Sensory Integration for Postural Control in Rheumatoid Arthritis Revealed by Computerized Dynamic Posturography.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic autoimmune disease that impairs mobility. How does sensory information influence postural responses in people with RA? The aim of this study was to evaluate the postural control of people with RA during a sensory organization test, comparing how sensory information influences postural responses in people with rheumatoid arthritis compared with healthy people. Participants were 28 women with rheumatoid arthritis (RA group) and 16 women without any rheumatoid disease (Control group CG). The Sensory Organization Test (SOT) was performed on a Smart Balance Master® (NeuroCom International, Inc., Clackamas, OR, USA) and center of pressure (COP) was measured. SOT conditions: SOT1 (eyes open, fixed support surface and surround; SOT2) eyes closed, fixed support surface and surround; and SOT5) eyes closed, sway-referenced support surface, and fixed surround. To compare the demographic and clinical aspects between groups, independent t-test or Mann-Whitney's U-test were used. Differences were found between groups. Between SOT conditions, for CG and RA, COP was faster for SOT-5 than SOT-1, while SOT-1 and SOT-2 presented similar COP velocity. For SOT-2 and SOT-5, COP was larger for the RA group. For both groups, SOT-1 presented the smallest COP, and SOT-5 showed the largest COP.

Efeito de um programa de natação e ginástica respiratória no equilíbrio postural de adolescentes asmáticos / Effect of a swimming and respiratory gymnastics program on postural balance of asthmatics teenagers

O objetivo do estudo foi de analisar e comparar o equilíbrio postural de adolescentes asmáticos antes e após um programa de natação e ginástica respiratória. Foram avaliados 8 sujeitos com média de idade de 13,25 (± 1,49) anos. O programa foi desenvolvido priorizando atividades respiratórias e técnica dos nados e ocorreu em 26 sessões. Para avaliação do equilíbrio corporal utilizou-se variáveis do centro de pressão (COP) obtidas a partir de uma plataforma de força. Foram coletadas três tentativas aleatórias com duração de 30 segundos cada, nas condições olhos abertos e olhos fechados. Foi realizada a análise descritiva dos dados e após testada a normalidade através do teste de Shapiro-Wilk. Confirmada a normalidade, utilizou-se o teste t para amostras pareadas para comparar pré e pós-tratamento,com nível de significância de 5% (α ≤ 0,05). Apresentaram diferença significativa entre pré e pós-testes na condição olhos abertos, apresentando melhores condições de equilíbrio postural após o programa, com menor amplitude de deslocamento do COP na direção ântero-posterior (p=0,01), menor velocidade de deslocamento do COP (p=0,04) e menor área de elipse 95% (p=0,05). Na condição olhos fechados à diferença foi significativa na velocidade de deslocamento do COP (p=0,01). A ginástica respiratória e a natação provocaram uma diminuição das oscilações e uma melhora no equilíbrio postural, demonstrando a eficiência do programa.(AU)

The aim of the study was to analyze and to compare the postural balance of asthmatic adolescents before and after a swimming program respiratory gymnastics. We evaluated eight subjects with an average age of 13.25 (± 1.49) years. The program was developed giving priority to the respiratory activities and techniques of swimming and occurred in 26 sessions. To evaluate the body balance variables of the center of pressure (COP) were used being obtained by one force platform. Three randomized trials were performed lasting 30 seconds each one, under the conditions opened and closed eyes. The descriptiveanalysis of the data was realized and the normality was tested by Shapiro Wilk test. After verify the normality, the t test for paired samples was used to compare pre and post-treatment, with level of significance of 5% (α ≤ 0,05). Showed a significant difference between pre and post tests in balance with opened eyes, with better stability post program, with smaller displacement amplitude in the antero posterior direction (p = 0,01), slower COP velocity (p = 0,04) and smaller 95% slope area (p = 0,05). In closed eyes condition the difference in the COP velocity was significant (p = 0,01). The respiratory gymnastics and swimming led to a decrease in oscillations and a significant improvement in postural balance, showing the efficiency of the program.(AU)