Spasticity distribution and severity in individuals with HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis.

In individuals with HTLV-I-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP), spasticity is one of the main symptoms. The neurological signs of the disease are well defined, but details of how spasticity appears in these individuals have not been well explored. To describe spasticity location and severity of HAM/TSP individuals. Cross-sectional study with individuals older than 18 years, diagnosed with HAM/TSP and with lower limb spasticity. Pregnant women, individuals with other associated neurological diseases, and those using antispastic drugs were not included. Spasticity was assessed by the Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS), applied to the abductor, adductor, flexor, and extensor muscles of the hips, flexors, and extensors of the knees, dorsiflexors, plantiflexors, evertors, and inverters of the foot. Thirty participants were included. The plantiflexor muscles (90%), knee extensors (80%), knee flexors (63,3%), and adductors (50%) were most frequently affected by spasticity. Twenty-three (76.7%) individuals had mixed spasticity, 5 (16.7%) with distal spasticity and 2 (6.7%) with proximal spasticity. MAS was similar between the lower limbs in at least 6 of the 10 muscle groups of each individual. Spasticity was mostly mixed in the lower limbs, with more frequently mild severity. The individuals were partially symmetrical between the lower limbs. The most affected muscle groups were the plantiflexors, knee extensors and flexors and the hip adductors, consecutively, being predominantly symmetrical.

Biopsychosocial factors associated with the frailty and pre-frailty among older adults.

Frailty is a multidimensional geriatric syndrome associated with specific biopsychosocial factors in each population. This was a cross-sectional observational study designed to determine the biopsychosocial factors associated with frailty and pre-frailty in older adults in a community in Salvador, Brazil. The stages of frailty were collected in 413 older adults: 34.9% frail, 54.5% pre-frail, 10.6% robust. In the multinomial regression model, age (p = .018), functionality for instrumental activities of daily living (p = .026), risk for falls (p = .006), family functionality (p = .031) and the physical domain of quality of life (p = .004) had an independent association with frailty. Risk for falls (p = .004), family functionality (p = .004) and the environment domain of quality of life (p = .037) were independently associated with pre-frailty. The findings provide support to interventions in a way that contributes to prevention or reversal of frailty.

Inpatient trunk exercises after recent stroke: An update meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

INTRODUCTION: Although the role of trunk exercises in the chronic phase of stroke is acknowledged, the addition of specific inpatient training in the subacute stage is a matter of debate and varies among centers. Recent new evidence suggests the question should be revisited. OBJECTIVE: To assess the impact of the addition of specific trunk training to inpatient rehabilitation protocols after a recent stroke. METHODS: A systematic review was performed assessing the impact of inpatient trunk training. The search was performed in LILACS, SciELO, PEDro, Cochrane, and NCBI PubMed databases for clinical trials published up to December 31st, 2017. The initial bibliographic research identified 3202 articles. After analyzing the titles, 19 abstracts were selected for detailed analysis. After application of the eligibility criteria, the final selection included nine studies. Outcome measurements from the same evaluation instruments were submitted to a meta-analysis to improve homogeneity (7 studies). RESULTS: All patients in the included studies were recruited less than three months after a stroke. Seven studies assessed trunk control using the Trunk Impairment Scale (TIS). There was a significant improvement in trunk control with a pooled increase in TIS score of 3.3 points from the baseline (CI95:2.54-4.06, p < 0.0001). Three studies assessed balance using the Brunel Balance Assessment (BBA) scale. There was also a significant improvement in balance with a pooled increase in BBA score of 2.7 points (CI95:1.5-4.03, p < 0.0001). The Berg Balance Scale was used for balance assessment in three studies. The meta-analysis of their results showed a pooled increase of 13.2 points (CI95:9.49-16.84, p < 0.0001). Weight transfer was evaluated in four studies using different methods. The addition of inpatient trunk exercises was associated with an improvement in the ability to transfer the trunk laterally in three studies. CONCLUSION: The introduction of trunk-based inpatient training protocols brings short-term benefits in trunk performance and balance in stroke patients.