Justyna Leszczak

Spinal arteriovenous malformations are rare vascular anomalies, most commonly presenting clinically in the third decade of life, without gender predilection. They are usually located in the thoracic segment (approximately 50%) and the cervical segment (approximately 30%). The aim of the study was to analyze physiotherapeutic management using modern technologies (RoboGait, ERIGO table, Indiba Activ, Vibramoov devices, Galileo) in a patient with a cervical spinal arteriovenous malformation and to compare its effects after 9 months. The assessment included: the passive and active range of motion (ROM) in the joints of the upper and lower limbs, muscle strength according to the Lovett scale and sensation. The performance of functional tests was also examined, trunk control using the Trunk Control Test (TCT). The patient, 36 years of age, with a diagnosed cervical spinal arteriovenous malformation. In April 2024, the patient was admitted to the Department of Neurosurgery after sudden, severe, and rapidly progressive weakening of strength in the upper and lower limbs, and subsequently, after diagnostic examinations and establishment of the diagnosis, was referred to a Rehabilitation Center, where she participates in individually tailored rehabilitation using modern technologies. The introduction of early physiotherapeutic management in combination with the use of modern technologies affects the improvement of muscle strength, coordination, and the patient's independence. Supplementing traditional rehabilitation with modern technologies may contribute to increasing the effectiveness and quality of the rehabilitation process after spinal cord injuries caused by cervical spinal arteriovenous malformation.

Due to an unintentional error, incorrect versions of Tables 2-6 were included in the publication. The correct tables are presented below.Reference:Justyna Leszczak, Natalia Wołoszyn, Justyna Brożonowicz, Krzysztof Bylicki, Gabriela Ciąpała, Joanna Grzegorczyk, Agnieszka Wiśniowska-Szurlej. Evaluation of Hand-Grip Strength Measurement Using the Pablo Virtual Reality System in Young Adults. Med Sci Monit. 2025;31:e949357.DOI: 10.12659/MSM.949357

Effect of School Backpack Weight on Shape of Children's Feet - Article abstract #952039

Background: Childhood obesity and cardiometabolic disturbances are growing global health concerns. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of excess body weight, body fat, and selected cardiometabolic risk factors in school-aged children and adolescents, focusing on sex- and age-related differences. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 318 Polish participants aged 6–17 years, including 169 children (6–12 years) and 149 adolescents (13–17 years). Anthropometric, blood pressure (BP), and fasting blood lipid and glucose measurements were collected and analyzed by age group (children 6–12 years; adolescents 13–17 years) and sex. Results: The prevalence of overweight and obesity was 18.5% (BMI-based) and 26.1% (body fat-based). Abdominal obesity and stage I–II hypertension were observed in 24.5% and 23.6% of participants, respectively. Children had higher rates of excess body fat, abdominal obesity, elevated BP, and lipid abnormalities than adolescents. Among adolescents, girls more frequently presented with borderline/high total cholesterol and Low-Density Lipoprotein (LDL cholesterol) and borderline/low High-Density Lipoprotein (HDL cholesterol), while boys more often had elevated BP. In girls, elevated triglycerides (TGs) were independently associated with abdominal obesity (odds ratio (OR) = 2.36, p = 0.015) and hypertension (OR = 2.47, p = 0.023); no such associations were observed in boys. Conclusions: Cardiometabolic risk factors may appear early in life and differ by age and sex. Routine screening and early interventions, particularly targeting lipid abnormalities in girls, are essential to prevent long-term health consequences.

The aim of the study was to assess the test-retest reliability, inter-rater reliability of the Biometrics device with regard to hand grip and finger pinch strength in people in the late period after stroke aged over 50 years. A total of 100 individuals in the late period after stroke participated in the study. Two investigators performed hand grip and pinch strength measurements using the Biometrics E-link assessment system. The subjects were examined twice within two weeks, under the same conditions. After conducting the examinations, high consistency of measurements was found both between the investigators and between the examinations using a hand grip dynamometer and a Pinchmeter. For all measurements, high values of Pearson correlation coefficient close to 1, interclass correlation coefficient (ICC) > 0.9 and Cronbach's alpha index > 0.9 were shown. The width of the LoA interval in the pinchometer measurements (comparison of Study I vs. II for the same examiner) often oscillated around the value of 1.0 or less. In the dynamometer, the results showed repeatability for the right hand (for examiner I: LoA was 3.984; examiner II: LoA-3.470. The study showed that hand grip and pinch strength assessment performed using the Biometrics E-link assessment system show high test-retest reliability and inter-rater reliability. The Biometrics E-link can be recommended for daily clinical practice among people in the late period after stroke.

Evaluation of Hand-Grip Strength Measurement Using the Pablo Virtual Reality System in Young Adults - Article abstract #949357

Zaburzenia neurologiczne są istotnym problemem medycznym i społecznym, prowadzącym do ograniczeń w funkcjonowaniu ruchowym, poznawczym oraz społecznym pacjentów w każdym wieku. Dynamiczny rozwój nauk medycznych sprawia, że rola fizjoterapeuty w rehabilitacji neurologicznej staje się coraz bardziej złożona i wieloaspektowa, obejmując nie tylko terapię, ale również diagnostykę, edukację oraz działania profilaktyczne. Podręcznik Postępowanie fizjoterapeutyczne w neurologii dorosłych i dzieci został przygotowany z myślą o studentach fizjoterapii oraz praktykujących specjalistach. Jego celem jest przekazanie aktualnej wiedzy dotyczącej badania fizjoterapeutycznego, planowania procesu usprawniania oraz doboru odpowiednich metod terapeutycznych dostosowanych do wieku pacjenta i stopnia zaawansowania schorzenia. Publikacja uwzględnia odmienność postępowania terapeutycznego u dzieci i dorosłych. W przypadku dzieci szczególny nacisk położono na rozwój psychomotoryczny, plastyczność mózgu oraz współpracę z rodziną, natomiast u dorosłych podkreślono znaczenie aktywizacji funkcjonalnej, neuroplastyczności oraz adaptacji do zmian wynikających z choroby. Treści zawarte w książce opierają się na aktualnych wytycznych, wynikach badań naukowych oraz doświadczeniu klinicznym autorów. Oprócz klasycznych metod terapeutycznych przedstawiono również nowoczesne podejścia, w tym techniki neurorozwojowe oraz wykorzystanie technologii wspomagających. Każdy rozdział wzbogacono o praktyczne ćwiczenia i pytania kontrolne, umożliwiające utrwalenie wiedzy. Podręcznik stanowi kompleksowe źródło wiedzy oraz praktyczny przewodnik w codziennej pracy fizjoterapeuty, wspierając proces poprawy jakości życia pacjentów neurologicznych.

Background: The aim of the study was to assess the inter-rater and intra-rater agreement of measurements performed with the Luna EMG (electromyography) multifunctional robot, a tool for evaluation of upper limb proprioception in individuals with stroke. Methods: The study was conducted in a group of patients with chronic stroke. A total of 126 patients participated in the study, including 78 women and 48 men, on average aged nearly 60 years (mean = 59.9). Proprioception measurements were performed using the Luna EMG diagnostic and rehabilitation robot to assess the left and right upper limbs. The examinations were conducted by two raters, twice, two weeks apart. The results were compared between the raters and the examinations. Results: High consistency of the measurements performed for the right and the left hand was reflected by the interclass correlation coefficients (0.996–0.998 and 0.994–0.999, respectively) and by Pearson’s linear correlation which was very high (r = 1.00) in all the cases for the right and the left hand in both the inter-rater and intra-rater agreement analyses. Conclusions: Measurements performed by the Luna EMG diagnostic and rehabilitation robot demonstrate high inter-rater and intra-rater agreement in the assessment of upper limb proprioception in patients with chronic stroke. The findings show that Luna EMG is a reliable tool enabling effective evaluation of upper limb proprioception post-stroke.

The aim of the study was to assess the external and internal compatibility of the Biometrics E-LINK EP9 evaluation system device in the area of hand grip and pinch strength in the Polish population. The testing of hand grip and pinch strength was carried out among 122 healthy students. Two examiners performed hand grip and pinch strength measurements with a Biometrics E-LINK EP9 evaluation system device. Measurements were made for the right and left hands. The same people were tested again two weeks later, under the same conditions. The scores of one rater on the first and second tests were compared for reproducibility, and the scores of the two raters were compared to assess the reliability of the instrument. The measurements were found to be highly consistent both between the investigators and between the tests in the hand grip dynamometer test. The findings show high values of the Pearson’s correlation coefficient equal or close to 1, as well as the interclass correlation coefficient (ICC) >0.9. Analysis of pinch strength measurements performed using the pinchmeter also found high values of the Pearson’s correlation coefficient close to 1, as well as the interclass correlation coefficient >0.9; this reflects high agreement between the measurements performed by two investigators as well as assessments performed by one investigator at time intervals. These findings were confirmed by analyses performed using Bland-Altman plots. The measurements made with the Biometrics E-link EP9 evaluation system show high internal and external consistency in hand grip and pinch strength assessment. Biometrics E-link EP9 can be recommended for daily clinical practice.

The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of hypertension and to investigate risk factors linked to hypertension in older adults. An observational study was conducted in a group of adults between 60 and 85 years of age, living in south-eastern Poland. In line with the specific inclusion criteria, 80 women and 29 men were enrolled for the study (109 adults). Participants’ body weight, height, and body fat percentage (BFP) were assessed using a bioelectrical impedance analysis, blood pressure was measured using automated oscillometric sphygmomanometer, moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and sedentary time were assessed using a tri-axial accelerometer, whereas data related to socio-economic and lifestyle factors were collected using a self-report technique. Arterial hypertension was found at a rate of 16% in participants with normal body weight, 22% in those with overweight and 85% in those with obesity. Body mass index (BMI) and BFP correlated significantly with systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP). The highest median SBP and DBP values were found in the group of participants with obesity, and the lowest values were identified in those with normal body weight. Out of all the investigated socio-economic risk factors linked to hypertension, education level was the only one that showed significant associations. A logistic regression analysis was performed to check which factors were most strongly associated with hypertension in the study group. The stepwise method showed that hypertension was more common in participants with a higher BMI, and BFP and in those who did not meet MVPA recommendation.