Comparison of the level of physical activity after the COVID-19 pandemic in Poland, Slovakia and the Czech Republic

BACKGROUND

The COVID-19 pandemic was associated with limited physical activity (PA) of most of the world's population. This cross-sectional prospective study aimed to assess the levels of PA of university students in Poland, Czech Republic and Slovakia after COVID-19 using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire Short Form (IPAQ-SF).

METHODS

A total of 2635 students completed questionnaires regarding their PA levels using the IPAQ-SF between September and December 2022.

RESULTS

PA measured by metabolic equivalent of task (MET) scores, varied between the three countries: Slovakia median MET-minutes/week score 4459.9; Czech Republic 3838.8 Poland 3567.1. The results of the post hoc analysis revealed there were significant differences in MET-minutes/week values between the Czech Republic and Poland (p < 0.035) as well as between the Czech Republic and Slovakia (p < 0.037). The analysis of energetic expenditure during walking revealed that students from the Czech Republic and Slovakia had higher median MET-min/weeks values (Czech 2284.1; Slovak 2467.1) compared to their Polish (1536.1) peers (p < 0.001). Polish cohort presented with significantly higher body mass index (BMI) (p < 0.001) than Czech and Slovak groups (BMI Czech: 22.3; Slovak 22.8; Polish 23.8).

CONCLUSIONS

Significant differences in PA levels between the Czech Republic, Poland, and Slovakia university students were identified. Slovakia showed the highest median PA measured as a MET score, and Poland showed the lowest. Compared to available pre-COVID studies it seems the total level of PA in the observed cohorts has not returned to the pre-COVID levels and students remain less active.

Low back pain in patients hospitalised with liver cirrhosis- a retrospective study

BACKGROUND

Lower back pain is a common issue, but little is known about the prevalence of pain in patients with liver cirrhosis during hospitalisation. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine lower back pain in patients with liver cirrhosis.

METHODS

The sample consisted of patients with liver cirrhosis (n = 79; men n = 55; women n = 24; mean age = 55.79 ± 12.52 years). The hospitalised patients were mobile. The presence and intensity of pain were assessed in the lumbar spine during hospitalisation. The presence of pain was assessed using the visual analogue pain scale (0-10). The range of motion of the lower spine was assessed using the Schober and Stibor tests. Frailty was measured by Liver Frailty Index (LFI). The condition of liver disease was evaluated using The Model For the End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) and Child-Pugh score (CPS) and ascites classification. Student's t test and Mann-Whitney test were used for analysis of the difference of group. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) with the Tukey post hoc test was used to test differences between categories of liver frailty index. The Kruskal-Wallis test was used to test pain distribution. Statistical significance was determined at the α-0.05 significance level.

RESULT

The prevalence of pain in patients with liver cirrhosis was 13.92% (n = 11), and the mean intensity of pain according to the visual analogue scale was 3.73 (± 1.90). Lower back pain was present in patients with ascites (15.91%; n = 7) and without ascites (11.43%; n = 4). The prevalence of lower back pain was not statistically significant between patients with and without ascites (p = 0,426). The base of Schober's assessment mean score was 3.74 cm (± 1.81), and based on Stibor's assessment mean score was 5.84 cm (± 2.23).

CONCLUSION

Lower back pain in patients with liver cirrhosis is a problem that requires attention. Restricted spinal mobility has been reported in patients with back pain, according to Stibor, compared to patients without pain. There was no difference in the incidence of pain in patients with and without ascites.

Comparison of the quality of life of patients with liver cirrhosis before and during the COVID-19 lockdown in Slovakia

Liver cirrhosis is associated with a poor quality of life (QOL). The COVID-19 pandemic has led to several restriction measures and psychosocial consequences whose impact on QOL has combined with that of cirrhosis in an unknown way. Therefore, we have used our cirrhosis registry to assess the quality of life before the pandemic (on the first admission to the tertiary liver unit) and during the most pronounced phase of the first lockdown. In this cross-sectional study conducted during the first lockdown in Slovakia (from April to May 2020), we have repeated the QOL measurement of QOL in cirrhotic patients previously enrolled in the RH7 registry. Patients who were alive (according to the national registry of deaths) were identified and contacted by phone with a structured and standardized interview led by trained professionals. The tool used for both QOL measurements (at enrolment in RH7 and during lockdown) was a standardized and validated EuroQOL-5D (EQ-5D) questionnaire. The study included 97 patients, of which 37 (38.1%) were women and 60 (61.9%) were men. Responses were achieved from 75 patients (68.18%). In general, patients scored their quality of life significantly higher during the pandemic compared to examination at admission to RH7 (that is, at admission to our tertiary liver unit with cirrhosis) (p = 0.005). In particular, of the domains included in EQ-5D: (1) self-care was better during lockdown compared to the first record on admission to RH7 (p < 0.001). (2) the ability to perform daily activities has also improved during lockdown (p = 0.002). On the other hand, (3) pain and discomfort did not change significantly during the lockdown compared to the previous measurement (p = 0.882). (4) anxiety and depression were lower during lockdown compared to admission to RH7 (p = 0.01). The quality of life in patients with liver cirrhosis was better during the lockdown of SARS-CoV-2 compared to the previous measurement at admission to the tertiary liver unit.

Rehabilitation and physical activity in gynecological oncological diseases

BACKGROUND

The cause of gynecological tumors is multifactorial. Risk factors include higher BMI and lack of physical activity. Gynecological oncological diseases are associated with loss of function due to the pathophysiological effects of the disease, treatment, and also mental stress in patients. These problems lead to greater rehabilitation demand of patients. Rehabilitation aims to help the patient to achieve the best possible level of functional status, to foster independence, to improve acceptance of the disease, to improve patient fatigue and improve the quality of life of the patients It is essential to focus the rehabilitation examination on several factors associated with impaired function, such as impaired cardiovascular and pulmonary function, urinary incontinence or psychological or psychological distress. The pleiotropic effect of rehabilitation can also be used in pain relief, improvement of chemotherapy tolerance, in the treatment of lymphedema and in the improvement of pelvic floor muscle function.

PURPOSE

The main aim of this paper is to summarize available options for rehabilitation after gynecological oncological diseases.

Clinical examination of the sacroiliac joint

Introduction:

Sacroiliac joint (SIJ) can be a nociceptive source of the pain in lower back. Clinical diagnosis of SIJ pain remains yet problematic. The cause of SIJ pain is multifactorial. The pain may be a result of an inflammatory disease, arthrosis, traumatic injury, infectious process or overload. The potential role in SIJ examination have pain provocation tests.

Objective:

To review and further discuss the validity of some of the mostly used clinical provocation tests such as Distraction test, Thigh Thrust test, Compression test, Sacral Thrust test, Patrick’s (FABER), Gaenslen’s test, Standing Flexion Test, Gillet Test and Shimpi Prone test.

Method:

A literature search was conducted using PubMed. Reviewed were studies between 2005 and 2020 in English, Slovak and Czech with keywords: sacroiliac joint, sacroiliac assessment, provocation tests. The methodology of studies was not considered.

Discussion:

It is challenging to determine whether SIJ is the actual source of the pain by using only one of the provocation tests. Therefore, it is beneficial to combine more compression tests, what will also increase the validity of testing. Other widely used SIJ tests are palpation test, however their validity is poor.

Benefits of exercise in the prenatal and postnatal period

AIM

The main aim of the article is find benefits of exercise during and after pregnancy.

STUDY TYPE

Review article.

METHODS

Search for meta-analyzes and system reports in PubMed, JCR, Medline, Scopus databases.

RESULT

Regular exercise is associated with a lower risk of macrosomy and caesarean section during childbirth. Depression is a  common complication in the prenatal and postnatal period due to increased stress and insufficient social support. Exercise is a potential non-pharmacological therapy. Regular exercise is also associated with lowering blood glucose and improving insulin sensitivity. To optimize weight and overweight, exercise is one of the main parts of treatment. Another therapeutic possibility of using the exercise is to influence the pain in the lumbosacral area and also the pain in the pelvic area. Another variant of exercises are exercises to strengthen the pelvic floor. Exercise of the pelvic floor muscles in the perinatal period is an effective method for preventing postpartum urinary incontinence.

CONCLUSION

Exercise is an important part of therapy in the prenatal and postnatal period.

Conservative treatment options for polycystic ovary syndrome: the importance of exercise

AIM

The main aim of the article is inform about benefits of rehabilitation in the treatment of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

STUDY TYPE

Review article.

METHODS

Search for meta-analyzes and systematic review in Pubmed, Medline, Scopus databases.

RESULTS

Insulin resistance plays a potential role in the pathogenesis of PCOS. Lifestyle modification (including physical activity and diet) may help alleviate the symptoms of PCOS, as lifestyle factors may reduce insulin resistance and improve metabolism and reproductive function. The benefit of exercise in women with PCOS is also associated with other significant benefits such as improved anxiety, metabolic syndrome and improved regularity of the menstrual cycle.

CONCLUSION

Rehabilitation is an important part of therapy in patients with PCOS. Aerobic, strength and interval exercises has a significant benefit in the treatment of polycystic ovary syndrome.