Performance Of Children With Down Syndrome On Pediatric Clinical Test Of Sensory Interaction In Balance (P-CTSIB): A Descriptive Study

Background: Down syndrome is a genetic disorder attributed to chromosomal abnormality. Children with Down syndrome have low score on balance and agility tasks as well as on running speed, strength and visual-motor control. Pediatric clinical test of sensory interaction in balance (P-CTSIB) was used to assess which component amongst visual, vestibular and somatosensory was more involved in causing this imbalance in children. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of individual sensory component on stationary standing posture control and balance using P-CTSIB. Results: Min and max time required to perform the balance test was noted down with mean SD of max 21.03±1.28 and min 7.32±1.18. ANOVA and Students t test were used for analysing data. It was found that the measure of balance on all 6 conditions of P-CTSIB was better for boys compared to girls and is also better with increase in age. Children with Down syndrome have weak performance when only the vestibular system was available for maintaining balance and the visual and somatosensory systems were compromised. Conclusion: The findings of the present study concluded that children with Down syndrome performed better in condition1 were all the systems were available to maintain balance and the poor balance was noted in condition 6 were vestibular system was the only available sensory system for maintaining balance. Poor performance was noted at the early stage of life and was slight better as the age advanced with boys performing better than girls. Balance in children with Down syndrome is an important aspect to be considered during rehabilitation. Including the visual, vestibular and somatosensory system individually and in combination during rehabilitation will help improve the balancing skills of patients.

Assessments of Physical Function and Related Factors among Community-dwelling Aged People / 中国康复理论与实践

Objective To evaluate the physical functions of community-dwelling older adults, and analyze the related factors. Methods From September to October, 2016, 80 adults over 55-year-old in one community in Wuhan, Hubei, China were selected with convenience sampling. General situation was collected through questionnaires. Physical functions were measured by tests of grip strength, Five-Times-Sit-to-Stand Test (FTSST), modified Clinical Test of Sensory Interaction and Balance (mCTSIB) and TimedUp and GoTest (TUGT). Their correlation was analyzed. Results The average grip strength of the participants was (27.46 ± 9.66) kg; the average time of FTSST was (11.58 ± 4.03) s;there was only one (1.25%) participant observed with an impairment in mCTSIB;the average time of TUGT was (9.05±3.47) s. Grip strength was correlated with gender (r=-0.669), education level (r=0.238), the score of Mini-Mental State Examina-tion (MMSE) (r=-0.302) and activities of daily living (ADL) (r=-0.344) (P<0.05). The time of FTSST was correlated to gender (r=0.274), the score of MMSE (r=0.243) and ADL (r=0.321) (P<0.05). The time of TUGT was correlated to gender (r=0.255), education level (r=-0.362), income level (r=-0.245), the score of Self-rating Depression Scale (r=0.223), the score of MMSE (r=0.328) and ADL (r=0.354) (P<0.05). Conclusion The levels of grip strength, FTSST and TUGT are related to the demographic characters in community-dwell-ing older adults. Little abnormity has been found in mCTSIB.

Sistemas sensoriais no equilíbrio corporal de idosos / Sensory systems in the postural balance of elderly people

Os sistemas sensoriais (visual, somato-sensitivo e vestibular) são responsáveis pelo início do processo de construção do equilíbrio corporal humano.´No entanto, esses sistemas sofrem alterações causadas pela senescência e pela presença de doenças. Tais modificações no funcionamento sensorial podem predispor o idoso à instabilidade, e, consequentemente, às quedas. O objetivo desta revisão de literatura foi expor os elementos sobre a função dos sistemas sensoriais no equilíbrio corporal dos idosos, dando um panorama geral da ação, avaliação e reabilitação da interação sensorial. Para estes fins, realizou-se revisão bibliográfica narrativa da literatura nacional e internacional sobre o tema, tendo como base textos das bases de dados Medline e Lilacs. De acordo com a literatura, existe uma grande dependência, por parte dos idosos, da informação proprioceptiva e visual para o controle postural. Contudo, nas situações de conflito entre as informações ambientais e corporais, é acionado o sistema vestibular. Entre os testes empregados na avaliação do equilíbrio em condições sensoriais podemos citar: as plataformas de força, eletromiografias, sistemas de fotofilmagens, o teste de Romberg e o Clinical Test of Sensory Interaction and Balance. A reabilitação do equilíbrio sensorial é baseada na exposição do idoso repetidamente às condições de dificuldade. Dentre as técnicas que podem ser empregadas na reabilitação sensorial estão o Tai Chi Chuan, a Reabilitação por Realidade Virtual e a reabilitação vestibular. Com o maior conhecimento da função dos mecanismos sensoriais no envelhecimento, é possível ao profissional da saúde detectar os déficits sensoriais e planejar as estratégias voltadas à reabilitação do equilíbrio a fim de evitar as quedas.

The sensory systems (visual, somatosensitive and vestibular) are responsible for the beginning of the human postural balance building process. However, these systems suffer the disorders caused by the aging process and by the presence of diseases. These modifications in the sensorial functioning may predispose the elderly to instability and, consequently, to falls. The purpose of this literature review was to expose the elements about the function of sensory systems in the postural balance of elderly people, providing a general panorama on the action, the evaluation and the rehabilitation of the sensory interaction. Thus, a bibliographic review of national and international literature on this topic was performed and carried out on Medline and Lilacs baselines. According to the literature, the essential role played by proprioceptive and visual information on elderly postural control was substantiated. However, under conflicting situations, involving both environmental and body information, the vestibular system is enabled. There are several tests utilized for balance evaluation under particular sensory conditions. Amongst such tests, we can cite the force plates, electromyography evaluations, photo shooting systems, Romberg’s Test, and the Clinical Test of Sensory Interaction and Balance. Sensory balance rehabilitation is based on constant exposure of the elderly to difficult situations. Tai Chi Chuan, Rehabilitation by Virtual Reality and vestibular rehabilitation are examples of techniques used for such therapy purposes. A better understanding of the sensory systems interaction with the aging process enables health professionals to recognize sensorial deficits and, consequently, to plan strategies towards balance rehabilitation and avoid falls.