Analysis of static and dynamic balance in healthy elderly practitioners of Tai Chi Chuan versus ballroom dancing

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether Tai Chi Chuan or ballroom dancing promotes better performance with respect to postural balance, gait, and postural transfer among elderly people. METHODS: We evaluated 76 elderly individuals who were divided into two groups: the Tai Chi Chuan Group and the Dance Group. The subjects were tested using the NeuroCom Balance Master¯ force platform system with the following protocols: static balance tests (the Modified Clinical Tests of Sensory Interaction on Balance and Unilateral Stance) and dynamic balance tests (the Walk Across Test and Sit-to-stand Transfer Test). RESULTS: In the Modified Clinical Test of Sensory Interaction on Balance, the Tai Chi Chuan Group presented a lower sway velocity on a firm surface with open and closed eyes, as well as on a foam surface with closed eyes. In the Modified Clinical Test of Sensory Interaction on Unilateral Stance, the Tai Chi Chuan Group presented a lower sway velocity with open eyes, whereas the Dance Group presented a lower sway velocity with closed eyes. In the Walk Across Test, the Tai Chi Chuan Group presented faster walking speeds than those of the Dance Group. In the Sit-to-stand Transfer Test, the Tai Chi Chuan Group presented shorter transfer times from the sitting to the standing position, with less sway in the final standing position. CONCLUSION: The elderly individuals who practiced Tai Chi Chuan had better bilateral balance with eyes open on both types of surfaces compared with the Dance Group. The Dance Group had better unilateral postural balance with eyes closed. The Tai Chi Chuan Group had faster walking speeds, shorter transfer times, and better postural balance in the final standing position during the Sit-to-stand Test. .

Classificação e tratamento fisioterapêutico da doença de Legg-Calvé-Perthes: uma revisão / Classification and physical therapy of the Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease: a review

Embora a doença de Legg-Calvé-Perthes (DLCP) seja estudada desde o início do século XX, ainda hoje se discute sua etiologia. Basicamente, consiste em uma interrupção do suprimento sanguíneo que leva a isquemia na cabeça do fêmur. Em geral afeta crianças entre 2 e 12 anos, numa proporção de 4 meninos para uma menina, ocorrendo bilateralmente em 10 por cento a 20 por cento dos casos. O quadro clínico é bem definido, com dor referida no joelho ou na coxa, claudicação e perda do movimento articular do quadril. Não há consenso sobre a melhor forma de tratamento.

Although the Legg-Calvé Perthes disease (LCDP) has been studied since 1909, its obscure etiology is still under discussion. It is known that an interruption of blood supply causes ischemia of the femoral head. Typically it affects children aged 2 to 12 years old, with a male-to-female ratio of 4:1, occurring bilaterally in 10 per cent to 20 per cent of the cases. The clinical report is well defined: pain at the knee or thigh, limp, and loss of articular hip motion...

A avaliação inicial de pacientes com doença de Legg-Calvé-Perthes internados / Baseline evaluation of hospitalized patients with Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease

Foram estudados retrospectivamente 52 pacientes com doença de Legg-Calvé-Perthes submetidos à internação hospitalar, objetivando levantar as características iniciais dos pacientes segundo dados de prontuário: quadro clínico, classificação radiográfica e exame físico. Como resultados observamos que em 22 (42 por cento) pacientes foi relatada a presença de dor e claudicação, em 21 (40 por cento) apenas dor, em 2 (4 por cento) apenas claudicação e em 7 (14 por cento) pacientes não havia a descrição de dor nem da claudicação. Na avaliação goniométrica do quadril, havia a descrição dos valores em 16 (31 por cento) pacientes, em 28 (54 por cento) somente havia a descrição da diminuição sem os valores e em 8 (15 por cento) não constava a descrição nem os valores goniométricos. Em relação ao quadro radiológico encontramos a classificação de Catterall (64 por cento) como a mais utilizada, seguida por Salter-Thompson (27 por cento) e Herring (9 por cento). Concluímos que o quadro clínico inicial desses pacientes é semelhante ao encontrado na literatura, com presença de dor, claudicação e diminuição da amplitude articular do quadril acometido, e que a classificação radiográfica mais utilizada é a de Catterall.

Isokinetic assessment of knee flexor/extensor muscular strength in elderly women

OBJECTIVE: To assess knee flexor-extensor muscular strength in elderly women with no previous history of musculoskeletal disorders on the lower limbs using an isokinetic dynamometer, in order to obtain data that could be used as a comparative parameter in the evaluation of elderly women with knee disorders, thus facilitating a better rehabilitation of these patients. METHODS: Twenty-six volunteers aged 75 to 83 years were studied using a Cybex® 6000 isokinetic dynamometer. The chosen angular velocity was 60 º/s, and concentric exercise was used for either flexion or extension. The studied parameters were: peak torque, angle of peak torque, and flexor-extensor torque rate. RESULTS: There were no differences between dominant (D) and nondominant (ND) knee peak torque values. This was true for both flexor (D = 42.46 ± 9.09 Nm / ND = 40.65 ± 9.38 Nm) and extensor (D = 76.92 ± 13.97 Nm / ND = 77.65 ± 15.21 Nm) movements. The descriptive statistical analysis of the values obtained for the flexor-extensor peak torque rate and for the angle of occurrence of peak torque was the same for the dominant and nondominant sides. CONCLUSIONS: The values of peak torque for the contralateral side can be used as a reference during rehabilitation of elderly women with acute disease of the knee, and the angular velocity of 60 º/s is proper and safe for isokinetic assessment of elderly people