ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of Pilates exercises designed to improve isometric trunk extension and flexion strength of muscles in women with chronic low back pain (cLBP). PARTICIPANTS: Female volunteers with cLBP were divided into an experimental group (EG; n = 27) and a control group (CG; n = 27). INTERVENTION: Pilates exercises were performed twice per week by the EG; the duration of each session was 60 min. The program lasted for 16 weeks; thus patients underwent a total of 32 exercise sessions. RESULTS: The maximum isometric waist bending strength of the EG had improved significantly (p = 0.001) after 16 weeks of the Pilates program. The results of trunk flexion muscle endurance tests significantly depended on the trunk extension muscle endurance before the intervention, and at 1 month (r = 0.723, p < 0.001) and 2 months (r = 0.779, p < 0.001) after the Pilates exercise program. At the end of the 16-week exercise program, cLBP intensity decreased by 2.01 ± 0.8 (p < 0.05) in the EG, and this reduction persisted for 1 month after completion of the program. CONCLUSIONS: At 1 and 2 months after cessation of the Pilates exercise program the pain intensified and the functional state deteriorated much faster than the maximum trunk muscle strength. Therefore, it can be concluded that, to decrease pain and improve functional condition, regular exercise (and not only improved strength and endurance) is required. We established that, although the 16-week lumbar stabilization exercise program increased isometric trunk extension and flexion strength and this increase in strength persisted for 2 months, decreased LBP and improved functional condition endured for only 1 month.
Subject(s)
Exercise Movement Techniques/methods , Low Back Pain/rehabilitation , Muscle Strength/physiology , Muscle, Skeletal/physiology , Torso/physiology , Adult , Female , Humans , Middle Aged , Physical Fitness/physiology , Posture/physiology , Range of Motion, Articular/physiologyABSTRACT
UNLABELLED: The aim of this study was to estimate and assess the prevalence of problem drug use in Lithuania. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The capture-recapture method was used to estimate the prevalence of problem drug use. For the study, the data concerning problem drug users were collected from the databases of health care and law enforcement institutions. The target group consisted of permanent users (aged 15-64 years) of heroin and other opioids and/or a combination of drugs. RESULTS: In Lithuania, 431 monitored problem drug users were identified in 2005, 482 in 2006, and 447 in 2007. The male-to-female ratio among the monitored problem drug users was 6:1 in 2006 and 4:1 in 2005 and 2007. The mean age of the monitored problem drug users was 26.8 years in 2005, 27.6 years in 2006, and 28.0 years in 2007. In total, 5699 problem drug users were identified (95% CI, 5552 to 5849) in 2005, 5800 (95% CI, 5652 to 5951) in 2006, and 5458 (95% CI, 5314 to 5605) in 2007. According to the gathered data, the prevalence of problem drug use was 2.3 cases per 1000 Lithuanian population aged 15-64 years in 2005, 2.5 in 2006, and 2.4 in 2007. CONCLUSIONS: The study showed one of the lowest prevalence of problem drug use in Lithuania as in Germany, the Netherlands, Greece, and Cyprus. In 2005-2007, problem drug users were mainly young men of employable age in Lithuania.
