Physical Rehabilitation and Recreational Health Technologies

The influence of adaptive games on the psycho-emotional state of military personnel during rehabilitation

2024-09-11T14:22:07+03:00

Purpose: to evaluate the impact of classes using adaptive games on the psychological rehabilitation of military personnel in a health care facility.

Material and methods. The study involved 34 male military personnel who were undergoing rehabilitation in a health care facility after being wounded. The study involved determining the psychological state (using the standard TRANS test) and the speed of sensorimotor reactions (using the Visuomotor Choice Reaction and Reaction RMO Pro computer programs) of the military personnel undergoing rehabilitation at the beginning and end of the study. The study lasted three weeks, during which classes were held using adaptive games (Cornhole, Jacollo, Elastik, Kulbutto, Boccia, Paka laka). Classes were held three times a week, lasting 90 minutes each.

Results. It has been established that classes using adaptive games have a positive effect on the level of psychological state and the manifestation of a simple sensorimotor reaction of military personnel undergoing rehabilitation in a health care facility. According to the results of the study, it has been established that anxiety indicators have decreased, and indicators of performance, activity, mood and health have increased. In the course of determining the manifestation of a simple reaction of military personnel undergoing rehabilitation, it has been established that the use of adaptive games has a positive effect on the speed and accuracy of the sensorimotor reaction.

Conclusions. The obtained results prove the effectiveness of the implementation of the project "Ukrainian Center for Occupational Therapy with Adaptive Games" under the program "RITA - Region in Transition" of the Foundation "Education for Democracy". Thanks to the activities carried out using adaptive games aimed at motor activity, fine motor skills and attention, the psycho-emotional state and sensorimotor reaction of military personnel undergoing rehabilitation have changed positively. The presented results indicate the positive impact of adaptive games on the psycho-emotional state and the general process of rehabilitation of military personnel. Therefore, it can be argued that adaptive games are a powerful means of psychological rehabilitation, as well as psycho-emotional and social adaptation.

Distinctive features of somatometric indicators of women of the first period of mature age with different types of posture

2024-09-11T14:38:45+03:00

Purpose. The purpose of the study was to determine the distinctive features of somatometric indicators of women 25-34 years old with different types of posture.

Material & Methods. The scientific study involved 36 women aged 25-34 years (25-29 years (n=18), 30-34 years (n=18)). The tasks defined in the course of the study were solved using generally accepted methods: theoretical analysis of scientific literature on the selected research topic, the Torso program was used to determine the types of posture, anthropometry. All data obtained in the empirical study were processed using mathematical statistics methods.

Results. It has been established that women aged 25-29 years have more pronounced anthropometric differences, which may be associated with structural features. The fact that women with scoliotic posture have a greater body length and lower Quetelet and Rohrer indices may indicate a tendency towards a taller and slimmer physique, which is typical for scoliotic posture, where vertical "stretching" of the spine may occur. These characteristics of younger women may be important for developing exercises aimed at correcting posture and strengthening the muscular corset, which will help prevent further development of scoliosis or other disorders. As for women aged 30-34, less pronounced or absent statistical differences may be due to the fact that with age, anthropometric parameters become less sensitive to the influence of posture type due to general changes in the body, such as decreased muscle mass and changes in metabolism. There is also a version that the influence of the type of posture on physical characteristics may decrease with age due to the body's adaptation to long-term postural loads or habituation to a certain lifestyle and physical activity. Such data are important for understanding how age and structural features affect physical development and health, as well as for planning appropriate health measures for mature women with different types of posture.

Conclusions. The practical aspects of the scientific work presented above will be the basis for the theoretical justification and implementation of corrective and preventive measures in the process of health fitness classes for women in the first period of mature age.

Goniometric body profile of men 26–31 years old engaged in health-improving fitness

2024-09-11T15:02:42+03:00

Purpose. The purpose of the study was to determine the distinctive features of the goniometric body profile of men aged 26-31 years old engaged in health-improving fitness.

Material & Methods. The study involved men aged 26–28 (n=16) and 29–31 (n=17). The studies were conducted in compliance with the requirements of the Helsinki Declaration of the World Medical Association "Ethical Principles for Medical Research Involving Human Subjects". Research methods: analysis of literary sources, ascertaining pedagogical experiment. The Torso program was used to determine the distinctive features of the goniometric profile of the male body. All data obtained in the empirical study were processed using mathematical statistics methods.

Results. It has been established that there are no statistically significant differences in the measured goniometric indices between men of the 26-28 and 29-31 age groups. The values of these angles for these two groups are similar, and the age factor does not affect their values. That is, the position of the head, frontal bone and spine in men in the period from 26 to 31 years remains stable. This conclusion is quite understandable, since in the first period of mature age, the main physiological changes in the body are completed and the body is in a state of stability. And given the fact that the age difference between group members is small, this is not enough to show significant changes associated with age-related changes.

Conclusions. It was found that all the studied goniometric characteristics of men aged 26-31 years have significant differences from the norm, indicating an incorrect head tilt (angle α1 is less than the norm), excessive flexion of the spine (angle α3 is greater than the norm), which indicates a systemic violation of the biogeometric state of posture, requiring correction. It was also found that there are no significant differences in the body goniometry of men aged 26-28 and 29-31 years. Therefore, the development and implementation of special programs for the correction of posture disorders aimed at correcting the tilt of the head and reducing excessive flexion of the spine, maintaining normal body weight, taking into account the individual characteristics of anthropometric indicators for the development of personalized training programs and the correction of violations of the biogeometric parameters of posture are quite capable of improving the physical development indicators of men in the first period of mature age.

Methodology of "artificial control environment" in the process of physical exercise for children with disabilities: theoretical justification and practical application

2024-09-11T19:51:26+03:00

Purpose. The purpose of the study is to systematize and substantiate theoretical knowledge and the results of practical experience in the use of technical means and methodological techniques of the “artificial control environment” in the process of physical exercise for children with disabilities.

Material & Methods. The study involved 8 boys and 11 girls with hearing impairments aged 8 years. Research methods: analysis of scientific literature, pedagogical experiment. During the study of the ability to maintain static-dynamic balance of the body of the examined children with hearing impairments, we used the stabilography method..

Results. The data accumulated in the course of the experiment laid the basis for the technology of design and implementation of methodical techniques proposed in the study, means of "artificial control environment" in the process of adaptive physical education of children of primary school age with hearing deprivation, aimed at the development of static and dynamic balance of the body, orientation. The data accumulated in the course of the experiment laid the basis for the technology of design and implementation of methodical techniques proposed in the study, means of "artificial control environment" in the process of adaptive physical education of children of primary school age with hearing deprivation, aimed at the development of static and dynamic balance of the body, orientation in space. The components of the author's technology are the goal, objectives, methodological principles of physical education, special pedagogical principles of adaptive physical education, and the tasks set in the study serve as a projection of three periods and stages of its implementation with the use of appropriate fitness equipment within the framework of preventive health measures.

Conclusions. The breadth of the transformation processes and tangible shifts observed today in the paradigm and systematics of adaptive physical education are determined by the significant influence of the latest theoretical and methodological problems and “preemptive innovations”, the planes of implementation of which are not only software products, but also technologies and management systems. The proposed study substantiates the content and basic provisions of the technology for designing and implementing methodological techniques and means of an “artificial control environment” in the process of adaptive physical education of primary school children with hearing loss.

Integrative approach of plyometrics and nutritional strategies on vertical jump performance in elite targetball players

2024-09-11T20:31:42+03:00

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the impact of combining plyometric training with a structured nutritional plan on the vertical jump height of elite Targetball players. It also examined the correlation between improvements in jump height and various factors, including the provided nutritional support, to determine whether this combined approach leads to superior outcomes compared to plyometric training alone.

Material and Methods: Thirty-six elite male Targetball players from Tamil Nadu, India, aged 20 to 25 years, were randomly assigned into three groups: Plyometric Training Only (PTO), Plyometric Training with Nutritional Support (PTNS), and a control group (CG). Over a 12-week period, the PTO group engaged solely in plyometric exercises, while the PTNS group received the same plyometric regimen plus a structured nutritional plan focusing on protein intake and hydration. The control group received no specific training or nutritional intervention. Vertical jump height was assessed using the countermovement jump (CMJ) test. Data were analyzed using ANOVA to compare jump heights across groups before and after the intervention and Pearson correlation analysis to examine relationships between jump height improvements and nutritional support, with significance set at p < 0.05.

Results: The ANOVA revealed no significant differences in pre-test vertical jump heights among the groups (F = 0.56, p > 0.05). However, significant differences were observed post-test (F = 54.79, p < 0.05), with the PTNS group showing the greatest improvement in jump height compared to the PTO and CG groups. Correlation analysis indicated that height was strongly associated with jump height (r = 0.859, p < 0.05), while protein intake and water consumption had weaker correlations.

Conclusions: Combining plyometric training with a structured nutritional plan significantly enhances vertical jump height compared to plyometric training alone or no intervention. The results underscore the benefits of integrating nutritional strategies, especially focusing on adequate protein intake and hydration, to optimize the effectiveness of plyometric training. The findings highlight the importance of a holistic approach to athletic training that includes both physical and nutritional elements to maximize performance and reduce injury risks.

Restoration of the functional state of military personnel after gunshot wounds to the upper limb using physical therapy measures based on the principles of neuroplasticity

2024-09-12T11:41:47+03:00

Purpose. To evaluate the impact of physical therapy (PT) measures on the fastest possible recovery of military personnel after gunshot wounds to the upper limb (GWUL), taking into account the principles of neuroplasticity.

Material & Methods: The study involved 72 patients aged 28 to 52 years diagnosed with gunshot wound of the upper limb (GWUL), who were divided into two groups - the main group (MG, n=36) and the control group (CG, n=36). Patients in the MG underwent rehabilitation according to the developed PT program, which included: motor activity of targeted actions to simulate situations significant for each patient and his professional activity, bimanual therapy, therapeutic massage, therapeutic exercises, special training devices of the Thera-Band progressive exercise system, Artromot training devices. And the CG - according to the standard program carried out in a medical institution: therapeutic exercises, physiotherapy, kinesiotherapy, Artromot training devices, therapeutic massage. For a comprehensive examination of patients in both groups, medical, biological and sociological methods were used: the DASH scale (Disability of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand Outcome Measure), questionnaires (military questionnaire), goniometry, dynamometry and methods of mathematical statistics.

Results: After PT, the DASH severity scores (p<0.05), goniometry scores in the elbow joint of the upper limb (p<0.05), and dynamometry scores (p<0.05) were significantly better in MG patients than in CG. MG patients experienced significantly fewer limitations associated with upper limb dysfunctions compared to CG, which had a positive effect on the ability to perform exercises related to professional activity according to the results of the military questionnaire.

Conclusions: The application of neuroplasticity principles in the PT program in the MG contributed to the improvement of the functional state of military personnel, as well as their professional and social capabilities, and can be applied to wider practical implementation in specialized medical and rehabilitation institutions.

Efficiency of technology for restoring the quality of life of young people with metabolic syndrome and chronic pain using physical therapy

2024-09-12T12:03:23+03:00

Purpose: substantiation of criteria for the effectiveness of technology for restoring the quality of life of young people with metabolic syndrome and chronic pain by means of physical therapy.

Material and methods: The study involved 97 young women with metabolic syndrome and chronic pain in the musculoskeletal system. The study used general scientific methods - the method of a systemic approach and systemic analysis, bibliosemantic, content analysis, the method of conceptual modeling and empirical methods - anthropometric, physiological, clinical, sociological, the method of expert assessments, mathematical and statistical research methods. The information base of the study was sources of professional scientific, reference, directive information and the results of our own research, the representativeness and reliability of which are proven by medical and statistical calculations.

Results: Based on the results of factor analysis and taking into account the results of correlation analysis, the criteria for the effectiveness of the proposed technology were developed. In the process of developing the criteria, the machine learning method was used - modeling with multidimensional adaptive regression splines MARSplines. This method made it possible to find mutually agreed indicators and, according to the criterion, select those of them that are more convenient to diagnose.

Conclusions: based on determining the ratio of body length and weight and waist to hip circumference, the dynamics of the BMI index and static back strength, as well as the results of the dynamics of quality of life indicators, it is possible to determine the degree of influence of the means and methods of the author's technology on the quality of life and pain syndrome of women with MS, and also to establish the degree of effect.

The potential of adventure tourism as a means of preventing stress-related states in students during wartime

2024-09-12T12:13:57+03:00

Purpose. To assess the effectiveness of using adventure tourism for the prevention of stress-related states in students during wartime.

Materials and methods. The study involved 30 students who took part in short-term adventure programs organized during wartime (October 10-26, 2023 and May 22-28, 2024) in Ukraine. The age of the participants was 22.0 (20.0; 31.0) years. Of these, 73.3% were male and the rest were females. 73.3% lived in Kyiv and Kyiv region, the rest were from Lviv, Dnipro, and Khmelnytskyi. 66.7 % indicated that they had no negative experience of being directly in the area of active hostilities. A sample of 194 students from the main group of 1901 students who took part in the study during the same period as the participants of the adventure program was used as a comparison group. Inclusion criteria: studying in a higher education institution in Ukraine; motivation to participate in a short-term adventure program; voluntary consent to participate in the study; and medical clearance. The study used a short version of the questionnaire ‘Reaction of Ukrainian students to hostilities in the country’ that was developed using Google Forms at the National University of Physical Education and Sports of Ukraine supplemented by the question “How did participation in the adventure program affect your condition? In addition to a block of demographic information questions, the questionnaire included blocks of questions aimed at determining psychophysiological indicators (activity, mood, sleep, appetite, performance, and well-being; measured with the 5-point Likert scale from 1 (very poor) to 5 (very good); Cronbach’s alpha – 0.837); factors that can enhance or mitigate the impact of military stress (gender: male – 1 and female – 0; participation in the adventure program – Yes, comparison group – No; measured with a categorical scale); stress assessment by V. Y. Shcherbatykh (measured with a ratio scale); anxiety scores were assessed using the Spielberg-Hanin Inventory and the risk of PTSD was assessed using the Mississippi Scale (measured with an ordinal scale).

Results. The study analyzed the impact of short-term adventure programs on reducing stress, anxiety, and the risk of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in students during wartime. Using GLM modeling, it was found that participation in the program is a statistically significant predictor of an increase in all three indicators (p<0.05). At first glance, this seems to contradict the intuitive expectation of effects from such a program. However, when gender was taken into account, the opposite trend was observed: unlike female students, in male students, participation in the program was associated with a significant reduction in stress, anxiety, and the risk of PTSD. The program had a particularly significant impact on reducing the risk of post-traumatic stress disorder: the reduction was 1.35 standard deviations.

Conclusions. This study is one of the first to examine the impact of adventure tourism on students’ mental health during wartime and makes a new contribution to understanding the mechanisms of influence of extreme physical activities on stress-related states in higher education students. Significant gender differences in the impact of short-term adventure programs were found: while male students showed a significant reduction in stress, anxiety, and risk of PTSD, female students, on the contrary, had higher scores of stress-related states. The results of the study demonstrate that participation in the program had the greatest impact on reducing the risk of developing PTSD in male students, which emphasizes its potential as an effective preventive intervention. The data obtained can act as a starting point for further research on gender differences in reactions to military stress and extreme types of PA, as well as their impact on stress-related states in higher education students

The effect of altitude training on physiological variables of endurance athletes in Ethiopia

2024-09-12T12:24:52+03:00

Purpose. Moderate-altitude training is widely accepted to enhance sports performance, particularly for endurance athletes, more than low-altitude training despite the lack of rigorous scientific studies at a project level in Ethiopia. This study aims to identify the effect of varied altitude training on physiological variables at varied altitudes in young project trainees in Ethiopia.

Material and methods: A quasi-experimental, particularly counterbalanced study design was employed using 15 male endurance project trainees, 5 individuals from each training center whose ages ranged from 16 to 20 years. Pre and posttests on Vo_2max, heart rate at rest, breath holding time, systolic blood pressure, and mean arterial pressure were made in early morning sessions in their training centers using standardized instruments from 6:00 -8:00 AM.

Results: The moderate-altitude trainees had better mean scores in Vo_2max, systolic blood pressure, and breath-holding capacity, but in resting heart rate and mean arterial pressure, the low-altitude trainees were better than the moderate-altitude trainees. However, all training centers showed an improvement in mean score difference, but the result indicates no significant difference (P>0.05) between the moderate and low-altitude project training trainees.

Conclusion: The results show that training at various altitudes has distinct effects on endurance athletes' Vo_2max, systolic blood pressure, breath-holding capacity, resting heart rate, and mean arterial pressure. This emphasizes how crucial it is to create customized training plans to maximize output and recuperation. These findings are significant for athletes and coaches who want to use altitude training techniques to improve endurance training results.

The individualization of estimation of changes in the reaction of the cardiovascular system to the procedure of manual therapy of the thoracic spine in men with a vertebral thoracalgia in the sanatorium-resort treatment’ course

2024-09-13T20:59:37+03:00

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the reaction of the cardiovascular system of men with vertebral thoracalgia to manual therapy procedures on the chest during the course of sanatorium-resort treatment of spinal osteochondrosis.

Material and methods

Under supervision were 26 men aged 32.3 (27.9; 42.9) years who underwent a course of sanatorium-resort treatment for vertebral thoracalgia in the clinical sanatorium named after V.P. Chkalov (Odesa, Ukraine) in 2010-2011. The treatment complex included of 4 thoracic spine manual therapy (TSMT) procedures, which were performed every 5-7 days of sanatorium-resort treatment. The indicators of the cardiovascular system were recorded using the Omron M1 Classic device (Japan) in a supine position before and after every procedure TSMT.

Results

The results obtained in this study indicated sufficiently characteristic significant changes in heart rate (min^-1), which mainly decreases, DBP (mm Hg), which mainly increases, PBP (mm Hg), which mainly decreases in each of the procedures TSMT in men with vertebral thoracalgia.

Separately, according to the data of the rank evaluation of changes in indicators, the types of response of the contractile function of the heart (Δ Double product) and autonomic support of hemodynamics (Δ Index Kerdo) in men were characterized. They showed that there are individual differences in response to the TSMT procedure in the course of sanatorium-resort treatment.

Conclusion.

Determining the changes in Δ Double product and Δ Index Kerdo for the procedure of manual therapy of the thoracic spine made it possible to develop criteria for evaluating the types of response of the contractile function of the heart and autonomic support of hemodynamics. Their analysis in the course of sanatorium treatment of patients with thoracalgia showed that there are individual characteristics of reactions that should be taken into account in order to prevent the occurrence of negative effects of the TSMT procedure.