Denitsa Grozdeva

Introduction: Pathological changes in the musculoskeletal system, including the hip joint, are often the prime cause of multimorbidity and significant disability. Individual-oriented physiotherapy, compatible with the concomitant diseases, promotes quality of life and restoration of working capacity. Purpose: to evaluate the quality of life after an individualised rehabilitation program in patients with total hip replacement. Methods: The subjects of the study are 72 multimorbid patients with total hip replacement who visited the Clinic for Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine at UMHAT "St. Marina", located in Estreya Residence, Varna, Bulgaria, from 2021 until 2022; research methods: sociological (administrative questionnaire, WHOQOL BREF), functional, and statistical methods; methods of influence: individualised rehabilitation program. Results: All multimorbid respondents suffer from coxarthrosis and concomitant chronic diseases, including cancer (1,4%). The overall self-assessment of quality of life increased by 15,39 points after the individual rehabilitation program. The average values in the domain "Physical health" increased by 7,125 points, in the domain "Psychological" - by 3,542 points, and in the domains "Social relationships" and "Environment"—by 0.417 and 4,306 points, respectively (p<0.05). Conclusions: An individualised rehabilitation program assists in the recovery despite the restrictions associated with concomitant diseases. The results correspond with the strategy for the optimisation of national and public financial expenses for working capacity restoration. After the individual rehabilitation program was conducted, the overall self-assessment of quality of life improved. A positive dynamic is observed in all domains, mainly at the expense of "Physical health" and "Environment".

Introduction: Ultrasound therapy is an evidence-based method for the treatment of knee joint osteoarthritis due to its analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and regeneration properties. In addition, phonophoresis has more potency to reduce pain and inflammation, combining therapeutic ultrasound with medical substances, penetrating the tissues. Complementary medicine implements essential oil-based formulations in physical therapy in order to optimize the effectiveness of the ultrasound modality. Purpose: to assess the therapeutic effect of complementary ultrasound therapy in the management of osteoarthritis-related knee pain. Materials and methods: Materials: A 55-year-old male suffering from osteoarthritis-related left knee joint pain, undergoing complementary ultrasound therapy at the University Center for Eastern Medicine. Methods: Ultrasound therapy with an essential oil-based cream formulation against joint and muscle pain. Results: There is an improvement in symptoms on the second day, with a reduction in pain and swelling, and an increased range of motion in the knee joint in the short term, compared to conventional physical therapy. Conclusion: Complementary ultrasound therapy using pure essential oil-based enriched formulation is a novel method to obtain synergy of essential oils, empowering the physiological and therapeutic action of ultrasound therapy.

INTRODUCTION: In the treatment of breast cancer, quality of life improvement and preservation of the function of the adjacent limb and its aesthetic appearance are natural necessities in the 21st century and depend on precise planning of the surgical intervention and rehabilitation following. AIM: The aim is to study the combined effect of oncorehabilitation and Cordyceps sinensis in patients with breast cancer, who have undergone a full course of chemotherapy and radiotherapy MARTERIALS AND METHODS: А 56-years old woman diagnosed with stage II–III breast carcinoma and a full course of chemotherapy and radiotherapy at the Oncology Clinic of St. Marina University Hospital in Varna is presented. The methods used included structured interview, WHO-QOL-BREF questionnaire, functional tests, and laboratory tests. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: The complex positive effects of the oncorehabilitation program and Cordyceps sinensis impact all QOL domains, and to the greatest extent the areas of Psychological Health and Social Relationships. A reduction of pain and numbness was also achieved, resulting in daily activities improvement. CONCLUSION: As there is deficiency in the number of medical institutions where complex oncological rehabilitation is applied, the implementation of methodology, combining conventional and complementary medicine in clinical practice is essential for the overall impact on the quality of life in breast cancer patients.

Acupressure is a healing method used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) by which certain meridian points in the human body are manually stimulated in order to heal the body and introduce the correct circulation of the vital energy "Qi". Chinese medicine theory states that the constant flow of Qi through the meridians is essential to maintaining the health of the body. Acupressure is a manual, non-invasive method to influence the well-being of the body. It is performed by a person who has undergone specialized training, but it can also be applied independently on one's own body with training from a specialist in this field. Common everyday complaints, including stress, anxiety, panic, headaches, and high blood pressure, are typically addressed using established Western medical practices such as pharmacological interventions and other medicinal treatments. Nevertheless, complementary methods like acupressure can supplement the primary therapy by exerting a holistic influence on the entire body. Numerous scientific studies support the efficacy of acupressure as a standalone approach for managing some of these everyday complaints. Additionally, acupressure can be combined with other natural remedies like essential oils, climate-based factors, and bee products. They gently influence the Qi energy and, in combination with acupressure, are a natural way to rebalance the body to optimize health and overall well-being and to cope with the stressful living conditions that accompany today's hectic lifestyle.

Treatment with bee products (apitherapy) is a method with a thousand-year history. Nowadays, it is the subject of numerous studies aimed at proving its therapeutic effectiveness. With the expansion of the clinical spectrum of influence, apitherapy can now be applied in the complex treatment of a variety of chronic diseases in conjunction with pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments. The purpose of this article is to study the possibilities of application of bee products for the purposes of prevention, prophylaxis, and complex therapy of chronic diseases.

Gas discharge visualization – historical developments, research dynamics and innovative applications