Perfil dos indivíduos com doença de Parkinson atendidos no setor de fisioterapia de um hospital universitário no Rio de Janeiro / Profile of individuals with Parkinson's disease cared in a physical therapy sector of an university hospital in Rio de Janeiro

Na doença de Parkinson (DP), uma desordem neurológica complexa, ocorre depleção de dopamina por degeneração dos neurônios da substância negra, ocasionando perdas motoras e cognitivas. Os quatro principais sintomas que acometem indivíduos com DP são o tremor de repouso, a rigidez, a bradicinesia e a instabilidade postural. Essas alterações podem aumentar o risco de quedas e trazer prejuízos para as atividades e participação social dos indivíduos. O objetivo deste estudo é avaliar a funcionalidade, incapacidade e qualidade de vida dos pacientes com DP em atendimento fisioterapêutico em um hospital universitário no Rio de Janeiro. Os pacientes foram avaliados por meio dos seguintes instrumentos: escala de Hoehn e Yahr, questionário sobre a qualidade de vida na doença de Parkinson - PDQ-39 -, Miniexame do Estado Mental, Escala de Equilíbrio de Berg, teste de caminhada de 10 metros, timed up and go test, Dynamic Gait Index, Escala Unificada de Avaliação para a Doença de Parkinson e Escala de Schwab e England. Embora a maior parte dos indivíduos estivesse no estágio 3 de Hoehn e Yahr, a maioria apresentou risco de queda diminuído, bom estado cognitivo e emocional, qualidade de vida moderada e pouca dificuldade para a marcha e realização de atividades de vida diária (AVD). Os dados obtidos com este estudo servirão para a orientação da implementação de medidas fisioterapêuticas voltadas para essa amostra de pacientes, orientações de gestores para uma política de saúde efetiva e orientação de profissionais em busca de atendimento mais eficaz.

In Parkinson's disease (PD), a complex neurologic disorder, occurs dopamine depletion by lesions of the neurons that produce it, causing motor and cognitive impairments. The four main symptoms that affect individuals with PD are resting tremor, rigidity, bradykinesia and postural instability. These changes may increase the risk of falls and bring impairments to their activities and social participation. The aim of this study is to evaluate the functioning, disability and quality of life of PD patients cared in a physical therapy sector of an university hospital in Rio de Janeiro. Patients were assessed through the following instruments: Hoehn & Yahr Scale, quality of life questionnaire in Parkinson's disease - PDQ-39 -, Mini-mental, Berg Balance Scale, walk test of 10 meters, timed up and go test, Dynamic Gait Index, Unified Rating Scale for Parkinson's Disease and Schwab and England Scale. Although most of the individuals were on stage Hoehn & Yahr three, most showed decreased risk of fall, good cognitive and emotional state, a moderate quality of life and little difficulty in walking and performing activities of daily living (ADL). The data obtained here will serve to guide the implementation of physiotherapy measures aimed at this group of patients, managers of guidelines for an effective health policy and for the orientation of professionals in search of a more effective service.

Lower limb joint alignment and postural control in elderly women / Alinhamento articular de membros inferiores e controle postural em idosas

The aim of this study was to test whether quiet stance body sway is associated with ankle and knee joint angles in elderly women. Joint angles were measured using a manual goniometer and body sway was assessed using a force platform and four postural tasks with a combination of feet positions and eye condition. The sample (N = 58) showed the following angle values: 102 (100-104) for the tibiotarsal joint, 176 (174-180) for the subtalar joint, 184 (181-187) for knee flexion-extension, and 13 (10-15) for the Q-angle. Q-angle was significantly correlated (p < 0.05) with center of foot pressure (CP) displacement area (r = 0.36), anteroposterior (SDy, r = 0.34) and lateral (SDx, r = 0.31) CP standard deviation, and anteroposterior CP range (r = 0.38) during the closed base, eyes opened trial (CBEO). The valgus group showed statistically higher values than the normal and varus groups for SDy (0.56 vs. 0.52 and 0.46 mm; p = 0.02), SDx (0.55 vs. 0.49 and 0.36 mm; p = 0.02) and anteroposterior range (3.32 vs. 2.78 and 2.38 mm; p = 0.01), CBEO. The displacement velocity of the CP was significantly higher for the asymmetric than the symmetric Q-angle group (8.0 vs. 5.3 mm/s - closed base, eyes closed trial). Knee alignment was correlated with measures of body sway in elderly women, but ankle alignment showed no correlation. Knee morphology should be considered an associated factor for quiet stance postural control.

O objetivo do estudo foi verificar se a oscilação corporal na postura quieta está associada aos ângulos articulares de tornozelo e joelho em idosas. Os ângulos foram medidos por um goniômetro manual e a oscilação corporal foi obtida por uma plataforma de força em quatro situações (combinando posição dos pés e condição visual). A amostra (N = 58) apresentou os seguintes valores angulares: 102 (100-104) para o tibiotársico, 176 (174-180) para o subtalar, 184 (181-187) para flexão-extensão de joelho e 13 (10-15) para ângulo Q. O ângulo Q se correlacionou significativamente (p < 0,05) com a área do deslocamento do centro de pressão dos pés (CP) (r = 0,36); com o desvio padrão anteroposterior (SDy, r = 0,34) e lateral (SDx, r = 0,31) do CP; e com a amplitude anteroposterior do CP (r = 0,38), durante a condição de base fechada, olhos abertos (BFOA). O grupo valgo, quando comparado aos grupos normal e varo, apresentou valores estatisticamente maiores de SDy (0,56 vs. 0,52 and 0,46 mm; p = 0,02), SDx (0,55 vs. 0,49 and 0,36 mm; p = 0,02) e amplitude anteroposterior (3,32 vs. 2,78 and 2,38 mm; p = 0,01), BFOA. A velocidade de deslocamento do CP foi significativamente maior para o grupo com ângulo Q assimétrico, comparando com o simétrico (8,0 vs. 5,3 mm/s - condição de base fechada, olhos fechados). O alinhamento do joelho se correlacionou com medidas de oscilação corporal em idosas, mas o tornozelo não mostrou nenhuma correlação. A morfologia do joelho deve ser considerada um fator influenciador no controle postural estático.

Muscle performance, body fat, pain and function in the elderly with arthritis

Objective: To correlate muscule performance, body composition, pain and joint function in elderly people with gonarthrosis. Method: 21 elderly patients were submitted to bioelectrical impedance analysis, dynamometry associated with electromyographic (EMG) evaluation of isometric knee extension, in addition to pain assessment by the Numeric Pain Intensity Scale and function assessment, by the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities (WOMAC) Osteoarthritis (OA) questionnaire. Correlations were checked by the Pearson's correlation coefficient. Results: The sample characteristics were mean age 67.36 ± 4.21 years old, body fat percentage 40.57±6.15%, total WOMAC score 43.27 ± 16.32%, and maximum strength 19.95 ± 6.99 kgF. Pain during movement showed a statistical association with WOMAC physical activity domain (r = 0.47) and its general score (r = 0.51); pain intensity at night presented association with WOMAC stiffness domain (r = 0.55), in addition to the negative correlation with the slope values of the Medium Frequency of the EMG signal (r = - 0.57). Conclusion: pain intensity is correlated to functional incapacity in elderly people with knee OA and to a greater expression of fatigue in EMG signal. Levels of Evidence III, Study of non consecutive patients .

Abordagem fisioterapêutica da ataxia espinocerebelar: uma revisão sistemática / Physical therapy approach to spinocerebellar ataxia: a systematic review / El abordaje fisioterapéutico de la ataxia espinocerebelosa: una revisión sistemática

A ataxia espinocerebelar (SCA) é uma afecção hereditária que cursa com a degeneração progressiva do cerebelo e suas vias, causando alterações do equilíbrio e de outras funções. O efeito das abordagens da fisioterapia no tratamento da SCA e a qualidade metodológica desses estudos foram analisados. Foi investigado ainda se os benefícios alcançados com o tratamento são retidos. As intervenções encontradas incluem treino do equilíbrio, marcha e coordenação; fortalecimento; caneleiras nos membros durante exercícios e aplicação de estimulação magnética transcraniana. A retenção das melhoras obtidas com o tratamento foi relacionada ao grau de evolução da SCA e à continuidade da prática de exercícios. Porém, novos estudos com maior rigor científico são necessários para eleger as abordagens mais adequadas para o tratamento de portadores de SCA...

The spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA) is an inherited disorder that leads to progressive degeneration of the cerebellum and its pathways with impairments of balance and other functions. Physical therapy studies for SCA treatment and their methodological quality were examined. We also investigated if the benefits achieved with treatment can be retained. The interventions identified included balance, gait and coordination training; strengthening; weights around the limbs during exercise and transcranial magnetic stimulation. The long-term improvements were related to the degree of SCA evolution and the continuity of exercise practice. Nevertheless, further studies with higher scientific accuracy are necessary to elect the best physical therapy approaches for SCA patients...

La ataxia espinocerebelosa (SCA) es una afección hereditaria que cursa con la degeneración progresiva del cerebelo y de sus vías, lo que causa alteraciones del equilibrio y de otras funciones. El resultado de los abordajes de la fisioterapia en el tratamiento de la SCA y la cualidad metodológica de estos estudios fueron analizados. Se investigó si los beneficios alcanzados con el tratamiento fueron retenidos. Las intervenciones encontradas incluyen entrenamiento del equilibrio, marcha y coordinación; fortalecimiento; canilleras en los miembros durante ejercicios y aplicación de la estimulación magnética transcraneana. La retención de las mejorías obtenidas con el tratamiento fue relacionada al grado de evolución de la SCA y a la continuidad de la práctica de ejercicios. Aunque nuevos estudios con mayor carácter científico son necesarios para elegir los abordajes más adecuados para el tratamiento de los portadores de la SCA...

Adiposity and postural balance control: correlations between bioelectrical impedance and stabilometric signals in elderly Brazilian women

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the correlation between body adiposity and postural control in elderly women. INTRODUCTION: Aging and obesity account for a significant portion of healthcare spending. Life expectancy is increasing worldwide, and Rio de Janeiro has the largest proportion of elderly residents of all Brazilian states. METHODS: A total of 45 women underwent bioelectrical impedance analysis, waist circumference measurements, weight and height measurements, and stabilometric tests in eight different stance conditions (opened and closed bases with both eyes opened and closed and right and left tandem and unilateral stances with eyes opened). During unilateral stances, the number of hand or foot contacts was counted. RESULTS: Weight, body mass index, waist circumference, fat percentage, and fat mass showed statistically significant (p,0.05) and positive correlations with the number of contacts made during unilateral stances. The subjects with greater fat mass showed significantly higher anterior-posterior standard deviation and range when their eyes were closed. The sway area was also greater for this group in opened base when their eyes were closed. DISCUSSION: The results relating body adiposity and postural control can be explained by the difficulty of maintaining a greater quantity of body fat mass within the limits of the individual support base, especially while assuming a unilateral stance. CONCLUSION: The subjects with a greater fat mass exhibited poor balance control, indicating that body adiposity level was associated with postural control in the elderly women examined in the present study.