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Background/Objectives: The most common post-acute consequences of SARS-CoV-2 include lung dysfunction, the impairment of cognitive functions and mental health, as well as the impairment of the musculoskeletal system in the form of fatigue and muscle weakness. Post-COVID-19 patients often experience impaired balance and reduced physical capacity. It is important to implement a rehabilitation program that eliminates the side effects of COVID-19 and allows for significant improvement in the patient's functionality. The aim of our study was to assess patient functionality after a 6-week rehabilitation program on balance, foot pressure distribution, and physical capacity in post-COVID-19 patients. Methods: The clinical study group consisted of 53 people 3 months after COVID-19 infection, confirmed by a positive PCR test. Exclusion from the study included people with comorbidities that impaired balance and gait. The patients underwent a posturographic assessment—Romberg test, a baropodometric assessment—static and dynamic, and a performance assessment—a 6 min walk test determining shortness of breath on the mMRC scale, blood pressure, heart rate, and saturation. Patients participated in rehabilitation until the sixth week, after which they were assessed again. Comparisons were made using IBM SPSS Statistics 27.0 software using the Wilcoxon pairwise order test, at a significance level of p < 0.05. Results: The result of the postural control assessment showed an improvement in the ability to maintain the centre of gravity in terms of the foot support area—statistical decreases were observed in the ellipse area, from 745.28 mm2 to 453.52 mm2 (p = 0.009), as well as maximum (from 3133.5 gr/cm2 to 2994.2 gr/cm2; p = 0.065) and average load on the left foot (from 1010.1 gr/cm2 to 969.38 gr/cm2; p = 0.028). In the 6 min walk test before and after exercise, the heart rate decreased after the therapy (shortness of breath on the mMRC scale also decreased from 79.12 to 74.95). This means that patients achieved better physical fitness and efficiency. Conclusions: Rehabilitation significantly improved balance, as measured by a decrease in ellipse area during the Romberg test. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The aim of this study was to assess the parameters of the statics and dynam-ics obtained from baropodometric examinations in patients after infection with the SarsCov2 vi-rus and to attempt to identify the causes of reported gait disorders. Materials and Methods: The study group consisted of 73 people beform COVId-19. The tested participants obtained a positive result from a PCR test confirm-ing the presence of the virus. Some people had a mild form of COVID-19. The control group consisted of 50 healthy people. The test was carried out on a FreeMed Posture baropodometric mat in static and in dynamic conditions while walking. Results: Statistically significant differences were obtained in the assessment of parameters such as the foot area, the average load on the lower limbs, the maximum load on the lower limbs in the dynamic assessment, as well as differences in parameters for the load on the forefoot and for the rear foot. On the other hand, in the static assessment, significant differences between the groups were found for the parameters of the foot surface, including the area of the hindfoot. Conclusions: In patients with a history of COVID-19, there may be gait disturbances in the baropodometry test that are visible in the load on the lower limbs and the surface of the feet. This may suggest a weaker efficiency of the foot muscles, which are responsible for its arching, and stronger pressure during walking and standing may be associated with a weaker nervous control of the muscles responsible for foot functions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Copyright of Acta Balneologica is the property of Wydawnictwo ALUNA and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Unlabelled: Hyperfunctional dysphonia is the most frequent type of occupational functional dysphonia. Pharmacotherapy, physiotherapy and psychotherapy are used in the treatment of occupational dysphonia. Vibratory massages of the regions of the larynx relax the external muscles of neck, which have an indirect impact on the tension of the vocal folds., Purpose: The aim of the study is to assess the impact of vibratory stimulation therapy on voice quality in patients with hyperfunctional occupational dysphonia treated pharmacologically., Material and Methods: Forty patients with hyperfunctional occupational dysphonia treated phoniatrically in the Phoniatric Outpatient Clinic were included in the study. Patients were divided into two groups. Group I consisted of 20 patients treated pharmacologically. In group II, including 20 patients, apart from pharmacotherapy the vibratory stimulation therapy by the device of VR type (CyberBioMed LLC) was used. In the analysis of voice quality the evaluation of the vocal folds vibration using videolaryngostroboscopy and acoustic assessment of voice were conducted., Results and Conclusions: The perceptual assessment of voice, the visualization of the vocal folds vibration in stroboscopic examination of the larynx and the acoustic assessment of voice enable the appropriate diagnostics of the clinical type and voice quality in hyperfunctional dysphonia. The tension of superficial and deep muscles of neck has the impact on the phonatory function of the larynx. Pharmacological treatment improves the voice quality in hyperfunctional occupational dysphonia. Pharmacological treatment combines with the relaxation of muscles of neck using the device of VR type significantly improve voice quality in hyperfunctional occupational dysphonia., (Copyright © 2012 Polish Otolaryngology Society. Published by Elsevier Urban & Partner Sp. z.o.o. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Raynaud's phenomenon (RP) as a vasospastic response to cold and emotions has an impact on the quality of life. This also applies to patients with primary (idiopathic) RP. Moreover, RP may also be a factor of irreversible tissue injury manifested by ulceration or necrosis, especially in patients with connective tissue disease. Nailfold videocapillaroscopy (NVC) is a recognized method for diagnosing and monitoring of microvascular abnormalities in rheumatic diseases. The purpose of this study was to assess the usefulness of capillaroscopy for monitoring of the therapeutic effect of low-frequency pulsed magnetic field in 44 patients with RP., Material and Methods: Clinical examination and NVC were performed before and after 2 weeks of treatment. Low-frequency pulsed magnetic field was administered 5 days per week for 2 weeks with the Magnetronic MF-10 generator operating at 40 Hz frequency and 1.0-5.0 mT induction values. Each session lasted 10-20 minutes., Results: Patients with primary and secondary RP experienced a significant decrease in the number and duration of RP episodes and reported a reduction in pain on the Visual Analog Scale. Moreover, an improvement in vascular flow and reduction in interstitial edema was seen with NVC. A correlation between capillaroscopic findings and severity of RP was also observed., Conclusions: Capillaroscopy is an effective method for evaluation of the effects of low-frequency pulsed magnetic field therapy on the microcirculation in patients with primary and secondary RP. Further prospective studies on the effect of this therapy on capillaroscopic abnormalities in RP patients are needed.