Reliability of plantar pressure and postural control measures of children from 4 to 12 years: analysis by baropodometry

Abstract Aim: Baropodometry is used to map pressure areas and plantar pressure oscillation, however, children's evaluation reliability is not established. To establish the intra-rater and inter-rater reliability of baropodometry for analysis of plantar support and postural control (stabilometry) of children. Materials and Methods: Reliability study. The sample consisted of 112 healthy children of both sexes; aged 4 to 12 years old. For the baropodometer analysis, children were positioned in orthostatic position, bipodal support, with parallel and bare feet during four rounds of 15-second evaluations, executed by two independent evaluators. In order to establish the reliability of the results at different age ranges, participants were divided into two groups: children ages 7 years and younger (n = 44) and children aged 8 to 12 years old (n = 68). The variables analyzed were pressure area and maximum plantar pressure, area, and amplitude of oscillation of the center of pressure. Results: Reliability was rated from good to excellent for the intra- and inter-evaluators (ICC 0.81-0.86 and ICC 0.87-0.95, respectively) on plantar pressure variables, and poor to moderate for the center of pressure oscillations (ICC 0.33-0.55; ICC 0.47-0.57, intra and inter-evaluators, respectively). Conclusion: Excellent baropodometry reliability was observed when analyzing children's plantar pressure at different age groups, and a single evaluation established reliable results. However, the stabilometry analysis with a baropodometer has poor reliability, and therefore, it should not be used for children aged 4 to 12 for postural control.

Analysis of pain, functional capacity, muscular strength and balance in young women with Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome / Análise da dor, funcionalidade, comportamento muscular e equilíbrio em mulheres jovens com Síndrome da Dor Femoropatelar

Abstract Introduction: Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome (PFPS) is associated with anterior knee pain, changes in functional capacity, balance and muscle strength disorders. Objective: To quantify pain, functional capacity, strength in quadriceps (Q), gluteus medium (GM), hip external rotator (ER) muscles and balance in sedentary women with PFPS. Methods: Twenty sedentary women, aged 18 to 25 years, were divided into two groups: PFPS (N=10) and control group (N=10). All the volunteers answered the items of the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), the Lysholm Knee Score Scale, the Anterior Knee Pain Scale (AKPS), and the Lower Extremity Functional Scale (LEFS). The participants performed the following tests: maximal voluntary isometric contraction measured by dynamometry; postural balance using the Star Excursion Balance Test (SEBT) and a force platform. Statistical analyses were performed using the Shapiro Wilk test, the Mann Whitney U test and Spearman's correlation coefficient. Data were submitted to SPSS 20 software. Results: The PFPS group presented greater pain, balance impairment and higher average velocity of oscillation; however, no differences were observed in Q, GM and RE muscle strength and in balance analyzed by SEBT. Conclusion: Women with PFPS exhibited greater pain, worse functional capacity and body balance. Moderate correlation between both balance tests suggests the use of SEBT when the force platform is not available, which could facilitate and highlight the importance of clinical diagnosis with regard to postural balance.

Resumo Introdução: A Síndrome da Dor Femoropatelar (SDFP) está relacionada à dor anterior do joelho, alteração de funcionalidade, déficits de equilíbrio e força muscular. Objetivo: Quantificar a dor, funcionalidade, força muscular do quadríceps (Q), glúteo médio (GM), rotadores externos de quadril (RE) e o equilíbrio em mulheres com SDFP. Métodos: Avaliou-se 20 voluntárias, sedentárias, entre 18 e 25 anos; divididas em grupo SDFP (N=10) e controle (N=10). Todas responderam a Escala Visual Analógica de Dor, Lysholm Knee Score Scale, Anterior Knee Pain Scale e Lower Extremity Functional Scale, realizaram a contração isométrica voluntária máxima dos músculos Q, GM e RE por meio de dinamometria e análise do equilíbrio postural pelo Star Excursion Balance Test (SEBT) e plataforma de força. Para análise estatística utilizou-se os testes Shapiro Wilk, Mann Whitney e Correlação de Spearmann, pelo SPSS® 20. Resultados: O grupo SDFP apresentou maior dor, incapacidade e velocidade média de oscilação do centro de pressão, entretanto não foram observadas diferenças para a força muscular de Q, GM e RE e equilíbrio analisado pelo SEBT. Estabeleceu-se correlação moderada entre SEBT e Centro de Oscilação de Pressão (COP) unipodal. Conclusão: Mulheres com SDFP apresentam maior dor, pior funcionalidade e alterações no equilíbrio corporal. A correlação moderada entre SEBT e o COP-unipodal aponta a possibilidade de uso deste teste funcional quando a plataforma de força não é acessível, o que facilita e destaca a importância do diagnóstico clínico do equilíbrio postural.

Agilidade, equilíbrio e flexibilidade de atletas de futebol: avaliação por meio de testes funcionais e fotogrametria / Agility, balance and flexibility in soccer athletes: evaluation by functional tests and photogrammetry

Introdução: Avaliar agilidade, equilíbrio e flexibilidade é importante para o desempenho esportivo e seus resultados podem estar associados a lesões no futebol. Objetivos: Avaliar a agilidade, equilíbrio e flexibilidade de atletas de futebol. Métodos: Foram submetidos 50 atletas de futebol masculino aos testes funcionais Figure 8 Test (F8), Side Hop Test (SHT) e Star Excursion Balance Test (SEBT) e à avaliação da flexibilidade dos músculos isquiotibiais e quadríceps, por fotogrametria. Estes foram distribuídos em grupos em função da dominância do membro inferior, queixas álgicas, posição de jogo e categoria, e comparados por meio dos testes t de Student e Anova. O nível de significância foi de 5%. Resultados: Os resultados dos testes funcionais não diferiram para dominância e posição de jogo e não apresentaram correlação com a dor. Os atletas de maior idade apresentaram melhores scores nos testes funcionais. A flexibilidade dos músculos quadríceps e isquiotibiais não apresentaram diferenças para a dominância e categorias; porém, todos os atletas demonstraram flexibilidade diminuída nos isquiotibiais quando comparados às referências literárias. Conclusão: Atletas profissionais apresentaram melhores escores na execução dos testes funcionais e flexibilidade diminuída. Os resultados valorizam as avaliações com testes funcionais e fotogrametria, pois são formas de baixo custo e fácil reprodutibilidade. (AU)

Introduction: The assessment of agility, balance and flexibility is important in sports performances and the results obtained could be related to injuries in soccer. Objectives: To evaluate agility, balance and flexibility of soccer players. Methods: Fifty male soccer players were submitted to the following functional tests: Figure 8 Test (F8), Side Hop Test (SHT) and Star Excursion Balance Test (SEBT) and to the evaluation of flexibility of the hamstrings and quadriceps using photogrammetry. The athletes were divided into groups based on the dominant lower limb, pain complaints, position in the field and category and compared using the Student's t-test and ANOVA. The level of significance was set at 5%. Results: The results of the functional tests did not differ for dominance and position in the field and showed no correlation with pain. Older athletes presented better scores in functional tests. The flexibility of the quadriceps and hamstrings showed no differences to the dominance and categories; however, all athletes have demonstrated decreased flexibility in the hamstrings when compared to the literature references. Conclusion: Professional athletes presented higher scores in functional tests and lower flexibility. The results encourage the use of functional tests and photogrammetry because these assessment tools are less expensive and can be easily reproduced.(AU)