Bruna Knob

Physiotherapeutic intervention on chronic lumbar pain impact in the elderly

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Geriatric population is considerably increasing. However, musculoskeletal disorders, especially chronic low back pain, which is one of the most common complaints during outpatient assistance, seem to grow together with this phenomenon and physiotherapy may be an alternative to treat such pathology. This study aimed at reviewing in the literature information about physiotherapeutic management for chronic low back pain in the elderly. CONTENTS: Twenty-six articles were selected by means of a query with research keywords in electronic databases Scielo and Pubmed, published in Portuguese and English, using the keywords low back pain ( dor lombar ), chronic pain ( dor cronica ), physical therapy specialty ( fisioterapia ) and aged ( idoso ), and published between 2006 and 2015. CONCLUSION: Different physiotherapeutic techniques and resources are effective to manage the impact of low back pain in the elderly, such as kinesiotherapy (especially by means of stabilizing exercises), electrotherapy, hydrotherapy and individual education management.

Força de preensão palmar em idosos: uma revisão integrativa

Aims: The aim this study is was to review in the literature studies on the handgrip strength analysis in the elderly. Source of data: Were selected manually manuscripts in the Portuguese and English languages indexed in the electronic databases SciELO, Lilacs and MEDLINE starting from the primary descriptor “Forca da mao” (“Hand Strength”) in crossroads with the secondary descriptors “Idoso” (“Aged”) and “Envelhecimento” (“Aging”), all according to the Descriptors of Health Sciences. Summary of findings: We included studies, with samples composed of elderly submitted to the hand strength test, by means of manual dynamometry. Was found 4155 articles in the search. Of these, 65 articles were read carefully and 08 were included in the present review. Conclusions: In short, older men have a higher palmar grip strength compared to women. Furthermore, risk factors such as osteoporosis, pain and malnutrition may influence in handgrip strength and general muscular strength of the elderly, and regular physical exercises may increase or prevent loss of manual force.

Intervenção fisioterapêutica na dor e na qualidade de vida em idosos com esclerose sistêmica. Relato de casos

JUSTIFICATIVA E OBJETIVOS: A esclerose sistemica e uma doenca cronica, multissistemica e autoimune, caracterizada por angiopatia disseminada em pequena e microcirculacao, fenomeno de Raynoud e fibrose cutânea e de orgaos internos. A fisioterapia tem se mostrado uma alternativa eficaz no combate aos agravos osteomioarticulares causados pela doenca. O objetivo deste estudo foi verificar os efeitos de um programa de intervencao fisioterapeutica na dor e na qualidade de vida de dois idosos com esclerose sistemica. RELATOS DOS CASOS: Estudo longitudinal e intervencionista de natureza estudo de caso. Participaram do estudo dois idosos com esclerose sistemica atendidos na Clinica de Fisioterapia da Universidade de Passo Fundo/RS. Os idosos foram submetidos a uma avaliacao inicial que constituiu na coleta de dados (anamnese e exame fisico-funcional) e na aplicacao da escala analogica visual e do Questionario de Qualidade de Vida - Medical Outcomes Study 36 - Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36), traduzido e validado para o portugues. Apos a avaliacao inicial os idosos foram submetidos a um programa de intervencao baseado na cinesioterapia, com frequencia de duas sessoes semanais e duracao de 1h por sessao, totalizando 15 sessoes. De acordo com a escala analogica visual os pacientes apresentaram melhora no quadro algico e de acordo com o SF-36 melhora na sua qualidade de vida. CONCLUSAO: O protocolo de intervencao fisioterapeutica baseado na cinesioterapia mostrou-se uma estrategia eficaz no tratamento da dor e na melhora da qualidade de vida em idosos portadores de esclerose sistemica.BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Systemic sclerosis is a chronic, multi-systemic and auto-immune disease, characterized by widespread angiopathy in small and microcirculation, Raynoud’s phenomenon and skin and internal organs fibrosis. Physiotherapy is an effective alternative to fight musculoskeletal injuries caused by the disease. This study aimed at evaluating the effects of a physiotherapy program on pain and quality of life of two systemic sclerosis elderly patients. CASE REPORTS: Longitudinal and interventionist case study. Participated in the study two elderly patients with systemic sclerosis, treated in the Physiotherapy Clinic, Universidade de Passo Fundo/RS. Patients were submitted to baseline evaluation made up of data collection (history and physical-functional evaluation) and application of the visual analog scale and of the Quality of Life Questionnaire – Medical Outcomes Study 36 – Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) translated and validated to the Portuguese language. After baseline evaluation, elderly patients were submitted to a kinesiotherapy-based intervention program, with frequency of 2 weekly sessions and duration of 1h per session, in a total of 15 sessions. According to the visual analog scale, patients have improved pain and, according to SF-36, have improved quality of life. CONCLUSION: Kinesiotherapy-based physiotherapeutic intervention protocol was an effective strategy to treat pain and improve quality of life of systemic sclerosis elderly patients.