The effectiveness of the muscle strengthening program for patients with low back pain could be improved significantly by means of the elastic lumbar belt as an applicable therapy instrument in the functional rehabilitation of spinal injuries.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of the sports mechanic demands of competitive tennis on the thoracolumbar spinal profile. For that reason the spinal curvature (C7 - S2) of 123 male active gymnasts aged 23,8 +/- 4,5 years with a sporting exposure of 14,4 +/- 3,8 years and of 1347 age and gender matched non- and recreational sportsmen was recorded by means of the non-invasive ultrasonic-controlled contact rod. In the sagittal projection no differences between both groups were found. However, in control and sports group the dominant side of the arms induced statistically significant differences for all parameters describing spinal curvature in the frontal and transversal plane, data evaluated showed a relevant increase in the tennis group. Furthermore, the criterion both-handed hitting technique in fore and backhand caused an additional extension of lateral inclination, pelvic and pelvic-shoulder tilt as well as pelvic-shoulder rotation to the hitting side of the arms. After examining the sports-specific mechanic strain the measuring values are to interpret as a functional adaptation to the tennis-specific demands. But there is only a reduced correlation with the results of epidemiologic studies taking the incidence and prevalence of spinal injuries in competitive tennis into special account. So the tennis-specific modifications of spinal profile are not to characterise a priori as pathogen.

In the frame of a pre-experimental study 104 male patients aged 65,7 ± 5,5 years suffering asbestosis carried out over a period of three weeks 5 times weekly 6 h at a time phase 1 of the OMR consisting of evidence-based contents of the pulmonary rehabilitation. Directly after that further therapeutic applications with the main focus on exercise therapy and sports were applied over a period of 12 weeks one time weekly 3 h at a time (phase 2). After phase 2 the rehabilitation centre led the patients into sports groups near at place of residence (phase 3). The effects of the OMR were evaluated at the beginning (T1), at the end of phase 1 (T2) and phase 2 (T3) as well as 6 (T4) and 18 months (T5) after T3 by means of a suitable assessment.Results: Compared to T1 physical fitness (6-minute Walk Test, Hand-Force Test, PWC Test) as well as health-related quality of life (SF-36) of the patients were significantly improved in T2. Whereas the parameter "vital capacity" and "forced expiratory volume" showed no change over the period of investigation data of "oxygen partial pressure" was significantly increased, too. These positive effects could be confirmed in T3. 82 patients (79 %) were doing sports due to health regularly still 6 and 18 months after T3 and could preserve their health outcome in T4 and T5, while the effects of rehabilitation of the 22 patients breaking off any sporting activities wore off again to and even below starting condition in T1.Conclusions: In spite of a restrictive pulmonary disease specific exercise therapy and sports are able to mobilize physical reserves of performance

In spite of a restrictive pulmonary disease, specific exercise therapy and sports are able to mobilize physical reserves of performance and induce an increasing quality of life as well as a higher resilience in activities of daily living. These positive effects could be stabilized persistently by a regular training once a week. Thus, the results emphasize the necessity to include strategies of aftercare in the concept of rehabilitation.

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