Postural consequences of muscle tone disorders in children with cerebral palsy (hemiparesis)

Andrzej Szopa, Małgorzata Domagalska, Krzysztof Czupryna, Maciej Płaszewski

Andrzej Szopa, Małgorzata Domagalska, Krzysztof Czupryna, Maciej Płaszewski – Postural consequences of muscle tone disorders in children with cerebral palsy (hemiparesis). Fizjoterapia Polska 2007; 7(3); 241-249

Abstract
Background. The spontaneous adjustment of abnormal muscle tone in CP children leads to abnormal postural and motor patterns development. The aim of this work was to recognize and define some of compensatory postural patterns in CP children. Material and methods. The group of 18 children with hemiplegia, aged 5-14, were taken into the examination. The objective measurement of they postural patterns while standing, kneeling (of one and both legs) and sitting was done with a help of photogrammetry. In the same time using baroresistive platform a force distribution on the support base were measured. Results. In case of standing position two kinds of postural patterns were observed — the progravitational pattern and the anti-gravitational pattern. In every children with progravitional pattern lateral spine curvature were observed. Their values were significantly higher than similar in antigravitational pattern. In standing on one leg and half kneeing the arrangement of postural parameters were the same. In sitting in children with progravitional type mutual arrangement of shoulders and pelvis line was changed to parallel and in children with antygravitional type overloaded side changed to opposite. Conclusions. 1. The postural patterns through hemiparetic children are habitual and have differentiated character according to character of paresis. 2. Development of postural patterns is predictable, it is possible to steer the compensation during the treatment.
Key words:
cerebral palsy, compensatory antigravity mechanisms, postural patterns
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Variation in bioelectric activity of trunk extensors during loading with symmetric gravity torques in children with idiopathic scoliosis

Wiesław Chwała, Marianna Białek, Maciej Płaszewski

Wiesław Chwała, Marianna Białek, Maciej Płaszewski – Variation in bioelectric activity of trunk extensors during loading with symmetric gravity torques in children with idiopathic scoliosis. Fizjoterapia Polska 2008; 8(4); 393-400

Abstract
Background. Conflicting evidence is available on trunk erectors’ bioelectrical activity patterns during loading with symmetrical gravity torques in subjects with idiopathic scoliosis. This represents a significant hindrance to utilizing such information in scoliosis therapy. To identify the pattern of bioelectrical activity of trunk extensors during static contractions against symmetrical loading with body mass in subjects with idiopathic single- and double-curve scolioses of different Cobb angles. Material and methods. Biopotential activity was measured in 192 subjects aged 10-16 years with Cobb angles of 12-62°, of whom 59 had double-curve and 133 had single-curve thoracic scoliosis. Results. Biopotentials from dominant and non-dominant sides differed significantly in both tasks in patients with single-curve scoliosis (p<0.001). Muscle contraction patterns in double-curve scoliosis at the level of the primary curvature differed significantly in both tasks (p<0.001). Differences in contraction patterns at the level of the secondary curve were not significant (p<0.05). Conclusions. Significant differences were found in activity patterns of the muscles investigated between patients with singleand double-curve scolioses. The pattern of asymmetry is not directly connected with either severity or location of the curve (p<0.05, non-significant).
Key words:
electromyography, scoliosis, trunk extensors
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Perception of the physiotherapist profession by first-year students of Polish universities of various educational orientations

Joanna Gotlib, Dariusz Białoszewski, Anna Cabak, Katarzyna Barczyk, Aleksandra Bauer, Wojciech Kułak, Piotr Majcher, Olga Nowotny-Czupryna, Maciej Płaszewski, Janusz Sierdziński

Joanna Gotlib, Dariusz Białoszewski, Anna Cabak, Katarzyna Barczyk, Aleksandra Bauer, Wojciech Kułak, Piotr Majcher, Olga Nowotny-Czupryna, Maciej Płaszewski, Janusz Sierdziński – Perception of the physiotherapist profession by first-year students of Polish universities of various educational orientations. Fizjoterapia Polska 2009; 9(2); 109-121

Abstract
Background. In Poland at present, physiotherapy studies are offered at three types of school: medical universities, universities of physical education, and schools not specialising in either the medical sciences or physical education. The aim was to compare the perception of the physiotherapist profession by first-year students of different types of universities. Material and methods. The study sample comprised 1145 1st year BA programme students from eleven schools in Poland. The study utili-sed the diagnostic poll method – a questionnaire, which comprised three parts. The Kruskal-Wallis test was used along with the median test and the Chi-squared test (p<0.05). Results. Most students stated that the professional status of physiotherapists is lower than that of doctors (above 52%), but is higher than that of nurses (above 70%). 92% of the students believed that physiotherapists and physicians should work together as partners (p=NS). The vast ma-jority (70%) of the students believed that the physiotherapist profession is related to medicine rather than physical education. Conclusions. 1. The educational orientation of the university did not influence first-year students’ perception of their futurę profession in this study with most of the surveyed stating that physiotherapist is a medical profession. 2. In the light of the findmgs of foreign authors, there is a ne-ed to carry out a study in Poland that would address the issue of the position of the physiotherapist in the therapeutic team in relation to the doctor and the team nurse as well as the other members of the team: dietitian, psychologist and occupational adviser.
Key words:
medical education, physiotherapy, type of university, perception of the profession
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Motivations for studying physiotherapy and familiarity with employment situation among physiotherapy students at variously oriented university-level schools in Poland

Joanna Gotlib, Dariusz Białoszewski, Anna Cabak, Katarzyna Barczyk, Aleksandra Bauer, Wojciech Kułak, Piotr Majcher, Olga Nowotny-Czupryna, Maciej Płaszewski, Janusz Sierdziński

Tomasz Wolny, Edward Saulicz, Rafał Gnat, Mirosław Kokosz, Michał Kuszewski, Andrzej Myśliwiec – Motivations for studying physiotherapy and familiarity with employment situation among physiotherapy students at variously oriented university-level schools in Poland. Fizjoterapia Polska 2009; 9(3); 232-244

Abstract
Background. There is considerable interest in studying physiotherapy in Poland and in many countries of the European Union. The objective was to identify the factors that motivate applicants to choose Physiotherapy studies and find out what students know about working in Poland and other EU countries. Material and methods. The study sample comprised 954 1st year BA students from eleven universities: medical sciences (MS), physical education (PE), and other universities (OU). The statistical analysis was based on questionnaires obtained from : 211 MS, 118 PE and 625 OU. Results. Students relied on advice of active physiotherapists when choosing a study programme: 62% ME, 57% PE and 68% OU. Respondents would like to study for the Master’s degree and take up work: 55% PM, 56% PWF and 62% IP. Students were not familiar with employment opportunities: 87% MS, 91% PE and 73%. The most important factors aiding in finding a job are knowledge and skills: 43% MS, 42% PE and 45% OU. Conclusions. 1. The respondents did not choose studies by accident but based their decision on stereotypes. 2. Universities should set great store by their teaching standards as applicants decide to choose a university on the basis of opinions about the particular university. 3. There is a need to develop a professional information service on study opportunities in physiotherapy in Poland that would necessarily include objective information regarding employment opportunities for physiotherapists in EU countries and in the world.
Key words:
employment situation, motivation, European Union, physiotherapy, type of university
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Analysis of changes in attitudes towards starting the chosen career among physiotherapy students during their Bachelor program studies at university-level schools of differenteducational orientations

Joanna Gotlib, Dariusz Białoszewski, Anna Cabak, Katarzyna Barczyk, Aleksandra Bauer, Wojciech Kuła, Piotr Majcher, Olga Nowotny-Czupryna, Maciej Płaszewski, Janusz Sierdziński, Andrzej Wall

Joanna Gotlib, Dariusz Białoszewski, Anna Cabak, Katarzyna Barczyk, Aleksandra Bauer, Wojciech Kuła, Piotr Majcher, Olga Nowotny-Czupryna, Maciej Płaszewski, Janusz Sierdziński, Andrzej Wall – Analysis of changes in attitudes towards starting the chosen career among physiotherapy students during their Bachelor program studies at university-level schools of differenteducational orientations. Fizjoterapia Polska 2010; 10(1); 25-36

Abstract
Background. The education of physiotherapists in Poland takes place at three types of university-level schools: medical universities, universities of physical education and universities of other orientations. The orientations differ in terms of: educational traditions, teaching quality and various approaches to the subject of study. The objective of this study was to analyze the perception of the futurę career in physiotherapy by comparing first- and third-year students from universities of different orientations. Material and methods. The study involved 1145 students from 11 university-level schools. The same students were sun/eyed twice: during the first and third year of their studies. The research tool was a yoluntary anonymous questionnaire designed by the authors containing a total of 88 questions. The analysis (Statsoft STATISTICA 8) was based on the following non-parametric statistical tests: the chi-square (x2) test, Kruskal-Wallis test and Wilcoxon signed-rank test (p<0.05). Results. The third-year students were morę willing to undertake Master-level studies and significantly less willing to embarkon their chosen career than when they were in the first year. While the familiarity with opportunities for starting their career as physiotherapists had increased significantly, most students still declared that they were not familiar with them. Most students claimed that it was easy to findajob in other European Union countnes. Conclusions. 1. In the study group, the school orientation had no significant influence on the students’attitude towards their futurę chosen career. 2. It is important that the education curricula for the students of Bachelor-level studies in physiotherapy be complemented with objecth/e source.
Key words:
students, vocational attitudes, starting a career, European Union
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Analysis of physiotherapy students’ opinions on curricula in university-level schools of different educational orientations

Dariusz Białoszewski, Joanna Gotlib, Anna Cabak, Katarzyna Barczyk, Andrzej Bugajski, Wojciech Kułak, Piotr Majcher, Olga Nowotny-Czupryna, Maciej Płaszewski, Janusz Sierdziński

Dariusz Białoszewski, Joanna Gotlib, Anna Cabak, Katarzyna Barczyk, Andrzej Bugajski, Wojciech Kułak, Piotr Majcher, Olga Nowotny-Czupryna, Maciej Płaszewski, Janusz Sierdziński – Analysis of physiotherapy students’ opinions on curricula in university-level schools of different educational orientations. Fizjoterapia Polska 2010; 10(2); 136-148

Abstract
Introduction and Objective. Physiotherapy as a university degree programme was first offered in Poland in 1997, with courses including 3-year Bachelor-level and 2-year Master-level programmes. The education of physiotherapists in Poland currently takes place at three types of university-level schools: medical universities (MS), universities of physical education (PE) and university-level schools of orientations not connected with medicine or physical education (OU).This study aims to analyse and compare opinions of MS, PE and OU students on the curricula offered by the three types of university-level schools. Material and methods. The study involved a total of 593 students in their third year of Bachelor programme studies from 10 university-level schools of different educational orientations. Participation in the study was voluntary and anonymous involved completing a questionnaire distributed in March and April 2009. The questionnaire, designed by the authors, consisted of 4 parts and contained a total of 88 questions. The statistical analysis of the survey data (STATISTICA 9.0) was conducted using the Kruskall-Wallis test. Results. The majority of MS students believed the amount of practical classes was appropriate, while PE and OU participants assessed it as insufficient (p=NS). The MS students were satisfied with the amount of time of working directly with patients during clinical classes, while their PE and OU counterparts found the time insufficient. The largest number of MS, PE and OU participants declared that training in special techniques in physiotherapy was insufficient (p=NS). Conclusions. 1. It would be advisable to combine the clinical experience of medical universities with the facilities and teaching staff of specialists in physiotherapy-related courses available in universities of physical education in order to improve the quality of physiotherapy education in Poland.2. In view of the current level of research in physiotherapy, it seems important to provide students with high quality training in state-of-the-art physiotherapy techniques.
Key words:
physiotherapy, students, Bachelor-degree programmes, medical universities, universities of physical education
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Motivations for studying physiotherapy and familiarity with employment situation – differences between female and male students of physiotherapy at university-level schools in Poland

Katarzyna Barczyk, Joanna Gotlib, Aleksandra Bauer, Dariusz Białoszewski, Piotr Majcher, Maciej Płaszewski, Anna Cabak, Olga Nowotny-Czupryna, Wojciech Kułak, Janusz Sierdziński

Katarzyna Barczyk, Joanna Gotlib, Aleksandra Bauer, Dariusz Białoszewski, Piotr Majcher, Maciej Płaszewski, Anna Cabak, Olga Nowotny-Czupryna, Wojciech Kułak, Janusz Sierdziński – Motivations for studying physiotherapy and familiarity with employment situation – differences between female and male students of physiotherapy at university-level schools in Poland. Fizjoterapia Polska 2010; 10(4); 307-316

Abstract
Background. The present paper analyses and compares the factors that motivate female and male students of physiotherapy to take up these studies and examines students awareness of the employment situation in their future profession.
Material and methods. The diagnostic poll method (anonymous and voluntary question naire). The study sample comprised 1st year Bachelor programme students from eleven university-level schools. The statistical analysis was based on question naires obtained from 954 students. The survey was carried out in 2006, at the beginning of the 1st semester of the Bachelor’s programme. Outcome measures The Mann–Whitney U test was used at a significance level of p<0.05. Results. Personal interest was the only factor that influenced the decision to study physiotherapy and differentiated between the male and female students. For a significantly higher percentage of the female students (p<0.001), studying physiotherapy had been a life-long ambition. The vast majority of the students stated that they were not familiar with all opportunities for finding employment as physiotherapists. The vast majority of the students believed that it is easy to find employment as a physiotherapist in other European Union countries, with female students stating so significantly more frequently (p<0.05) than their male counter parts
Conclusion. Men and women share similar expectations of their future job and motivations
Key words:
sex differences, physiotherapy, education, occupations, perception, students
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