Evanirso S. Aquino

Análise comparativa e reprodutibilidade do teste de caminhada com carga progressiva (modificado) em crianças normais e em portadoras de fibrose cística

OBJECTIVE To analyze the shuttle walk test, and its respective retest, comparing children with cystic fibrosis (CF) to normal children. METHODS The children were divided into two groups: the CF group, composed of children in whom the diagnosis had been confirmed through sweat testing; and the control group, composed of normal children with no history of pulmonary diseases and no alterations in respiratory function. The children were submitted to at least two consecutive tests, 30 min apart. We evaluated distance walked, cardiac overload, peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2) and subjective perception of exertion (dyspnea at rest scale and Borg dyspnea scale). RESULTS A total of 28 children were evaluated. Ages ranged from 7 to 15 years (11.57 +/= 2.50 and 11.28 +/= 1.85 years for the CF and control groups, respectively). The Borg scale scores were significantly higher in the controls (p = 0.007). No differences were found regarding cardiac overload and SpO2. In relation to the intergroup retest, the controls presented significant improvements on the second test, both in the distance walked and in dyspnea at rest (p = 0.014 and p = 0.036, respectively). The CF group presented a significant improvement only in the dyspnea at rest score (p = 0.168 and p = 0.042, respectively). CONCLUSION The cardiac overload imposed by the test did not differ between the groups. The greater fatigue at the beginning of the second test suggests that the 30 min rest between the tests was insufficient.

Repercussões da insuficiência renal crônica na capacidade de exercício, estado nutricional, função pulmonar e musculatura respiratória de crianças e adolescentes

Objective: To evaluate functional capacity, pulmonary function, respiratory musculature and nutritional status among children and adolescents with chronic renal insufficiency (CRI) undergoing conservative treatment. Methods: This study was conducted with 30 volunteers, divided into two groups: a group of children and adolescents with CRI undergoing conservative therapy (CRI Group) and a group without renal disease (Control Group). The volunteers underwent physical therapy evaluation, spirometry, strength and resistance tests on their respiratory musculature, nutritional status evaluation and functional capacity assessment. The data were analyzed using the Mann-Whitney test with a significance level of 5%. Results: The Tiffeneau index was significantly lower in the CRI Group (p= 0.003). In relation to respiratory muscle function, the maximum expiratory pressure values were lower (p= 0.010) and the time values of the resistance test were greater (p= 0.003). In the functional assessment, the variables that differed statistically were: lower distance walked (p< 0.001), greater mean arterial pressure (p< 0.001), final respiratory rate (p< 0.001) and Borg scale (p= 0.048). Regarding nutritional status, all the statistically significant variables were lower. Conclusions: Children and adolescents with CRI undergoing conservative treatment may present significantly impaired functional capacity, respiratory musculature and nutritional status.