Comparison of the effect of whole-body vibration therapy versus conventional therapy on functional balance of patients with Parkinson's disease: adding a mixed group.

OBJECTIVE: Assess the effect of Whole-Body Vibration (WBV) therapy in functional balance status of Parkinson's disease (PD) patients and compare this to conventional and combined therapy. INTRODUCTION: PD patients experience a decreased mobility, inactivity, and loss of independence as consequence of disturbances in gait, posture, and balance. Rehabilitation therapy is a non-pharmacological way of improving functionality. One of the most studied modalities is WBV, with multiple studies showing improvement in motor function. However, results in this manner are inconsistent. METHODS: Forty-five patients were enrolled in a non-randomized controlled trial and divided into three groups. Group 1 received conventional therapy (thermotherapy, stretching, strengthening, coordination and balance). Group 2 received WBV therapy, and group 3 patients underwent a combined therapy protocol. A total of 20 sessions (3 per week) were conducted, assessing Berg Balance Scale (BBS) before initial and after final session. RESULTS: The 3 intervention groups showed significant improvement in BBS scores after concluding the 20-session trial compared to initial assessment. When comparing mean change in BBS score from initial to final assessment, the combined therapy group had a greater increase compared to conventional therapy, but no significant differences were observed comparing to WBV group. Mean change in BBS score showed no significant difference between conventional therapy and WBV therapy group. CONCLUSIONS: WBV therapy is a useful tool as co-adjuvant in conventional therapy. The combination of both therapies is a significant therapeutic alternative for the improvement of functional balance status in PD patients compared to conventional therapy alone.

Relationship between left ventricular hypertrophy and somatotype of high performance athletes using structural equations modeling / Relación entre la hipertrofia ventricular izquierda y el somatotipo en atletas de alto rendimiento utilizando modelamiento de ecuaciones estructurales

Introduction: Sports induce morphological and functional adaptations in the human heart that directly relate to the type, duration and intensity of training and the years of practice. These changes are present in different ways in the electrocardiogram. A high QRS voltage is the most significant finding. Its correlation with left ventricular hypertrophy is low. In this study, the aim was to determine if a relationship exists between electrocardiographic alterations of left ventricular hypertrophy and somatotype in high performance athletes. Methods: A retrospective, cross-sectional, quantitative, multiple correlation, observational and analytical study of a database of 180 resting electrocardiograms and anthropometric evaluations of men's soccer, women's soccer, swimming, cycling, basketball, and tennis athletes was performed. A database containing somatotype and Sokolow-Lyon electrocardiographic voltage criteria was created. Results: The study group was composed of 83.3% men and 16.7% women. Age ranged from 10 to 51 years with a mean of 19.73 ± 5.8. Weight ranged from 35.90 to 122.3 kg with a mean of 66.98 ± 12.67 and height ranged from 143 to 213 cm with a mean of 174.11 ± 10.29 cm. Endomorphy for the entire group ranged from 1.0 to 5.7 with a mean of 2.5 ± 0.9. Mesomorphy ranged from 1.6 to 7.1 with a mean of 4.2 ± 0.95. Ectomorphy ranged from 1.1 to 5.8 with a mean of 2.9 ± 0.96. The structural equation model had a normal multivariable distribution of 3.161, reaching a Pearson of .26 for mesomorphy with a goodness of fit and a variance of 0% for mesomorphy and left ventricular hypertrophy. Conclusion: Based on the findings, we can say that somatotype does not predict left ventricular hypertrophy in high per-formance athletes

Introducción: Los deportes inducen adaptaciones morfológicas y funcionales en el corazón humano directamente relacionadas con el tipo, duración e intensidad del entrenamiento y los años de práctica. Estos cambios se manifiestan de diversas formas en el electrocardiograma. Un alto voltaje del QRS es el hallazgo más significativo. Su correlación con la hipertrofia ventricular izquierda es baja. En este estudio, el objetivo era determinar si existe una relación entre las alteraciones electrocardiográficas de hipertrofia ventricular izquierda y el somatotipo en deportistas de alto rendimiento. Métodos: Se efectuó un estudio transversal, cuantitativo, observacional, analítico retrospectivo de correlación múltiple de una base de datos de 180 electrocardiogramas en reposo y antropometría de atletas de soccer varonil, soccer femenil, natación, basquetbol, ciclismo y tenis. Se creó una base de datos con el somatotipo y los criterios de voltaje electrocardiográfico de Sokolow-Lyon. Resultados: El grupo de estudio estaba compuesto por 83,3% varones y 16,7% mujeres. El rango de edad fue de 10 a 51 años con una media de 19,73 ± 5,8. El peso varió de 35,90 a 122,3 kg con una media de 66,98 ± 12,67 y la estatura varió de 143 a 213 cm con una media de 174,11 ± 10,29 cm. Endomorfia para todo el grupo osciló entre 1,0 y 5,7 con una media de 2,55 ± 0,9. Mesomorfia varió de 1,6 a 7,1 con una media de 4,2 ± 0,95. Ectomorfia varió de 1,1 a 5,8 con una media de 2,9 ± 0,96. El modelo de ecuaciones estructurales tenía una distribución multivariable normal de 3.161, alcanzando un Pearson de 0,26 para mesomorfia con una bondad de ajuste y una varianza de 0% para mesomorfia e hipertrofia ventricular izquierda. Conclusiones: En base a los hallazgos podemos decir que el somatotipo no predice hipertrofia ventricular izquierda en atletas de alto rendimiento