Muscle function, physical function, and gait in older women with and without knee osteoarthritis

Abstract Aim: To compare muscle function of knee extensors, gait parameters, and physical function in older women with and without knee osteoarthritis (KOA) and to associate these parameters to the KOA incidence in this population. Methods: Sixteen older women with KOA (66.9 ± 5.5 years; 74.9 ± 10.0 kg; 157.9 ± 0.9 cm; 30.2 ± 5.0 kg/m2) and fourteen healthy counterparts (control group: CG; 68.8 ± 5.8 years; 68.9 ± 10.5 kg; 158 ± 0.06 cm; 27.4 ± 4.0 kg/m2) participated in this study. Muscle function, physical function, and gait parameters were evaluated in both groups. The Western Ontario and McMaster Index (WOMAC) questionnaire was answered only by the KOA group. A correlation was performed to verify if KOA incidence was associated with muscle function, physical function, and gait parameters. Results: KOA group showed lower peak torque at 60°/s (30%; p = 0.003) and 180°/s (37%; p < 0.001), greater acceleration time at 60°/s (382%; p < 0.001), lower cadence (12.2%; p = 0.002), slower gait speed (19.5%; p < 0.001) and greater stride time (12.5%; p = 0.001) than CG group. However, there was no difference between groups in physical function (p < 0.0045). The KOA incidence presented a negative correlation with peak torque (rho = −0.602; p < 0.001), cadence (rho = −0.533; p = 0.002), gait speed (rho = −0.633; p < 0.001), stride length (rho = −0.517; p = 0.003) and a positive correlation with stride time (rho = 0.533; p = 0.002) and acceleration time (rho = 0.655; p < 0.001). Conclusion: Our findings suggest that knee osteoarthritis may impair the function of the knee extensors muscles and gait parameters. An association between the ability to produce force rapidly and gait speed with the KOA incidence in older women was also observed.

Effects of additional external load manipulation on perceptual and physiological responses during exergame

This study tested whether performing exergames with and without additional external load could induce to different internal load demand for young adults. Methods: Fifteen young women (24.4 ± 4.06 years) participated in the study. Electromyography (EMG) activity, heart rate (HR) and overall and local rating of perceived exertion (RPE) were determined in "Just Dance" and "Ski" exergames without additional external load and with additional external load of 5% of body mass attached bilaterally to the ankles in "Just Dance" and using a weight vest in "Ski". Results: EMG, HR and overall RPE presented similar responses between loads in both exergames (p>.05). However, local RPE differentiate internal load only in "Just Dance", with higher values with additional load (with additional load: 11.2 ± 2.1 RPE; without additional load: 10.3 ± 1.4 RPE; p = .037). Conclusion: Therefore, performing exergames with an additional external load of 5% of young women body mass did not induce different internal load demand in "Just Dance" and "Ski" exergames compared to performing such games without external load. However, the greater local RPE in "Just Dance" exergame after adding the external load suggests that a higher amount of load (i.e., > 5% of body mass) to this population may generate different internal load demand.(AU)

A systematic review of cross-cultural adaptation and validation of borg's rating of perceived exertion scale / Revisão sistemática da adaptação transcultural e validação da escala de percepção de esforço de borg

ABSTRACT The aim of this systematic review was to analyze the cross-cultural adaptation and validation processes of Borg's Rating of Perceived Exertion Scale (6-20) and its instructions during exercise in adults and the elderly. The study was conducted using databases that include the areas of health, sports and psychology (Pubmed, ScienceDirect, Bireme (BVS), PsycINFO, SportDiscus and Scopus), and descriptors in the English and Portuguese languages were standardized for all databases ("exercise" / "exercicio", "validity" / "validade", "borg scale" / "escala de borg"; "perceived exertion" / "percepção de esforço" and "validation" / "validação"). Among the 1,488 items found, 14 articles were selected for analysis. The main findings were that cross-cultural adaptation (Cantonese and Japanese) was reported in only four articles. The lowest-scored criteria for methodological quality were related to the concept of perceived exertion, and the instructions for use and familiarization with Borg's scale. The results indicate that the majority of the studies did not apply the cross-cultural adaptation process and additionally, that concurrent validity was the only validation method reported. Therefore, it is necessary to carry out the cross-cultural adaptation of Borg's Scale (6-20), mainly in the Portuguese language, in addition to other types of validation in order to ensure more accurate results.

RESUMO O objetivo dessa revisão sistemática foi analisar os processos de adaptação transcultural e validação da Escala de Percepção Subjetiva de Esforço de Borg (6-20) e de suas instruções durante o exercício em adultos e idosos. A busca foi realizada nas bases de dados da área da saúde, esporte e psicologia (Pubmed, ScienceDirect, Bireme (BVS), PsycINFO, SportDiscus e Scopus) e os descritores em inglês e português foram padronizados para todas as bases de dados ("exercise"/"exercício"; "validity"/"validade"; "borg scale"/"escala de borg"; "perceived exertion"/"percepção de esforço"; e "validation"/"validação"). Entre os 1488 artigos encontrados, foram selecionados 14 artigos para análise. Os principais resultados encontrados foram que a adaptação transcultural (Cantonês e Japonês) foi reportada em apenas quatro artigos. Os critérios mais baixos de qualidade metodológica foram aqueles relacionados a definição de percepção de esforço, a instrução e familiarização com a Escala. Os resultados indicam que a maioria dos estudos não realizou o processo de adaptação transcultural e além disso, só a validade concorrente foi utilizada como método de validação. Portanto, é necessário realizar adaptação transcultural da Escala de Borg (6-20) principalmente na língua portuguesa, além dos diferentes tipos de validação para se obter resultados mais precisos.

COMPARAÇÃO DA FUNCIONALIDADE, AGILIDADE E EQUILÍBRIO DINÂMICO DE IDOSAS COM E SEM OSTEOARTRITE DE JOELHOS / COMPARISON OF PHYSICAL FUNCTION, AGILITY AND DYNAMIC BALANCE OF OLDER WOMEN WITH AND WITHOUT KNEE OSTEOARTHRITIS

RESUMO Objetivamos comparar a função muscular e a funcionalidade entre idosas com OA de joelho (GOA=15) e idosas assintomáticas (GAS=18). Foram mensurados dados antropométricos, funcionalidade e qualidade de vida por meio de um questionário específico para OA, Western Ontario and Mc Master Universities Osteoarthritis Index e um conjunto de testes funcionais:Short Physical Performance Battery,TimedUpand Go Teste Teste de Caminhada de 6 minutos. A normalidade dos dados foi verificada pelo teste deKolmogrov-Smirnov. Para as variáveis com distribuição normal foi aplicado o teste "T" de Student para amostras independentes e o teste não paramétrico "U" Mann-Whitney para os dados que não apresentaram normalidade (p<0,05).Os resultados indicam que não há diferenças entre os grupos nas variáveis antropométricas, na idade e no desempenho físico e funcional. Podemos concluir que idosas com osteoartrite de joelho em grau leve e moderado apresentam desempenho físico e funcional semelhante a idosas assintomáticas.

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to compare muscle function and functionality of a group of elderly women with knee OA (GOA=15) with the asymptomatic group(GAS=18). Anthropometric characteristics, physical function and quality of life were evaluated by a specific OA questionnaire Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index, and a battery of functional tests: Short Physical Performance Battery, Timed Up and Go Test, and the 6 minutes walking test. Kolmogrov-Smirnov test was applied to confirm data normality. To variable that showed normal distribution the student "T" test for independent samples was used and the"U" Mann-Whitney was applied to variables without normal distribution (p<0.05). The results showed that there are no differences in anthropometric variables, age, physical and functional performance between groups. It can be concluded that elderly women with mild to moderate knee OA have physical and functional performance similar to asymptomatic elderly.