1:1) using a computer-generated sequence to an intervention group (n=7) or a control group (n=7). Blinding was not applied. Both groups followed a 6-week program of guided breathing exercises using the iBreathe app; the intervention group additionally used mouth tape during sleep. The primary outcomes were heart rate variability indices (RMSSD, HF component). Secondary outcomes included respiratory rate, Hencho test performance, and perceived stress (PSS-10, VAS). All participants were included in the final analysis (no loss to follow-up). Results The intervention group showed a significant increase in the HF component of HRV (p=0.018) and improved Hencho test performance (p=0.018). Both groups demonstrated significant reductions in respiratory rate (p< 0.05) and PSS scores (p< 0.05). Between-group differences were not significant for RMSSD or perceived stress. No adverse events were reported. Conclusions A 6-week breathing intervention improved respiratory efficiency and reduced stress in women with dysfunctional breathing. Mouth taping at night provided additional benefits for HRV and respiratory control. Larger, longer trials are needed to confirm these findings.

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.

Vaikystė yra itin svarbus žmogaus raidos laikotarpis, kai formuojasi atramos ir judėjimo aparato struktūra bei funkcija. Pėdos padėtis ir funkcionalumas gali turėti ilgalaikį poveikį vaiko laikysenai, judėjimo kokybei ir bendram fiziniam aktyvumui. Šio tyrimo tikslas buvo įvertinti 5–7 metų vaikų pėdos padėties indeksą, taikant vienmomentinį skerspjūvio tyrimą. Duomenys buvo renkami nuo 2022 m. rugsėjo 16 d. iki 2023 m. sausio 13 d. Plungės miesto ir rajono ikimokyklinio ugdymo įstaigose bei pradinėse mokyklose. Prieš tyrimą buvo gauti vaikų tėvų ar globėjų raštiški sutikimai dėl jų vaikų dalyvavimo tyrime. Tyrimo imtį sudarė 517 vaikų, kurių amžius siekė nuo 5 iki 7 metų. Vaikų pėdų padėtis buvo vertinama naudojant pėdos padėties indeksą (FPI-6) – patikimą, validuotą klinikinį instrumentą, skirtą statinės pėdos padėties klasifikavimui (Redmond ir kt., 2008). Šis metodas remiasi šešiais aiškiai apibrėžtais vizualiniais bei palpaciniais kriterijais, vertinamais 5 balų skalėje nuo –2 iki +2. Galutinė balų suma gali svyruoti nuo –12 (ryški supinacija) iki +12 (ryški pronacija), leidžianti nustatyti, ar pėda yra neutralioje, pronuotoje ar supinuotoje padėtyje. Statistinė duomenų analizė buvo atlikta naudojant programinę įrangą SPSS 27.0. Aprašomoji statistika naudota tiriamųjų pasiskirstymui pagal lytį, amžių ir pėdos padėties indeksą (FPI) apibūdinti. Rezultatai pateikti procentais. Inferencinė statistika: χ² (Chi kvadrato) nepriklausomumo kriterijus taikytas siekiant įvertinti FPI reikšmių skirtumus tarp berniukų ir mergaičių bei tarp amžiaus grupių. Vidutinių FPI reikšmių skirtumai tarp dešinės ir kairės pėdos vertinti taikant porinių duomenų analizę. Rezultatai parodė, kad 68,3 proc. vaikų turėjo neutralią pėdos padėtį, 28,1 proc. – pronuotą, o 3,1 proc. – ryškiai pronuotą. Supinuota pėda nenustatyta. Berniukams dažniau pasitaikė pronuota pėda, o mergaitėms – neutrali (p < 0,05). Nors vidutinės FPI reikšmės tarp kojų nesiskyrė, 28,4 proc. vaikų buvo fiksuotas reikšmingas asimetrijos skirtumas. Statistiškai reikšmingų skirtumų tarp amžiaus grupių nenustatyta.