Faulty posture and style of life in young adults.

UNLABELLED: Study was aimed to determine the incidence of postural faults, level of physical activity and their possible relationship in young adults. Material included 100 subjects recruited randomly among students of Medical University of Silesia (54F aged 20-28, mean=22.9, SD=2.11 and 46M aged 20-29, mean=25.1, SD=1.86). Posture was examined according to modified Klapp protocol. For thoracic kyphosis and lumbar lordosis, values of 30 degrees +/-2 were considered as normal. ATR exceeding 5 degrees was considered as scoliosis. Physical activity was evaluated with a questionnaire, admitting 1 point for each hour of physical labour and 2 points for each hour of sport activity per week. Statistical analysis was based on the one-way ANOVA test. Postural faults were widespread in assessed group. Most common was lumbar hypolordosis (71.0%, 48.1%F and 97.8%M) and thoracic hyperkyphosis (58.0%, 53.7%F and 63.0%M). Scoliosis was observed in 54.0% (50%F and 58.7%M). Physical activity in assessed group was high, with 71% of cases (76%F and 62.5%M) within range of mean value +/- 1SD. Level of activity in men was significantly higher than women (mean 20.25 vs. 6.28 points, p<0.05). Significant dependence of postural faults and physical activity was not observed. CONCLUSIONS: Young adults prefer active way of life. Postural faults are widespread among young adults. Correlation between level of physical activity and postural faults was not observed.

Knowledge about idiopathic scoliosis among students of physiotherapy.

The aim of the study was to determine the level of basic knowledge about idiopathic scoliosis (IS) among students of physiotherapy. The study included 37 students of Medical University of Silesia (17F and 20M aged 22-25, mean 22.6), attending the 3(rd) year of a 1(st) degree of physiotherapy. All students had credits in kinesiotherapy, including methods of conservative treatment of IS. Students were examined using a questionnaire, comprising general knowledge of IS, questions related to sagittal plane correction, influence of various physical activities on IS and known methods of conservative treatment. 81 students considered IS as 3-D deformity. 62.2% of those questioned would diagnose IS when the Cobb angle reaches 10 degrees . All students agreed that the aetiology of IS remains unknown. 54.1% considered forcible extensory exercises of back as favourable in IS. Questioned students mostly preferred swimming (94.6%), yoga (73.0%) and martial arts (32.4%) as beneficial to IS. The methods of conservative treatment which were known best were: Lehnert-Schroth-Weiss (94.6%), Klapp (91.9%), Majoch (89.2%) and Dobosiewicz (78.4%). The conclusions indicate that the average level of knowledge of idiopathic scoliosis among students of physiotherapy is unsatisfactory, despite the education programme including the SOSORT guidelines. Education in the field of scoliosis should be comprehensive and meet contemporary guidelines and standards.

[Effect of asymmetric respiratory exercise therapy on respiratory system function; evaluation using spirometric examination in children with idiopathic scoliosis]. / Wplyw leczenia metoda asymetrycznych cwiczen oddechowych na czynnosc ukladu oddechowego, oceniana za pomoca badania spirometrycznego u dzieci z idiopatycznym bocznym skrzywieniem kregoslupa.

Current work presents the results of spirometric examinations in 124 children aged 5 to 16 years (mean age 12.1 years) suffering from idiopathic scoliosis. Children were treated according to asymmetric respiratory exercises method applied in period of 24 days. Healthy children living in Upper Silesia industrial region were the control group. Examined scoliotic group was characterized by generally mild lung function impairment, although the values of spirometric indexes tended to deplete with time of duration and severity of the scoliosis. Especially the tendency of the forced expiratory volume in first second (FEV1) decrease was apparent, as well as maximal expiratory flows MEF50 and MEF25, in conjunction with Cobb angle increase. Slight but evident increase of forced vital capacity (FVC) and FEV1 was observed as a result of rehabilitation utilizing asymmetric respiratory exercises method.

The analysis of lead, cadmium, zinc, copper and nickel content in human bones from the upper Silesian industrial district.

The concentration of lead, cadmium, zinc, copper and nickel in autopsy samples of bones from adults living in the Upper Silesian industrial district (Poland)--an ecological disaster region--was determined by atomic absorption spectrometry (flame and flameless GF AAS). Lead concentrations ranged from 20 micrograms/g to 200 micrograms/g bone wet weight, cadmium from 0.4 microgram/g to 1.5 micrograms/g bone wet weight. About one-fourth of the bones examined from Silesia, contained lead in the range from 100 micrograms/g to 200 micrograms/g. The were no significant differences in zinc, copper and nickel concentration between the control groups. The samples were mineralized in a microwave digestion system. To avoid anomalous results caused by the influence of the matrix Ca3 (PO4)2--the procedure of lead determination was carried out at a temperature of 2000 degrees C, the cadmium determination at a temperature of about 1200 degrees C.