SPINAL CORD POSTURE IN THE SAGITTAL PLANE AMONG YOUNG SCHOOLCHILDREN RESIDING IN THE AREA OF KNJAŽEVAC

In determining the postural status of the spinal column of preschool age children or young school age children, early detection of bad posture is necessary, so that it could be rectified through the proper corrective exercise. The aim of this study is to determine the state of the postural disorders of the spinal column, viewed in the sagittal plane, on a population of preschool children, and young school age children, living on the territory of the municipality of Knjaževac. The sample of participants consisted of 515 young school age and  125 preschool children. In order to determine the postural status of the spinal column in the sagittal plane, we used the ‘Spinal Mouse’ measuring instrument. The results have shown that in both age groups, more than 50% of the children have some form of postural disorder in the sagittal plane. The most widely distributed disorders are the kyphotic and lordotic posture, followed by kypholordosis. In terms of gender, younger school age girls have a more pronounced kypholordotic posture when compared to the boys, with 6% and 1.6% respectively. The frequency of the other postural disorders is almost identical. In the case of female preschool children, the kyphotic posture is  more predominant, while in the case of the boys the lordotic posture is more frequent. The obtained data are important for designing a proper corrective gymnastics program for the improvement of the postural status of the spinal column in the sagittal plane of children living in Knjaževac.Key words: kyphosis, lordosis, straight back, gender, difference

THE EFFECTS OF AQUATIC ACTIVITIES ON PHYSICAL FITNESS AND AQUATIC SKILLS IN CHILDREN WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW

Autism spectrum disorder is a complex brain development disorder characterized by restrictive and repetitive behaviors and a significant impairment of one’s ability to interact with other people and engage in verbal or nonverbal communication, as well as in play. One form of physical activity which can be used with success in people with autism is aquatic activity. The objective of this systematic review study is to collect and analyze studies of the effects of aquatic activity on improving physical fitness and aquatic skills in children with autism. Based on an analysis of electronic databases and the inclusion criteria set, 13 studies were included in the analysis. The following conclusions are proposed based on their analysis: In terms of influence on aquatic skills, aquatic programs at least 10 weeks in duration can effect improvement in aquatic skills in children with autism, by means of learning methods well-used with autistic children, such as the Constant delay procedure, Most to least prompting procedure, and assistance from siblings and peers. Regarding physical fitness improvements following aquatic activity, it is difficult to draw conclusions based on the results obtained in only three studies. Recommendations for future research include the application of aquatic programs with a higher weekly frequency, as well as the use of heart rate monitors during aerobic exercise in order to control heart rate training zones

THE EFFECTS OF A PROGRAM OF SWIMMING AND AQUATIC EXERCISE ON FLEXIBILITY IN CHILDREN WITH CEREBRAL PALSY

Abstract: The objective of this study is to determine the effects of the applied program of swimming and aquatic exercise on improving the flexibility of children with cerebral palsy. The participants in the study were 15 children with cerebral palsy, aged 6 to 17, at GMFCS levels I, II and III. The applied exercise program comprised swimming and aquatic exercise. In the swimming program, the Halliwick method was used, as well as exercises for the backstroke, crawl and breaststroke. The aquatic exercise program included exercises for improving leg muscle flexibility and strength, and walking exercises. The exercise program lasted for 12 weeks with a frequency of three times a week and a class duration of 60 minutes. Based on the results of the tests for the assessment of flexibility or range of motion, 6 variables were obtained. The results indicate that the applied program contributed to a statistically significant increase in the range of flexion and abduction motions at the shoulder joint at the level of significance p=0.00. Regarding the range of extension and abduction motions at the hip joint, as well as dorsal flexion, improvement was also noted, however without statistical significance. Based on the analysis of the results obtained, we conclude that the applied program of swimming and aquatic exercise was efficient in the sense of increasing flexibility or the range of flexion and abduction motions at the shoulder joint, whereas the program requires modification to increase flexibility of the leg joints. Key words: aquatic exercise, swimming, range of motion, effects, cerebral pals

EFEKTI PROGRAMA PLIVANJA NA GRUBU MOTORIČKU FUNKCIJU, PSIHIČKU PRILAGODLJIVOST NA VODENU SREDINU I PLIVAČKE VEŠTINE KOD DECE SA CEREBRALNOM PARALIZOM - PILOT STUDIJA

The aim of this research was to determine the swimming program effects on the gross motor function, mental adjustment to the aquatic environment and the ability to move in the water and swim in children with cerebral palsy. The sample consisted of seven children (4 boys and 3 girls) with spastic cerebral palsy and an average age of 9y 5mo ± 1y 3 mo. The swimming program lasted 6 weeks, with two swimming sessions per week. Each session lasted 45 minutes. The swimming program included the application of the Halliwick Method and swimming exercises which are used in a healthy population. The GMFM test was used for the assessment of gross motor functions. The WOTA2 test was applied to assess mental adjustment and swimming skills. The Wilcoxon matched pairs test was used to determine the statistically significant differences between the initial and final measuring. The results have indicated that there was statistically significant differences in the E dimension (p=0.04) and the total score T (p=0.03) of the GMFM test, then for mental adjustment to the aquatic environment WMA (p=0.02), ability to move in water and swimming skills WSW (p=0.03) and the overall result WTO (p=0.02) of the WOTA2 test. The applied swimming program had a statistically significant effect on the improvement in walking, running and jumping as well as the overall gross motor functions of children with cerebral palsy. The applied program also contributed to a statistically significant influence on the increase in mental adjustment to the aquatic environment and the ability to move in water and swim.Cilj ovog istraživanja je utvrđivanje efekata programa plivanja na grubu motoričku funkciju, prilagodljivost na vodenu sredinu i sposobnost kretanja u vodi i plivanja kod dece sa cerebralnom paralizom. Uzorak ispitanika je činilo sedmoro dece (4 dečaka i 3 devojčice) sa spastičnim oblikom cerebralne paralize, prosečne starosti od 9 god. i 5 meseci ± 1god. i 3 meseca (Mean±SD). Progam plivanja je trajao 6 nedelja sa učestalošću od dva puta nedeljno. Svaki čas vežbanja je trajao 45 minuta. Program plivanja je podrazumevao primenu Halliwick metode i vežbi plivanja koje se primenjuju kod zdrave populacije. Za procenu grube motoričke funkcije korišćen je GMFM test. Za procenu psihičke prilagodljivosti na vodenu sredinu i plivačkih veština korišćen je WOTA2 test. Za utvrđivanje statistički značajnih razlika između inicijalnog i finalnog merenja u primenjenim testovima korišćen je Wilcoxon matched pairs test. Rezultati su pokazali da je došlo do statistički značajnih razlika u dimenziji E (p=0.04) i u totalnom rezultatu T (p=0.03) GMFM testa, zatim u mentalnoj prilagodljivost na vodenu sredinu WMA (p=0.02), sposobnosti kretanja u vodi i plivanja WSW (p=0.03) i u ukupnom rezultatu WTO (p=0.02) WOTA2 testa. Primenjeni program plivanja je imao značajne pozitivne efekte na poboljšanje sposobnosti hodanja, trčanja, skakanja i ukupne grube motoričke funkcije kod dece sa cerebralnom paralizom. Doprineo je i značajnom povećanju psihičke prilagodljivosti na vodenu sredinu i poboljšanju sposobnosti kretanja u vodi i plivanjaPublishedVersio