Professor Andrzej Zembaty (1935-2022) - Visionary and Co-founder of Polish Physiotherapy.

Based on an analysis of source materials from the private collection of the Zembaty family, the Medical Library of the Marian Weiss Rehabilitation Center in Konstancin, articles from daily press, and a few publications, we present the professional career, and academic and organizational activities of the late Professor Andrzej Zembaty (1935-2022), Doctor Habilitatus in Physical Culture Studies. While working at the Capital City Rehabilitation Center in Konstancin (Stoleczne Centrum Rehabilitacji), he served as an assistant to and close collaborator of Professor Marian Weiss. Affiliated with the Warsaw University of Physical Education for many years, he was known as a scholar, demanding teacher, author of well-known textbooks, and organizer of physiotherapy education. His vision of the professional development and role of physiotherapists in healthcare was realized only after the enaction of the Physiotherapist Profession Act. He undoubtedly ranks among the pioneers and founders of Polish physiotherapy.

The Work of Janina Sikorska-Tomaszewska, Associate Professor of Medical Sciences, Towards the Development of Rehabilitation in Poland in the Years 1948-1978.

Based on an analysis of archival materials from the private collections of Janina Sikorska-Tomaszewskas family, the Document Repository of Wiktor Dega Memorial Orthopedics and Rehabilitation Hospital in Pozna, articles from daily press and some publications, the authors present the work of Janina Sikorska-Tomaszewska (19111998), Associate Professor of Medical Sciences, towards the development of rehabilitation in Poland in the years 19481978. Her organizational, educational and scientific activity in the early years of the development of rehabilitation medicine in our country contributed significantly to the establishment of the Polish school of rehabilitation. The 30 years of her activity allow Janina Sikorska-Tomaszewska to be counted among the pantheon of founders of rehabilitation in Poland.

DOCTOR APOLINARY TARNAWSKI (1851-1943) - THE PIONEER OF NATURAL MEDICINE AND PHYSIOTHERAPY IN GERIATRICS IN POLAND

Doctor Apolinary Tarnawski (1851-1943) was undoubtedly the precursor of modern natural medicine, preventive medicine, and geriatric physiotherapy in Poland. Based on the experience gained from foreign scientific travel, own knowledge and experience, he developed an original method that he successfully used in his own clinic in Kosów. His assumptions proved to be timeless, and despite the passage of many years have not lost their relevance.

Influence of footwear fitting on feet morphology in 9 year old girls.

BACKGROUND: The human foot is shaped throughout all life in a way that is individual for every human being. Footwear fitting in the process of foot development is the issue covered by a limited range of empirical studies. This prompted the authors to undertake this subject of the study aimed at the influence of fitting of regularly worn inside the school footwear on feet morphology in primary schoolgirls. METHODS: The study group comprised 100 girls aged 9. Feet characteristics were recorded by CQ-ST podoscope. The footwear fitting to the feet of the examined girls was tested using the Clevermess device. The data were analyzed based on the Student's t test, Wilcoxon test and regression analysis. RESULTS: Appropriately fitted right indoor footwear was worn by 48% of the subjects while the left one by 43% of the group. Appropriate fitting in relation to the left and right foot width was noted in 23% of the group. The statistically significant combined effect of predictors characterizing footwear on the value of Wejsflog index of the right (p < 0.001) and left (p < 0.001) foot and influence of the length excess on the heel angle of the left foot (p = 0.006) were found. CONCLUSIONS: Most examined girls wear poorly fitted indoor footwear. The length excess of the indoor footwear has connections with the Wejsflog index of the right and left foot and the heel angle of the left foot. The larger the length excess, the lower the transverse arch. In the production of indoor footwear the differences in the feet width should be taken into account.

The impact of the epidemic of Heine-Medina disese on the development of rehabilitation in Poland.

The work presents pioneering activities of Polish orthopedists in the interwar period who were the first to propose methods of surgical and physical treatment of the effects of poliomyelitis. It also discusses the activities undertaken by the Ministry of Health and the National Rehabilitation Specialist, prof Wiktor Dega, in the early 1950s in order to fight the effects of the Heine-Medin disease epidemic in Poland. They worked on the creation of a network of rehabilitation centres throughout the country, training of medical personnel, development of uniform procedures that would provide the patient with appropriate treatment in the acute state of the disease and during the following years of its consequences. In addition to treating, it was possible for the sick children to get a profession that would allow them to start working. The authors show that dealing with the effects of Heine-Medin disease had a significant impact on the development of rehabilitation in Poland.

Foot Deformities in Women Are Associated with Wearing High-Heeled Shoes.

BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to assess the association between foot deformities and type of shoe regularly worn at work. MATERIAL AND METHODS We studied 150 employed women ages 30-40 years and divided them into 3 groups according to type of footwear worn: women in Group I wore flat-soled shoes, women in Group II wore mid-heeled shoes (heels 4.0±0.5 cm), and women in Group III wore high-heeled shoes (heels 10.0±0.5 cm). We used the CQ-ST podoscope for measurements. RESULTS We found significant differences in right foot γ angle between Groups I and III (p=0.033) and between Groups II and III (p=0.040). For the left foot, differences were noted between Groups I and III (p=0.012). Group III subjects had higher values of alpha angle compared to Group I (p=0.000) and Group II (p=0.000). Significant correlations were also found between specific type of footwear worn and the incidence of hallux valgus of the right foot (p=0.010) and left foot (p=0.000), and the varus deformity of the fifth toe (ß) of the left foot (p=0.015). CONCLUSIONS The feet of women wearing high-heeled shoes were significantly flatter transversely, with a more laterally flexed hallux, as compared to those wearing low-heeled or flat-soled shoes. Wearing high-heeled shoes was associated with higher incidence of hallux valgus. The incidence of varus deformity of the fifth toe was associated with wearing high-heeled shoes.

Prof. Eugeniusz Piasecki's Contribution to the Development of Polish Physiotherapy.

Based on source materials, this article presents the activity of Prof. Eugeniusz Piasecki towards the development of physiotherapy in Poland. After completing his studies at the Faculty of Medicine of Jagiellonian University and a pedagogical course in physical education for gymnastics teachers at secondary schools and teacher training centres, he went to Vienna to deepen his knowledge of medical gymnastics and hydrotherapy. During a scientific trip to Sweden, he became acquainted with Pehr Henrique Ling's method. In the years 1900-1916, E. Piasecki ran a healing gymnastics, orthopaedics and massage facility in Lviv. He was also active in the "Sokol" Gymnastic Society and worked in the gymnasiums owned by his father Wenanty Piasecki in Cracow and Zakopane. At the University of Lviv he taught school hygiene, theory of physical education as well as conducting research and teaching in the physiology of exercise. There he also obtained his habilitation in 1909. His overarching objective was to eliminate German gymnastics, which he considered harmful, from schools in Galicia. Instead, he advocated Swedish gymnastics, based on scientific evidence and anatomo-physiological analysis of each movement. His research focused, among others, on the effect of various physical exercises on the cardio-respiratory and osteo-articular systems in children. The results of E. Piasecki's studies were the basis for a critical evalu-ation of the irrational strength exercises of German gymnastics. He endeavoured to promote physical education as much as possible, adapting it to the specific needs of schools, hospitals and spas. As head of the Department of Theory of Physical Education and School Hygiene (since 1919) and then the Institute of Physical Education (since 1924) at Poznan University, together with Prof. Ireneusz Wierzejewski, Dr Wiktor Dega,Ph.D., and Dr Franciszek Raszej, Ph.D., he laid the foundations of rehabilitation in Poland. Thanks to him, the Poznan centre carried out research in medical gymnastics and massage, preparing specialists in the area of corrective exercises and, later, physiotherapy in Poland.

Inter-gender differences of balance indicators in persons 60-90 years of age.

INTRODUCTION: Precision of movements responsible for maintaining balance deteriorates with age due to natural involutionary processes, thus prompting a research question whether the values of gender-related stability indicators might differ significantly among the study subjects over 60 years of age. METHODS: The study group comprised 136 seniors (89 women, 47 men; aged 60-90 years). The CQ-Stab 2P 2-platform posturograph was used as the main research device, whereas the Mann-Whitney U-test was used to evaluate the gender-related differences in the average level of variables. RESULTS: In the open-eye test, significant gender-related differences were observed with regard to the statokinesiogram's path length in the mediolateral (ML) direction in the subjects aged 60-69 years (p=0.004), mean frequency of center of pressure (COP) displacement and number of COP displacements in the ML direction in the subjects aged 70-79 years (p=0.028, p=0.019), and mean COP displacement in the anteroposterior (AP) direction in the subjects aged 80-90 years (p=0.026). When the subjects were deprived of visual control, gender-related differences were observed with regard to the mean frequency of COP displacement, number of COP displacements in the ML direction in the subjects aged 60-69 years (p=0.045, p=0.049), and the statokinesiogram's path length in the AP direction in the subjects aged 70-79 years (p=0.015). In the oldest age group, the differences were noted in the statokinesiogram's path length in the AP direction (p=0.001), a sway area delimited by the COP point (p=0.003), range of AP stability (p<0.001), and range of ML stability (p=0.048). CONCLUSION: Gender-related differences affecting postural stability were found in the elderly. Men were characterized by a lower level of postural stability when compared with women. This highlights the need to have the gender-related differences taken into account, when developing various preventive and therapeutic programs specifically aimed at compensating certain involution-dependent deficits.

Feet deformities are correlated with impaired balance and postural stability in seniors over 75.

OBJECTIVE: Understanding the factors and mechanisms that determine balance in seniors appears vital in terms of their self-reliance and overall safety. The study aimed to determine the relationship between the features of feet structure and the indicators of postural stability in the elderly. METHODS: The study group comprised 80 seniors (41F, 39M; aged 75-85 years). CQ-ST podoscope and the CQ-Stab 2P two-platform posturograph were used as primary research tools. The data were analyzed based on Spearman's rank correlation and forward stepwise regression. RESULTS: Analysis of forward stepwise regression identified the left foot length in females and Clarke's angle of the left foot in men as significant and independent predictors of postural up to 30% of the variance of dependent variables. CONCLUSIONS: Longer feet provide older women with better stability, whereas in men, the lowering of the longitudinal arch results in postural deterioration. In the elderly, the left lower limb shows greater activity in the stabilizing processes in the standing position than the right one. In gerontological rehabilitation special attention should be paid to the individually tailored, gender-specific treatment, with a view to enhancing overall safety and quality of seniors' lives.

Dr. Józef Aleksiewicz Activity in Support of the Development of Orthopedics and Rehabilitation in Iwonicz-Zdrój (1921-1957).

Based on source materials in the possession of Józef Aleksiewicz family (typescripts, manuscripts, photographs, other documents) and articles published in professional medical journals and newspapers, the authors present the contribution of Dr. J. Aleksiewicz to the development of orthopedics and rehabilitation in Iwonicz-Zdrój. In May 1921, he was appointed Surgeon General of the Spa Commission in Iwonicz-Zdrój. After holding several scholarly trips abroad in 1925 to sanatoriums treating cases of osteo-articular tuberculosis, he commenced the construction of "Sanato", a modern sanatorium. Opened in 1930, it was the only center in Poland treating osteo-articular tuberculosis in a spa setting. It was the first orthopedic rehabilitation center in what is now Podkarpackie Voivodship offering diagnostic work-up, surgery and conservative treatment of osteo-articular tuberculosis in children. Modelled on the best Western centers, Dr. Aleksiewicz widely employed physical methods, such as Swedish therapeutic gymnastics, mechanotherapy, massage, physical therapy and hydrotherapy.

Activity of Dr Józef Aleksiewicz, PhD, Towards the Development of Orthopedics and Rehabilitation in Lviv in the Years 1912-1930.

The article describes the work of Dr Aleksiewicz towards the development of orthopedics and rehabilitation in Lviv in the years 1912-1930 based on source materials belonging to his family and articles published in medical journals and daily press. In 1919, Dr Aleksiewicz established a Surgical and Orthopedic Department and a factory of prostheses at the Disabled House in Lviv. He also formed a 200-bed division for the visually impaired with basket- and comb-making workshops as well as massage and typing courses. It was an innovative undertaking aiming to provide surgical treatment, orthopaedic aids and rehabilitation for victims of World War I. From 1919, Dr Aleksiewicz ran his Private Orthopedic Clinic with Factory of orthopaedic aids and pro-stheses" at 2 Friedrichów St. in Lviv. He specialised in therapy of surgical tuberculosis, fractures, dislocations and abnormal spinal curvatures. His work in Lviv in the period 1912-1930 undeniably contributed to the development of orthopaedics and rehabilitation, which were new medical specialties at the time.

Antoni marian gabryszewski as a pioneer of orthopaedics and rehabilitation in poland.

This article describes the work of Dr. Antoni Marian Gabryszewski, orthopaedic surgeon, associate professor at Lvov University, towards the development of orthopaedics and rehabilitation in Poland before World War I. It is based on archival materials, publications in medical journals and articles from the daily press of that time. The author presents little-known facts concerning Dr. Gabryszewski's occupational and academic activity and his work at the Surgery Dept. of Lvov University as well as his habilitation dissertation, regarded as the first attempt to position orthopaedics as distinct from surgery in Poland. The article also describes his long-term work at the private Orthopaedic Facility established in 1898 in Lvov which later incorporated the Zander Institute in 1908. The Zander Institute was the first in Galicia to offer exercise machines designed by Dr. Gustav Zander, imported from Stockholm and enjoying an extraordinary popularity in the world. Dr. Gabryszewski's practice as a spa doctor, which he pursued in Iwonicz Zdrój in the summer months, is also presented. Dr. A. Gabryszewski introduced comprehensive rehabilitation to the treatment of orthopaedic patients both at the Surgery Dept. of Lvov University and at his Orthopaedic Facility. He used therapeutic gymnastics (particularly mechanotherapy), therapeutic massage, physical therapy and orthopaedic aids. Analysis of the source materials leads to unequivocal conclusions attesting to Dr. A. Gabryszewski's pioneering role and significant contribution to the development of orthopaedics and rehabilitation in Poland.