Amputee football in practice and research

Introduction: Sport for people with disabilities has interested scientists for a long time. However, there is a scarcity of research on the subject of amputee football – football adapted to individuals after amputations. The aim of the study was to describe this sport and to review research carried out in this field so far

UNEMPLOYMENT IN LARGE CITIES IN POLAND

Identification of the change tendencies on large-city labor markets in Poland from the 1990s and the early years of the 218t century may constitute a basis for indicating the futurę trends on these markets for up to the year 2010. The analysis for the years 2003-2004 shows that in large cities (in certain cases delayed by a year in comparison with the national data), the process of subsid- ing of the second unemployment wave (that affected mostly those large cities) has already started. This resulted from recent structural transformations in the recovery of the national economy. The European Union membership should in the near futurę contribute further to the dynamics of economic boom as a result of foreign direct investment inflow and the utilization of structural funds in infrastructural investments in those city agglomerations. Positive changes on the labor market should also be found due to systematic introduction of labor market policy Instruments aimed at meeting the European Employment Strategy, as well as development of metropolitan functions of large cities.One cannot disregard the significance of demographic conditions of work supply. Seasonal economic migration, especially with respect to young people, will in near futurę contribute to a decrease in work supply. In the long-term perspective (up to 2010), the mitigating impact of demographic factors will be even stronger, with subsiding wave of demographic work resource boom in Poland. According to demographic prognoses for the years 2003-2030, the end of this decade will bring forth an absolute decrease in the economically productive age group [Prognoza, 2004].Considering the overall socioeconomic and demographic conditions of work supply and work demand on the large-city labor markets in Poland, one may assume a significant limitation of unemployment and approaching the fuli employment mark by most of those cities by the year 2010. Global market eąuilibrium will not, however, contribute to elimination of all work resource economy problems. One of them will be ageing of the population, adding to an inerease in the immobile productive group and the disabled. Another difficult issue will be persistence of the long-term unemployed and the less educated, at risk of social exclusion. Under these conditions, the labor market policy should incorporate a wide spectrum of institutions and social partners to help solve these problems

Assessment of Pain and External Load in Amputee Football Using Digital Pain Drawing and GNSS Tracking—A Pilot Study

Amputee Football (AF) players move using lofstrand crutches (LC) and a single leg during training and matches, which may expose them to excessive loads. Due to a lack of scientific articles describing these issues, this pilot study aims to gain insight into the assessment of pain experiences, as well as external loads during training and matches in AF. An observational study design was followed. Twelve male AF players (2 goalkeepers—GK and 10 field players—FP), 29.9 ± 8.7 years, stature 178.3 ± 6.5 cm, body mass 77.2 ± 8.9 kg were involved in the study. After stature and body mass measures, participants filled out the questionnaire for pain. The players were familiarized with digital pain drawing (DPD). Afterwards, they reported pain typically felt in relation to regular AF training and playing matches—recall pain (RP). During a two-day training camp (TC) with two training sessions each day and during a two-day international tournament (IT) with two matches each day, the players were monitored using DPD, rate of perceived exertion (RPE) and overall pain level (OPL) scales. In addition, during an international tournament (IT), match players were monitored using a GNSS tracking system for external load assessment. All of the participants reported multiple locations of pain after AF training or a match. The area of recall pain (RP) was the highest: +0.5% when compared to the end of TC and +43% when compared to end of IT. The pain area registered at the end of IT was significantly lower (p = 0.028) compared to RP and lower without statistical significance when compared to the end of TC. Average RPE was 3.31 ± 1.38 and average OPL was 2.86 ± 1.81 in 0–10 scale. Typical RPE was higher than that registered at the end of IT. Also typical OPL was higher compared to that registered after the end of TC, which was higher than after the end of IT. The average distance covered by a FP during a match ranged from 2483.14 ± 583.64 m to 2911.08 ± 828.90 m. AF field players suffered pain as a consequence of training and matches. The loads coming from playing and training, combined with pain, may lead to injuries. Further research directions should include assessments of the relationship of pain characteristics, injuries and GNSS tracking parameters