**About the Editors**

**Agnieszka Guzik** (DMSc.—higher doctoral degree, Professor of the University of Rzeszow): ´ From 2008 to 2016, Dr. Guzik worked as an assistant at the Department of Rehabilitation at the Institute of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Medicine of the University of Rzeszow. From 2016 to 2019, ´ she was employed as an assistant professor at the Department of Rehabilitation at the Institute of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rzeszow. In December 2019, she received a ´ higher doctoral degree in medical sciences (DMSc) in the discipline of Health Sciences, following a habilitation procedure held at the Medical University of Silesia. In January 2020, she was nominated for a position of Professor at the University of Rzeszow. From 2019, she has been the head of the ´ laboratory for physiotherapy of adult patients with neurological and neurosurgical conditions, as well as the Dean's proxy at the College of Medical Sciences. In her research, she has been involved in numerous projects focusing on the assessment of gait in patients with hemiparesis following damage to the central nervous system and additionally designed to investigate the use of biological feedback methods in neurological rehabilitation. At the same time, she acquired professional experience as a physiotherapist. From 2011, she was employed in the Ars Medica clinic in Krasne, where she worked with patients representing various age groups and dysfunctions and during 2013–2014 in the Early Intervention Centre (OWI) in Rzeszow. Her research interests include gait analysis, neurological gait ´ disorders, and neurorehabilitation.

**Lidia Perenc** (DMSc.—higher doctoral degree, Professor of the University of Rzeszow): ´ Dr. Perenc is a graduate of the Medical University in Poznan. After obtaining the professional title ´ of physician, she became a specialist in paediatrics and medical rehabilitation. In 2004, she received a doctorate in medical sciences at the Medical University in Katowice on the basis of a dissertation entitled "Somatic development of children operated because of meningo-myelocele". In 2018, she obtained the degree of the habilitated doctor at the Collegium Medicum of the Jagiellonian University in Krakow. Since 1999, she has been employed at the University of Rzeszow. Currently, she is the ´ director of the Institute of Health Sciences of this university. She is also employed at the Ward of Neurological Rehabilitation for Children and Youth, Regional Clinical Hospital No. 2, in Rzeszow.

**Mariusz Druzbicki ˙** (DMSc.—higher doctoral degree in Health Sciences, Professor of the University of Rzeszow): Dr. Dru ´ zbicki holds the following science degrees: Master's Degree in ˙ Physical Education, Physical Education Faculty, Major in Teaching, from the Academy of Physical Education in Cracow (1989); Master's Degree in Physiotherapy, Physical Education Faculty, Major in Physiotherapy, from the Academy of Physical Education in Cracow (1991); PhD in Physical Education Science Physiotherapy, from the Academy of Physical Education in Cracow (2004). In 2018, he became an Associate Professor of the Academy of Physical Education in Cracow; in 2019, he became a Professor at the University of Rzeszow. Regarding his employment by scientific entities, since ´ 2008, he has been the Manager of the Biomechanics Workshop, Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Medical Faculty, University of Rzeszow; since 2016, he has been the Manager of the ´ Laboratory of Innovative Biofeedback Methods at the Centre for Innovative Research in Medical and Natural Sciences at the Medical Faculty, University of Rzeszow; since 2019, he has been the Manager ´ and Chair of Physiotherapy at the Medical College of Rzeszow University; since 2001, he has been a ´ Senior Assistant at the Rehabilitation Ward of County Hospital nr 2 in Rzeszow; since 2012, he has ´ been the Manager of Physiotherapy at County Clinical Hospital nr 2 in Rzeszow. His main directions ´ of research are neurorehabilitation, biomechanics, and gait analysis.

### **Preface to "Disorders of Motor, Somatic and Cognitive Development in Children with Neurodysfunctions"**

Dysfunctions in a child's nervous system may be caused by numerous factors: genetic, physical, chemical, or environmental. The prevalence of neurodysfunctions in pediatric populations is relatively high compared to defects of other systems. This is linked to the fact that the development of the specific structures of the nervous system occurs over a relatively long period of time, during which the processes are affected by harmful factors. It may be difficult to accurately identify the cause, even in half of the children affected by the condition. The dysfunctions of the nervous system may have an impact on locomotion, somatic growth, and cognitive and social development. Therefore, children and adolescents with neurodysfunctions require continuous, comprehensive rehabilitation, covering not only motor functions but also mental and social ones. We hope that this book will reach a wide range of readers who have a professional interest in children and adolescents with neurodysfunctions. It will certainly be useful to physiotherapists, medical doctors, psychologists, and all members of interdisciplinary therapeutic teams.

> **Agnieszka Guzik, Lidia Perenc, Mariusz Druzbicki ˙** *Editors*
