IntroductionThe influence of physical exercise on the parameters of the cardiovascular system of elderly persons has not been sufficiently investigated yet. The aim of the study was to assess the influence of regular 6-week physical exercise using the Nordic walking (NW) method in a group of elderly persons on their physical performance and regulation of selected parameters assessing the cardiovascular system.Material and methodsFifty patients over 65 years of age participated in the study. The study encompassed: medical interview, physical examination, resting ECG, spiroergometry examination, 6MWT (6-minute walk test) and 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM). During the exercise programme, the pulse was monitored using pulsometers. After the completion of the training, check-up tests assessing the same parameters were performed. The control group consisted of 18 persons over 65 years of age with similar cardiovascular problems.ResultsIn the test group, duration of the physical effort increased by 1.02 min (p = 0.0001), the maximum load increased by 10.68 W (p = 0.0001), values of VO2max by 2.10 (p = 0.0218), distance improved in 6MWT by 75.04 m (p = 0.00001), systolic blood pressure decreased by 5.50 mm Hg (p = 0.035) and diastolic blood pressure by 3.50 mm Hg (p = 0.054) as compared to the control group.ConclusionsSystematic NW physical exercise limited by the pulse had a beneficial effect on the physical performance of elderly persons as assessed with main parameters. A short 6-week programme of endurance exercises had a hypotensive effect in elderly persons over 65 years of age.

Type 2 diabetes is responsible for approximately 90% of all diabetes worldwide and it is a global public health problem. This is a chronic, progressive, metabolic disease characterised by hyperglycaemia, which leads to microangiopathic and macroangiopathic complications. Subjects with type 2 diabetes have increased mortality and a reduced life expectancy compared with those without diabetes. Strong evidence supports the fact that identification of type 2 diabetes risk factors and early intervention influencing the modifiable ones can reduce incidence rate of diabetes and prevalence of its complications. There are many advantages of such interventions for patients (prolonged life expectancy, improvement of life quality) and for the whole society (reduction of the costs). Therefore the guidelines for the prevention of type 2 diabetes are needed. Experts of the Polish Cardiac Society Working Group on Cardiovascular Pharmacotherapy reviewed recently published clinical studies regarding the prevention of type 2 diabetes and prepared their recommendations. The guidelines are designed to assist clinicians and other healthcare workers to make evidence based management decisions. The strategies are grouped broadly into interventions that aim to change lifestyle through physical activity and diet, interventions based on drug administration (pharmacotherapy) and surgical interventions.

Vegan diets are gaining in popularity with physically active individuals. Many long‐distance runners follow a vegan diet at least periodically. This cross‐sectional study of Polish, male, vegan (VEG) (n = 44) and omnivore (OMN) (n = 54) athletes, aged 20–39 years and matched for body mass index (BMI) and training duration, compared their energy and macronutrient intakes, carbohydrate metabolism and cholesterol concentrations. The participants self‐recorded their diets for 4 days. Serum concentrations of cholesterol, glucose, C‐peptide and insulin were measured. The VEG group consumed less protein (12.0% of daily dietary energy ± 1.9% vs. 18.1% ± 3.3%; p < 0.01), less fat (25.6% ± 9.8% vs. 31.7% ± 6.6%; p < 0.01) and more carbohydrate (61.7% ± 11.1% vs. 49.0% ± 7.9%; p < 0.01) than the OMN group. Protein intakes relative to body mass were also lower in the VEG group than the OMN group (1.11 g/kg ± 0.30 vs. 1.44 g/kg ± 0.41; p < 0.01) and below the range recommended for endurance athletes (1.2–2.0 g/kg). The VEG group consumed more unsaturated fatty acids and less saturated fatty acids and had a higher n‐6/n‐3 fatty acid ratio (6.5% ± 2.3% vs. 5.0% ± 2.1%; p < 0.01). The VEG group consumed 0 mg EPA+DHA versus 156 mg in the OMN group (p < 0.01), the current guideline being 250 mg. The VEG group had significantly better insulin sensitivity (HOMA‐IR) and lower C‐peptide and total blood cholesterol levels. In conclusion, the vegan diet provided a healthy balance of macronutrients, and vegan athletes had better insulin sensitivity and lower cholesterol than omnivore athletes, but protein, EPA and DHA may be inadequate and increased intake or supplementation of these nutrients could be considered by vegan athletes.

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Background. Shoulder pain is among the most common musculoskeletal pain syndromes. This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of the worldwide renowned Kaltenborn and Evjenth manual therapy and the innovative concept of Fascial Distortion Model (FDM) in the treatment of patients suffering from shoulder pain. Material and method. The study group consisted of 100 patients treated for shoulder pain (SP), who were randomly assigned to two groups: Group A, whose therapy involved FDM (51), and Group B, treated with Kaltenborn and Evjenth method (49). Exclusion criteria comprised age < 30 years, low threshold of sensitivity to pain, participation in another rehabilitation programme, uncontrolled arterial hypertension, neurological conditions associated with sensory impairment, connective tissue conditions and presence of ‘red flags’. The tools used in the study included a digital inclinometer to measure the range of joint mobility and a NeuroTrack device to assess neuromuscular conductivity. Statistical analysis used the non-parametric Mann-Whitney U test and non-parametric Wilcoxon signed rank test. The significance threshold was accepted as p ≤ 0.05. Results. Both groups showed significant improvement (p<0.05) in the range of motion in the upper limb in all direc­tions (flexion, abduction and external rotation) and change in the function of the infraspinous muscle. The only significant difference between the groups was found for external rotation (p<0.05), with Group A displaying a superior range of motion. Conclusions. 1. A single session of the Kaltenborn and Evjenth method and FDM in patients suffering from shoulder pain may increase their range of motion in the shoulder as well as improve the function of the infraspinous muscle. 2. Cur­rently there is insufficient evidence to warrant stronger recommendation of one of the study therapies over the other. 3. There is a need for further prospective randomised studies involving larger groups of patients and assessing long-term effec­tiveness of the therapies.