The aim of the study was to identify the effect of compensatory mechanisms on the prevalence of sagittal spinal curvature deformity and musculoskeletal pain and to assess the interrelationships between those components in sitting volleyball players. Twenty-one elite Polish sitting volleyball players (age = 34.1 ± 7.5, BM = 77.9 ± 16.0) participated in the study in which direct participatory systematic observation and a non-invasive method were used. Both objective (anthropometric, spinal curvature–Idiag M360) and subjective (musculoskeletal ailments–NMQ = 7) measurements were performed. The Statistica 13.3 software package was used for statistical analyses. The neck, lower back (43%), and upper back (38%) were the most frequently reported painful areas. Of all participants, 76% reported sagittal spinal deformities. In the habitual position, the results indicated moderate correlations (r = 0.5, p < 0.05) between the lumbar concavity of the back and low back pain (LBP) and between thoracic convexity and LBP (r = 0.4, p < 0.05). Internal and external compensation have an effect on the prevalence of spinal curvature deformities in the sagittal plane, with thoracic hyperkyphosis (38%) and lumbar hyperlordosis (33%) being the most common. More severe lower and upper back pain were correlated with greater angles of thoracic kyphosis and lumbar lordosis in the habitual position.

Objectives: Vestibular rehabilitation leads to a gradual diminution of the subjective and objective symptoms that accompany the vestibular disorders. The aim of the study was to compare the impact of 2 different types of vestibular rehabilitation on vestibular compensation in patients with chronic unilateral vestibular dysfunction. Material and Methods: The study was conducted on a group of 58 subjects (43 females and 15 males) aged 40-64 years, who presented with chronic unilateral vestibular dysfunction and were hospitalized. The patients were randomly assigned to either of the 2 groups established. The study was conducted in a 6-week period. Group 1 consisted of patients who underwent customized group vestibular rehabilitation in an outpatient setting. The program was performed once a week for 1 h 30 min, under the supervision of a physiotherapist and a physiatrist. Group 2 was instructed to perform Cawthorne-Cooksey exercises and simple balance exercises twice a day for 15 min. Results: An improvement in the outcomes of the Dynamic Gait Index as well as the Berg Balance Scale was statistically significant for group 1. The time for fulfilling the task in the Timed Up and Go Test improved in both groups (p < 0.05). The subjective estimation of the symptoms evaluated with the use of the Dizziness Handicap Inventory and the Visual Analogue Scale revealed a statistically significant improvement in both groups, yet it was higher in group 1. Conclusions: The compensation achieved after 6 weeks of the customized, supervised outpatient rehabilitation program in group 1 was superior to the results of the home-based unsupervised Cawthorne-Cooksey and balance exercises.

BACKGROUND: One of the complications of obesity is low back pain, frequently associated with postural disorders. Body adiposity index (BAI) can be calculated without weighing, which may be rendered useful in settings where measuring accurate body weight is problematic. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to compare two indices of somatic structure, i.e., BAI and BMI regarding their accuracy (specific and sensitive) in predicting postural aberrations. METHODS: The study group comprised of 1281 participants aged 20–22 years, who were students from universities in southern Poland. Anteroposterior spinal curvatures were measured using the Rippstein plurimeter. All subjects were measured for body height (BH) and mass, waist and hip circumference (WC and HC, respectively). RESULTS: In both male and female groups classified according to BAI cut-off points, a significant linear relationship was noted for the lumbar lordosis angle, i.e., the latter increased along with the BAI increase. The analysis of variance confirmed statistically significant differences in lordosis angles in both groups (women f= 19.6, p< 0.001; men f= 21.18, p< 0.001). These data evidenced a weak relationship between LL and the BAI. Pearson correlation coefficient (r) between LL and BAI was 0.2 and 0.21 for men and women, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that, contrary to BAI, BMI value did not indicate a significant difference in lumbar lordosis angle between normal weight and obese participants (women and men).

Background: BMI is known to have limited accuracy, which is different for males and females with similar body fat content. That is why Bergman et al. (Obesity 2011;19:1083-1089) introduced an alternative variable of obesity, called the body adiposity index (BAI). Their primary research was conducted in samples of Mexican-American and African-American populations. The objective of our research was to investigate the sex-specific relationship between both BMI and BAI and body fat content in a healthy Caucasian population. The accuracy of both indexes was compared. Methods: 684 women and 528 men aged 20-22 years with Caucasian origin only participated in the study. Participants were students of universities in southern Poland. They had no indication of cardiometabolic problems, as evaluated by interview. Results: The study revealed that BAI is a more sensitive method in assessing obesity in Caucasian males rather than BMI. In the population of Caucasian women BAI results indicate a significant underestimation of obesity. Conclusion: The fact that there is a high statistical correlation between BAI and % fat mass among obese and overweight men and women suggests that BAI could be highly specific provided that the BAI cutoffs will be adapted to the European population.

The study group was characterized by excess body mass and insufficient levels of physical activity. Body mass index and waist circumference are sufficient indicators for identifying obesity in adults with intellectual disability.