Bone Health and Physical Activity - The Complex Mechanism.

This review summarizes the mechanism and role of physical activity in maintaining the proper functioning of the musculoskeletal system. Bone adaptation to the mechanical environment occurs in skeletal regions subjected to the greatest stresses resulting from the nature of exercise, however, there is a varied response of bone tissue to mechanical loads depending on its material and structural properties (trabecular and cortical). The regulation of bone tissue metabolism during physical exercise is influenced by factors associated with mechanical stress (gravitational forces, impact loading, and muscular contractions) as well as by systemic mechanisms (hormones, myokines, cytokines).

Magnitude of changes in muscle endurance in the Biering-Sorensen test and changes in balance in subjects with LBP treated with muscle energy techniques.

: Manual therapy is used as a conservative treatment for people with low back pain (LBP). The scale of the problem encourages the search for the most effective methods to assess of manual treatment. Therefore, the aim of the study was to investigate magnitude of changes in muscle endurance using the Biering-Sorensen test (BST) and to analyse balance in patients with LBP treated with ERS and FRS muscle energy techniques (MET).

Association of cartilage metabolism biomarkers and 25(OH)D levels with muscle biomechanical functions in professional rowers and canoeists.

The purpose of the study was to assess the association of cartilage metabolism biomarkers and vitamin D metabolite levels with muscle biomechanical functions in professional rowers and canoeists. The serum levels of aggrecan, cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP), and 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) were determined in elite male sweep-oar rowers (n = 24) and canoeists (n = 15). This was followed by a biomechanical study consisting in isometric measurement of peak torque (PT) of muscles involved in the rowing cycle in the athletes.

Nordic walking with an integrated resistance shock absorber affects the femur strength and muscles torques in postmenopausal women.

Deterioration of the structure and function of the musculoskeletal system represents a significant problem during aging and intervention with a suitable load of physical activity may improve the quality of life. Nordic walking (NW) has become a popular and easily accessible form of activity, especially for older adults people around the world. Thus, the purpose of the study was to evaluate the influence of an Nordic walking training program with classic poles (NW) and with integrated resistance shock absorber (RSA) on bone mineral density and the peak torques of upper limb muscles and to compare the effects of both intervention programs.

The use of thermal imaging for monitoring the training progress of professional male sweep rowers.

This study assesses the thermal profile of the skin in highly trained rowers and investigates the relationship between resting skin temperature (Ts) and the muscle peak torque (PT) measured in statics at the beginning (autumn) and the end (spring) of the preparatory period. Ten professional male sweep rowers, members of the Polish national rowing team, were investigated. A thermal imaging camera was used to analyze the Ts.

The use of electromyography and kinematic measurements of the lumbar spine during ergonomic intervention among workers of the production line of a foundry.

Purpose: Workers who perform repetitive movements are exposed to many risk factors leading to the occurrence of lumbar back pain. The aim of the research was to answer the question whether the ergonomic instruction conducted by a physiotherapist would change the tested range of motion of the segments of lumbar spine and the symmetry of the work of the torso and upper limbs muscles during work performed by foundry employees.

Methods: The study included 12 foundry production line workers with musculoskeletal pain.

Electromyographic assessment of muscle fatigue after the Biering-Sorensen test in subjects with low back pain who underwent the McKenzie treatment.

Purpose: Chronic low back pain is a common disorder affecting about 80% of the population, caused by a disorder in the muscular system. The main aim of this study was to assess muscle fatigue during the Biering-Sorensen Test in people with chronic low back pain who underwent the McKenzie treatment.

Methods: Tests were conducted on 19 men (mean age of 41.

The Impulse of Force as an Effective Indicator of Exercise Capacity in Competitive Rowers and Canoeists.

The aim of the research was to present the importance of measuring the impulse of force in assessing exercise capacity in professional rowers and canoeists rather than conducting traditional physiological and biochemical analyses. A group of 20 athletes (12 rowers and 8 canoeists) underwent progressive intensity exercise tests in two testing sessions (before and after a training period). During the tests, maximal aerobic capacity, impulse of strength, metabolic indices, and markers of skeletal muscle damage were assessed.

Sexual dimorphism of lumbar lordosis and lumbar spine mobility during the period of progressive development.

: The objective of this paper is to present possible differences in spondylometric dimorphic characteristics of lumbar spine in the period of progressive development. : The research material included 24,517 individuals of both sexes aged from 3 to 25. Individuals that showed abnormal structure of the motor system and individuals reporting pain in the joints of the spine were excluded.

Electromyographic evaluation of selected muscles during active hip extension in men treated McKenzie method.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate objective results of short-term treatment with the use of electromyography and to determine changes in muscle recruitment during the prone hip extension test in individuals with chronic low back pain who underwent the McKenzie treatment.

Methods: The studied group consisted of 17 male office workers aged 33-55 who underwent two experimental sessions comprising of 3 measurements and the McKenzie method of mechanical diagnosis and therapy. Electromyographic examination of selected muscles was performed during the test in order to assess changes in their activity before and after the McKenzie method and the Visual Analogue Scale was used to assess the level of pain.

Muscle strength and inflammatory response to the training load in rowers.

Background: Regular exercise leads to changes in muscle metabolism. The consequence of this is the adaptation to higher training loads.The aim of this study was to evaluate biomechanical and biochemical parameters describing the functions of skeletal muscles in periods when changes in training forms were introduced.

Distribution of Young's modulus at various sampling points in a human lumbar spine vertebral body.

Background Context: Mathematical modeling for creating computer spine models is one of the basic methods underlying many scientific publications. The accuracy of strength parameters of tissues introduced into such models translates directly into the reliability of obtained results. Experimental determination of Young's modulus (E) in various areas of spongy bone tissue seems to be crucial for creating a reliable spine model without excessive simplifications in the form of a single E value for the whole vertebral body.

Comparison of isokinetic knee torque and bioelectrical activity for hamstrings, quadriceps and erector spinae muscles in elite rowers.

In sweep rowers, the lower extremities muscle strength translates into the driving force of the boat. Therefore, isokinetic assessment of muscle torque is used by coaches as an indicator of the level of athletes' preparation for competitions. A total of 22 elite sweep rowers performed an isokinetic test of knee joint flexors and extensors, and a test on an asymmetric ergometer with the electromyography measures.

Evaluation of functional and structural changes affecting the lumbar spine in professional field hockey players.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate functional and structural changes in the lumbar spine which occurred as a consequence of playing field hockey.

Methods: The research group consisted of 20 male professional field hockey players. Computed tomography scans were collected to define the radiological density of the vertebral bodies and to calculate Young's modulus.

Pathological changes in the lumbar intervertebral discs among professional field hockey players.

Background: Acute injuries or chronic overloading can be the cause of lower back pain. Long-term, highly-specialized training can cause the musculoskeletal system to become overloaded. Field hockey is an example of a sport which, due to the players' non-ergonomic positions, can lead to degenerative changes in the lumbar spine.

Role of computer simulation in spinal diagnostics.

Background. The complex calculational task undertaken in this study was to analyze the vertebral bodies in the human spine in terms of their material features and degenerative characteristics. Material and methods.