Interaction between the impact of the Coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic and demographic characteristics on sexual/erectile dysfunction in Latin America: cross-sectional study

ABSTRACT Aim: Our objective was to investigate whether there is an interaction between the COVID-19 pandemic, demographic characteristics and erectile/sexual (E/S) function in individuals from Latin America. Materials and Methods: Cross-sectional study which included Latin American individuals over 18 years old, recruited through social media and interviewed between July and August 2020 by online surveys (Google Forms) in Portuguese and Spanish languages. The E/S function was evaluated through the following questionnaires: Simplified International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5) and Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI); while post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic was assessed through the Impact of Event Scale Revised (IES-R). The data was analyzed by T Student, bivariate and multivariate logistic regression, with significance determined by the Wald test (p<0.05), using the R software v4.0. Results: Out of the 2016 individuals that responded to the survey, 1986 were included and 743 of them presented E/S dysfunction. PTSD occurrence was greater among people with E/S dysfunction when compared to those without E/S dysfunction, in the total score (males: IES-R=26.54[±19.17] and females: IES-R=35.92[±19.25]) and also in the three domains. It was found that those who do not live with a partner were 74% more likely to have E/S dysfunction, but living with a partner during the pandemic had a greater impact on E/S function. Conclusion: A negative interaction between the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and erectile/sexual function of the Latin American population was observed, with greater implications among the individuals who live with their partners.

Can Supervised Pelvic Floor Muscle Training Through Gametherapy Relieve Urinary Incontinence Symptoms in Climacteric Women? A Feasibility Study / O treinamento por meio de gameterapia pode aliviar os sintomas de incontinência urinária em mulheres climatéricas? Um estudo de viabilidade

Abstract Objective To investigate the feasibility of pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) through gametherapy for relieving urinary symptoms of climacteric women with stress ormixed urinary incontinence (UI). Methods Randomized clinical trial, divided into two groups: Gametherapy (G_Game) and Control (G_Control). Both groups received recommendations about unsupervised PFMT, and G_Game also received supervised PFMT through gametherapy. After 5 consecutive weeks, the feasibility was investigated considering participant adherence, urinary symptoms (evaluated by the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Urinary Incontinence Short Form [ICIQ-UI-SF] questionnaire), and pelvic floor function (PERFECT Scheme: power, endurance, repetition and fast). The Fisher exact, Kruskal-Wallis, Wilcoxon sign paired, and Mann-Whitney U tests were used by intention-to-treat analysis, using STATA 15.1 (StataCorp, College Station, TX, USA) software. Results The present study included 20 women per group and observed a higher adherence in G_Game. In the intragroup analysis, a decrease in the ICIQ-UI-SF score was observed in both groups (14.0 to 10.0; 13.5 to 0), associated with increased endurance (2.5 to 3.5; 2.5 to 4.0) in G_Control and G_Game, respectively. Moreover, there was a concomitant increase in pelvic floor muscles (PFMs) power (2.0 to 3.0), repetition (3.0 to 5.0), and fast (10.0 to 10.0) in G_Game. In the intergroup analysis, a reduction of UI was observed (p<0.001; r=0.8), as well an increase in PFM power (p=0.027, r=0.2) and endurance (p=0.033; r=0.3) in G_Game. Conclusion The feasibility of supervised PFMT through gametherapy was identified by observing participant adherence, relief of urinary symptoms, and improvement in PFM function.

Resumo Objetivo Investigar a viabilidade do treinamento dos músculos do assoalho pélvico (TMAP) por meio de gameterapia no alívio de sintomas urinários em mulheres climatéricas com incontinência urinária (IU) de esforço ou mista. Métodos Ensaio clínico randomizado, dividido em dois grupos: Gameterapia (G_Game) e Controle (G_Controle). Ambos os grupos receberam recomendações sobre TMAP não supervisionado, e G_Gametambém recebeu TMAP supervisionado por meio de gameterapia. Após 5 semanas consecutivas, a viabilidade foi investigada considerando a aderência das participantes, sintomas urinários (avaliados pelo questionário International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Urinary Incontinence Short Form [ICIQ-UI-SF]) e função do assoalho pélvico (esquema PERFECT: power, endurance, repetition, fast). Os testes exatos de Fisher, Kruskal-Wallis, sinal de Wilcoxon pareado e Mann-Whitney U foram usados pela análise de intenção de tratar, usando o software STATA 15.1 (StataCorp, College Station, TX, EUA). Resultados O presente estudo incluiu 20 mulheres por grupo e observou uma maior adesão no G_Game. Na análise intragrupo, foi observada diminuição no escore do ICIQUI- SF emambos os grupos (de 14,0 para 10,0; de 13,5 para 0), associada ao aumento da resistência (de 2,5 para 3,5; de 2,5 para 4,0) em G_Control e G_Game, respectivamente. Além disso, houve um aumento concomitante no power (de 2,0 para 3,0), repetition (de 3,0 para 5,0) e fast (de 10,0 para 10,0) dosmúsculos do assoalho pélvico (MAPs) no G_Game. Na análise intergrupos, foi observada redução da IU (p<0,001; r=0,8), assim como do power (p=0,027; r=0,2) e da endurance (p=0,033; r=0,3) dos MAPs no G_Game. Conclusão A viabilidade do TMAP supervisionado por meio de gameterapia foi identificada pela observação da aderência das participantes, pelo alívio dos sintomas urinários e pela melhora da função dos MAPs.

Training through gametherapy promotes coactivation of the pelvic floor and abdominal muscles in young women, nulliparous and continents

ABSTRACT Introduction and objectives: Several studies have been investigated co-activation can enhance the effectveness of PFM training protocols allowing preventive and therapeutic goals in pelvic floor dysfunctions. The objective of the present study was to investigate if an abdominal-pelvic protocol of training (APT) using gametherapy would allow co-activation of PFM and transversus abdominis/oblique internal (TrA/OI) muscles. Patients and methods: Twenty-five nulliparous, continent, young females, with median age 24.76 (±3.76) years were evaluated using digital palpation (DP) of PFM and surface electromyography of PFM and TrA/OI simultaneously, during maximal voluntary contraction (MVC), alternating PFM and TrA/OI contraction requests. All women participated on a supervised program of APT using gametherapy, that included exercises of pelvic mobilization associated to contraction of TrA/OI muscles oriented by virtual games, for 30 minutes, three times a week, in a total of 10 sessions. Electromyographic data were processed and analyzed by ANOVA - analysis of variance. Results: When MVC of TrA/OI was solicited, it was observed simultaneous increase of electromyographic activity of PFM (p=0.001) following ATP. However, EMG activity did not change significantly during MVC of PFM. Conclusion: Training using gametherapy allowed better co-activation of pelvic floor muscles in response to contraction of TrA, in young nulliparous and continent women.

Efeitos do método isostretching na função respiratória e postura de respiradores bucal / Isostretching method effects on lung function and posture of mouth breathers

Introdução: A respiração bucal interfe na tonicidade, na postura, na mobilidade e na sensibilidade de órgãos fonoarticulatórios, podendo gerar hábitos orais viciosos. Objetivo: Avaliar a capacidade respiratória e a postura de respiradores bucais submetidos à técnica de isostretching. Métodos: Estudo prospectivo e quasi-experimental, em que a postura de 17 crianças foi avaliada por fotogrametria e os parâmetros respiratórios avaliados pela cirtometria; pela manovacuometria, e por peak flow. As crianças foram avaliadas inicialmente e ao final de 12 sessões da técnica isostretching. Resultados: Houve mudança nos ângulos esternoclavicular (Inicial: 3,57±1,54; Final 2,08±0,93, p= 0,003); espinha ilíaca ântero-superior (Inicial: 3,31±2,51; Final: 2,00±1,26, p= 0,001) e posterosuperior (Inicial: 2,99±2,22; Final 1,62±1,92, p= 0,009) e na pressão expiratória máxima (PEmáx) (Inicial: 79,29±16,11; Final 91,17±17,80, p= 0,001) e Peak Flow (Inicial: 279,41±72,92; Final 310,91±66,65, p= 0,01). Conclusão: O tratamento com isostretching foi eficaz para melhorar a capacidade respiratória e para alterar ângulos posturais.

Introduction: Mouth breathing interferes with tonicity, posture, mobility and sensitivity of phonoarticulatory organs, which may generate vicious oral habits. Objective: Assessing the posture and the breathing capacity of mouth breathers submitted to the isostretching technique. Methods: A prospective, quasi-experimental study in which the posture of 17 children was assessed by photogrammetry and the respiratory parameters were evaluated by cirtometry; manovacuometry and peak flow. The children were evaluated before the first session and successively after 12 sessions of isostretching technique. Results: There was a change in the sternoclavicular angles (Initial: 3.57±1.54, Final 2.08±0.93; p=0.003), anterosuperior (Initial: 3.31±2.51, Final: 2.00±1.26; p= 0.001) and posterosuperior (Initial: 2.99±2.22, Final 1.62±1.92, p= 0.009) iliac spine, maximal expiratory pressure (MEP) (Initial: 79.29±16.11; Final 91.17±17.80; p= 0.001) and in the Peak Flow (Initial: 279.41±72.92, Final 310.91±66.65; p= 0.01). Conclusion: Treatment with isostretching was effective to improve the respiratory capacity and to change the postural angles.