Influence of age, gender and obesity on pressure discomfort threshold of the foot: A cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Foot pain is a highly prevalent health problem for which measures such as a pattern of Pressure Discomfort Threshold of the foot plantar surface can provide valuable information for orthosis design. This study aimed to describe such pattern as a tool for the assessment of painful conditions of the feet and to analyse how it modifies according to age, gender and obesity. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was performed with participants allocated in: Group 1 people aged 20 to 35 years, Group 2 aged 50 to 65 years and Group 3 aged over 65. Pressure Discomfort Threshold on twelve points of the foot plantar surface was measured with an adapted manual dynamometer. Inferential analyses of the data were performed using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) considering foot areas, age group, gender and obesity. FINDINGS: 36 participants were analysed. The pattern of Pressure Discomfort Threshold for all individuals showed a significantly higher threshold on the heel and external foot (P < 0.001, η2 = 0.124) and was statistical significantly influenced by age (P < 0.001, η2 = 0.17), especially in participants aged over 65; by gender, with women having higher values (P < 0.001, η2 = 0.13), and by obesity (P < 0.001, η2 = 0.19). INTERPRETATION: A Pressure Discomfort Threshold pattern exists in the foot plantar surface. The characteristics of the discomfort pattern of the foot and its association with aging, gender and obesity may have considerable implications for orthosis and footwear design.

The influence of regular physical activity on lung function in paraplegic people.

STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. OBJECTIVES: The main goal of this study was to examine the influence of regular physical activity (PA) on lung volumes and flows. SETTING: The study was conducted in the Vall d'Hebrón Hospital, Barcelona (Spain), and La Fe Hospital, Valencia (Spain). METHODS: Spirometric tests were performed to 67 paraplegics, and differences were established between the active group (AG) (n=37) that performed >60 min per week of moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) and 30 non-AG (NAG). Further, we established the relationship between the spirometric and PA variables and between being active and reaching the lower limit of normal (LLN) of the spirometric variables. RESULTS: AG had greater values than the NAG: FVC (P<0.01), FEV1 (P<0.01) and PEF (P<0.01). Moderate correlations between the MVPA and FVC (r=0.41, P<0.01) and the MVPA and FEV1 (r=0.39, P<0.01) were obtained. The relationship between being physically active and reaching the LLN was statistically significant for FEV1 (χ2=6.184, P<0.05) but not for FVC (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The performance of MVPA for a minimum of 60 min per week can have a beneficial effect, both on lung volumes and on expiratory flow, and led to an achievement of the LLN in FEV1.

Heart rate variability in individuals with thoracic spinal cord injury.

STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. OBJECTIVES: The main goal of our study was to explore the differences in heart rate variability (HRV) while sitting between able-bodied (AB) participants and paraplegic (P) individuals. SETTING: The study was conducted in the Physical Therapy department and the Physical Education and Sports department of the University of Valencia and Vall d'Hebrón Hospital. METHODS: To record the HRV, a 1000-Hz Suunto Oy t6 heart rate monitor was used. The data were analyzed in the temporal and frequency domains, and nonlinear analysis was performed as well. RESULTS: We found significant differences between P and AB participants in SDNN: t(76)=2.81, P<0.01; root mean squared of the difference of successive RR intervals: t(76)=2.35, P<0.05; very low frequency: t(76)=2.97, P<0.01; low frequency: t(41.06)=2.33, P<0.05; total power of the spectrum: t(45.74)=2.57, P<0.05; SD1: t(76)=2.35, P<0.05; SD2: t(76)=2.82, P<0.01. Furthermore, there is a reduced variability in the P participants who adopted a sedentary lifestyle as could be observed in detrended fluctuation1 t(40)=-2.10; P<0.05. CONCLUSION: Although individuals in the P group were more active in sports than the AB group, they had an altered HRV when compared with AB individuals. It could be important to develop more intense sports programs to improve cardiac vagal tone, which in turn produces a decrease in work and oxygen consumption of the heart.

Efectos de un programa de rehabilitación cardíaca fase III sobre los factores de riesgo hipertensión arterial y obesidad en personas mayores de 60 años con enfermedad cardiovascular / Effects of a phase III cardiac rehabilitation program on the risk factors of arterial

Cuantificar la evolución temporal de la hipertensión arterial (HTA) y la obesidad a lo largo del Programa de Rehabilitación Cardíaca (PRhbC) Fase III, y estimar la posible influencia de las características del paciente sobre la efectividad del programa.Diseño de estudioObservacional retrospectivo.Pacientes y métodosSe aplicó un PRhbC Fase III de un año de duración sobre 18 pacientes mayores de 60 años con enfermedad cardiovascular (ECV). Se midió la tensión arterial (TA) sistólica (TAS) y diastólica (TAD) así como la circunferencia abdominal (CA) en el momento inicial, a los 6 meses y a los 12 meses.ResultadosLa disminución de la TA resulta significativa tanto para la TAS (p-valor=0,00) como para la TAD (p-valor=0,02). La mejoría de la CA no es significativa (p-valor=0,14). En la evolución temporal de la mejora de la TAS y la TAD no resulta significativa la componente cuadrática (p-valores=0,28 y 0,27, respectivamente). Ninguna de las características del paciente influye significativamente sobre el cambio de la TAS, TAD y CA, con p-valores de 0,23, 0,82 y 0,34 para la edad; 0,81, 0,79 y 0,37 para el tiempo tardado en iniciar el programa; y 0,56, 0,57 y 0,98 para la capacidad funcional.ConclusionesEl PRhbC Fase III consigue controlar la HTA, con una mejoría constante a lo largo del programa. Éste resulta más efectivo para el control de la HTA sistólica que de la HTA diastólica. Sin embargo, no consigue controlar la obesidad. La efectividad del programa sobre la HTA y la obesidad no depende de la edad, del tiempo transcurrido desde el episodio cardiovascular hasta el inicio del programa ni de la capacidad funcional (AU)

To quantify time of evolution of arterial hypertension (AHT) and obesity during Phase III of the Cardiac Rehabilitation Program (CRhbP) and to assess the possible influence of the patient's characteristics on the effectiveness of the program.Study designAn observational retrospective study.Patients and methodsA Phase III CRhbP was applied for one year on 18 patients over 60years of age with cardiovascular disease (CVD). Both systolic (SBP) as well as diastolic (DBP) blood pressure (BP) and abdominal circumference (AC) were measured at the start of the program, at 6 months and at 12 months.ResultsThe decrease in BP was significant for both SBP (p-value=0.00) and DBP (p-value=0.02). Improvement in AC was not significant (p-value=0.14). Considering the time course for the improvement of SBP and DBP, the quadratic component (p-values=0.28 and 0.27, respectively) was not significant. None of the patient's characteristics had a significant influence on SBP, DBP and AC changes, with p-values of 0.23, 0.82 and 0.34 for age; 0.81, 0.79 and 0.37 for the time delay in initiating the program; and 0.56, 0.57 and 0.98 for functional capacity.ConclusionsThe use of Phase III CRhbP can control AHT, with constant improvement during the program. This is more effective in controlling systolic BP than diastolic BP. However, it was not able to control obesity. The program's effectiveness regarding BP and obesity does not depend on age, or on time from the onset of the cardiovascular episode until the onset of the program or on functional capacity (AU)

Estudio comparativo del efecto de la actividad física en el equilibrio en personas mayores sanas / Comparative study of the effect of physical activity on the balance in healthy elderly people

Introducción. La esperanza de vida en España esde 76,4 años en los hombres y de 83 años en lasmujeres. Es necesario facilitar que estas personas,cada día más mayores, sean a la vez autónomasy puedan vivir de manera satisfactoria.Material y métodos. Lo que se pretende en estetrabajo es demostrar la efectividad del ejerciciofísico en el aumento de la capacidad funcional ala hora de mantener el equilibrio, tanto dinámicocomo estático; para ello, estudiamos un primergrupo, o grupo A, compuesto por 8 personas(5 hombres y 3 mujeres) que practican habitualmente ejercicio físico aeróbico, y un grupo B, formado por 8 personas (2 hombres y 6 mujeres) que llevan una vida sedentaria.Resultados. Encontramos diferencias estadísticamente significativas, al comparar ambos grupos, en el mantenimiento del equilibrio en determinadas posiciones mediante biofeedback (p 0,05), que es mayor en el grupo A. En el resto de los parámetros, sólo encontramos una tendencia al aumento, en el grupo que realiza ejercicio físico, sin alcanzar significación estadística

Introduction. Life expectancy in Spain is 76.4 years old for men and 83 years old forwomen. It is necessary to make life easier and facilitate autonomy to these increasingly older people. Material and methods. This study aims to demonstrate the effectiveness of physical exercise to increase functional capacity for the maintenance of dynamic and state balance. Following these guidelines, we have studied group A, made up of 8 people, 5 men and 3 women who usually practice aerobic physical exercise, and group B, made up of 8 people, 2 men and 6 women, who lead a sedentary life. Results. We have found statistically significant differences in maintenance of balance in certain positions by biofeedback (p 0.05) when comparing both groups, this being greater in group A. Regarding the remaining parameters, we have only found an increasing tendency in the group practicing physical exercise, which is not statistically significance

Estudio evolutivo en pacientes intervenidos de plastia de ligamento cruzado anterior / An evolution assessment of some patients with anterior cruciate ligament injury who suffered from an autograft surgical operation

El aumento de la actividad física en nuestra sociedad incrementa el número de lesiones de rodilla, y más concretamente, del ligamento cruzado anterior. Todavía existe mucha controversia acerca del tratamiento más adecuado para este tipo de lesiones. El objetivo de este estudio es demostrar la validez de un protocolo de fisioterapia acelerado para el tratamiento de rotura del ligamento cruzado anterior intervenido con plastia autóloga del músculo semitendinoso. Para ello se ha realizado, en 23 pacientes, medidas antropométricas, de funcionalidad y desplazamiento antero-posterior de la rodilla, en tres momentos, antes de la intervención, a los tres y a los seis meses. Con todo lo anterior, se ha podido valorar la progresión del paciente durante el proceso de recuperación y podemos afirmar que el protocolo de fisioterapia acelerada utilizado en este estudio ha resultado válido y eficaz para la recuperación funcional de los pacientes. Este protocolo produce un incremento significativo de la diferencia de potencial del músculo semitendinoso de la pierna lesionada, siendo éste mayor que el de la sana, lo que nos indica que se deberá trabajar también con el músculo sano a fin de evitar desequilibrios

Today's increasing physical activity in our society has lead to an increment in the number of knee injuries, and especially those related with the anterior cruciate ligament. Still exists much controversy in regard to the most adequate treatment of this type of injuries. The main objective of this study is to show the validity of an early physiotherapy protocol for the treatment of a torn anterior cruciate ligament carry out by surgical autograft operation of the semitendinous muscle. Anthropometric and functional measurements and displacements antero-posterior of the knee have been effected over 23 patients, in different moment; before the operation, and three and six months afterwards. With all these information, we have evaluated the progression of the patients during the process of recovery and we can conclude that the early physiotherapy protocol used in this study has resulted valid and effective in the functional recovery of the patients. This protocol produces a significant increase in the potential of the semitendinous muscle in the injured leg, being this increased potential ever better than in the healthy leg. This clearly indicates that in the application of this protocol, we must work on both legs muscles in order to obtain an adequate balance

Nuevas alternativas de la rehabilitación de las personas mayores: programas de rehabilitación psicofuncional en Centros de Día GERISER / No disponible

No disponible