BACKGROUND:The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of a rehabilitation program in changing the perception of fatigue in patients with multiple sclerosis. MATERIAL AND METHODS:The study involved 65 respondents/patients with clinically c...

Introduction and objective: Poor motor skills can increase the burden of disease and negatively affect the overall quality of life. The aim of the study was to investigate how people aged 60 and over assess their overall quality of life, overall health status and other domains of life in...

Introduction: Wearing high-heeled shoes (HH) is a wide-spread practice among Western women, maintaining popularity despite its harmful potential. We examined the main motivation behind wearing HH in female students, as well as the possible change to wearing HH among the research participants. Methods: Thirty university students (N=30 females, age 21.8±2.09 years; weight: 55.7±4.05 kg, height: 1.66±0.03 m, BMI: 20.34±1.41 kg.m-2, shoe size: EU 36–38), who rarely wore HH. The participants wore HH for no longer than 6 hours per month during the period two past years. The SonoSens Monitor Analyzer system (Gefremed, Chemnitz, Germany) was used to observe participants’ posture when walking and movements in individual sections of their spines. In a comparative experiment, the correlation between variables recorded when walking in two types of shoes was identified. The first pair of shoes (HH) had 7 cm heels whereas the second were flat sport shoes (FS). Results: The evaluation of participants’ spines and posture when walking in HH and FS revealed significant differences (p < 0.05). The evaluation of the initial and follow-up surveys indicates that the main motivation for wearing HH among the test group was to increase their attractiveness and respond to social expectations. After participating in the research and becoming aware of its outcomes and issues, the test group’s attitude to wearing HH has changed. Conclusions: In regards to good posture and spinal health, this study has raised some awareness amongst its participants, and has therefore proved to be a significant positive influence.

Background: The aim of the work was to ascertain the differences in the temporal characteristics of the gait cycle of slow walking in high heels. The study particularly focused on a group of women who started to wear high heels more often. Material and methods: The Pedar X System (Novel, Germany) was used to analyze the temporal characteristics of the gait cycle. Average values of temporal variables in both feet were ascertained based on the measured functions of maximal peak pressure (PPmax) and maximal vertical force (MVFmax) depending on time. Results: Slow walking in high heels, as compared to slow walking in flat shoes, resulted in shortening the gait cycle in all its phases. This in turn increased the frequency of steps in high heels. While walking at a speed of v1=0.97 m.s-1 (slow speed) and v2=0.56 m.s-1 (very slow speed), there were no differences in stance/swing ratio between high heels and flat shoes. Conclusions: Slow walking speeds can be considered to be suitable for women who have recently started walking in high-heeled shoes and have had no previous experience with them.

The aim of the study was to investigate how walking in high heels on a treadmill affects the changes in timing of activation in selected lower limb muscles, pelvic muscles, and upper trunk muscles in young women. Surface electromyography (EMG) was used for data collection of selected muscles on the right half of the body: m. pectoralis major, m. trapezius pars transversa, m. obliquus abdominis externus, m. erector spinae in the lumbar spine, m. gluteus medius, m. gluteus maximus, m. rectus femoris, m. biceps femoris-caput longum. The research group consisted of 30 women (age: 24.2 ± 2.3 years; weight: 57 ± 3.2kg; height: 1.65 ± 0.04m). Statistical significance in changes in timing was confirmed for seven of the measured muscles. The timing of the m. trapezius muscle was not statistically affected by changes in walking in high heels (HH), but HH and treadmill walking increased the intensity of muscle contraction in all monitored muscles. Walking on a treadmill in flat shoes (FS) similarly increases the intensity of muscle contraction. This work expands the theoretical knowledge of bipedal locomotion in HH on a treadmill.

Background and Objective:The aim of this study was to investigate the immediate effects of deep core muscle training in the plank position using the Icaros® system, integrated with virtual reality (VR), on selected posturographic parameters. Methods: To meet the stated objective, we utilized the Icaros® therapeutic system (Icaros GmbH, Martinsried, Germany) for VR-based exercise. Posturographic parameters were measured using the FootScan® force platform (Materialise Motion, Paal, Belgium). A representative sample of 30 healthy participants,13 females and 17 males (age: 22.5 ± 2.1 years; weight: 65 ± 2.9 kg; height: 1.68 ± 0.4 m; BMI: 23.04 ± 1.75) was included in the study. All participants had no prior experience with VR. The selected posturographic parameters were Ellipse Area (mm²) and Traveled Distance (mm), assessed four times at five-minute intervals following a 15-minute VR-based training session on the Icaros® system. Results: The results revealed that participants experienced a sense of instability after completing the 15-minute VR session, as objectively demonstrated by changes in the measured parameters. Both Ellipse Area and Traveled Distance showed a worsening trend during the first three measurements—immediately post-exercise, at 5 minutes, and at 10 minutes post-exercise. A downward trend was observed in the fourth measurement, taken 15 minutes after exercise. Statistically significant differences were found in both parameters: Ellipse Area (p = 0.000) and Traveled Distance (p = 0.000). Post-hoc analysis further confirmed significant differences between the time points. Conclusion: Based on the findings, it is recommended that trainers and physiotherapists supervising athletes or patients using the Icaros® VR system allow for a minimum rest period of 15 minutes in a seated or lying position following exercise. This recovery period appears essential to mitigate the sensation of instability and to reduce the risk of complications or injury due to potential falls.