Background: The problem of an inadequate level of physical activity (PA) is important in the context of its relationship with the quality of life (QoL) of pregnant women. The aim of this study was to analyze the relationships between PA and QoL among pregnant women. Methods: The study analyzed 346 questionnaires filled in by pregnant women (157 in the second trimester and 189 in the third). The tool used for assessment of PA was the Pregnancy Physical Activity Questionnaire-Polish version (PPAQ-PL). The quality of life (QoL) was assessed by the World Health Organization Quality of Life Questionnaire-short form (WHOQoL-Bref). The results obtained from the PPAQ-PL and WHOQoL-Bref questionnaires for women in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy and intergroup differences were analyzed. Results: There was a significant correlation in the group of women in the second trimester of pregnancy between quality of life in the physical health domain and the intensity and type of physical activity. The women who rated their quality of life higher in this domain declared higher energy expenditures (EE) associated with vigorous activity (R = 0.159, p ≤ 0.05), as well as with occupational activity (R = 0.166; p ≤ 0.05) and sport/exercise activity (R = 0.187; p ≤ 0.05). In women in the third trimester, higher EE related to sport/exercise activity coincided with higher assessments of the overall quality of life (R = 0.149, p ≤ 0.05) and general health (R = 0.170, p ≤ 0.05). In the case of the psychological domain (R = 0.161, p ≤ 0.05) and social relationship domain (R = 0.188; p ≤ 0.05) of QoL, positive correlations occurred with EE related to vigorous activity. In contrast, high assessment of physical health domain coincided with higher EE related to occupational activity (R = 0.174; p ≤ 0.05). Conclusions: Our study makes an important contribution to knowledge concerning the correlations between PA and QoL in pregnancy. The results suggest the need for improvement in prenatal care and promotion of PA programs for pregnant women.

Directional characteristics of postural sway and their impact on postural stability control (PSC) still need to be clarified. To assess the directional characteristics of PSC, center-of-pressure (COP) while standing quiet was recorded and analyzed In 46 young healthy subjects. The participants completed five 60-s trials with ‘eyes open’ and five with ‘eyes closed’. The control asymmetry was characterized using three standardized COP measures: mean sway velocity (V), sway ratio (SR), and sway directional index (DI). The COP data were low-pass filtered at 10 Hz. In such conditions the V, SR and DI revealed consistent and unique differences in both the anteroposterior (AP) and the mediolateral (ML) controls. Each of the COP measures showed the involvement of different neuromuscular and biomechanical mechanisms in the stabilization of standing posture. The DI documented a very stable proportion between frontal and saggital controls, with roughly 60 percent of the swaying movements being performed in the AP direction. The AP DI was significantly higher in comparison with the ML value (0.71+/-0.04 vs. 0.55+/-0.06). This proportion remained at the same level in both experimental groups and it was only slightly affected by the visual conditions. Analysis of the SR confirmed that to maintain stable stance the neuromuscular system must allocate 50 percent more effort to control AP stability. The results also documented gender-related differences in postural stability. Generally the female subjects appeared to have lower postural stability as evidenced by higher COM and COP velocities. Consequently the higher SR values observed in the female group indicate a need for higher neuromuscular efforts to maintain stable posture. The introduced here set of COP measures proved to be a valuable standard for static posturography, creating the opportunity for improved and reliable assessment of postural stability.

Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the traits of orthorexia nervosa (ON) and its relation to body composition and anthropometric indices among elite athletes. Methods: We studied 273 (125 female, 148 male) competitive athletes. ON was assessed with the self-administered ORTO-15 questionnaire. Total body composition was determined using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Results: The ORTO-15 score was independent of sex, type of effort or age. The ORTO-15 score was related to: total body mass (TBM) (p = 0.037; R = 0.170), body mass index (BMI) (p = 0.022; R = 0.187), bone mineral content (BMC) (p = 0.035; R = 0.172), lean soft tissue (p = 0.026; R = 0.182) and visceral adipose tissue (VAT) (p = 0.007; R = 0.255) in the male; BMI (p = 0.045; R = 0.412) and BMC (p = 0.012; R = 0.506) in weight-dependent male athletes. There was no relationship between ORTO-15 score and body composition in the total study group and subgroup of female athletes. In female athletes, ON tendencies were related to the weekly training time (p = 0.039), but in sprint and high-intensity intermittent efforts subgroup exclusively. Conclusions: Factors related to ON tendencies concerned exclusively BMI and body composition in male, and the weekly training time in female athletes. The results from this study demonstrate that a significant percentage of athletes, irrespective of sex, age, type of sport or hours of training per week, may manifest traits of orthorexia nervosa.

Despite the obvious advantages and popularity of static posturography, universal standards for posturographic tests have not been developed thus far. Most of the center-of-foot pressure (COP) indices are strongly dependent on an individual experimental design, and are susceptible to distortions, which makes results of their analysis incomparable. In this research, we present a novel approach to the analysis of the COP trajectory based on the directional features of postural sway. Our novel output measures: the sway directional indices (DI) and sway vector (SV) were applied to assess the postural stability in the group of young able-bodied subjects. Towards this aim, the COP trajectories were recorded in 100 students standing still for 60 s, with eyes open (EO) and then, with eyes closed (EC). Each record was subdivided then into 20, 30 and 60 s samples. Interclass correlation coefficients were calculated from the samples. The controlled variables (visual conditions) uniquely affected the output measures, but only in case of proper signal pretreatment (low-pass filtering). In filtering below 6 Hz, the DI and SV provided a unique set of descriptors for postural control. Both sway measures were highly independent of the trial length and the sampling frequency, and were unaffected by the sampling noise. Directional indices of COP filtered at 6 Hz showed high to very high reliability, with ICC range of 0.7-0.9. Results of a single 60 s trial are sufficient to reach acceptable reliability for both DI and SV. In conclusion, the directional sway measures may be recommended as the primary standard in static posturography.

The aim of this study was to analyze the results of walking assessments and total energy expenditure based on a questionnaire and accelerometer measurements among people with visual impairments and those who are sighted. The study included 25 persons with visual impairments and 25 individuals who are sighted, age 32.3 ± 5.3 years. A weekly measurement of physical activity using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire long form (IPAQ-LF) and accelerometer GTX3 ActiGraph was conducted. It was demonstrated that visual impairment affects walking ability, insofar as it reduces the number of steps taken in a day (p ≤ .05) (ActiGraph); it does not, however, differentiate physical activity level (IPAQ-LF). Moreover, there has been observed a lower energy expenditure in people with visual impairments in relation to intensive (p ≤ .01) and moderate-level (p ≤ .001) physical activity. In the group of people with visual impairments, a correlation (p ≤ .05) was observed between the energy expenditure associated with walking (IPAQ-LF) and the total weekly energy expenditure associated with physical activity (ActiGraph). Also, a correlation (p ≤ .05) was observed between the total weekly energy expenditure associated with physical activity in the IPAQ-LF and ActiGraph. Regardless of the method used to measure physical activity, on average, participants with visual impairments took a smaller number of steps than participants who were sighted. However, the average number of steps taken by participants with visual impairments was much higher than the 3,500–5,000 steps recommended as healthy for a person with disabilities. IPAQ-LF and ActiGraph are effective methods of monitoring physical activity in persons with visual impairments, and may be used in supporting activities that promote taking up physical activity.

Background: Ventilatory efficiency (VE/VCO₂) is a strong predictor of cardiovascular diseases and defines individuals’ responses to exercise. Its characteristics among endurance athletes (EA) remain understudied. In a cohort of EA, we aimed to (1) investigate the relationship between different methods of calculation of VE/VCO₂ and (2) externally validate prediction equations for VE/VCO₂. Methods: In total, 140 EA (55% males; age = 22.7 ± 4.6 yrs; BMI = 22.6 ± 1.7 kg·m⁻²; peak oxygen uptake = 3.86 ± 0.82 L·min⁻¹) underwent an effort-limited cycling cardiopulmonary exercise test. VE/VCO₂ was first calculated to ventilatory threshold (VE/VCO₂-slope), as the lowest 30-s average (VE/VCO₂-Nadir) and from whole exercises (VE/VCO₂-Total). Twelve prediction equations for VE/VCO₂-slope were externally validated. Results: VE/VCO₂-slope was higher in females than males (27.7 ± 2.6 vs. 26.1 ± 2.0, p < 0.001). Measuring methods for VE/VCO₂ differed significantly in males and females. VE/VCO₂ increased in EA with age independently from its type or sex (β = 0.066–0.127). Eleven equations underestimated VE/VCO₂-slope (from −0.5 to −3.6). One equation overestimated VE/VCO₂-slope (+0.2). Predicted and observed measurements differed significantly in nine models. Models explained a low amount of variance in the VE/VCO₂-slope (R² = 0.003–0.031). Conclusions: VE/VCO₂-slope, VE/VCO₂-Nadir, and VE/VCO₂-Total were significantly different in EA. Prediction equations for the VE/VCO₂-slope were inaccurate in EA. Physicians should be acknowledged to properly assess cardiorespiratory fitness in EA.