Physical activity (PA) during normal pregnancy has various positive effects on pregnant women’s health. Determination of the relationship between PA and health outcomes requires accurate measurement of PA in pregnant women. The purpose...

Introduction: Urinary incontinence (UI) in female athletes (FA) is a globally concerning but neglected topic in Croatia. The purpose was to examine the occurrence and severity of UI in Croatian FA and occurrence-associated factors. Methods: In May 2022, an anonymous online survey collecting general sports characteristics and the Incontinence Questionnaire-Urinary Incontinence Short Form (ICIQ-UI SF) were sent to individual FA. Obtained data were analysed with the PSPP program: chi-square test, t-test and analysis of variance with a defined significance level of p < 0.05. Results: The presence of UI in the total sample of 70 FA competing in 12 different sports is 24.3 %: 8 (29.6 %) handball players, 3 (42.9 %) tennis players, 2 (40 %) water polo players, one (14.3 %) synchronised swimmer, seven soccer players (14.3 %), one weightlifter (50 %) and the only swimmer (100 %). According to ICIQ-UI SF, in 70.59 % of FA with UI, a small amount of urine leaks approximately once a week or less often, mainly after urination and dressing up (35.29 %). The UI interference with quality of life is mild (70.59 %) and moderately severe (29.41 %), and the UI severity is slight (47 %) to moderate (53 %). Smokers report UI to a greater extent (χ2(1, n = 70) = 4.666, p < 0.05), while other sports and FA characteristics did not yield significant findings. Conclusions: UI is present in a quarter of examined Croatian FA, with mild to moderate severity. It mildly interferes with the quality of life and seems to be associated with smoking. Our findings contribute to preserving women's health in sports and apply to UI assessment in FA and counselling on smoking cessation as a proven UI risk.

Introduction: Research on low back pain (LBP) indicates sex differences in the prevalence and degree of disability, which is more significant in females and shows possible balance deficiencies. This study aimed to answer the following research questions: (i) is there a difference in static balance between healthy and females with LBP, (ii) is there a correlation between pain and static balance in females with LBP, and (iii) is there a correlation between static balance and disability in females with LBP. Methods: A cross-sectional research was conducted in a physiotherapy outpatient setting on a sample of 50 subjects, females with LBP and healthy volunteers, divided into two equal groups. Data collected from all respondents were: age, weight and height, the centre of pressure path length and rectangle area, Romberg area quotient and space quotient measured via a stabilometric force platform. In the LBP group, the pain was assessed using the Numeric Pain Rating Scale, and disability was assessed using the 24-item Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire. Nonparametric statistical tests were used: the Mann-Whitney test (i) and the Spearman correlation coefficient (ii and iii) with a defined significance level set at p<0.05. Results: Statistical analysis revealed (i) a difference in static balance between healthy females and those with LBP, (iii) a correlation between disability and static balance and (ii) no correlation between pain and static balance in LBP. Conclusion: Females with LBP have static balance deficiencies, which are correlated with their disability but not with pain which should be considered during physiotherapy.

Background: Chronic low back pain (CLBP) with sciatica caused by lumbar disc herniation is a common and disabling condition. Combined therapeutic protocols that include high force machine spinal decompression therapy (SDT), infrared therapy, and interferential therapy are increasingly used in clinical practice, although evidence in chronic populations remains limited. Because this study did not include a control group, only observed pre–post changes can be reported. This study primarily aimed to assess observed changes in pain intensity following a multimodal therapy protocol in adults with chronic lumbar radiculopathy. Methods: A pre–post observational study was conducted in 234 adults with chronic lumbar radiculopathy lasting ≥12 weeks and MRI confirmed disc herniation at L4–L5 and/or L5–S1. Participants completed ten treatment sessions delivered twice weekly over five weeks. Each session included infrared therapy, high force SDT, and interferential therapy. Pain intensity (VAS 0–10) was measured before the first and before the tenth session. Results: Pain intensity decreased significantly after treatment (Wilcoxon W = 18,830, p < 0.001), with a mean reduction of 2.5 points, exceeding the minimal clinically important change threshold, and with a very large effect size (rank biserial correlation = 0.991). No significant gender differences were observed. Baseline pain (β = 0.312, p < 0.001) and age (β = 0.145, p = 0.020) independently predicted post-treatment pain (R² = 0.129). Conclusion: A reduction in pain intensity was observed after five-week combined therapy protocol. Due to the absence of a control group and the simultaneous use of multiple modalities, no causal conclusions can be drawn, nor can improvements be attributed to SDT alone. Randomized controlled trials with functional outcomes and long-term follow-up are warranted.

Purpose: Adherence to therapeutic exercises for low back pain can significantly impact longevity, quality of life, and health care costs. There is insufficient research describing the nature and relationship between specific patient characteristics and exercise adherence in non-specific low back pain (NSLBP). This research aimed to examine: (i) the relationship between education and adherence, (ii) the relationship between perceived pain level and adherence, and (iii) whether education and pain level are significant predictors of adherence. Methods: Observational analytic research was conducted in a physiotherapy outpatient setting on a sample of 50 subjects with NSLBP. Data collected were: sociodemographic, pain level according to the visual analogue scale (VAS) and adherence measured by the Exercise Adherence Rating Scale (EARS). For hypotheses testing, statistical methods used were; t-test for small independent samples (i), Pearson correlation coefficient (ii) and linear regression analysis (iii). Results: The results show that: (i) people with a college education are more adherent, (ii) increasing adherence reduces pain level, and (iii) education and pain level are significant in predicting adherence, where education is a stronger predictor. Conclusion: College-educated persons are more prone to therapeutic exercise, and adherence determines physiotherapy outcomes. The contribution of research to clinical practice is reflected in the findings of the nature and relationship between education level and exercise adherence in NSLBP and its significant impact on physiotherapy outcomes.