The aim of the study was to evaluate the dynamics of isometric changes in strength and muscular lumbar-pelvic imbalances in the treatment of women with low back pain. Forty-one women, nineteen in the study group (A) and twenty-two in the control group (B), participated in the study. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed to assess the degree of degenerative changes in the lumbar spine. The diagnosis of isometric muscle strength and their imbalances was performed with the Tergumed 700 device. After six weeks of therapy in the study group (A), there was a significant improvement in the strength of all the examined muscle groups. However, in the control group (B), significant improvement occurred only in the strength of the lumbar flexor muscles and the flexor muscles on the left side. Furthermore, there was a significant intensification of the imbalance of left flexor muscle strength compared to right flexor strength in group B. Significant differences in favour of the study group (A) concerned the strength of the rotator muscles to the left, the strength of the extensor muscles of the lumbar spine, the strength of the flexors of the lumbar spine to the right, and the balance of the strength of the lumbar spine flexors to the left compared to the strength of the flexor muscles to the right. Therapy with the Tergumed 700 system leads to an increase in the muscle strength of the lumbar and pelvic complex, compensating for its imbalance, bringing beneficial effects in the treatment of low back pain.

Mechanical traction of the lumbar spine remains a procedure very willingly used by therapists in many countries of the world, despite at least equivocal scientific evidence. One of the problems reducing its effectiveness is the problem with the selection of patients for therapy as well as selecting the therapeutic goals and treatment parameters for the patient in an individualized and, at the same time, repeatable manner. In this work, the authors presented such a model developed as part of Research and Development works carried out at the Leśny Dom Seniora in Piastów. Streszczenie: Trakcja mechaniczna kręgosłupa lędźwiowego pozostaje zabiegiem bardzo chętnie stosowanym przez terapeutów w wielu krajach świata, pomimo co najmniej niejednoznacznych dowodów naukowych. Jednym z problemów zmniejszających jej skuteczność jest problem zarówno z doborem pacjentów do terapii, jak i celu terapeutycznego i parametrów zabiegowych do pacjenta w sposób zindywidualizowany, a jednocześnie powtarzalny. W niniejszej pracy autorzy przedstawili taki model wypracowany w ramach prac Badawczo-Rozwojowych prowadzonych w Leśnym Domu Seniora w Piastowie.

Incroduction: Falls are a very serious problem for people over 65 years of age. The frequency of falls increases with age. Studies show that 18% of people under the age of 45 fall down every year, 25% of those aged 45-65 and 35% of those over 65. Material and Methods: 18 people from the participants of the project “Comprehensive diagnosis and rehabilitation of patients with back pain syndromes and those at risk of falling using innovative therapy” were qualified for the analysis. Patients, before and after therapy, were tested using a stabilometric platform. The test was conducted in a free standing position with eyes open (30 seconds) and then with eyes closed (30 seconds). Results: Comparison of patient results before and after therapy showed a statistically significant (p <0.05) improvement in posture stability expressed in the mean X-axis displacement rate (movement to the sides) and Y (antero-posterior movement) both in the study with eyes open and closed. A shortening of the mean length of the center of gravity projection path was also observed. Conclusions: The proposed therapeutic program had a positive effect on improving stability in the studied patients. This improvement was mainly expressed by reducing the speed of center of gravity displacement and shortening the path that the center of gravity travels in both the open and closed eyes test.

Considering the negative consequences of stroke disease that dramatically reduce the quality of life of post-stroke patients and their families, it is urgent to offer more effective methods and tools for recovering the survivors in a possible short time. They must be accomplished in a way that preserves dignity and motivates the patient to relearn basic skills that the stroke disease may have impaired like bathing, eating, dressing and walking, shopping, speaking, reading and eventually return to working life. Taking this as a background for consideration, the aim of this paper is to present the research outcomes on the usefulness of the new and innovative rehabilitation pathways basing on Virtual Reality (VR) technologies. Basically, the case studies performed in the rehabilitation centre Technomex from Poland, encompassing the whole stroke patients' rehabilitation procedures with the use of VR were described. Simultaneously, these examples were the base for creating a comprehensive and professional training tool intended mostly for rehabilitators and physiotherapists about using VR technologies in supporting stroke survivors' recovery that is the main objective of the international project titled "Development of Innovative Training Contents Based on the Applicability of Virtual Reality in the Field of Stroke Rehabilitation", Brain4Train (contract number 2017-1-PL01-KA202-038370).