No abstract

A core stabilization exercise program significantly increased multifidus muscle CSAs in both healthy women and women with chronic LBP.

Research background and hypothesis. Our research novelty was the validation of the use of the method of Ultrasound Imaging to measure the changes in the size of the cross-sectional area (CSA) of the multifidus muscle, performing  exercises  for  lumbar  stability.  Stabilization  exercises  have  been  designed  in  order  to  enhance  the neuromuscular control system correct the dysfunction.Research aim. The purpose of this study was to establish the effect of core stability exercise for cross-sectional area of lumbar multifidus muscle and physical capacity for elderly women.Research methods. The elderly women (n = 22) were in occupations involving light or no manual work and did not take part in sports. CSA of the multifidus muscle was measured from L2 to L5 vertebral segments. These measures were taken with ultrasound „TITAN TM ” (SonoSite, USA). For the assessment of physical capacity we estimated the women’s static strength endurance of back muscles and dynamic strength endurance of abdominal muscles. The tests were done three times: the first testing occurred before exercises for training lumbar stability, the second – after four months, and the third – after eight months of applying exercises for training lumbar stability.Research results. The results of study showed that after eight months of stability exercises, the subjects had significantly larger right side multifidus CSA than before practice  – 9.01 ± 1.1, the left side of the lumbar multifidus muscle was 8.23 ± 0.9 (p < 0.05). After the evaluation of physical capacity we revealed that after eight moths it was 97.6 ± 2.8 s (very good), compared to the values before the research (25.4 ± 9.2) (p < 0.05).Discussion  and  conclusions.  After  the  core  stabilization  exercise  program  multifidus  CSA  values  were significantly larger than before practice, multifidus muscle asymmetry  decreased. Physical activity programs adapted to the elderly women increased their physical capacities.

Objective. The aim of the present study was to establish the changes in psychosocial adjustment of adolescent girls in the modified lessons of physical education. Material and Methods. An experimental design was used in the study. The experimental group included 14- to 15-year-old adolescent girls (n=128), and the control group comprised adolescent girls of the same school and the same age (n=137). The girls of the experimental group participated in modified physical education lessons. Once a month, they had a theory class where they received knowledge on communication disorders among adolescents and ways of preventing them by means of physical activities. In practical classes, the girls of the experimental group had sports games (basketball, volleyball, and football), enhancing physical abilities, and Pilates exercises. For the estimation of the level of adolescents’ psychosocial adjustment and its components (self-esteem and domination), an adapted questionnaire developed by Rogers and Dymond was applied. An adapted questionnaire developed by Huebner was administered to measure students’ satisfaction with life. Results. The analysis of the data demonstrated that when comparing the psychosocial adjustment of the adolescent girls in the experimental group before and after the experiment, a significant differences in the score of the psychosocial adjustment scale was established (53.81±8.34 vs. 59.41±7.66, P<0.05). After the experiment, high life satisfaction was reported by 42.19% of the girls (P<0.05). Conclusions. After the educational experiment, the index of the psychosocial adjustment scale in the experimental group improved statistically significantly.