ABSTRACT

Introduction: Volkman's ischemic contracture is a complication that occurs after a certain trauma and is a consequence of ischemic damage. It is manifested by paresthesias, pallor, pain, and loss of radial artery pulse. Physiotherapy is based on exercises for stretching and relaxing shortened muscles, and is performed after medication and after the acute phase.

Aim: To investigate methods to treat Volkmann›s ischemic contracture.

Materials and methods: Medline databases (PubMed, PubMed Central) and Bibliographic database in Croatian and English were searched by electronic literature search. The key words used for search purposes are neurolysis, trauma, Volkmann’s ischemic contracture.

Results: By the exclusion procedure, 11 original researches related to the research goal of this paper were obtained.

Conclusion: Medicine today provides various methods of treating this condition, from conservative methods to operative methods. Conservative methods can give good results in the case of some mild degrees of Volkman›s ischemic contracture, for every other degree requires some of the techniques of the operative method. It is very important to educate the medical staff and increase the news so that such conditions do not occur. It is recommended that more research be done to prove the effectiveness of these methods in the treatment of Volkmann’s ischemic contracture.

Key words: Volkman›s ischemic contracture, treatment, physiotherapy

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Neck pain is a significant socio-economic burden as it is a common cause of seeking help within the health system and reduces the quality of life of such patients. The presence of myofascial trigger points in the muscles of the neck region may be the cause of such pain. One of the techniques used by physiotherapists in the treatment of myofascial pain, including neck pain, is dry needling or dry puncture.

Aim: The aim is to establish the effectiveness of dry needling in the treatment of cervical pain associated with myofascial trigger points.

Materials and methods: methods:The Medline database (PubMed) was searched using the key words dry needling and neck pain, and dry needling and cervical pain, and the Croatian Scientific Bibliography-Bibliographic Database using the key words dry needling and suha punkcija. Eight papers were selected by analysis of complete texts.

Results: A review of the available literature shows that the use of dry needling for neck pain is effective in reducing pain and other measured parameters, although the level of evidence for the conclusions reached is low to moderate.

Conclusion: There is a visible need for quality research that would offer a higher level of evidence on the effectiveness of this technique.

Key words: dry needling, neck pain, cervical pain, trigger points0

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Osteoarthritis of the knee belongs to the diseases with the greatest disability. The changes caused by osteoarthritis seriously affect the stability of the knee joint. Joint stability is affected by muscle strength, proprioception and ligament laxity. The importance of the use of proprioceptive exercises in therapy in persons with osteoarthritis of the knee has been recognized. Nevertheless, there is currently no widely accepted measure of clinical outcome aimed at neuromuscular control of patients with osteoarthritis of the knee.

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the reliability of the Y-balance test as a reliable indicator for measuring dynamic stability in people with osteoarthritis of the knee and to determine the impact of therapeutic proprioception exercises on increasing dynamic stability in people with osteoarthritis of the knee.

Materials and methods: The study was conducted on a group of 19 subjects, patients with osteoarthritis of the knee. A Y-balance test modeled on the SEBT test was used in the study. Measurement by Y-balance test was performed 3 times. The first and second measurements calculated the reliability of the Y-balance test by the Test-retest method, while the second and third measurements assessed the impact of therapeutic proprioception exercises on dynamic stability in people with osteoarthritis of the knee. Respondents were divided into two groups in the second and third measurements. The experimental group of subjects had a 10-day physical therapy that included standard therapeutic exercises and proprioceptive exercises, while the control group had a standard exercise program for knee osteoarthritis. In both groups of subjects, TENS therapy was applied to both knees for 15 minutes.

Results: The result of the Pearson correlation coefficient for the composite score of the left foot is 0.93 and the right 0.97. The correlation is positive, very high and statistically significant with a risk of less than 1% (p <0.01). The combined program of standard and proprioceptive exercises had a statistically significant effect on increasing the dynamic stability measured by the Y-balance test with a risk of less than 1% (p <0.01). The standard exercise program had a statistically significant effect on increasing the dynamic stability measured by the Y-balance test with a risk of less than 5% (p <0.05). Comparing the control and experimental groups, the results of the Y-balance test did not show a significant difference between the groups (p <0.05).

Conclusion: The Y-balance test modeled on SEBT can be reliably used as a good indicator of dynamic stability in a composite measurement result in persons with osteoarthritis of the knee. Although there is no statistically significant difference in improvement between the groups, the experimental group showed a slightly higher percentage of results than the control group. If the research was conducted on a larger group of subjects and after several days of therapeutic treatment, it is possible that the results would be statistically significantly higher in the subjects of the experimental group.

Key words: Y-balance test, physical therapy, proprioceptive exercises, osteoarthritis of the knee

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Most people have had at least one episode of lumbar pain during their lifetime. Pain lasting a minimum of three months is defined as chronic lumbar segment pain. Chronic pain affects many activities of daily living, such as getting up, walking, bending over, sleeping, traveling, social interactions, but also work activities. Therapeutic mobilization is one of the frequently used methods in physiotherapy and the optimal choice of therapeutic approach when one wants to influence pain, function and activities of everyday and working life.

Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the impact of therapeutic mobilization on chronic lumbar segment pain.

Materials and methods: The study included 30 patients which were divided into two groups: the experimental group (n = 15) in which, in addition to classical therapy, mobilization of the lumbar segment was additionally performed, and the control group (n = 15), in which only classical physiotherapy was performed. The Visual Analog Scale (VAS) was used to assess pain, and lumbar segment mobility was assessed by Fingertips to Floor Distance test and SLR test. The quality of life of people with chronic lumbar pain was assessed by the Rolland- Morris Disability Questionnaire and the Oswestry Disability Index. Measurements were performed on the 1st and 10th therapy day.

Results: The results of this study show a statistically significant reduction in lumbar segment pain in the subjects of the experimental group (p <0.01), while in other measurements the subjects of the experimental group achieved a better result, but without statistical significance.

Conclusion: Therapeutic mobilization reduces chronic lumbar segment pain, but also affects the function and improvement of daily life activities.

Key words: chronic pain, lumbar pain, mobilization, lumbar spine mobility, quality of life

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is an autosomal dominant genetic disorder which is caused by the change of the NF1 gene on the 17th chromosome. The disease occurs equally in both sexes. Likewise, it can be inherited from one of the parents or it can appear for the first time in the family as the new change of the neurofibromatosis type 1 gene.

Aim: The aim of this study was to determine whether there is a difference in the quality of life among the neurofibromatosis type 1 patients who have gone through physiotherapy and the neurofibromatosis type 1 patients who have not gone through physiotherapy.

Materials and methods: The sample includes N=44 respondents. The study used a Short form health survey-36 for for assessing the health quality of life and a visually analogous scale of pain.

Results: In the domains of the questionnaire for the assessment of the health quality of life, the average satisfaction of respondents in both groups is the highest in domain of physical functioning (group A: M=56,15, group B: M=81,45). There is a statistically significant difference in the degree of pain on the visually analogous scale of pain scale between groups (p<0,01).

Conclusion: The results of the conducted research showed good quality of life in both groups of respondents. The pain perception is higher in NF1 group A, stressing the need for further introduction of physiotherapy, but also the recognition of the emotional disturbances and depression as the cause of pain.

Key words: neurofibromatosis type 1, quality of life, pain, physiotherapy

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Adolescence is the period of transition from childhood to adulthood. This period is marked by physical, mental, emotional and cognitive development. Physical activity has a positive effect on all elements of development during adolescence. The World Health Organization defines physical activity as any movement performed by skeletal muscles that requires energy expenditure, and motivation has an important impact on physical activity.

Aim: The aim of this study is to determine the level of physical activity of adolescents and to determine the motives for participation in physical activity and exercise.

Materials and methods: The study involved 351 students studied for vocations in the field of medicine for dental assistant, dental technician, pharmacy technician, physical therapy technician, medical cosmetician, sanitary technician and medical laboratory technician. The Physical Activity Questionnaire for Adolescents (PAQ-A) was used to assess the level of physical activity, and the Exercise Motivations Inventory – 2 (EMI-2) was used to examine the motives for participating in physical activity and exercise.

Results: The results showed a low level of physical activity in the subjects. A statistically significant difference was found in the level of gender-related physical activity. Age, grade, and field did not have a significant effect on the level of physical activity. The highest average values were recorded for subscale positive health and strength and endurance. A statistically significant difference in motives related to gender and age was observed in the subscales associated with intrinsic motivation, and in class and direction a statistically significant difference was observed in the subscales associated with extrinsic motivation.

Conclusion: This study suggests low levels of physical activity in adolescents.

Key words: adolescence, physical activity, motivation