Caracterização funcional de idosos com artrite reumatóide / Functional characterization of elderly with rheumatoid arthritis

A artrite reumatóide (AR) é uma das principais causas de incapacidades em idosos, pois suas deformidades geram dificuldades para as atividades cotidianas. Assim, fazem-se necessários estudos que avaliem em que medida ela interfere na capacidade funcional e como essa população minimiza seus efeitos. Com este propósito, foi conduzido estudo em um Hospital Escola da Cidade de São Paulo, em 2008 para caracterização funcional de idosos com esse problema. Participaram da pesquisa 12 pessoas com AR, com pelo menos sessenta anos, que deambulavam, apresentavam comprometimento de mão e punho e estavam em seguimento clínico com reumatologista. Utilizou-se o Mini-Exame do Estado Mental (Folstein, 1975) para inclusão no estudo. Para a caracterização sócio-demográfica e funcional foram utilizados os seguintes instrumentos: Classificação de Idosos quanto à Capacidade para o Autocuidado (Almeida, 2003), Escala Numérica Verbal (Andrade et al, 2006), goniômetro e dinamômetro computadorizados. Os resultados apontam para o comprometimento da capacidade funcional e escassez de respostas de enfrentamento a esta condição. Os participantes apontaram dificuldades para em média 5,6 atividades, sendo que 100% possuía dificuldades físicas para duas ou mais atividades. Em média houve redução da força de preensão palmar e pinça, e da amplitude de movimento. Práticas de autocuidado foram adotadas para somente 36,7% do total de suas atividades diárias. Considerando-se a cronicidade da AR e o próprio envelhecimento, a tendência é que este quadro piore. Dessa forma, evidencia-se a necessidade de serviços de saúde que tenham infraestrutura para manter ou melhorar a capacidade funcional de idosos, visando sua independência e participação social.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is one of the major causes of incapacity among elderly people because its deformities makes daily activities more difficult. Studies to evaluate how much this pathology interferes in functional capacity and elderly deal with it are necessary. For this purpose, a study was taken in a School Hospital in São Paulo, in 2008, to characterize functionally elderly of this problem. Twelve people with RA joined the survey, they were 60 years old or older, walkers, with impairment in hand and wrist and following with rheumatologist. The Mini-Mental Test (FOLSTEIN et al., 1975) was applied as inclusion criteria. The evaluation protocols used for functional, demographic and social issues were: Elderly Classification of capacity for self care (ALMEIDA, 2003), Verbal numerical scale (ANDRADE; PEREIRA e SOUZA, 2006), computerized goniometer and dynamometer. The results show functional capacity impairmentsand lack of answers to overcome this condition. The participants named difficulty in average for 5,6 activities, being that 100% showed physical incapacity during performing 2 or more activities. In average, there were reduction of pinch and grip strength, and range of motion of the hands. Self care strategies were related to only 36,7% of the total daily activities. Once RA is a chronic disease and aging is a continuous process, the tendency is that the difficulties during daily activities will increase among the years. So, health care providers need to have framework to keep or improve functional capacity of elderly, to enhance they’re independency and social participation.

Development and evaluation of a head-controlled human-computer interface with mouse-like functions for physically disabled users

OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this study were to develop a pointing device controlled by head movement that had the same functions as a conventional mouse and to evaluate the performance of the proposed device when operated by quadriplegic users. METHODS: Ten individuals with cervical spinal cord injury participated in functional evaluations of the developed pointing device. The device consisted of a video camera, computer software, and a target attached to the front part of a cap, which was placed on the user's head. The software captured images of the target coming from the video camera and processed them with the aim of determining the displacement from the center of the target and correlating this with the movement of the computer cursor. Evaluation of the interaction between each user and the proposed device was carried out using 24 multidirectional tests with two degrees of difficulty. RESULTS: According to the parameters of mean throughput and movement time, no statistically significant differences were observed between the repetitions of the tests for either of the studied levels of difficulty. CONCLUSIONS: The developed pointing device adequately emulates the movement functions of the computer cursor. It is easy to use and can be learned quickly when operated by quadriplegic individuals.