Introduction: Falls in the elderly population are one of the main geriatric syndromes and a clear indicator of the fragility of the elderly population. Falls are a leading cause of death and injury in the elderly, resulting in disability and immobility requiring ongoing medical care and high treatment costs. Difficulties in performing daily life activities increase with age due to decline in physical and cognitive functioning. Research objectives: To assess the ability to perform daily life activities, to analyze the risks of falling in elderly people. Methods: 100 people over the age of 65 participated in the research. The research instruments were a questionnaire for the assessment of daily life activities - Barthel Scale / Index (BI) and a questionnaire on screening assessments for the evaluation of falls. Results: The Barthel index shows that the majority of respondents perform daily life activities without problems. Intrinsic factors prove that the median score was 12 with an interquartile range of 7 to 15, which represents the risk of falls in people of the third age. Extrinsic risk factors for falls in people of the third age indicate a median of 4 with an interquartile range of 2 to 5, which represents the risk for falls in older people. The most influential risk factors for falling in our survey are difficulty walking upstairs, incorrect or insufficient use of orthopedic aids, feeling of instability when standing up for the first time, complaining of weakness or reduced sensation in one or the other leg, feeling of low self-confidence, instability when walking and fear from falling. Conclusion: Analyzing the risk factors for a fall, we obtained the result that there is an evident risk for a fall. Based on the estimated risk of falling, the most influential risk factors that affect the performance of daily life activities of elderly people were singled out.

Introduction: Social support is not a one-way relationship but is based on the connections people have with other people, groups, and the wider community. This study aimed to assess the perception of social support by people in the third age and to investigate the correlation of social support with the sociodemographic characteristics of the respondents. Methods: A quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted with 147 elderly people who actively use the services of the Center for Health Promotion and Improvement “Generacija” in Sarajevo. The Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) was used to assess social perceptions. Results: The results show a weak negative relationship between age and the total scale (r = −0.199, p = 0.05), with older people having lower scores on the total scale. A significant relationship was found between the subscale other factors and age (r = −0.202, p = 0.05). The evaluation of the performance of daily activities correlates weakly with the evaluation of the friend’s subscale (r = 0.186, p = 0.05). The friend’s subscale correlates significantly with the quality of social life (r = 0.227, p = 0.05). The subjective assessment of the quality of social life after arriving at the center showed a correlation with the overall scale score (r = 0.182, p = 0.05) and especially with the friend subscale (r = 0.219, p = 0.05), with the increase in social life and the subscales examined in both cases. Conclusion: Users of the “Generacija” center rate social support on the MSPSS with high scores, with users receiving the most support from family. The sociodemographic characteristics of the respondents have an impact on the perception of social support by the users of the Center for Health Promotion and Improvement “Generacija,” more specifically; they were statistically significantly influenced by age, the way of performing daily activities, the quality of social life and the quality of social life after arrival at the Center.

Introduction: Various exercise programs have a positive effect on reducing the risk of falls in elderly people. Consequences of falls include fractures and injuries, reduced quality of life, fear of falling, loss of selfconfidence, and self-limited activity leading to reduced physical function and social interactions. Activity limitation impairs physical capacity and increases the risk of further falls. Falls are the primary cause of injury of the elderly, which can result in serious consequences such as fractures, head injuries, and even death, placing a significant burden on the public health system. Annually, between 28 and 35% of individuals aged 65 and over experience a fall worldwide, with rates reaching 32% - 42% among those aged 70 and over. Therefore, preventing falls has become a key global goal for the older adult population. Objective: To determine the effectiveness of different exercise programs in preventing falls in people of the third age. Methods: The search included an overview of the relevant databases: Medline, PubMed, Google Scholar, Research Gate. The systematic literature review included 12 different types of research. Results: Through a scientific review of the literature, the results of the significance and effectiveness of various programs of Otago exercises, Tai Chi, and Frenkle exercises in the prevention of falls in people of the third age are presented. The greatest effect is realized in the improvement of static and dynamic balance and the fear of falling. Conclusion: These studies show that different exercise programs have a huge and significant impact on reducing the risk of falls in older people. It is a long-term and continuous method of reducing the risk of falls in the elderly through exercise. Physical exercise is effective in improving components of balance, lower extremity strength, mobility, and reducing falls and fall-related injuries.

Introduction: Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMSDs) are the most common work-related disorders and describe a wide range of degenerative and inflammatory states that affect blood vessels, peripheral nerves, bones, joints, ligaments, tendons, and muscles. Healthcare as a special sector has almost the highest prevalence of WRMSDs in the world, far ahead of construction, mining, and manufacturing. Studies conducted in the EU and the USA indicate that health-care professionals most often have a problem with the lower back between 50% and 57% of cases, resulting in an average loss of more than 7 working days during 1 year. Methods: This study included 177 health professionals of both genders who are actively involved in the provision of health-care services. The study was conducted in the Public Health Center of Sarajevo Canton, which provides primary and specialist consultative healthcare services. The study was designed as a prospective, longitudinal, interventional, and descriptive-analytical that included all respondents who met the inclusion criteria. The instruments used in the study are the standardized Dutch Musculoskeletal Discomfort Questionnaire, modified according to our study, the standardized work ability index, and the ergonomic intervention program (EIP). Results: The highest frequency of work-related MKDs in health-care professionals before and after implementation of the EIP was in the neck area (83.1% before, 64.9% after), in the upper back region (71.8% before, 56.5 % after) and in the lower back region (68.4% before, 55.9% after). The average score of the working ability index before the introduction of the EIP was 35.44 ± 8.59, while after the implementation of the EIP it increased statistically significantly and amounted to 38.40 ± 7.30. Conclusion: The EIP influenced the reduction of the MKDs frequency caused by work, and increased the working capacity of health-care professionals.

Introduction: The complaints that occur in the area of the lumbar spine are summarized under the term lumbar pain syndrome. These include lumbar discopathy, lumbago, lumboischialgia, sciatica, and other complaints associated with the lumbar region of the spine. The purpose of this study is to evaluate sociodemographic characteristics, assess the degree of disability patients experience due to lumbar pain syndrome, evaluate how many patients catastrophize their pain, and assess the effectiveness of the dry needling technique along with other physical therapy modalities in people with lumbar pain syndrome. Methods: The study was designed as a prospective study conducted from March 2022 to June 2022. 35 subjects of both sexes, aged 25-83, agreed to participate in the study. The subjects who enrolled were pre-dominantly suffering from chronic lumbar pain syndrome, and there were also a smaller number of subjects with acute lumbar pain syndrome. Results: The majority of respondents suffer from lumbar pain syndrome, which falls into the chronic category in 29 or 82.9% of cases. The mean score after the application of therapy on the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) scale was 22.0 ± 16.23% and was statistically significantly lower. The average score after the application of the therapy on the visual analog scale (VAS) was 3.06 ± 2.31 and is statistically significantly lower (p < 0.05) compared to the period before the therapy. Conclusion: Dry needling in combination with standard physical procedures led to statistically significant improvements. The mean score on the pain catastrophe scale, VAS, and ODI was significantly lower than in the pre-therapy period.

Introduction: Anterior cruciate ligament injury is an injury that occurs in both sexes and in the population of all ages. The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is a very strong internal ligament of the knee, whose injuries occur frequently in athletes (professional and recreational) and after which the recovery is very long and complicated. The aim of this study is to determine the effectiveness of a standardized rehabilitation program after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction based on the time required for rehabilitation in athletes and recreational athletes. Methods: Research is designed as prospective study. The research was conducted in Polyclinic FM Sarajevo over a period of 10 months, starting in June 2018 and ending in March 2019. The collection of data required for the study was carried out using a form prepared for the analysis of patients included in the study. Results: Thirty-six people participated in the study, divided into two groups. In the first group, 52.8% belonged to recreational athletes, while in the second group, 47.2% belonged to athletes. At the end of the study, the flexion value in both studied groups was 120º. At the end of the study, the percentage of subjects with correct extension of the injured limb was 94.7% of recreational athletes and 64.7% of athletes. Of the total number of respondents included in this study, 33% were soccer players, 14% were basketball players, and 53% were recreational athletes. Conclusion: Based on the research results, it was confirmed that early rehabilitation after the established rehabilitation treatment program is shorter in recreational athletes than in professional athletes.

Introduction: A bone fracture is a break in the continuity of bone tissue, caused by the action of an external or internal force on the bone. Ankle sprains are one of the most common injuries among athletes. Physically active people who participate in activities that require jumping, changing direction, and turning have an increased risk of ankle sprains. Ankle sprains and the repetitive trauma often associated with this condition can lead to long-term disability, lost time from activity, and financial burdens for athletes. Methods: The work is non-experimental (qualitative research), i.e. a review of scientific literature. The search included an overview of the relevant databases: Medline, PubMed, Google Scholar, Research Gate. The literature review includes 4 randomized clinical trials and 1 randomized single-blind trial. The mentioned databases were searched with the help of keywords: athletes, injury, ankle joint, rehabilitation. Results: Through a scientific review of the literature, the results of the significance and productivity of the application of rehabilitation in athletes with an ankle injury are presented. The results include the presentation and analysis of five published scientific papers in the period 2018-2020. The studies used for this review were published in India, Saudi Arabia, Iran, United States, Austria. Conclusion: By reviewing the scientific literature, it can be concluded that there are improvements in the quality of life of athletes after an ankle injury. The greatest improvements were noted in strength, balance and functional task performance. The application of the rehabilitation program plays an important role in reducing pain and stabilizing the knee joint.

Introduction: Aging is a natural, irreversible physiological process that depends on genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors. Many physiological, biological, psychological, and other factors play a major role. According to the World Health Organization, falls are the second leading cause of unintentional injury death in the world and represent a major global public health problem. Falls are most commonly caused by intrinsic and extrinsic risk factors. A comprehensive assessment of fall risk is critical to the development of effective fall prevention programs. The screening protocol is brief, easy to use, and multifactorial and allows the identification of risk factors for falls. The aim of this study is to investigate the importance of the presence of risk factors in the home environment and the impact on increasing the risk of falls in people in the third age. Methods: The study was conducted in the municipality of Podgorica. 109 elderly people from urban and rural areas were included in the study using the snowball method. The instruments used in our study are a standardized checklist for assessing risk factors in the home environment, inside and outside the home (HASSAT), and a self-assessment scale of one’s own concern about a possible falls efficacy scale international. The survey was conducted from the end of October to the end of November 2023. Results: There is a statistically significant difference in social and physical activities of daily living in the area of concern about falling. When analyzing the overall result of the fear of falling scale in relation to gender, a significant statistical difference is found. The analysis of the individual rooms in relation to the age of the respondents shows that there is a significant statistical difference. Conclusion: The results obtained show that the high risk of falling is present in all rooms of the home environment for people in their 3rd year of life and that fear of falling increases with age.

Introduction: Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are common in men and women of all ages in all sociodemographic strata of society. Pain and functional limitations caused by MSDs severely limit independence and quality of life and interfere with an individual’s ability to participate in family and social life and work. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of the Kinesio Tape (KT) technique on pain intensity in patients with MSDs of the upper and/or lower extremities before, during, and after therapeutic treatment. Methods: The study involved 123 patients of both sexes and all ages diagnosed with MSDs of the upper and/or lower extremities. Patients were randomly divided into two groups, a control group and an experimental group. The control group received the standard therapy protocol for MSDs, while the experimental group received the standard therapy protocol for MSDs plus the KT technique on the treated segment. The brief pain inventory was used to assess pain intensity. Both groups of participants were tested with the research instruments at baseline, during and after therapeutic treatment. Results: The ability to walk due to pain was significantly less impaired in the control group than in participants in the experimental group, in whom pain significantly impeded walking (p < 0.001). Normal walking was significantly more impaired in the experimental group than in the control group (p = 0.001). Pain significantly impaired relationships with others in the experimental group compared to the control group (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Subjects in the experimental group showed a significant decrease in pain in all areas after therapeutic treatment with KT compared to subjects in the control group.

Introduction: Aging is a natural physiological process based on disturbances of homeostatic mechanisms and loss of adaptability that significantly affects life activities over time. The activities of daily living (ADL) in old age represent the relationship between the subjective characteristics of each individual, supplemented by previous life experiences, and objective socioeconomic factors that create a desirable living framework for people in the third age. The objectives of this research are to analyze the sociodemographic characteristics of third-age people, to study the daily activities of third-age people, and to compare the daily life activities of third-age people living in a rural setting with those of third-age people living in an urban setting. Methods: The research was conducted in the area of urban and rural environment of Travnik municipality. One hundred elderly people (50 from urban and 50 from rural areas) were included in the research using the snowball method. The instrument used in our research is a standardized questionnaire on instrumental ADL (IADL) according to Lawton-Brody. The study was conducted during the period from the end of March to the end of May 2022. Results: There is a statistically significant difference in ADL in all eight domains. The mean IADL score in the total sample (n = 100) was 6.36 ± 1.78 and ranged from 1 to 8. The largest number of respondents had the highest IADL score of 8 in 41% of cases, while only one respondent had an IADL score of 1. Conclusion: The obtained results prove that the score of ADL is lower in people of third-age living in rural areas.