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Background: Musculoskeletal pain is one of the reasons for a musician's inability to play an instrument. An assessment of the localization, intensity, and interference of those complaints is important among musicians because of the risk of occupational disease. Assessment by validated tools is especially important and serves as an indicator to take up proper preventive or treatment actions. The aim of the study was to assess the prevalence of playing-related musculoskeletal disorders (PRMDs) and the relationships with PRMDs' impact on playing musical instruments among Polish professional orchestra musicians. Methods: The study was conducted on a group of professional orchestra musicians (age 37.19 ± 9.62 years), 99 (55%) women and 83 (45%) men. Work experience in professional orchestra was 18.3 ± 9.83 years and the reported years of playing musical instrument were 31.4 ± 9.50. The study used the online version of a musician-dedicated questionnaire, Musculoskeletal Pain Intensity and Interference Questionnaire for Musicians of the Polish Population (MPIIQM-P). Results: In the study group, 89.9% of women and 83.1% of men had experienced playing-related pain in their lifetime. The most intense pain among the group with current playing-related musculoskeletal complaints (n = 85) was located in the neck area for 19 (22.4%). Conclusions: The results of the study indicate a high prevalence of playing-related musculoskeletal problems among professional musicians. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Physical performance tests (PPTs) are used for the pre-season evaluation of athletes and to monitor and control the rehabilitation process. PPTs include single-leg jumps, single-leg squats, and balance tests. One of the physical fitness tests is the skater squat test. The 30 s skater squat functional test (SSFT) is used as one of the tests to assess fitness and symmetry in the lower limbs. The present study aimed to calculate and compare the asymmetry index using the 30 s skater squat functional test, the single-leg distance jump test, and the isometric measurement of knee joint extensor strength. Materials and Methods: The study examined 25 men aged 23 ± 3.17 years. The study used the 30 s SSFT, the single-leg long jump test (SLLJT), and an isometric dynamometer test to measure peak moment of force values for extensors of the knee using the JBA Zbigniew Staniak® measuring station ("JBA" Zb. Staniak, Poland). The statistical analysis of functional test results and iso-metric dynamometry results was based on correlation analysis. Results: There was a moderate correlation between 30 s SSFT and SLLJT (r = 0.540), and between SLLJT and measurements of peak moment of force of the knee joint extensors (r = 0.533). Conclusions: The asymmetry index calculated based on functional tests and peak moment of force of the knee extensors in a group of young men should not be used interchangeably. The asymmetry index calculated from the 30 s skater squat functional test detects greater differences in knee extensor strength than the ASI index calculated from the single-leg long jump test in a group of young male athletes. The practical significance of this study was that its results could play an important role in the training process and monitoring the return to sports after a possible injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. The aim of the study was to assess the prevalence of back pain in nonprofessional Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioners (NP-BJJ practitioners), and to assess the relationship between their back pain and postural disorders. Methods. The study involved 61 subjects (age: 30.7 ± 4.9 years old; body mass: 79.4 ± 12.9 kg; body height: 179.6 ± 8.4 cm; 8 woman and 53 man), 31 who trained Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) and 30 subjects who had never trained any combat sport. The mean time of training BJJ in the study population was 3.9 ± 4.1 years. Postural assessments were conducted with the use of the photogrammetric method. The assessment of back pain and injuries was conducted with the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and with our proprietary questionnaire. Results. Among both populations, 37 subjects reported back pain. There were no differences in back pain location between the two groups or in functional state on the ODI. Significant differences between the groups in the values of the postural parameters (spinal height, length of kyphosis, length of lordosis, pelvis inclination angle) were observed. Statistically significant differences between the NP-BJJ practitioners with and without back pain in the length of the thoracic kyphosis and the differences in the height of the waist triangles were found. Conclusions. Both in the study population and in the control group the spinal pain was minimal or moderate on the ODI. BJJ practitioners who reported back pain had characteristic postural changes in some of the analysed postural parameters in comparison to BJJ practitioners who did not report back pain. INSET: 1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]