Background: Professional burnout results from prolonged exposure to chronic, job-related stressors. According to Christina Maslach, professional burnout is a syndrome of emotional exhaustion, depersonalization and reduced personal accomplishment. Literature includes a number of reports on burnout syndrome within health service, but hardly ever do they make any references to physiotherapists. The purpose of this study is assessment of the level of professional burnout in a group of physiotherapists and investigating relationships between the indices of burnout syndrome and selected demographic as well as organizational variables. Material and Methods: The study group consisted of 151 physiotherapists with at least 3 years of experience, employed in various health service outposts in Krakow, Poland. The Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) was used to measure emotional exhaustion, depersonalization and personal accomplishment. A questionnaire for the description of socio-demographic and work characteristics was used as well. Results: Job burnout among the physiotherapists was manifested by an increased emotional exhaustion and decreased sense of personal achievement. Emotional exhaustion was significantly higher among physical therapists working with adults and employed in hospitals, depersonalization was higher among men, hospital workers and employees with seniority from 15 to 19 years, personal accomplishment was decreased among men and less-educated therapists. Conclusions:The study confirmed that indicators of burnout in physiotherapists are significantly associated with selected demographic and organizational variables. It is necessary to undertake a more exhaustive study of burnout in this group of employees, and implement elements of prevention. Med Pr 2014;65(4): [453][454][455][456][457][458][459][460][461][462]

BackgroundParkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive, neurodegenerative disease which leads to postural and gait disorders, limitation in mobility, activities of daily living and disability.AimsThe aim of the study is to assess the effects of the rehabilitation program on balance, gait, motor performance and trunk rotations in PD patients.MethodsSixty-four patients with 1.5–3.0 stage PD in the Hoehn and Yahr scale were randomly allocated to rehabilitation and control groups. Sixty-one patients completed the study. Patients were assessed three times, at month intervals. Between the first and second assessments, the rehabilitation group participated in a rehabilitation training program focused on mobility, balance and gait exercises, consisting of 28 sessions. Balance was assessed with tandem stance and the Pastor test (shoulder tug). Gait was assessed with a 10 m walk at preferred speed and 360° turn. Motor performance was evaluated by means of the Physical Performance Test (PPT) and timed motor activities. The trunk rotations were measured in the lumbar and thoraco-lumbar spine with a tape measure.ResultsThe rehabilitation group significantly improved (p < 0.05) in balance and gait outcomes, PPT score, timed activities and trunk rotations both in comparison to the control group and baseline results. The positive effects of the exercise program maintained for at least 1 month.ConclusionThe 4-week rehabilitation training program focused on mobility, balance and gait exercises improved balance, gait, physical performance and trunk rotations in patients with PD.

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive, neurodegenerative disease leading to disability. Parkinson’s disease causes the occurrence of movement disorders, such as bradykinesia, hipokinesia, rigidity, tremor, postural instability, gait disorders and falls as well as non-motor symptoms. Rehabilitation is an important part of treatment in Parkinson’s disease and the Argentine tango is one of the suggested, more attractive forms of physical activity. The aim of the study is to present the effects and possibilities of using the Argentine tango in the rehabilitation of patients with Parkinson’s disease on the basis of the overviewed literature. A review of literature was conducted. The MEDLINE (PubMed) database was searched using the key words: “tango” and “Parkinson’s disease”. The study was based on titles and abstracts, and then on full texts, original papers with and without control groups as well as case studies. Ten out of twelve publications were included in the analysis. Most studies evaluating the effects of Argentine tango dancing were performed in patients with mild to moderate Parkinson’s disease severity. Long-term as well as short, intensive tango dancing programs were used. One of the studies compared the effects of Argentine tango dancing to the effects of waltz and foxtrot dancing. One paper compared partnered to individual tango dancing. Studies indicate that the Argentine tango decreases the severity of Parkinson’s disease symptoms and improves: balance, gait, spatial cognition, everyday activities as well as social integration and participation in patients with Parkinson’s disease. The Argentine tango can be an attractive, useful and effective form of rehabilitation in Parkinson’s disease.

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