Fabiana Forti

Postura crânio-cervical em mulheres disfônicas

Purpose: To analyze the posture and the function of the craniocervical region in women with dysphonia. METHODS: Twenty eight women participated in the study (31.25±8.14 years), divided into two groups: experimental (N=16, patients with dyphonia) and control (N=12, clinically normal). The volunteers were submitted to evaluation of the Craniocervical Dysfunction Index (CDI) and photogrammetry, determining the anterior angle formed between the seventh cervical vertebra and the tragus, which corresponds to the head position in the sagittal plane. The analysis of the photos was carried out by three examiners, twice each, with an interval of one week between them. Data analysis used the Shapiro-Wilk test, followed by the Students t-test, (p<0,05). RESULTS: No difference was found between the mean values of the anterior angle of the control (50.92±5.18 degrees) and the experimental (49.63±5.46 degrees) groups in the photogrammetry (p=0.2565). The CDI showed that the experimental group had craniocervical dysfunction, which was mild in 37.5% of the cases, moderate, in 37.5%, and severe in 25%. In the control group, 100% of the volunteers had presented mild craniocervical dysfunction. CONCLUSION: There was no difference between the evaluated groups regarding head position. However, dysphonic women presented more severe craniocervical dysfunction than the group control.

Estimulação elétrica nervosa transcutânea em mulheres disfônicas

BACKGROUND: studies indicate correlation between dysphonia and muscle tension. AIM: to evaluate bilaterally the electrical activity of the suprahyoid muscles (SH), sternocleidomastoid (SCM), and trapezius (T), the presence of pain and the voice, after applying transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS). METHOD: ten (10) women with nodules or bilateral mucus thickening, and phonation fissure. Volunteers were submitted to 10 TENS sessions (200µs and 10Hz) for 30 minutes. Pain was evaluated using an analogical visual scale; the voice was evaluated through laryngoscopy and through a perceptive-auditory and acoustic analysis; and the myoelectric signal was converted using the Root Media Square (RMS). Voice and EMG data gathering was performed during the production of the E/vowel and during spontaneous speech (SS). STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Shapiro-Wilk Test followed by the Wilcoxon Test, or t Student, or Friedman Test (p < 0.05). RESULTS: It was observed that the TENS decreased the RMS readings, pre and pos treatment, for the Right T (RT) (2.80 ± 1.36 to 1.77 ± 0.93), the Left T (LT) (3.62 ± 2.10 to 2.10 ± 1.06), the Left SCM (LSCM) (2.64 ± 0.69 to 1.94 ± 0.95), and the SH (11.59 ± 7.72 to 7.82 ± 5.95) during the production of the E/vowel; and for the RT (3.56 ± 2.77 to 1.93 ± 1.13), the LT (4.68 ± 2.56 to 3.09 ± 2.31), the Right SCM (RSCM) (3.94 ± 2.04 to 2.51 ± 1.87), and the LSCM (3.54 ± 1.04 to 3.12 ± 3.00) during SS. A relieve in pain was also observed. Regarding the voice analysis, there was a decrease in level of laryngeal injuries; no difference was observed during the production of the E/vowel in the perceptive-auditory analysis; there was a decrease in the level of dysphonia and hoarseness during SS. CONCLUSION: TENS is effective in improving the clinical and functional signs of dysphonic women.

Efeitos da glutamina e da estimulação elétrica sobre o perfil metabólico de músculos desnervados

The purpose of this work was to evaluate the glycogen content of normal and denervated soleus (S) and gastrocnemius muscles, plasmatic concentration of glucose and lactic acid, besides soleus muscle weight of male rats, submitted to electrical stimulation (ES) (20 minutes/day, f= 10 Hz; i= 5mA; t= 3 ms) in alternated days, associated (ES+G) or not to glutamine during 30 days. The denervation promoted a significant reduction (p < 0,05) of 40.91% in S glycogen reserves, 38.77% in white gastrocnemius (WG) and 64.61% in red gastrocnemius (RG). The ES promoted glycogen significant increase (p < 0.05) of 111.36% in Control (C) S content and 103.84% in Denervated (D); 114.28% in C-WG and 153.33% in DWG; 41.54% in C-RG and 147.83% in D-RG. In glutamine presence there was a significant increase (p < 0,05) of 54% in S glycogen, without alterations in other muscles of the C group and of 46% in S, 27% in WG and 52% in RG in D. The glycogen also presented significant increase (p < 0,05) in ES+G group of 104.54% in C-S and 100% in D-S; 70.45% in C-WG and 110% in D-WG; 27.69% in C-RG and 100% in D-RG. In relation to the S weight, there was a decrease of 43.73% in D group (p < 0,05), however the ES treatment promoted a significant increase (p < 0,05) of 9.76% in D. The associated treatment promoted an increase of 43.11% in C and 38.11% in D (p < 0,05). The results demonstrated that ES associated or not to glutamine maintain metabolic profile of skeletal muscles ensuring adequate cellular energetic supply, besides minimize the muscular weight loss after denervation