Maria das Graças Rodrigues de Araújo

Análise do desempenho motor associado ao estado nutricional de idosos cadastrados no Programa Saúde da Família, no município de Vitória de Santo Antão-PE

The scope of this paper was to investigate the relationship between the nutritional status and the motor skills of the elderly registered in the Family Health Program in the urban area of Vitória de Santo Antão in the State of Pernambuco, by means of a transversal epistemological descriptive-analytical field study. The participants of this survey were 235 elders, both male and female of 60-years-old and over registered in the family health program in the urban area of the city. The nutritional status was evaluated by the body mass index and the circumference of the calf. Four motor tests were used to evaluate motor performance: Time Up&Go, Tinettis Index, Functional Reach and Unipodal Support. The associations were checked using Spearmans correlation. The association of the nutritional status with the motor tests was statistically significant among males* or females**: (Time Up&Go rho = 0.290* / 350**; Functional Reach rho = 0.232* / 352**; Tinettis Index rho = 243* / 363** and Unipodal Support rho = 221* / 475**. The evaluation of the results revealed an association between nutritional status and functional capacity of the elders no matter what gender; with obesity being a limiting nutritional condition to adequate performance in the tests.

Hippotherapy as a treatment for socialization after sexual abuse and emotional stress.

[Purpose] Hippotherapy is a therapeutic resource that uses the horse as a kinesiotherapy instrument to elicit motor and cognitive improvements in individuals with special needs. [Subjects and Methods] This research evaluated two women aged 18 and 21 years, who had suffered sexual violence when they were children between the ages of 6 and 7 years old. The subjects did not have mental dysfunction but they were regular students registered at a school of special education. The patients presented severe motor limitation, difficulty with coordination, significant muscular retractions, thoracic and cervical kyphosis, cervical protrusion wich was basically a function of the postures they had adopted when victims of the sexual violence suffered in childhood. The patients performed twenty sessions of 30 minutes of hippotherapy on a horse. The activities were structured to stimulate coordination, proprioception, the vestibular and motor-sensorial systems for the improvement of posture, muscle activity and cognition. [Results] The activities provided during the hippotherapy sessions elicited alterations in postural adjustment resulting in 30% improvement, 80% improvement in coordination in, 50% improvement in corporal balance and in sociability and self-esteem. [Conclusion] Hippotherapy proved to be an effective treatment method for coordination, balance and postural correction, and also improved the patients’ self-esteem that had suffered serious emotional stress.

Evidence of an inverse correlation between serotonergic activity and spreading depression propagation in the rat cortex

Various neurological and psychiatric diseases lead to alterations in cortical serotonergic activity as one of their underlying processes. However, the electrophysiological implication of changes in serotonergic activity remains a matter of investigation. In this study, we investigated whether brain serotonergic activity influences the excitability-related phenomenon known as cortical spreading depression (CSD). CSD parameters (propagation velocity, and amplitude and duration of the DC-shift) was evaluated in rats that received two treatments that increased cortical serotonergic activity, electrical stimulation of the raphe nuclei and subcutaneous injection of a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, sumatriptan. A third group of rats was tested on a low-tryptophan diet rat model of serotonin depletion. Control rats for these three groups received, respectively, sham raphe stimulation, saline injection, and a tryptophan-supplemented diet. Compared to controls, electrical stimulation of the raphe nuclei and sumatriptan administration decelerated CSD and increased the duration of the negative DC-shift of CSD, whereas the low-tryptophan diet was associated with significantly accelerated CSD propagation and shortened DC-shift of CSD (p<0.05). We concluded that serotonergic neurons are very important for stabilizing the delicate equilibrium between excitatory and inhibitory neuronal influences that determines cortical excitability and CSD propagation. Our pharmacological, electrophysiological and dietary data suggest that cortical serotonergic activity negatively modulates CSD propagation in the rat cortex. Reduced central serotonergic activity, as can be observed in several neurological and psychiatric diseases, may constitute a pathological factor for increased sensitivity to CSD.

Impact of dry needling and ischemic pressure in the myofascial syndrome: controlled clinical trial

Introducao A dor musculoesqueletica e uma condicao clinica comum e cerca de 10% da populacao possui disturbio do sistema musculoesqueletico. Objetivo O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar se a compressao isquemica e o agulhamento seco sao tecnicas capazes de reduzir a dor de pacientes com sindrome miofascial. Metodo 22 pacientes com idade entre 20-75 anos foram randomizados em 3 grupos: compressao isquemica (GCI = 8), agulhamento seco (GAS = 7) e controle (GC = 7). Os pacientes do GCI e GAS foram avaliados antes e apos as 10 sessoes terapeuticas, que ocorreram 3 vezes por semana. O GC foi avaliado inicialmente e reavaliado 3 semanas depois. Para mensuracao da dor usou-se a Escala Visual Analogica (EVA) e da qualidade de vida o WHOQOL-BREF (5 dominios: global, fisico, psicologico, social e meio ambiente). Resultados A analise dos dados clinicos e demograficos mostrou que nao houve diferenca entre os grupos, exceto para idade (p = 0,042). Os resultados da EVA expressaram que o GCI teve reducao da dor na maioria das sessoes, o mesmo nao se observou para o GAS. Comparando os 2 grupos obteve-se diferenca na 4a e 8a sessoes. Os resultados do WHOQOL-BREF demonstraram que os 3 grupos tiveram um aumento significante no dominio psicologico. O mesmo nao ocorreu para os dominios global, fisico, meio ambiente e social. Conclusao A compressao isquemica e o agulhamento seco foram capazes de reduzir a dor dos pacientes e tambem intervir na sua qualidade de vida, especificamente no aspecto psicologico.

Effects of transcranial direct current stimulation on motor learning in healthy individuals: a systematic review

Introduction Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has been used to modify cortical excitability and promote motor learning. Objective To systematically review published data to investigate the effects of transcranial direct current stimulation on motor learning in healthy individuals. Methods Randomized or quasi-randomized studies that evaluated the tDCS effects on motor learning were included and the risk of bias was examined by Cochrane Collaboration’s tool. The following electronic databases were used: PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, LILACS, CINAHL with no language restriction. Results It was found 160 studies; after reading the title and abstract, 17 of those were selected, but just 4 were included. All studies involved healthy, right-handed adults. All studies assessed motor learning by the Jebsen Taylor Test or by the Serial Finger Tapping Task (SFTT). Almost all studies were randomized and all were blinding for participants. Some studies presented differences at SFTT protocol. Conclusion The result is insufficient to draw conclusions if tDCS influences the motor learning. Furthermore, there was significant heterogeneity of the stimulation parameters used. Further researches are needed to investigate the parameters that are more important for motor learning improvement and measure whether the effects are long-lasting or limited in time.

Pain threshold, sleep quality and anxiety levels in individuals with temporomandibular disorders

Purpose: to evaluate the pressure pain threshold, sleep quality and anxiety levels of individuals with different types of chronic temporomandibular disorders (TMD). Methods: a controlled, observational and cross-sectional study. TMD diagnosis followed the Research Diagnostic Criteria and the volunteers were divided into three groups: A-Muscular Disorder (n = 15), BArticular Disorder (n = 10) and CControl Group (n = 15). Evaluation was performed using the Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index, Visual Analog Scale, Algometry and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. The significance level for all tests was 5%. Results: lower threshold of pain was seen in the masticatory and cervical musculature within groups A and B. However, when TMD groups were compared to the control group, only a statistically significant difference in the pain threshold of the masticatory muscle and the trapezius muscle was found. Groups A and B presented poor sleep quality, showing a statistical difference when compared to the control group. Additionally, it was observed that patients in the groups with TMD presented anxiety, while those in the control group, did not present it. Conclusion: individuals presented with TMD show lower levels of pain threshold, sleep quality and anxiety, as compared to healthy subjects. These results do not depend on the type of disorder presented.

Cortical excitability variability: Insights into biological and behavioral characteristics of healthy individuals

Motor threshold (MT) measured by transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) has diagnostic utility in central nervous system disorders. Its diagnostic sensitivity may be enhanced by identification of non-pathological factors which may influence this measure. The aim of this study was to provide a description of MT variability across physiological and non-pathological behaviour characteristics in a large cohort, including hemispheric asymmetries. In a cross-sectional study, age, handedness, physical activity level, body mass index, gender/menstrual cycle phase, glycemic index and degree of stress were collected from 115 healthy participants. The resting MT of the first dorsal interosseous muscle to TMS was recorded in both hemispheres and served as an indicator of the cortical excitability level. Repeated measures ANOVAs revealed higher MT values in the non-dominant hemisphere, elderly people, stressed individuals and women with amenorrhea. Other biological and behavioral individual characteristics did not influence cortical excitability. Although the degree of interhemispheric difference varied (range: 0.2 to 4.3), depending on biological and behavioral characteristics, this variation was not significant (0.1 ≤ p ≤ 0.8). In conclusion, MT varied considerably between subjects. The difference between the hemisphere excitability that was less influenced by external factors, may be an alternative method of TMS measure to identify pathological changes of cortical excitability.

Sociodemographic indicators and quality of life of caregivers of children with neuromotor changes.

Introduction: Children with neuromotor changes are challenged daily, and such challenges may be faced with the help of a caregiver. Thus, the functional dependence of these children lead to the daily demands, causing physical and emotional distress, which affect the quality of life of their caregiver. Objective: Analyze the sociodemographic indicators that interfere with the level of life quality of the caregivers of children with neuromotor changes. Method: 50 caregivers of children with neuromotor changes were interviewed at the Association of Parents and Friends of the Exceptional (APAE) of Paraiba, on the city of Joao Pessoa. To evaluate the quality of life, the questionnaire SF-36 was used, in addition to collecting demographic data (sex, age, degree of kinship, marital status, number of children, school level and religion). For the data analysis, a descriptive study was developed, the normality test of Shapiro-Wilk was realized, followed by the inferential analysis with non-parametric correlation of Spearman, considering the significant value α = 0,05. Results: There was a predominance of the female sex (96%) with medium age of ≥ 39 years old. Correlating the sociodemographic indicators with the level of life quality of the SF-36 of the caregivers, only the vitality domain presented significance with the variables: number of children (p=0,012), benefits (p=0,044), and how the transfer of the child is done (p=0,044). There was no significant difference relating the sociodemographic indicators on the other domains. Conclusion: The knowledge of sociodemographic indicators that interfere with the quality of life shows the importance of preventive measures, such as guidance and, if needed, treatment for improvement of possible grievances.

Musculoskeletal disorders in manual therapistis.

Introduction : Musculoskeletal Disorders (MDEs) are inflammatories and degenerative diseases that are a public health problem. In recent years among registered occupational diseases worldwide are the most prevalent, affecting the quality of life of individuals. Objective: To investigate the occurrence and characteristics of MDEs on physiotherapists who use manual therapy techniques in Recife-Pernambuco. Method: 34 therapists of both genders responded standardized questionnaire (demographic characteristics and complaints of musculoskeletal diseases) in regular time and in the workplace (public and private health services). Data were analyzed by chi-square test ((c 2 ), a significance level of 95% (p <0.05), BioEstat program version 3.0. Results: It was found that 88.2% of the sample refers to any type of MDEs, but the spine (76.6%) and upper (70.6%) were most often affected, especially wrists and hands (56,7% ).There were no significant correlations between MDEs and gender of the therapist and not with the playing time (years) profession, however the occurrence of these disturbances was correlated to the age of the professional. There was a direct relationship between workload and the presence of DMEs. Conclusion: The results indicate that the manual therapists in the performance of intense activity partners have high percentages of involvement by musculoskeletal disorders, requiring preventive ergonomic measures.

Postural phenotype assessment in pupils: a new clinic approach

Background: The most postural problems begin in the puberty, when the body structure is in development process and the hormone release causes the differentiated growth of boys and girls, this way, which may interfere in the posture and the postural balance of the person. Objective: Analyze phenotypic parameters postural in students adolescent. Method: A cross-sectional study was realized in 72 adolescent from public school in Lagarto/SE, aged between 10 and 15 years. The participants were divided in two groups according to sex gender (G1: female group; G2: male group) and age subgroups (SB1: adolescents aged 10-12 years; SB2: adolescents aged 13-15 years), with the same BMI. The research develops through anthropometric and clinical data, weighing schoolbags, static postural assessment through biophotogrammetry, stabilometric measurement parameters through a force platform. Results: The investigation revealed that the student has a reduced mobility of the joints of the spine and, in the two groups, the schoolbags were not overloaded. The prevalence of scoliosis was 33.3%, being more frequent in G2. About postural angles , G1 suffers from a higher valgus knee , hyperextension of the knee and lumbar concavity in turn , G2 Suffers from tilt of the body , knee flexion , cervical concavity and thoracic kyphosis . There was not difference in body balance variables between boys and girls and the correlation between postural alignment and balance. Conclusion: The study suggests that the body development phase in the school period favors the differentiations phenotypic postural.