Background. Idiopathic scoliosis is a disease caused by a deformity of the spine and is frequently found during adolescence. Sports, and so the training of motor skills and proprioception, could have a positive influence on the perception of the body schema and scoliotic deformity. Methods. We designed an observational study in which we recruited young patients with scoliosis. Analysis of the scoliotic radiographic curve was conducted with specific radiograph examination. The giving of the spine silhouette to the patient allowed the patient to quantify his/her perception of the scoliotic curve. Results. We recruited 106 young patients with scoliosis (mean age: 14.1 ± 2.2 years; age range: 8-18 years), with at least one scoliotic curve. 37.7% of the sample performed one or more of the following sporting activities: swimming, dance, gym, football, volleyball, martial arts, tennis and athletics. 34.8% of the sedentary patients reported that they did not sense their existing scoliotic curve compared to 17.5% of those who did sports (p=0.05). Conclusion. There exists a circular relationship between physical activity, physical self-concept and motorial abilities. However, there did not emerge a greater perception of young athletes compared to sedentary adolescent regarding the characteristics of their own column.

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Chronic rhinosinusitis associated with nasal polyposis (RSCwNP) affects 4% of the general population. As chronic condition, it requires chronic pharmacological treatment, whereas the surgical approach becomes necessary in obstructive and/or complicated cases. Intranasal and systemic corticosteroids (CS) represent the ''Gold Standard'' treatment for RSCwNP. The present study aimed to evaluate the side effects of prednisone in a group of patients with RSCwNP treated with long-term CS. In particular, attention was focused on bone disorders (osteopenia and osteoporosis) and prospective fracture risk increase. Forty patients (26 females, mean age 55.70 ± 14.03 years) affected by RSCwNP have been enrolled. Control group included 40 healthy subjects (17 females, mean age 56.37 ± 13.03 years). Nasal endoscopy, skin prick tests, nasal cytology, and bone densitometry were evaluated in all subjects. The likelihood of impaired bone metabolism (osteopenia or osteoporosis) was superimposable in both groups. Within RSCwNP group, no parameter was statistically significant in predicting a metabolism alteration.

Background: The multiple sclerosis is often associated with motor impairment and disorders of gait and balance, which are thought to be the main causes of the worsening of quality of life and functional autonomy. Many people with multiple sclerosis have a higher incidence of falls than healthy people, so that they risk more traumas; the lack of movement related to the motor impairment is therefore enhanced by the fear of falls. Aims: To assess the efficacy of the "Prokin"system, composed of balance board and visual/acoustic feedback, associated with conventional proprioceptive training in increasing static and dynamic balance, proprioception, coordination and functional autonomy in patients with multiple sclerosis and to compare it with conventional physical therapy. Methods: We enrolled 23 patients with defined SM (4 men, 19 women) divided into 2 groups (A and B). Patients of group A (14) underwent 2 series of 10 sessions of 2-a-week proprioceptive training with Prokin system; patients of group B (5) underwent 2 series of 10 sessions of a 3-a-week conventional balance training. Each patient was assessed at t0 (before training), t1 (after 10 sessions) and t2 (after 20 sessions) with clinical scales for balance control (Tinetti, Berg) and autonomy (Barthel), and with instrumental tests (stabilometry, analyzing sway area, length of track and sway speed; and proprioceptive multiaxial assessment, exploring the Average Track Error). Results: In group A we found statistically significant (p<0,05) differences between the mean scores of all the clinical and instrumental assessments at t0 and at t2, in the sense of a better postural stability, cohordination and autonomy. No significant differences were found from t0 to t2 in group B. Conclusions: Our study showed that this new kind of proprioceptive training (Prokin) is more able to ameliorate balance, motor performance and global autonomy in patients with multiple sclerosis than conventional therapy. This allows the patients to move themselves and walk with more safety, preventing falls and traumatic events.