SummaryBackgroundThe known bactericidal properties of ozone have not been checked in relation to its action on bacterial biofilms. This is especially true of ozonated fluids. The aim of this study was to investigate the bactericidal activity of ozonated water and that of a mixture of ozone and oxygen against biofilms.Material/MethodsEighteen clinical strains of Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa exhibiting various levels of antibiotic sensitivity were investigated. Bacteria were cultured in biofilm form on polystyrene titration plates for periods of 2 to 72 hours. The biofilms formed in this way were exposed to in statu nascendi ozonated water produced in a prototype device that had been tested in clinical conditions, or to a mixture of oxygen and ozone generated in the same device. Live cells in the biofilm were stained with a 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium (MTT) bromide solution. The degree of reduction of viable bacteria following ozone exposure was determined.ResultsOzonated water was found to be an effective bactericidal agent against biofilms after as little as 30 seconds of exposure, while the bactericidal activity of the ozone-oxygen solution was much lower. Prolongation of the duration of biofilm exposure to the gaseous disinfectant to 40 minutes led to a reduction in the viable cell count, which nevertheless remained high.ConclusionsUnlike the ozone-oxygen mixture, ozonated water effectively destroys bacterial biofilms in vitro.

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BACKGROUND. Kinesiology Taping (KT) is being increasingly more often used in musculoskeletal rehabilitation. The aim of the study was to assess the effect of Kinesiology Taping on rehabilitation outcomes in patients following anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. MATERIALS AND METHODS. The study enrolled 26 patients (16 women and 10 men) aged between 20 and 41 years. The patients were randomly divided into two groups: an experimental group (Group 1), which received Kinesiology Taping, and a control group (Group 2), which followed the same rehabilitation protocol except for KT. Student's t test with a minimum significance level at p<0.05 was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS. All participants demonstrated a significant improvement in the range of knee flexion and extension in the affected limb as soon as the end of the first week of rehabilitation (p˂0.001). This tendency persisted in the following weeks until Day 28. Thigh measurements revealed a faster increase in thigh circumference in Group 1. Significant swelling reduction was found among patients from the experimental group at all consecutive measurements. The greatest difference (p<0.001) was noted at the beginning of the rehabilitation. After 28 days of rehabilitation, pain intensity and pain frequency had significantly decreased in all patients (p<0.001). Patients from the control group used analgesics significantly more often. CONCLUSIONS. 1. The use of KT contributed to a faster improvement of the range of knee motion, reduction of oedema and greater improvement in thigh circumference. 2. A similar reduction in pain intensity was observed in all patients. However, pain significantly less often forced patients from the experimental group to use analgesics or reduced their activity.

STRESZCZENIEWstęp. Ce lem pra cy by ła oce na wpły wu uszko dzeń zwią za nych z za awan so wa ną go nar tro zą oraz za bie gu en dopro te zo pla sty ki na zmia nę czu cia głę bo kie go i kon tro li sen so mo to rycz nej sta wu ko la no we go.Ma te riał i me to dy. Gru pę ba da ną sta no wi ły 62 oso by w śred nim wie ku 68,8 la ta, u któ rych prze pro wa dzo no zabieg en do pro te zo pla sty ki sta wu ko la no we go z po wo du go nar tro zy. Gru pa kon tro l na skła da ła się z 74 osób zdro wych, o śred niej wie ku 67,5 lat. Prze pro wa dzo no test czu cia po zy cji sta wu ko la no we go (JPS) w 45° zgię cia oraz au tor ski Test Kon tro li Sen so mo to rycz nej (TKS, oce nia ją cy spraw ność sen so mo to rycz ną w ska li od 0 do 5). W gru pie ba danej oce ny do ko na no trzy krot nie: przed za bie giem oraz 8 dni i 100 dni po ope ra cji. Ba da nie gru py kon tro l nej przepro wa dzo no jed no krot nie.Wy ni ki. Gru pa kon tro l na uzy ska ła w TKS wy nik śred ni 4,9, a w JPS śred ni wy nik 3,9º. W gru pie ba da nej uzyski wa no w ko lej nych ba da niach TKS wy ni ki śred nie: 3,1; 2,9 i 4,5 pkt. W te ście JPS gru pa ta uzy ska ła wy ni ki śred -nie: 10,5°, 9,5° oraz 3,9°, a w koń czy nie zdro wej 8,1°.Wnio ski. 1. Du że de fi cy ty pro prio cep cji i spraw no ści sen so mo to rycz nej ob ser wo wa ne w gru pie ba da nej mo gą przy czy niać się do szyb sze go roz wo ju zmian zwy rod nie nio wych i zwięk szać ry zy ko upad ku. 2. Wła sny test oce niają cy spraw ność sen so mo to rycz ną sta wu ko la no we go wy da je się być obiek tyw nym i kom plek so wym spo so bem oceny spraw no ści kon tro li sen so mo to rycz nej sta wu ko la no we go w tej gru pie cho rych. 3. Oce na do ko ny wa na za po mocą te stu wła sne go jest oce ną ja ko ścio wą i mo że mieć za sto so wa nie w kli nicz nej pra cy z pa cjen tem.Sło wa klu czo we: pro prio cep cja, en do pro te zo pla sty ka sta wu ko la no we go, cho ro ba zwy rod nie nio wa, sen so mo to ry ka SUMMARY Background. The study aimed to assess the impact of joint degeneration due to advanced gonarthrosis and the effect of arthroplasty on proprioception and sensorimotor system performance of the knee.Material and method. The arthroplasty group comprised 62 persons, aged 68.8 years on average, who underwent knee replacement due to gonarthrosis. The control group consisted of 74 healthy persons, with an average age of 67.5 years. The participants performed a test of Joint Position Sense (JPS) at 45° flexion and a Sensorimotor Control Test (SCT) designed by the authors to evaluate sensorimotor system performance (on a scale of 0-5). The arthroplasty group was assessed three times: before the knee replacement surgery, and then at 8 and 100 days after the surgery. The control group was assessed once.Results. The control group scored a mean of 4.9 in the SCT test and 3.9° in the JPS test. The mean scores upon consecutive measurements in the arthroplasty group were 3.1, 2.9 and 4.5 for the SCT test and 10.5°, 9.5° and 3.9°( compared to 8.1° for the healthy limb) for the JPS test.C...

IntroductionDysmenorrhoea is a common gynaecological problem among teenage and young adult females. The aim of this work was to evaluate the effectiveness of kinesiotaping for treating menstrual pain.MethodsThe subjects were 44 women with complaints of pain during menstruation. The participants were randomly assigned to 3 groups: group 1 (<i>n</i> = 16), in which a kinesio tape was applied to the abdominal area; group 2 (<i>n</i> = 14), in which an identically looking inelastic tape was applied; and group 3 (<i>n</i> = 14), in which no intervention occurred. The degree of menstrual discomfort was assessed by a visual analogue scale, modified Laitinen questionnaire, and Spielberger state-trait anxiety inventory.ResultsIn all groups, within 24 hours after tape application, pain intensity diminished by approximately 50%. In groups 1 and 2, the reduction of pain occurred 2–4 hours after the application of the tapes. In contrast, in group 3, an initial increase of pain intensity was observed, and pain decrease began after 11 hours. However, the differences between the groups did not reach statistical significance. The values obtained with the Laitinen pain questionnaire revealed that kinesiotaping significantly reduced the intensity (<i>p</i> = 0.004) and incidence (<i>p</i> = 0.006) of menstrual pain between the first and fifth day.ConclusionsPainful menstruation severely limits everyday functioning. The application of a kinesio tape to the abdominal area may reduce the severity of pain in women with complaints referring to menstruation.