Background: In the process of modernising and improving physical fitness classes on offer, there is a growing trend to complement them with extra means characterized by different directions of interactions. Training of respiratory muscles (TRM) is one of them used in sports training but also increasingly more often in health training. The aim of the study was to as- sess changes in physical capacity under the influence of 6 weeks' training of a different type of inspiratory muscles incorporated into the programme of fitness classes for women aged 20-25 years. Material/Methods: The study involved 33 not training professionally young women aged 20-25 years. To assess the capacity of the respiratory sytem, dynamic spirometry was performed with a use of the K4b2 Spirometry apparatus by Cosmed company, and inspiratory muscle strength was measured with a use of a respiratory pressure meter by Micro Medical. Aerobic capacity was evaluated based on a direct method, using an incremental load test until exhaustion. Measurements were taken before and after a training session throughout six weeks with a frequency of three sessions per week. Results: As a result of a six-week special training in the POWERbreathe group there was a significant increase in spirometric indices compared to the initial measurement: FVC l (BTPS), FEV1 l (BTPS), PEF (l·secˉ1), MVV (l·minˉ1), MIP (-mH2O). However, apart from the above-mentioned effects in the group of those training with bands also a significant increase in MEP (cmH2O) was noted compared to the control group. Conclusions: The special inspiratory muscles training programme improved the functionality of the respiratory system, which is revealed in the increase in indicators characterizing aerobic capacity (with no significant influence on changing the body composition). The results obtained in our study indicate the possibility of practical application of respiratory training simulators in health and recreational physical activities enabling the growth of aerobic capacity of those exercising.

StreszczenieWprowadzenie: Niezależnie od zamieszkałych przez człowieka części świata, istnieje około 10-15% społeczeń-stwa, które nie posiada pełnej sprawności w zakresie zmysłów, rozwoju fi zycznego czy intelektualnego. Cel pracy: Celem podjętych badań była ocena sprawności fi zycznej osób z niepełnosprawnością intelektualną na przykładzie niepełnosprawnych podopiecznych Domu Pomocy Społecznej (DPS) w Gdańsku oraz zbadanie wpływu autorskiego programu usprawniania "Ja i moja Sprawność" na poprawę ich sprawności fi zycznej. Materiał i metody: Badaniami objęto 23 uczestników, których podzielono według stopnia niepełnosprawności oraz wieku. Dokonano wstępnego pomiaru sprawności fi zycznej wykorzystując test Eurofi t Specjalny. Po dokonaniu diagnozy sprawności fi zycznej wprowadzono do rozkładu dnia autorski program usprawniania. Program realizowano przez sześć miesięcy, po czym dokonano powtórnego pomiaru, posługując się tym samym narzędziem badawczym. Wyniki: Stwierdzono, że realizowany program usprawniania ruchowego korzystnie wpłynął na poprawę wyników wybranych prób sprawności fi zycznej badanych osób w stopniu lekkim. Wyniki badań nie wykazały natomiast istotnych zmian, szczególnie w grupie osób z niepełnosprawnością intelektualną w stopniu umiarkowanym. Wnioski: 1. Autorski program usprawniania "Ja i moja sprawność" wykazuje statystyczne symptomy mające korzystny związek z utrzymaniem sprawności fi zycznej zmierzonej testem Eurofi t Specjalny wśród uczestników z niepełnosprawnością intelektualną w stopniu lekkim w grupie 30-45-latków. 2. Badania wykazały, że są pewne trendy, krzywe obrazujące kierunek zmian, czyli, być może, po dłuższym okresie usprawniania tych osób autorskim programem będą one istotne statystycznie.Słowa kluczowe: sprawność fi zyczna, niepełnosprawność intelektualna, Eurofi t Specjalny, program usprawniania Abstract Introduction: Regardless of which part of the world people live in, approx. 10-15% of society is disabled in terms of senses, physical or intellectual development. Objective: The objective of the undertaken studies was to assess physical fi tness of intellectually disabled people on the example of disabled people under the custody of the Nursing Home (NH) in Gdańsk as well as to examine the impact of the authors' improvement program entitled "Me and my fi tness" on improvement of physical fi tness. Materials and methods: The studies involved 23 participants who were divided according to the degree of disability and age. Initial measurement of physical fi tness was performed using the Eurofi t Special test. After diagnosing physical fi tness, the authors' improvement program was introduced into the patients' daily schedule. The program was implemented for six months, after which another measurement was performed using the same research tool. Results: It was stated that the implemented motor improvement program benefi cially impacted results in selected tests regarding physical fi tness of the participants with mild intellectual disability. The results did not indicate signifi can...

Purpose. The aim of the study was to determine if an 8-week-long endurance fitness training with elastic belts would increase the strength-endurance of the inspiratory muscles and lung function characteristics, and to assess whether these changes were consistent with an increase in aerobic power and exercise capacity in healthy young women. Methods. Twenty-two females aged 20-25 years were randomly allocated into 2 groups. The experimental group preformed 8-week-long exercises on stationary bikes with an elastic belt on the lower part of the chest. The control group underwent the same workout, without elastic belts. Vital capacity, forced vital capacity, maximal voluntary ventilation, maximal inspiratory and expiratory pressure, sustained maximal inspiratory pressure, physical activity status, and perceived exertion scores were measured. In the incremental exercise test, work capacity and maximal oxygen uptake were assessed. Tidal volume, minute ventilation (VE), oxygen uptake (VO 2 ), VE/VO 2 , heart rate (Hr), and VO 2 /Hr were continuously monitored. The cycle performance at the power of the ventilatory threshold was evaluated on the following day. Results. The fitness training with elastic belts significantly improved the strength and strength-endurance of the inspiratory muscles, the functional cardio-respiratory capabilities, and aerobic work output. In the control group, the studied parameters were not significantly increased. Conclusions. Applying elastic belts to fitness endurance exercises improves the strength and strength-endurance of inspiratory muscles, cardio-respiratory capabilities, and aerobic power, which additionally raises aerobic work output in fitness training of young women.

Background: The purpose of the research was to check opinions of students of various stages of education in the Pomeranian province about the attractiveness of Nordic Walking in comparison with other activities.Material/Methods: About 500 intentionally selected students participated in the survey. These were students of 11-18 years of age. Half of them participated in Nordic walking PE lessons. The researched students’ schools were localized in the Pomeranian province in Poland. Methods of a diagnostic survey using two questionnaires were applied. The first one was used to assess the level of students’ physical activity and was also used to research health behaviours of children and adolescents in Europe (HBSC). The second one - our own - was created to asses the attractiveness of Nordic walking. In the first part, the subjects ranked Nordic walking in comparison with other forms of physical activity. In the second part, they declared eagerness to attend such lessons.Results: The collected data imply a vast diversity of students’ opinions about the attractiveness of Nordic walking in comparison with other forms of physical activity and indicate the need to do research in the area of students’ preferences in planning PE lessons at school.Conclusions: It seems that in subsequent years of education, NW will gain followers among this group because it is a natural form of movement, whose health effects are starting to be seen not only by teachers but also by students