Introduction: Patients following the acute stage of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 were shown to present with persisting symptoms including fatigue, dyspnea, joint pain, and chest pain. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of a 6-week home physiotherapy program on the psychological and physical symptoms, as well as the physical abilities to perform activities of daily living in post-COVID-19 patients. Methods: The subjects were 39 adult patients who had been diagnosed with COVID-19 and had been hospitalized at the University Clinical Center of Kosovo. Patients initially underwent a physiotherapy assessment 2-3 weeks after discharge from the hospital, including sociodemographic data, psychological and physical symptoms, and functional performance in daily activities using the Patient-Specific Functional Scale (PSFS). Based on their functional capacity, the patients received two types of brochures for a home physiotherapy program that was carried out over the next 6 weeks. Upon the completion of the physiotherapy program, 23 patients reported for the second physiotherapy assessment. The Mann–Whitney Wilcoxon test was used for comparison of the variables obtained during the first and second assessments. Results: Pre–post analysis showed that the symptoms including excessive fatigue, difficulty breathing, and insomnia were significantly less present following the home physiotherapy program (p = 0.005; p = 0.008; p = 0.034). On the PSFS scale, the mean score increased from 5.2 (2.1) to 7.8 (0.5) for stair climbing, from 5.5 (1.8) to 8.8 (1.6) for walking longer distances, and from 3.7 (3.2) to 4.0 (5.6) for running. Conclusion: Although limited by the absence of a control group, the findings from this study indicate that home physiotherapy intervention can be feasible and effective in enhancing psychological and physical symptoms, as well as activities of daily living in post-COVID-19 patients following hospitalization.

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: 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: Laboratory professionals (LP) are exposed to various hazards in the workplace, whose direct and/or cumulative effects can lead to the development of health disorders of varying severity. Our study aims to assess the level of occupational risk in biomedical laboratories. Subjects and methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted between November 2020 and February 2021. The study included LP of all profiles in Europe, and the territorial affiliation of the respondents formed the basis for the formation of the groups studied. A validated questionnaire used for data collection was distributed online through the networks of professional associations. Based on the type of agent, frequency of exposure, characteristics of the workplace and work process, and individual factors, an occupational risk assessment matrix was created in categories ranging from low to very high. Descriptive and inferential statistical methods with a statistical significance threshold of 5% (p ≤ 0.05) were used for the statistical analysis. Results: Significant differences in risk categorization were found between the groups studied (p < 0.001). Overall, 81.2% of LP in the European Union fall into the medium risk category, while more than half (52.1%) of LP and 1.7% of LP in Bosnia and Herzegovina fall into the high and very high risk categories. Higher education, service longer than 21 years, public sector, and biochemistry laboratory were identified as predictors of high risk, while predictors of very high risk were higher education, service of 21 to 30 years, public sector, and histopathology and molecular laboratories. Conclusions: Lack of equipment, organizational issues and working conditions were identified as weak points that directly correlate with risk levels in biomedical laboratory workplaces. Additional efforts to control exposure in biomedical laboratories are needed to maintain the health of LP.

Uvod: Mišićno-koštani poremećaji uzrokovani radom (engl. Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders – WRMSDs) najčešća su oboljenja povezana s radom, a opisuju širok dijapazon degenerativnih i upalnih stanja. WRMSDs pogađaju milione radnika na području cijele Evrope i svijeta, a sami poslodavci zbog njihovih posljedica troše milijarde eura. Zdravstvo kao poseban sektor ima jednu od najvećih prevalenci radom uzrokovanih mišićno-koštanih poremećaja (MKP) u svijetu daleko ispred građevinarstva, rudarstva i proizvodnje. Ispitanici i metode: U istraživanje bilo je uključeno 177 zdravstvenih profesionalca oba spola koji su svojim radom aktivno uključeni u pružanje zdravstvenih usluga, kategorizirani prema životnoj dobi i vrsti radnih zadataka koje obavljaju u različitim položajima tijela u okviru svojih stručnih službi. Instrumenti koji su se koristili u istraživanju su standardizirani holandski upitnik za MKP (Dutch Musculoskeletal Discomfort Questionnaire – DMQ), standardizirani upitnik za procjenu indeksa radne sposobnosti (Work Ability Index – WAI) i ergonomski interventni program. Istraživanje je trajalo od januara 2021. do oktobra 2021. godine. Rezultati: Najveća učestalost MKP povezanih s radom kod zdravstvenih profesionalaca prije i poslije provođenja ergonomskog interventnog programa bila je u području vrata (83,1% prije, 64,9% poslije), u regiji gornjeg dijela leđa (71,8% prije, 56,5% poslije) te u regiji donjeg dijela leđa (68,4% prije, 55,9% poslije). Prosječna vrijednost indeksa radne sposobnosti prije uvođenja ergonomskog interventnog programa iznosila je 35,44±8,59, dok se poslije provedenog ergonomskog interventnog programa statistički signifikantno povećala i iznosila je 38,40±7,30. Zaključak: Ergonomski interventni program je utjecao na smanjenje učestalosti MKP uzrokovanih radom, i povećanje radne sposobnost zdravstvenih profesionalaca.

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.

Extended hospitalization due to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) is associated with residual musculoskeletal and functional deficits lasting even 6 months after discharge; therefore, it is crucial that post‐hospitalized patients are promptly assessed. The aim of this study was to identify post‐COVID‐19 patients' functional status and quality of life, as well as to investigate their inter‐relatedness 2–3 weeks after hospital discharge.

Introduction: The most general definition of quality of life states that “quality of life is the degree of what makes life good.” Contemporary disability research increasingly relies on examining the quality of life of the whole family. Health and developmental outcomes are affected by the health of children and their environment. The objective of this study is to determine the difference in quality of life between families with children with disabilities and families with children without disabilities in the area of family health. Methods: The Family Quality of Life Questionnaire was used to assess quality of life. The test group consisted of 41 families of children with intellectual disabilities and developmental disabilities who use day care centers. The control group consisted of 69 families of children without disabilities whose members are employed in day care centers. Results: A statistically significant difference was found in the quality of life of families of children with disabilities and families of children without disabilities in the area of family health within the concept of satisfaction with family health (p = 0.0001), with respondents in the test group reporting a lower mean score of 3.1 ± 0.86 compared to subjects in the control group 3.94 ± 0.62. None of the respondents in the test group reported being very satisfied with family health, while for most respondents in both groups, 38 (92.8%) in the test group and 66 (95.7%) in the control group, family health was very important for quality of life. Conclusion: A statistically significant difference was found in the quality of life of families of children with disabilities and families of children without disabilities within the concept of achievement, the concept of satisfaction with family health and the determination is a statistically significant difference in relation to the existence of health services in the place of residence.

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: Knee osteoarthritis (OA) develops gradually and causes pain, a decrease in range of motion, muscle mass, and strength and leads to a decrease in physical activity and a poor quality of life for the patient. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of different physiotherapy programs on pain intensity, range of motion, and quality of life in people with knee OA. Methods: The study was designed as a prospective, experimental, and randomized trial. Sixty subjects of both sexes and all ages with OA of the knee were enrolled in the study. In the studied Group I (n = 30), in addition to the standard protocol, high induction electromagnetic stimulation was applied using a Salus Talent device with a strength of 3 T and a frequency of up to 50 Hz for 10 min. In the test Group II (n = 30), in addition to the standard protocol, high-intensity laser therapy (HILT) with a power of 5 J was applied with the help of the Ilux Yag 1064 device for 7 min. The therapy protocol for both test groups lasted 8 weeks, with subjects treated once a week. Results: Analysis of the mean scores on the VAS scale shows that in both groups, the lowest mean scores were recorded in the III measurement (4.35) and the highest in the I measurement (7.96). In all three measurements, there was a difference in the extent of mobility of internal rotation in the form of a higher average range of motion in the test group II, in which HILT was applied. Analysis of the mean scores on the knee injury and osteoarthritis outcome score quality of life scale showed that in both groups, the lowest mean scores were recorded at the first measurement (14.84), with the mean score increasing at the second (32.95) and third measurements (41.08). Conclusion: Both methods showed significant results in reducing pain intensity, improving knee mobility, activities of daily living, and quality of life in people with knee OA. The obtained data do not give preference to any method but indicate them as adequate physiotherapy protocols to improve the function and quality of life of people with knee OA.