Health Promotion & Physical Activity

Physical activity promotion

Khatija Bahdur — 2024-10-17

Purpose: Physical activity (PA) is known to help prevent and minimise the impact of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs). This study aimed to explore the attitudes and practices of general practitioners (GPs) and physiotherapists (PTs) in Luxembourg towards promoting PA and the barriers they face.

Material and methods: A total of 174 healthcare professionals (100 GPs and 74 PTs) completed an anonymous electronic questionnaire, which included questions on demographics, attitudes towards PA prescription, the importance of PA as a preventative and treatment modality for NCDs, barriers to exercise prescription, and interest in expanding their knowledge about PA.

Results: The results revealed that 56% of HCPs recommended PA weekly, with 43.7% providing detailed guidelines. Most HCPs (71.6%) acknowledged the importance of PA for managing and preventing chronic conditions. The main barriers to PA counselling were lack of time (23.6%), lack of knowledge (10.9%), and patients preferring medication over exercise (30.5%).

Conclusions: While the study found that healthcare professionals in Luxembourg have positive attitudes towards PA, there are still limitations in prescribing and recommending PA.

Influence of different directions of the Kinesio tape application on the rectus femoris muscle on the quality of the knee flexion pattern in a prone position

Katarzyna Toboła — 2024-10-08

Introduction: Movement patterns are sequences of movements performed automatically. Due to sedentary lifestyles, lack of physical activity, and poor posture habits, these patterns are often inappropriate. Analysis and re-education of the performance of movement patterns are the methods of preventing pain and musculoskeletal dysfunction. The research aimed to compare the effectiveness of different directions of the Kinesio tape application on knee flexion range of motion in young women.

Material and methods: The study involved 40 women aged 21–25; 10 women with a normal range of active knee flexion measured in the prone position and 30 women with limited active flexion of both knee joints, who were randomly assigned to one of two groups: with the Kinesio tape application from the origin to the insertion of the rectus femoris muscle (14 women) and with the Kinesio tape application from the insertion to the origin of the rectus femoris (16 women). The active and passive knee flexion test was used to evaluate the effectiveness of the Kinesio tape application. The test was performed before applying the tape, immediately after application, three days after wearing the application, and four days after removing the application. Statistical analysis was performed using the Statistica v.13 program and the differences and correlations were considered significant for p < 0.05.

Results: The Kinesio tape application increased the range of controlled active knee flexion The research showed a statistically significant increase in the range of active flexion of the knee joint after using both directions of the tape application however, in the E1 group, a difference in the range of motion was observed immediately after application, while in the E2 group after three days of wearing it. In both groups, the effect was maintained on the fourth day after removing the application.

Conclusions: The Kinesio tape application may be useful in increasing the range of controlled knee flexion however, it does not improve the range of knee flexion to normal values.

Physical fitness as a factor influencing the physical attractiveness of young women

Łukasz Lic — 2024-07-09

Aim of the study: The aim of the study was to identify body build characteristics and components of physical fitness that have the greatest effect on subjective self-assessment and external judgment of the physical attractiveness of young women.

Materials and methods: The participants were 129 female students of tourism and recreation from Kraków aged 19 to 26 years. The level of physical fitness of the participants was evaluated using the European Physical Fitness Test. Physical attractiveness was assessed by the participants themselves and by external judges. The body height, body weight, and waist and hip circumferences of the women were measured. Furthermore, body water and body fat percentages were estimated.

Results: The analysis of the correlation between attractiveness and physical fitness indicates that in all the cases examined, those who performed better in the fitness tests not only feel but are also assessed as more attractive. Not all correlations proved to be statistically significant. However, the results obtained indicate a positive relationship between physical fitness and attractiveness of young women. The results of the research indicate that the parameters related to fat (absolute hip circumference, BMI index, and body fat percentage) have the greatest effect on the physical attractiveness of body build in both subjective and external judgments of young women.

Conclusions: The young women studied with higher physical fitness and lower values of fat-related parameters were assessed and perceived as more physically attractive. Physical fitness had a greater impact on the subjective than external judgment of physical attractiveness. The above finding can be a factor motivating to improve physical fitness and to undertake sporting activities.

A meta-analysis of the efficacy of exercise in reducing symptom of fatigue in patients with multiple sclerosis

Tejas P. Ghuntla — 2024-07-08

Introduction: Multiple sclerosis is chronic disorders of the central nervous system. One of the most common complaints in patients with multiple sclerosis is fatigue. Exercise can improve physical performance. Studies suggests that exercise activity can be beneficial for fatigue in patients with multiple sclerosis.

Objectives: To study influence of exercise activities on fatigue in patients with multiple sclerosis.

Methods: Researchers used the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines for reporting systematic reviews and meta-analysis. Researchers searched articles on PubMed, Google scholar and by manual search. Searched articles were screened for relevancy. By use of inclusion and exclusion criteria potential articles were selected.

Results: Out of 229 articles, finally 5 studies included in current meta-analysis. Exercise activities has effect on fatigue. Modified Fatigue Impact Scale (MFIS) score: SMD = 0.47, 95% CI = 0.06–0.87.

Conclusion: Exercise activities can provide beneficial effect on fatigue in patients with multiple sclerosis. This can help patients with multiple sclerosis in daily life activities There is wide scope for further studies to evaluate beneficial effects of exercise activities.

Man in Health and Disease. Prevention and Management of Civilizational Diseases

Wiesław Chwała — 2024-07-02

Arthur Schopenhauer’s philosophical statement ‘while health is certainly not everything, without health everything is nothing’ prompts us to think deeply about its value. Probably we would all agree with Thomas Fuller that ‘illness is always an unexpected guest.’ That’s why it’s worth taking to heart the words of Pliny the Elder ‘take care of your health today, so that you don’t have to dream about it when you are in impotence.’ We give you another, the seventh study devoted to the dissemination of knowledge in the field of prevention of diseases of civilization, leveling their effects within a comprehensive management program. This time a significant place among the included studies is occupied by: the preventive aspect of pro-health education in civilization diseases, physical activity as an essential element of normal development and health, the risks and benefits to health arising from sports and recreation, a holistic approach in therapy and patient care, or the health of society in the face of threats of the 21st century. As a natural corollary to the experiences of past years, there were also emphases on assessing the impact of pandemics on the physical and mental health of individuals and entire communities, as well as reports on the use of AI in therapy.

We hope that, like the previous conference papers, the present one will also provide an opportunity to learn about current scientific developments in the broad area of knowledge of the Health Sciences discipline and become a platform for the exchange of experiences at a high level of scientific discourse. We trust that the experience of previous years will be of great interest to health professionals, patients and the community.
The knowledge and experience you will gain from reading the conference book of abstracts: Man in Health and Disease. Prevention and Management of Civilization Diseases, may it be a confirmation of the words of American writer Franklin Adams that ‘health is the factor that makes us feel that we are just at the best time of our lives.’ Let us appreciate its value and let this awareness be a strong motivation to strive for our own health, as much in this regard depends on ourselves.

Head of Scientific Committee
Wiesław Chwała

Technology for enhancing clinical skills

Neville Schembri — 2024-07-05

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought about significant challenges in preparing nursing students with specific skills required in clinical settings. Amongst the major challenges faced was ensuring students are well prepared in the technique of donning and doffing to ensure infection control, avoid contamination and reduce unnecessary anxiety. A descriptive qualitative approach was used to study the experience of 14 student nurses who participated in a donning and doffing practical session prior to start of their clinical practice placement, including the use of a prototype application using AI. Purposive sampling was adopted and the data from individual interviews was analysed using thematic analysis. Four themes emerged, namely: an Engaging Tool for Learning; Reducing the Chance of Error; Building Self-Confidence; and Eliminating the 'Buddy System'. The early prototype generated positive themes, and its use in the educational setting to prepare students prior to clinical placement is encouraging and emphasises the importance of integrating technology in training with healthcare students.