Search

Studies of age at menarche in Poland have a long history and consistently show an urban-rural gradient. The objectives of the study were to to estimate the age at menarche among school girls resident in ten rural communities of the Greater Poland province in 2016 and to compare ages at menarche by weight status and by population growth. The sample included 1146 girls, 7–16 years of age, resident in ten rural communities. Menarcheal status was obtained via interview. Heights and weights were measured; the BMI was calculated. Based on the latter, the girls were classified as thin, normal weight and overweight (including the obese) relative to IOTF criteria. Population growth between 1986 and 2016 in each community was estimated from local records. Ages at menarche were estimated with the probit regression protocol (SPSS) using the logistic model with log 10 transformation for the total sample and for the subsamples by weight status and population growth. The median age at menarche for the total sample of rural girls was 13.25±0.20 years. Menarche was earlier among Overweight (13.06±0.32 years) compared to Normal Weight (13.25±0.37 years) and Thin (13.81±0.41 years), and among girls resident in communities with Major population growth (12.58±0.44 years) compared to Little/No growth (13.65±0.14 years). Results of the present survey were generally consistent with recent surveys of age at menarche among rural girls in Poland and among girls classified by weight status. Corresponding comparative data relating menarche to population growth are lacking.

Background: The objective of the study was to evaluate secular changes in the physical fitness of rural school youth, 7–15 years, in west-central Poland between 1986 and 2016. Methods: The fitness of cross-sectional samples of school youth resident in the same 10 communities was evaluated in 4 decennial surveys: 1986—1417 boys/1326 girls; 1996—979 boys/947 girls; 2006—871 boys/843 girls; and 2016—1189 boys/1105 girls. Five tests evaluated speed (5-m run), agility (figure 8 run), explosive power (vertical jump), flexibility (stand and reach), and cardiovascular fitness (modified Harvard step test). Age- and sex-specific descriptive statistics were calculated by survey, while differences among surveys were compared in 3 broad age groups (7–9, 10–12, and 13–15 y) using analysis of variance with age and age squared as covariates. Results: Speed and flexibility declined, while the jump and step test index changed variably across surveys. Although agility improved across surveys, the major improvement occurred between 1986 and 1996. Conclusions: Performances of rural school youth on 5 tests of physical fitness changed significantly, but, variably, between 1986 and 2016. The results were generally consistent with other studies of Polish school youth that spanned a similar interval. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate secular changes in the heights and weights of rural school youth in west‐central Poland across decennial surveys of the same communities spanning 1986 and 2016. Methods: Heights and weights of school youth 7 to 15 years in 10 rural communities in the vicinity of the city of Poznań were measured in 1986 (1417 boys, 1326 girls), 1996 (979 boys, 947 girls), 2006 (871 boys, 843 girls), and 2016 (1189 boys, 1105 girls). Descriptive statistics for sex‐specific single year chronological age groups were calculated by survey, while the sample was partitioned into three age groups (7‐9, 10‐12, 13‐15 years) for detailed analysis of changes across surveys using sex‐specific ANCOVA with age and age2 as covariates. Pairwise post hoc comparisons between specific surveys, adjusted for multiple comparisons (Bonferroni), were evaluated. Results: Heights and weights of rural school youth increased significantly between 1986 and 2016, but estimated secular gains between adjacent surveys were variable and not linear over time. Conclusion: Significant secular changes occurred in the heights and weights of rural school children in the 10 rural communities between 1986 and 2016, but estimated rates of change across sequential decennial surveys were variable. The results were generally consistent with corresponding studies of Polish youth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. Based on the kinetic chain model, in which the body is a linked system of interdependent and working in a proximal to distal order segments, the main task of the core is to stabilize the kinetic chain during functional movements. Poor core stability and muscle imbalance are factors that may contribute to injuries. By detecting imbalances, deficits and asymmetries in basic movement patterns, there is a tool which can provide the basis for the implementation of preventive strategies. Aim of Study. The main purpose of the present study is to verify the effectiveness of the corrective and stability exercises program on the quality of basic movement patterns among dance students. Material and Methods. The study was perform on 18 female students of first year of the Dance in physical culture from University of Physical Education in Poznan, Poland, who were divided into 2 groups: intervention (n = 9) and control (n = 9). In both groups, were carried out pre- and post-test. The quality of basic movement patterns was evaluated by the Functional Movement Screen, consisted of seven tests: deep squat, hurdle step, in-line lunge, shoulder mobility, active straight leg raise, trunk stability push-up, rotary stability. In the intervention group was introduced the program of corrective exercises based on the obtained results enriched with core stability exercises. After 12-week training program, the quality of basic movement patterns were assessed again in both groups. Results. The research found out that at the pretest there was no significant differences between both groups. However, the groups differed significantly (p < 0.05) at post-test in terms of the overall result of the FMS and 2 tests: deep squat and in-line lunge. Significant posttraining changes were noted for the intervention group in the overall FMS scores and 4 tests: deep squat, hurdle step, in-line lunge, trunk stability push-up. Significant changes were also found in the control group in the overall FMS results and in the deep squat test. Conclusions. The identification of the "weakest links" of kinetic chain, integrated with properly planned and conducted corrective exercises, enriched with core stability exercises may positively impact on the quality of basic movement patterns, which seems to be the starting point for determining the possibility of used tool to prevent injuries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]