| Abstract [eng] |
The justification of research: sedentary work in the long run negatively affects the functions of the musculoskeletal system and quality of life. Various physical activity programs are implemented in the workplaces, but programs based on the myofascial chains' and the myofascial segments' training have not yet been applied. The aim of research: to compare the effects of two physical activity programs on the functions of the musculoskeletal system and quality of life in the sedentary workers. Tasks of research: 1. To evaluate the effect of the myofascial chains' training on the parameters of the musculoskeletal system and quality of life; 2. To evaluate the effect of the myofascial segments' training on the parameters of the musculoskeletal system and quality of life; 3. To compare the effects of two different physical activity programs on the evaluated parameters. Materials and methods: 55 employees of Vilnius University (age 41.62 ±7.96 years) participated in an experimental study. Participants were divided into two groups: myofascial chains' training (n=29) and myofascial segments' training (n=26). Examination of the musculoskeletal system included these parameters: mobility of the lumbar spine, finger-floor distance, shoulder mobility, pectoralis muscle length, hamstring length, rectus femoris muscle length, handgrip isometric strength, and lumbar muscle strength endurance. The quality of life was assessed with the SF-36 questionnaire. Data analysis was done by using MS Excel and SPSS programs. Results: improvement in eighteen parameters of the musculoskeletal system and three parameters of quality of life in the myofascial chains' training group was found (p<0.05). The largest effect size was for the length of the rectus femoris muscle on the right (d=1.67). Improvement in twenty parameters of the musculoskeletal system and six parameters of quality of life in the myofascial segments' training group was found (p<0.05). The largest effect size was for the length of the rectus femoris muscle on the left (d=1.73). The two groups differed significantly by only one parameter (pectoralis minor muscle length on the right) after the programs, but the groups differed by this parameter before the application of the programs as well (p<0.05). Conclusions: myofascial chains' training improved these parameters of the musculoskeletal system: mobility of the lumbar spine, finger-floor distance, shoulder mobility, hamstring length, rectus femoris muscle length (p<0.001; d≥0.80), handgrip isometric strength, lumbar muscle strength endurance (p<0.05; 0.50≤d≤0.79), pectoralis major muscle length on the right (p<0.05; d≤0.49); and these parameters of quality of life: physical functioning, general health, change in health status (p<0.05; 0.50≤d≤0.79). Myofascial segments' training improved these parameters of the musculoskeletal system: mobility of the lumbar spine, hamstring length, rectus femoris muscle length, lumbar muscle strength endurance (p<0.001; d≥0.80), finger-floor distance, shoulder mobility, handgrip isometric strength (p<0.05; 0.50≤d≤0.79), pectoralis major muscle length and pectoralis minor muscle length on the right (p<0.05; d≤0.49); and these parameters of quality of life: energy (p<0.001; d≥0.80), general health, change in health status (p<0.05; 0.50≤d≤0.79), physical functioning, social functioning, pain (p<0.05; d≤0.49). After comparing the effects of these two physical activity programs on the evaluated parameters, it was found that they had a similar effect on the musculoskeletal system and quality of life (p>0.05). |
