The effect of different exercise programs on sarcopenia criteria in older people: A systematic review of systematic reviews with meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the results of different modalities of physical exercises on the sarcopenia diagnostic criteria in older people. METHODS: Systematic review of systematic reviews. Search strategy included older people and sarcopenia MeSh, performed at mainly databases. Selected studies include older adults, submitted to physical training (Intervention Group: IG) compared to control groups (CG). Quantitative analyses with the inverse variance statistic method (random effects). The effect measures mean difference. Heterogeneity measured with Q-Test. RESULTS: 494 systematic reviews found. After screening, 5 were included (48 papers. n=3,877). Mean age: 74.02±6.1. 73.44% female. Mean interventions duration: 17.38 weeks (average: 2.56 weekly sessions). AMSTAR and PRISMA showed high methodological quality. Meta-analyses compared results of resistance training interventions (RTA) with other than resistance (Non-resistance Training interventions: NRTA). Handgrip strength, skeletal muscle mass (SMM) and gait speed showed statistically significant differences (SSD) favorable to IG. In chair stand test, RTA showed SSD favorable to the IG, and NRTA to CG. The timed-up-and-go do not showed SSD. DISCUSSION: The SMM and strength showed better results in RTA, although the confidence intervals (CI) overlap. Both valences can be trained with similar volume and training intensity, which can modify muscle volume and strength. Physical performance obtained better results in NRTA, even with CI overlap. For severely sarcopenic, training including more than one valence may be best. In sarcopenia diagnosis most studies do not take into account the consensuses of standardization, making hard the larger groups analysis. CONCLUSION: Being part of any training program can be beneficial for sarcopenia in older people, with resistance training better for strength and SMM, and mixed modalities for physical performance.

Dry Needling Combined With Guideline-Based Physical Therapy Provides No Added Benefit in the Management of Chronic Neck Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the added benefit of combining dry needling with a guideline-based physical therapy treatment program consisting of exercise and manual therapy on pain and disability in people with chronic neck pain. DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial. METHODS: Participants were randomized to receive either guideline-based physical therapy or guideline-based physical therapy plus dry needling. The primary outcomes, measured at 1 month post randomization, were average pain intensity in the previous 24 hours and previous week, measured with a numeric pain-rating scale (0-10), and disability, measured with the Neck Disability Index (0-100). The secondary outcomes were pain and disability measured at 3 and 6 months post randomization and global perceived effect, quality of sleep, pain catastrophizing, and self-efficacy measured at 1, 3, and 6 months post randomization. RESULTS: One hundred sixteen participants were recruited. At 1 month post randomization, people who received guideline-based physical therapy plus dry needling had a small reduction in average pain intensity in the previous 24 hours (mean difference, 1.56 points; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.11, 2.36) and in the previous week (mean difference, 1.20 points; 95% CI: 1.02, 2.21). There was no effect of adding dry needling to guideline-based physical therapy on disability at 1 month post randomization (mean difference, -2.08 points; 95% CI: -3.01, 5.07). There was no effect for any of the secondary outcomes. CONCLUSION: When combined with guideline-based physical therapy for neck pain, dry needling resulted in small improvements in pain only at 1 month post randomization. There was no effect on disability. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2020;50(8):447-454. Epub 9 Apr 2020. doi:10.2519/jospt.2020.9389.

The Brazilian version of the Constant-Murley Score (CMS-BR): convergent and construct validity, internal consistency, and unidimensionality.

OBJECTIVES: To translate and culturally adapt the CMS and assess the validity of the Brazilian version (CMS-BR). METHODS: The translation was carried out according to the back-translation method by four independent translators. The produced versions were synthesized through extensive analysis and by consensus of an expert committee, reaching a final version used for the cultural adaptation. A field test was conducted with 30 subjects in order to obtain semantic considerations. For the psychometric analyzes, the sample was increased to 110 participants who answered two instruments: CMS-BR and the Disabilities of the Arm, shoulder and Hand (DASH). The CMS-BR and DASH score range from 0 to 100 points. For the first, higher points reflect better function and for the latter, the inverse is true. The validity was verified by Pearson's correlation test, the unidimensionality by factorial analysis, and the internal consistency by Cronbach's alpha. RESULTS: The explained variance was 60.28% with factor loadings ranging from 0.60 to 0.91. The CMS-BR exhibited strong negative correlation with the DASH score (-0.82, p < 0.05), Cronbach's alpha 0.85, and its total score was strongly correlated with the patient's range of motion (0.93, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The CMS was satisfactorily adapted for Brazilian Portuguese and demonstrated evidence of validity that allows its use in this population.

OBJETIVOS: Traduzir e adaptar culturalmente o Constant-Murley Score (CMS) e verificar a validade da versão brasileira (CMS-BR). MÉTODOS: A tradução foi feita de acordo com o método de retrotradução por quatro tradutores independentes. As versões produzidas foram sintetizadas por análise extensiva e consenso de um comitê de especialistas e geraram uma versão final usada para a adaptação cultural. Fez-se um teste em campo com 30 sujeitos para observação de possíveis considerações em relação à semântica. Para a posterior análise psicométrica, ampliou-se a amostra para 110 participantes que responderam a dois instrumentos: CMS-BR e Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH). O CMS-BR e o DASH variam de 0 a 100 pontos. Para o primeiro, altas pontuações refletem melhor função, para o segundo, o contrário. A validade foi verificada com o teste de correlação de Pearson, a unidimensionalidade com a análise fatorial e a consistência interna com o Alfa de Cronbach. RESULTADOS: A variância explicada foi de 60,28% com cargas fatoriais entre 0,60 e 0,91. O CMS-BR demonstrou correlação forte e negativa com o DASH (-0,82, p < 0,05), com o alfa de Cronbach de 0,85 e seu escore total teve correlação forte com a amplitude de movimento dos pacientes (0,93, p < 0,001). CONCLUSÃO: O CMS-BR foi adaptado de forma satisfatória e demonstrou evidências de validade que permitem seu uso nessa população.

The effect of exercise therapy on knee adduction moment in individuals with knee osteoarthritis: A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Exercise therapy is an evidence-based intervention for the conservative management of knee osteoarthritis. It is hypothesized that exercise therapy could reduce the knee adduction moment. A systematic review was performed in order to verify the effects of exercise therapy on the knee adduction moment in individuals with knee osteoarthritis in studies that also assessed pain and physical function. METHODS: A comprehensive electronic search was performed on MEDLINE, Cochrane CENTRAL, EMBASE, Google scholar and OpenGrey. Inclusion criteria were randomized controlled trials with control or sham groups as comparator assessing pain, physical function, muscle strength and knee adduction moment during walking at self-selected speed in individuals with knee osteoarthritis that underwent a structured exercise therapy rehabilitation program. Two independent reviewers extracted the data and assessed risk of bias. For each study, knee adduction moment, pain and physical function outcomes were extracted. For each outcome, mean differences and 95% confidence intervals were calculated. Due to clinical heterogeneity among exercise therapy protocols, a descriptive analysis was chosen. FINDINGS: Three studies, comprising 233 participants, were included. None of the studies showed significant differences between strengthening and control/sham groups in knee adduction moment. In regards to pain and physical function, the three studies demonstrated significant improvement in pain and two of them showed increased physical function following exercise therapy compared to controls. Muscle strength and torque significantly improved in all the three trials favoring the intervention group. INTERPRETATION: Clinical benefits from exercise therapy were not associated with changes in the knee adduction moment. The lack of knee adduction moment reduction indicates that exercise therapy may not be protective in knee osteoarthritis from a joint loading point of view. Alterations in neuromuscular control, not captured by the knee adduction moment measurement, may contribute to alter dynamic joint loading following exercise therapy. To conclude, mechanisms other than the reduction in knee adduction moment might explain the clinical benefits of exercise therapy on knee osteoarthritis.

Echo intensity is negatively associated with functional capacity in older women.

Muscle quality is an important component of the functional profile of the elderly, and previous studies have shown that both muscle quantity and quality independently contribute to muscle strength of the elderly. This study aimed to verify the association between quadriceps femoris muscle quality, analyzed by specific tension and echo intensity (EI), and rate of torque development (RTD) of the knee extensor muscles with the functional performance in elderly active women. Forty-five healthy, active elderly women (70.28 ± 6.2) volunteered to participate in this study. Quadriceps femoris muscle thickness and EI were determined by ultrasonography. Knee extension isometric peak torque and RTD were obtained from maximal isometric voluntary contraction curves. The 30-s sit-to-stand-up (30SS) test and usual gait speed (UGS) test were applied to evaluate functional performance. Rectus femoris EI presented a significant negative correlation with 30SS (r = -0.505, P < 0.01), UGS (r s = -0.347, P < 0.05), and isometric peak torque (r = -0.314, P < 0.05). The quadriceps femoris EI correlated negatively with 30SS (r = -0.493, P < 0.01) and isometric peak torque (r = -0.409, P < 0.01). The EI of the quadriceps femoris and all quadriceps muscle portions significantly correlated with RTD. RTD significantly correlated with physical performance in both functional tests (30SS = r = 0.340, P < 0.05; UGS = r s = 0.371, P < 0.05). We concluded that muscle EI may be an important predictor of functional performance and knee extensor power capacity in elderly, active women.