Workload, general perceived stress, body function, musculoskeletal pain, and their mutual relationships in nurses - a pilot study.

OBJECTIVES: Both physical and psychosocial risk factors contributing to musculoskeletal disorders occur in the professional nursing group, and previous literature suggested that their interaction may increase the risk of musculoskeletal pain among nurses. The aim of the study was to examine perceived workload and stress as well as physical findings and musculoskeletal complaints in nurses. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The participants consisted of 42 female nurses, age range 23-60 years. They marked on a pain drawing the site/sites that was/were painful at the moment of testing, its duration and intensity. Thereafter they were examined using the movement and respiration domains from the Global Physiotherapy Examination (GPE). Furthermore, a subjective workload measure was made using the paper version of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Task Load Index and stress was assessed using the Perceived Stress Questionnaire. RESULTS: Almost the entire study group declared that pain experienced in at least 1 location was chronic, i.e., had lasted ≥1 year (97%). The most frequent locations of pain were low back (22.4%) and cervical/head (21.6%) regions. In the GPE, most scores indicated restricted and reduced movement, with the subdomain flexibility having the highest deviation from the predefined standard. Furthermore, the results indicated hampered respiration, especially visible in standing position. Out of all workload scores, the highest was obtained for temporal demand. Perceived stress level was found to be moderate and significantly associated to chronic chest/ thoracic pain. Interestingly, the compression of thorax test positively correlated with mental (r = 0.42, p < 0.05) and physical demand (r = 0.35, p < 0.05), whereas the elbow drop test and temporal demand correlated negatively (r = -0.37, p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: To sum up, the majority of nurses participating in this study had long-lasting pain and limited flexibility of the body and hampered respiration, which both may enhance intensity of experienced musculoskeletal pain. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2024;37(3).

Influence of pregnancy related anthropometric changes on plantar pressure distribution during gait-A follow-up study.

BACKGROUND: As foot constitutes the base of support for the whole body, the pregnancy-related anthropometric changes can result in adaptive plantar pressure alterations. The present study aimed to investigate how pregnancy affects foot loading pattern in gait, and if it is related to body adjustments to growing foetus that occur in the course of pregnancy. METHODS: A prospective longitudinal study included 30 women. Three experimental sessions in accordance with the same procedure were carried out in the first, second and third trimesters of pregnancy. First, the anthropometric measures of the body mass and waist circumference were taken. Then walking trials at a self-selected speed along a ~6-m walkway were registered with the FreeMED force platform (Sensor Medica, Italy). Vertical foot pressure was recorded by the force plate located in the middle of the walkway. FINDINGS: The correlation of individual foot loading parameters across different trimesters was relatively high. Nevertheless, our results revealed a longitudinal foot arch flattening with the strongest effect in late pregnancy (P = 0.01). The anthropometric characteristics also influenced the foot loading pattern depending on the phase of pregnancy. In particular, arch flattening correlated with the body mass in all trimesters (r≥0.44, P≤0.006) while the medial-lateral loading index correlated only in the first (r = 0.45, P = 0.005) and second (r = 0.36, P = 0.03) trimesters. Waist circumference changes significantly influenced dynamic arch flattening but only in the late pregnancy (r≥0.46, P≤0.004). In the third trimester, a small though significant increase in the right foot angle was observed (P = 0.01). INTERPRETATION: The findings provided the characteristics of the relative foot areas loading throughout pregnancy. Growing abdominal size increases the risk of medial arch flattening, which can result in less stable gait. The observed increase in foot angle in late pregnancy may constitute a strategy to enhance gait stability.

Assessing the impact of certain exercises on the spatial head posture.

OBJECTIVES: The head constitutes 6% of the total body weight, which is linked to the cervical spine and all other joints through the kinematic chain by various muscles. The forward head posture is one of the most common postural disorders and seems to be especially dangerous. The goal of the work was to assess the impact of 4 weeks of training neck and nape muscles on the head posture. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The subjects were 20 participants, who performed neck exercises for 20 days. The head posture in a sagittal and frontal plane was assessed photogrammetrically twice: before and after the exercises. The following have been used for the assessment: craniovertebral (CV) angle, head tilt angle (HT), and frontal head tilt angle (FHT). RESULTS: After a 20-day program of neck and nape exercises the values of specific angles were compared. The results indicated significant changes in the head posture. In the sagittal plane: the average value of the CV angle before the training was 47.17°, and 50.82° after the training; the average value of the HT angle before the exercises was at 20.99°, and 24.31° after. In the frontal plane the average value of the FHT angle before the exercises was at 2.71°, and after 20 days of training the average value of this angle decreased to 2°. CONCLUSIONS: The results demonstrate that a short, home-based targeted exercise program can improve head posture. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2019;32(1):43-51.

Does the first trimester of pregnancy induce alterations in the walking pattern?

INTRODUCTION: From among many studies observing the walking pattern throughout pregnancy, only two items monitor the influence of pregnancy on the movement system during gait considering the period before gestation. RESEARCH QUESTION: Does the women's gait pattern at the end of the first trimester undergo changes in comparison to body movement pattern before pregnancy? METHODS: All subjects who met the inclusion criteria gave signed and informed consent before the study. Two experimental sessions were arranged according to the same protocol: (P0) before pregnancy and (P1) at the end of the first trimester of pregnancy (12th week of gestation). At first the anthropometric measures were taken. Then, walking trials at a self-selected speed along a walkway were registered with Vicon 250 (Oxford Metrics Ltd.; Oxford, UK) and FreeMED force platform (Sensor Medica, Italy). RESULTS: An analysis of anthropometric parameters in 12th pregnancy week demonstrated significant changes in mean values of waist circumference and waist to hip ratio as well as waist to height ratio indexes compared to the results before pregnancy. No significant differences were found in the basic kinematic gait parameters between experimental conditions. Significant increase of mean inter-ankle distance during double support phase occurred during the first trimester of pregnancy. Also, the ratio of the ankle separation width to the pelvic width was noticeably higher in gestation. Then, angular changes of the pelvis in coronal and transverse planes throughout gait cycle during pregnancy demonstrated significant differences compared to those measured before pregnancy. At the same time in the first trimester of pregnancy no adaptive changes in the pattern of feet loading take place. SIGNIFICANCE: Since our study is of longitudinal character, in the course of pregnancy we expect compensatory mechanisms more clearly demonstrated. Therefore, we hope to identify a strategy of the gravid body progression in space.

Evaluation of relationship between the results of selected tests for muscle strength assessment of the hip abductors.

PURPOSE: The assessment of hip joint abductor muscle strength is most often carried out using a dynamometric test. However, both in clinical practice and literature, evaluation is performed by means of the single-leg half-squat or the amount of abduction movements performed in the hip joint. In this context, the question arises whether the results of individual tests are convergent. The aim of the study is to evaluate the relationship between strength of the hip abductor muscle measured by dynamometer, the single-leg-squat and the number of repetitions of the movements in time. METHODS: A group of 35 students (20 women and 15 men) between 20 and 24 years old participated in the study. Each student was subjected to three tests assessing the condition of the hip and associated abductor muscles. Those included: assessment of hip joint abduction muscle strength in a dynamometric study, assessment of the number of abdomen movements performed lying on the side and standing, during a 30-second interval, and the single-leg-squat test. RESULTS: Based on the tests conducted, a significant relationship was observed between the muscle strength measurement results for the left and right side in the dynamometric study and the number of hip abduction repetitions in 30 seconds and the single-leg-squat test. CONCLUSIONS: The obtained results indicate a significant relationship between the results of all the tests. In practice, this means that the tests can be used interchangeably.

The Impact of Deep Muscle Training on the Quality of Posture and Breathing.

Postural control and breathing are mechanically and neuromuscularly interdependent. Both systems- of spinal stability and respiration- involve the diaphragm, transversus abdominis, intercostal muscles, internal oblique muscles and pelvic floor muscles. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of exercises activating deep stabilizer muscles on postural control and quality of breathing movements. Eighteen volunteers (25,7 ± 3,5) were recruited from the general population. All the subjects implemented an exercise program activating deep muscles. Head, pelvic and trunk positions in the sagittal and frontal planes were assessed with the photogrammetric method. Breathing movements were estimated with the respiratory inductive plethysmography. The results indicate that the use of deep muscle training contributed to a significant change in the position of the body in the sagittal plane (p = 0.008) and the increase in the amplitude of breathing (p = 0.001).

Assessment of the influence of jogging on the shape of female foot arches.

INTRODUCTION: Both walking and its faster, running, consist of cyclical subsequent phases of swing and support; however, they differ in their time proportions as well as magnitude of acting forces. There is a lack of studies concerning the long-term consequences of repeated jogging cycles on the function of feet and, above all, on their permanent impact on the shape of foot arches. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to answer the question whether regular jogging changes the shape of the transverse and medial longitudinal arches of the feet. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The research material consisted of 96 women with an average age of 26.57, and included 50 actively jogging women, and 46 of non-joggers. The study was performed with the use of EMED-SF force platform. The plantar surface of the foot was divided into 10 regions according to Cavanagh, for which peak pressure and contact time were established. Two indicators were defined: metatarsal bone pressure distribution pattern acc. to Kantali, and longitudinal arch index acc. to Cavanagh. RESULTS: The data obtained revealed more frequent occurrence of the greatest pressure under the centrally located metatarsal heads (lack of functional foot transverse arch) among the female joggers, compared with the non-joggers. Moreover, the findings indicate the higher frequency of medial longitudinal foot arch flattening among female runners, with a great deal of consistency between both feet, whereas results for the control group show asymmetrical medial arch shapes with right foot propensity to normal arch shape and left foot tendency for excessive arch. CONCLUSIONS: The observed differences in feet arch shapes between female joggers and non-joggers indicate the influence of jogging on feet functional adaptations.

Assessment of adaptive changes of feet pressure distribution pattern amongst randomly selected group of female joggers.

BACKGROUND: Both walking and running contain the same cyclical movement phases; however, they differ greatly in time proportions, as well as magnitude of acting forces. The objective of this study was to ascertain that the regular jogging activity induced the adaptive modifications of foot pressure distribution pattern in fore-aft and lateral-medial dimensions during walking for female joggers. METHODS: The research base consisted of 96 women between 20 and 50 years of age, and included 50 female active joggers, and 46 of female non-joggers. The study was performed with the use of an EMED-SF force platform. Two parameters describing the plantar surface of the foot loading were established, namely force time integral (FTI) and pressure time integral (PTI). Two indicators were defined: percentage medial impulse acc. to Bowen and metatarsals and toes loading ratio acc. to Nagel. RESULTS: Our study showed lower PTI and FTI for the both feet big toes in the female joggers group. What is more, our research results indicate that regular jogging increases loading of metatarsus and lateral side relatively to toes and medial side, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The observed differences in foot pressure distribution patterns in both groups included in the current study proved the substantial influence of jogging on adaptive functional changes of walking pattern.

Head position influence on stabilographic variables.

PURPOSE: Head constitutes 6% of our body weight and significantly influences human body motor system mechanics. From physiological point of view, it should be located at extension of body middle line. Its location being modified results in many consequences in motor system. Our research was aimed at assessing the influence of head position on human body balance stabilographic variables. METHODS: The research was made on a group of 62 patients: 45 women and 17 men, aged from 40 to 60 yrs, 46 yrs on average. Head position in sagittal and frontal plane was assessed with photogrammetric method. Chosen stability parameters were estimated with dynamometric platform PEL 38 and computer software TWIN 99. RESULTS: The results confirmed correlations between existing stabilographic values and head position in frontal plane only. Head position, when changed in this plane, increased the amplitude ( p = 0.001) and average speed of body gravity center trembilng ( p = 0.002). There were no significant relations found in sagittal plane ( p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Our results show that the head position influences stabilographic variables. Its change in frontal plane decreases body posture stability to the largest extent.

Analysis of body composition among children and adolescents - a cross-sectional study of the Polish population and comparison of body fat measurement methods.

OBJECTIVE: The first aim of the present study was to analyze the body composition of Polish children ages 7-17 years old to add to the current body of literature. The second aim was to compare two body fat measurement methods (bioimpedance vs. Slaughter equation) on the abovementioned population. METHODS: Height (cm) and weight (kg) of 308 (161 males and 147 females) participants, ages 7-17, were measured, and body mass index (BMI) scores were calculated. Skinfold thickness (SFT) was measured for the triceps, subscapular, abdominal, suprailiac, thigh, and medial thigh skin folds on the left side of the body. Fat mass, fat percentage in the whole body (%BF), fat-free mass, and total body water were assessed using bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA). RESULTS: In the present sample, 29.5% of males were overweight, and 11.3% of these were obese. Among females, 27.2% were classified as overweight, and 6.8% of these were obese. Males had a higher total body water (median=27.25 vs. 24.8 kg, p<0.001) and fat-free mass (median=37.25 vs. 33.90 kg, p<0.001), while females showed a higher total body fat percentage (median=22 vs. 14.55%, p<0.001) and fat mass (median=9.1 vs. 5.9 kg, p<0.001). %BF calculated using Slaughter equations overestimated those obtained by BIA in both genders (p<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: The percent of youths classified as overweight and obese has increased in Krakow (Poland). Calculation of body fat percent derived from bioimpedance provides better estimates than the use of Slaughter equations, which tended to overestimates the values.