Article 68 of the Constitution establishes a universal right to health care. However, when considering the legal regulation of the profession of a physiotherapist, the security provided by the constitution is not guaranteed. There is no single, strict act, which would regulate the rights and obligations of patients and physiotherapists. What constituted working as a professional physiotherapist raised many doubts. The Physiotherapists Act of September 25th 2015 has long been awaited by physiotherapists. Its entry into force has a lot of positive aspects. Adopted with the consensus of the professional environment, it provides an opportunity to guarantee the patients’ safety better than ever, and also to develop treatment and cooperation with the countries of Western Europe. The previous lack of legal regulations for the profession of a physiotherapist still carries negative consequences for both the patients and physiotherapists, as it creates a gap that can be exploited by non-physiotherapists who offer their services. The aim of the study was to present the current legal status of the physiotherapist’s profession and to compare it after the Physiotherapists Act entered into force.

Background. The British physician, Balfour, at the beginning of the nineteenth century was one of the first to describe thickened nodules and bumps in tissue, which could be painful under pressure. This pressure often also caused pain in other distant parts of the body. The above characteristics perfectly reflected what is now referred to as the trigger point. Objective. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of ischemic compression using clavitherapy on the level of compression pain threshold measured with an algometer on the muscle of the lumbar region spine extender. The following research questions were posed: Materials and methods. The research involved 40 patients with pain in the paraspinal muscles who were attending the Physio-Wysz Rehabilitation Center. In each subject, pain threshold was assessed using an algometer, 5 points before and after therapy. Each subject was then subjected to ischemic compression for each of the 5 points. The obtained results were entered into an Excel™ database and then analyzed using the Statistica program. Results. The mean value of the pain threshold for the L1 point before therapy was 114.4 ±17.22 N/cm2 and for P1 was 113.24±18.85 N/cm2. Immediately after therapy, the compression pain threshold decreased to 84.15±10.79 N/cm2 and 84.89 ±10.11 N/cm2 for the L1 and P1 points, respectively. Conclusions. There was a reduction in the mean compression pain threshold immediately after clavicle therapy. There were no significant differences when measuring the pressure pain threshold after therapy.

Background. The method of proprioceptive neuromuscular paving (PNF) is unique in that it has its own principles of working with the patient. The overriding therapeutic goal during PNF therapy is to work on a lost function that is important for the patient. Objective. The aim of the study was to assess the impact of Hold-Relax and Contract-Relax techniques on the compression pain threshold in patients with lateral humeral epicondylitis. Material and method. The study involved 60 patients aged 47.8 ± 4.3 with inflammation of the lateral humeral epicondyle. There were 35 women and 25 men in the study group. In each examined person it was the first incident of lateral humeral epicondylitis. In each of the probands, subjective and physical physiotherapeutic examination was carried out. 41 left and 19 right limbs were tested. Measurements were made under standard conditions. Among the physiotherapeutic tests performed were: examination of the range of motion, assessment of the compression pain threshold using an algometer, and pain assessment during extension and radial deviation of the wrist with a load. The study of the range of movement was carried out using an electronic goniometer. Then, the subjects were randomly divided into two groups: group "A" in which the Hold-Relax technique was performed on the muscle group that extends and radially deviates the wrist and group "B" in which Contract-Relax was applied to the same muscle group. The therapy lasted 30 minutes and was continued for the next 10 days. In each group, apart from the mentioned techniques, physiotherapy treatments were applied as indicated. After the therapy, the tests that preceded the therapies were repeated. The obtained results were placed in the database and subjected to statistical analysis using the Statistica program. Results. The mean extent of the extension movement in the radiocarpal joint before the therapy in group "A" was 45.7 ± 4.7 while in group "B" it was 40.1 ± 3.79. After treatment, the mean range of motion increased in the "A" group to 67.46 ± 8.69 and in the "B" group to 71.6 ± 8.3. In both groups, changes were observed at the statistically significant level p = 0. Conclusion. 1. The use of both the Hold-Relax and Contract-Relax techniques had an impact on the change of the compression pain threshold.2. The use of Hold Relax and Contract Relax techniques has an impact on increasing the range of motion in patients with lateral epicondylitis.

Introduction: There are five basic types of sensation: vibration, poses, gentle touch, pain and temperature. The literature says that to study gentle sensation can be used cotton ball or finger. It is important that the therapist dosed stimulus was reproducible.Aim of the study: Aim of this study was to measure the gentle touch sensation in healthy subjects for 21 points developed by researchersMaterial and methods: Examined 28 students Silesian Medical University in Katowice 21 women and 7 men. The age of respondents x = 21,1±1,8. On both hands and forearms of respondents indicated 21 points developed by the researchers. The researcher pointed randomly selected point. the purpose of the respondents was to identify the place where they felt the touch. If examined incorrectly described the location of the point, researcher measured a difference with centimeter tape. The results were put in database and statistically analyzed in Statistica 8.Results: Differences in the level of statistical significance was observed when comparing the mean scores of variations point 13 is located in the middle of the forearm to the side of both forearms.Conclusions: Observed changes may indicate a more precise feeling the gentle touch in the middle of the lateral side of the forearm.