The Polish version of the NDI showed good psychometric properties. It can be used both in clinical and research practice. Implications for Rehabilitation The Polish version of the NDI, developed by MAPI Research Institute, was researched on a sample of 95 patients with neck pain. The psychometric properties of the adapted version of the NDI were satisfactory. The Polish version of the NDI proved to be useful in clinical practice as well as in research.

This cross-sectional clinical study was designed to explore the relationships between family functioning, coping styles, and neck pain and neck disability. It was hypothesized that better family functioning and more effective coping styles would be associated with less pain and pain-related disability. It also was hypothesized that these relationships would be stronger in older people because they have fewer resources, more limited coping styles, and may depend more on their family for support. In this study, 88 women with chronic non-traumatic neck pain completed the Family Assessment Measure (FAM), Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations (CISS), Neck Disability Index (NDI), and a Visual-Analogue Scale (VAS) measuring the subjective intensity of neck pain. Zero-order and partial correlations and hierarchical stepwise regression were performed. CISS was not correlated with the NDI orVAS. Good family functioning was correlated with lower NDI and VAS scores. Age was found to moderate the relationship between the FAM and both NDI and VAS. This relationship was significant and positive in older patients, but non-significant in younger patients. It was concluded that better family functioning is associated with lower neck disability and pain intensity, especially in the case of older women suffering from non-traumatic neck pain.

Introduction: Low back pain syndromes (LBPS) are common. One of the methods of treating LBPS is local cryotherapy, which can be based on various cooling substances. In the available literature, it is suggested that effective cold treatment may depend on the type and temperature of the cooling substance used. Research objective: The aim of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of 2 local cryotherapy (Carbon Dioxide and Liquid Nitrogen) types among patients with low back pain syndrome (LBPS). Materials and methods: The study included 60 patients diagnosed with chronic LBPS of discopathic origin. Patients were randomised into 2 study groups. Local cryotherapy treatment with Carbon Dioxide was used in the 1st group (G1), while in the 2nd (G2), cryotherapy treatment with applied Liquid Nitrogen. Two measurements were taken, before and after 2 weeks treatment. The following were used for assessment: centralisation of symptoms (Pain Drawings), pain intensity (Numeral Rating Scale), duration of the current pain episode (Quebec Task Force Classification), level of disability (Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire), quality and intensity of subjective pain (McGill Pain Questionnaire), patients’ emotional state (Adjectival Scale for Testing Emotions) and self-efficacy related to pain (Pain Self-Efficacy Questionnaire). Statistical analysis was performed via the Student’s t-test for dependent and independent samples. Results: In both study groups, the perceived pain was either completely eliminated or centralised to the spine, hip joint and buttock. The level of pain, disability and pain-related self-efficacy decreased significantly, regardless of the therapy used. In terms of these variables, no greater therapeutic efficacy was demonstrated with either cryostimulation treatment. Qualitative assessment of pain and emotions (especially anxiety and anger) decreased significantly in G1 and G2. However, in the nitrogen-treated group, a significantly greater improvement was noted for WOB:OC, anger and anxiety scores (for these variables, the G2 group started from a higher level prior to therapy). Conclusions: Both analysed treatments are equally effective in terms of variables such as: centralisation of symptoms, level of pain intensity, disability, joy, self-efficacy related to pain, as well as the majority of the analysed MPQ indicators. Cryostimulation with liquid nitrogen may be more effective, but only in improving the WOB: OC index of the MPQ questionnaire and the level of anger and anxiety. Nonetheless, the obtained results do not allow for definitive confirmation of these results. The use of both cryostimulation treatment methods may assist in the treatment process of LBPS.

1. Overall and proximal pain intensity, mobility of the cervical spine, the duration of the current episode and dizziness are useful in diagnosis of cervical derangement syndromes. 2. Intensity of the distal symptoms, the number of previous episodes and nausea should be particularly monitored.