The Effect of comprehensive rehabilitation on Lithuanian adolescent's nonspecific low back pain, depending on the duration: Nonrandomized single-arm trial.

OBJECTIVE: To determine pain and functional changes during comprehensive rehabilitation (CR) in adolescents with nonspecific low back pain (NLBP), and to determine the optimal CR duration. METHODS: The study included 106 adolescents (39 boys [36.8%], 67 girls [63.2%]), 14 to17 years old, with the following inclusion criteria: duration of NLBP for at least 12 weeks; conservative NLBP treatment was effectless; pain intensity using the visual analogue pain scale (VAS) ≤ 7 points; disrupted daily activities; ability to understand and answer the questions; written consent to participate voluntarily in the study. The pain was assessed using the VAS scale, functional changes were assessed using the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), 12-Item Short Form Survey, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HAD), and physical functional capacity and proprioception (Proprio) were assessed using an isokinetic dynamometer. The participants performed a comprehensive pain rehabilitation program consisting of physiotherapy, TENS, magnetotherapy, lumbar massage, and relaxing vibroacoustic therapy. The active CR cycle lasted for 22 sessions (with intermediate measurements after 5 and 16 sessions), after which we performed passive observation for another half a year. Five measurements were performed. RESULTS: Pain, functional assessment, and physical capacity were improved with CR. Statistically significant improvement became apparent after 5 CR sessions, but statistical and clinical significance became apparent after 16 CR sessions. In the distant period, after the completion of CR, neither statistical nor clinical changes occurred. CONCLUSIONS: CR is effective in reducing pain, and improving functional state and physical capacity quickly and reliably in 16 CR sessions, which is sufficient to obtain clinically satisfactory CR results. Good results were achieved during CR and neither improved nor deteriorated spontaneously in the distant period. This study shows a possible mismatch between NLBP intensity and impaired functional state in adolescents.

A Technical Approach to the Evaluation of Radiofrequency Radiation Emissions from Mobile Telephony Base Stations.

During the last two decades, the number of macrocell mobile telephony base station antennas emitting radiofrequency (RF) electromagnetic radiation (EMR) in residential areas has increased significantly, and therefore much more attention is being paid to RF EMR and its effects on human health. Scientific field measurements of public exposure to RF EMR (specifically to radio frequency radiation) from macrocell mobile telephony base station antennas and RF electromagnetic field (EMF) intensity parameters in the environment are discussed in this article. The research methodology is applied according to the requirements of safety norms and Lithuanian Standards in English (LST EN). The article presents and analyses RF EMFs generated by mobile telephony base station antennas in areas accessible to the general public. Measurements of the RF electric field strength and RF EMF power density were conducted in the near- and far-fields of the mobile telephony base station antenna. Broadband and frequency-selective measurements were performed outside (on the roof and on the ground) and in a residential area. The tests performed on the roof in front of the mobile telephony base station antennas in the near-field revealed the presence of a dynamic energy interaction within the antenna electric field, which changes rapidly with distance. The RF EMF power density values on the ground at distances of 50, 100, 200, 300, 400, and 500 m from the base station are very low and are scattered within intervals of 0.002 to 0.05 µW/cm². The results were compared with international exposure guidelines (ICNIRP).

Physical activity and physical fitness in obese, overweight, and normal-weight children.

BACKGROUND/AIM: The aim was to assess the differences between physical activity and physical fitness in obese, overweight, and normal-weight children. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The cross-sectional study was accomplished using cluster sampling method at 3 Lithuanian schools. An analysis of anthropometric data for 532 Lithuanian children was performed. Height, weight, waist and hip circumferences, and skinfold thickness were measured. Body mass index, waist-to-hip ratio, and body fat percentage were calculated. The Youth Physical Activity Questionnaire and a 6-min walk test (6MWT) were administered to evaluate physical activity and physical fitness. Maximal oxygen consumption was calculated to assess the children's aerobic capacity. Correlations among anthropometric data, 6MWT-walked distance, and moderate-vigorous physical activity duration were analyzed. RESULTS: The study showed that 20.1% of the studied children were obese or overweight. They engaged in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity 22.4 min less per day and walked 50.9 m less on average during a 6-min test than normal-weight children. Physical fitness parameters correlated with daily moderate-vigorous physical activity duration and with most of the children's anthropometric parameters. CONCLUSION: Obese and overweight children were less physically active and had lower physical fitness than normal-weight children. The findings underline the need for interventions to increase physical activity and improve fitness in obese and overweight children.

Physical Activity and Sedentary Screen Time in Obese and Overweight Children Living in Different Environments.

AIM: To assess the relationship of children's physical activity and sedentary screen time with overweight and obesity in children living in different environments (town and city) in Lithuania. METHODS: An analysis of anthropometric data from 532 children living in town and city areas was performed. A youth physical activity questionnaire (YPAQ) was conducted to evaluate physical activity and sedentary screen time. RESULTS: The prevalence of overweight and obesity among the children was 25.5% in the town and 18.6% in the city. Children living in the town on average engaged 9.3 min/day less in moderate to vigorous physical activity (p=0.050) and had 33.2 MET-min/day lower energy expenditure than children living in the city. Sedentary screen time was extremely high on weekends in both town and city children. CONCLUSIONS: A higher prevalence of overweight and obesity and a lower amount of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity was found in children living in the town compared to children living in the city.