Assessment of Growth Changes in the Width of Dental Arches Caused by Removable Appliances over a Period of 10 Months in Children with Malocclusion.

(1) Background: A large number of patients of orthodontic clinics are diagnosed with improper jaw relationships. Intraoral scanners have become an important part of orthodontic practice and provide an opportunity to measure the changes in the width of dental arches. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the impact of removable appliances used over a 10-month period on growth changes in children with narrowed jaw dimensions. (2) Methods: Twenty four patients were included in the study (a study group-patients, treated with removable appliances in the upper dental arch for a minimum of 10 months; a control group-patients with no craniofacial abnormalities and who did not require orthodontic treatment). A panoramic radiograph and digital intraoral scan were taken, followed by palatal width measurements in Ortho-CAD before treatment, and after a period of 10 months of treatment with removable appliances. (3) Results: After a period of 10 months of the treatment, the study group had a statistically significantly greater mean change in the anterior width of the upper dental arch than the control group. (4) Conclusions: The use of removable appliances in children with narrowed maxillary transverse dimension contributes to offsetting growth changes in comparison to children with normal occlusion.

Influence of regular climbing on depression, generalized anxiety and lower back pain.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: Anxiety and depression disorders are increasingly affecting society. Anxiety disorders are the most prevalent psychiatric disorders, and depressive disorders are increasing in society worldwide. Lower back pain is one of the common health problems experienced by 50-80% of adults at some point in their lives. The aim of the study was to assess the climbing environment in terms of depression, generalized anxiety and pain in the lumbar spine. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 139 people training on climbing walls Lublin in December 2019 were invited to participate in the study. After applying exclusion criteria, 113 people with an average age of 30±8 years, 88 men (average age: 30 years) and 35 women (average age: 30 years) were qualified for the study. They were examined by the author's own questionnaire and the PHQ-9, GAD-7 and ODI questionnaires. Statistical analyses were applied and the significance threshold was set at 0.05. RESULTS: Overall percentage results suggest mild depression at 27%, moderate anxiety at 27%, and mild back pain at 26% in the group of climbers tested. Climbing level and climbing sub-discipline did not affect the average results of PHQ-9, GAD-7 (p>0.05). Back pain was more common in boulder climbers (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The level of sport climbing did not affect the level of depression, generalized anxiety, and back pain. The sport climbing level did not affect the incidence of injuries. The association in climbing clubs is connected with overcoming more difficult climbing routes and a higher level of generalized anxiety. Bouldering was associated with a greater level of pain in the lumbar spine and more injuries.

Electromyographic Patterns of Masticatory Muscles in Relation to Active Myofascial Trigger Points of the Upper Trapezius and Temporomandibular Disorders.

The presented study aimed to analyze and compare the electromyographic patterns of masticatory muscles in subjects with active myofascial trigger points (MTrPs) within upper trapezius, patients with temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) and healthy adults. Based on the diagnostic criteria of MTrPs according to Travell & Simons and the Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders, 167 people were qualified for the study. Subjects were divided into 3 groups: with active MTrPs in the upper trapezius, with diagnosed temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) and healthy adults. Measurements of the bioelectric activity of the temporalis anterior (TA) and masseter muscle (MM) were carried out using the BioEMG III ™. Based on statistical analysis, significantly lower values of TA resting activity were observed among controls in comparison to MTrPs (1.49 µV vs. 2.81 µV, p = 0.00) and TMDs (1.49 µV vs. 2.97 µV, p = 0.01). The POC index values at rest differed significantly between MTrPs and TMDs (86.61% vs. 105%, p = 0.04). Controls presented different electromyographic patterns within AcI in comparison to both MTrPs (4.90 vs. -15.51, p = 0.00) and TMDs (4.90 vs. -16.49, p = 0.00). During clenching, the difference between MTrPs and TMDs was observed within MVC TA (91.82% vs. 116.98%, p = 0.02). TMDs showed differences within AcI in comparison to both MTrPs group (-42.52 vs. 20.42, p = 0.01) and controls (-42.52 vs. 3.07, p = 0.00). During maximum mouth opening, differences between MTrPs and TMDs were observed within the bioelectric activity of masseter muscle (16.45 µV vs. 10.73 µV, p = 0.01), AsI MM (0.67 vs. 11.12, p = 0.04) and AcI (13.04 vs. -3.89, p = 0.01). Both the presence of MTrPs in the upper trapezius and TMDs are related to changes in electromyographic patterns of masticatory muscles.

Altered squat movement pattern in patients with chronic low back pain.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: Low back pain (LBP) is a problem which causes human suffering and entails costs for treatment. Chronic LBP is considered a civilization diseases in developed countries and one of the major public health problem worldwide. Squatting is a part of such daily activities as sitting down, standing up or lifting objects. In this study, hip, knee, and ankle joint motions during squatting are analyzed in the sagittal plane. The aim of the study was to find a relationship between the function of the lower limb during squatting and LBP incidence. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Eleven healthy subjects and eight subjects suffering from low back pain were enrolled in tes study. Participants performed squat while maintaining heel contact with the ground throughout the movement. The participants attempted to make a squat as deep as possible. Kinematic data were captured using a Vicon optical motion capture system. RESULTS: The low back pain group had a greater range of motion of the hip and knee with reference to the ankle joint motion, compared to the control group. There was no statistically significant difference in ankle dorsiflexion between groups. Control group reached maximal ankle dorsiflexion at higher point of descent than LBP group. CONCLUSIONS: The findings support the hypothesis that the strategy of movement is different in subjects with and without back pain. They may suggest that subjects with low back pain in maximal squat use the hip joint and knee joint to a greater extent than subjects without back pain, with comparable ankle dorsiflexion. Clinicians should take into consideration the influence of ankle motion and timing on exercise biomechanics in persons suffering from low back pain.

Review of studies on the impact of climbing as a complementary form of depression treatment and their evaluation according to the QUADAS-2 tool. / Przeglad prac dotyczacych wplywu wspinaczki jako uzupelniajacej formy leczenia depresji i ich ocena wedlug narzedzia QUADAS-2.

According to theWorld Health Organization (WHO), 4.3% of the global population exhibits symptoms of depression. In Poland, 1.5 million people suffer from this illness. Treatment of depression generates significant costs calculated in billions of zlotys. According to the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Health Problems, depression is characterized by: reduced mood, reduced psychomotor drive, loss of interest (axial symptoms), as well as low self-esteem, pessimistic attitude, weakness of concentration, sleep disorders, and loss of appetite (additional symptoms). The aim of this research was to review and evaluate studies on the impact of sport climbing as a complementary form of treatment on reducing depressive symptoms. This is the first literature review undertaking a collective assessment of studies on this subject. The appropriate studies were selected in a three-stage process. PubMed, ResearchGate and Google Scholar databases were searched. Finally, 4 studies were qualified for the review and then assessed using the QUADAS-2 tool developed by Bristol Medical School: Population Health Sciences. Analysis of the research gives grounds to consider introducing an additional form of treatment for depression in the form of boulder climbing. The evaluation according to the QUADAS - 2 questionnaire indicates a low possibility of making mistakes in all assessed works.

Sex-dependent differences in single-leg squat kinematics and their relationship to squat depth in physically active individuals.

The purpose of this study is to compare recreationally physically active females and males with regard to spine, pelvis and lower limb joints peak angles in each plane of motion during a single leg squat (SLS). The second aim is to investigate the relationship between kinematics and SLS depth in females and males. Fifty-eight healthy, young adults performed 5 repetitions of a single right leg squat to maximal depth while keeping their balance. Kinematic data were obtained using an optical motion capture system. At the hip, greater adduction and greater internal rotation were observed in females than in males. Females had more extended spines and less outward bended knees throughout the SLS than did men. In males, squat depth was significantly, positively correlated with the maximal angle of the ankle (r = 0.60, p < 0.001), the knee (r = 0.87, p < 0.001), the hip (r = 0.73, p < 0.001) and the pelvis (r = 0.40, p = 0.02) in the sagittal plane. A positive significant correlation was found between SLS depth and maximal angle of the knee (r = 0.88, p < 0.001) and the ankle (r = 0.53, p = 0.01) in the sagittal plane in females. Males and females used different motor strategies at all levels of the kinematic chain during SLS.

Depression and Resting Masticatory Muscle Activity.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to determine the influence of moderate depression determined based on Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (RDC/TMDs) Axis II on the bioelectrical resting activity of temporal muscles and masseter muscles. METHODS: The research participants were 68 healthy adult women. Of these, 46 people h (mean age: 22 ± 1 year) who had no temporomandibular disorders were selected for the research. They were divided based on results from RDC/TMDs (Axis II: scale's measurement) into the study group with a moderate level of depression (23 people), rest of participants without symptoms of depression were classified to control group (23 people). The resting activity of temporal muscles and masseter muscles was examined by using BioEMGIII electromyograph. Two statistical analyses were used: Shapiro-Wilk test and Mann-Whitney U test. RESULTS: Despite higher mean tensions of temporal muscles and masseter muscles in the group with depression, results findings were not statistically significant (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Moderate depression determined based on the RDC/TMDs II axis questionnaire is not related to the resting activity of selected masticatory muscles. Further research should be continued on a larger group of respondents in order to establish the relationship between psychological factors and bioelectrical parameters of the masticatory muscles.

Masticatory Muscles Activity in Sport Climbers.

Masticatory muscle activity during teeth clenching is associated with changes in many physiological parameters throughout the body. Clenching can improve muscle activity, force production, rate of force development, and joint fixation. Hence, teeth clenching and masticatory muscle activity can be important in competitive sports activities. Sport climbing is becoming increasingly popular and will be included for the first time in the Summer Olympic Games, Tokyo, 2020. However, masticatory muscle activity in sport climbers has not yet been studied. The aim of the presented study is to compare the bioelectrical activity of the masticatory muscles in sport climbers and non-climbers in order to determine the relationship between these muscles and climbing activity. 44 subjects without masticatory system disorders (16 women and 28 men, average age 26.3) were divided into two groups of 22 sport climbers (8 women, 14 men, climbing experience >4 years), while 22 people (8 women, 14 men, with no regular sports activity) were assigned to the control group. Electromyographic examination of temporalis anterior (TA) and masseter muscle (MM) was evaluated in three conditions: during resting mandibular position, during maximum intercuspation clenching, and during maximum voluntary clenching with cotton rolls between teeth. For statistical analysis, the W Shapiro-Wilk test and the Mann-Whitney U test were used. Sport climbers showed significantly higher bioelectrical activities of MM during maximum intercuspation clenching (238.45 µV vs. 83.87 µV, p = 0.002), and during maximum voluntary clenching with cotton rolls between teeth (300.01 µV vs. 101.38 µV, p = 0.001) compared to controls. The differences between groups in relation to the resting bioelectrical activity of the MM muscles, and TA muscles in all conditions were not statistically significant (p > 0.05). Higher bioelectrical activity of masseter muscles during clenching in climbers can be associated with this sports activity. However, the mechanism remains unknown and requires future research.