Distonía focal en músicos / FOCAL DYSTONIA IN MUSICIANS

The aim of this report was to describe the Focal dystonia in Musicians. Musician´s dystonia is a disorder characterized by abnormal movements, with excessive activation of muscular antagonists or co-contraction of antagonist muscles that are not required for a specific movement. Belongs to the group of occupational dystonias ; is a specific disorder of a determinated task in musicians, that include the absence of voluntary control of movements detailed determinated in the ejecution of an instrument, and manifiests itself by the deteriorization of his dexterity in the ejecution. Dystonia, including all his forms, is the third more frequent pathology of abnormal movements, after Parkinson´s disease and the essential trembling. Musician´s dystonia is a task-specific movement that manifiests itself as a loss of voluntary motor control in extensively trained movements. Approximately 1 % of all professional musicians develop musician´s dystrofia, and in many cases the disorder terminates the careers of affected musicians. Several theories have been referred related to the etiology. The aim of this report was to present the author´s casuistic of Focal dystonia in musicians in Argentina, considering the type of instrument, which kind of music is ejecuted ­classic or popular- and to inform the treatment proposed and the results obtained.

Effects of Daoyin Qìgong in postpolio syndrome patients with cold intolerance.

UNLABELLED: Postpolio syndrome (PPS) is characterized by progressive muscle weakness due to former infection with poliomyelitis and can be associated with other symptoms such as cold intolerance (CI). Daoyin Qìgong (DQ) is a technique in Traditional Chinese Medicine that impacts the circulation of energy and blood. OBJECTIVE: It was to verify the effects of DQ in PPS patients complaining of cold intolerance. METHODS: Ten PPS patients were assessed using the visual analogue scale (VAS) adapted for CI before and after intervention with DQ; patients practiced it in a sitting position for 40 minutes, 3 times per week over 3 consecutive months. Patients were reassessed three months after ceasing DQ. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant difference in local and systemic VAS-Cold both at the end of DQ training and three months past the end of this. CONCLUSION: The DQ technique ameliorated CI complaints in patients with PPS.

Effects of Dăoyĭn Qìgōng in postpolio syndrome patients with cold intolerance / Efeitos do Dăoyĭn Qìgōng em pacientes com síndrome pós-pólio com queixa de intolerância ao frio

Postpolio syndrome (PPS) is characterized by progressive muscle weakness due to former infection with poliomyelitis and can be associated with other symptoms such as cold intolerance (CI). Dăoyĭn Qìgōng (DQ) is a technique in Traditional Chinese Medicine that impacts the circulation of energy and blood. OBJECTIVE: It was to verify the effects of DQ in PPS patients complaining of cold intolerance. METHODS: Ten PPS patients were assessed using the visual analogue scale (VAS) adapted for CI before and after intervention with DQ; patients practiced it in a sitting position for 40 minutes, 3 times per week over 3 consecutive months. Patients were reassessed three months after ceasing DQ. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant difference in local and systemic VAS-Cold both at the end of DQ training and three months past the end of this. CONCLUSION: The DQ technique ameliorated CI complaints in patients with PPS.

A síndrome pós-poliomielite (SPP) é caracterizada por instalação de nova fraqueza muscular às manifestações residuais da poliomielite, associada a outros sintomas, como intolerância ao frio (IF). O Dăoyĭn Qìgōng (DQ) é uma técnica da medicina tradicional chinesa que interfere na circulação da energia e do sangue. OBJETIVO: Foi verificar os efeitos do DQ em pacientes com SPP com queixa de intolerância ao frio. MÉTODO: Dez pacientes com SPP foram avaliados com a escala visual analógica (EVA) adaptada para IF antes e após intervenção com DQ, adaptados para a posição sentada, com duração de 40 minutos, 3 vezes por semana, durante 3 meses. RESULTADOS: Verificou-se diferença estatisticamente significante, na EVA-frio local e sistêmica, após o término do treinamento. CONCLUSÃO: O DQ é uma técnica que interferiu positivamente na queixa de IF em pacientes com SPP.

Postural control under visual and proprioceptive perturbations during double and single limb stances: insights for balance training.

Single Limb Stance under visual and proprioceptive disturbances is largely used in clinical settings in order to improve balance in a wide range of functional disabilities. However, the proper role of vision and proprioception in SLS is not completely understood. The objectives of this study were to test the hypotheses that when ankle proprioception is perturbed, the role of vision in postural control increases according to the difficulty of the standing task. And to test the effect of vision during postural adaptation after withdrawal of the somesthetic perturbation during double and single limb stance Eleven males were submitted to double (DLS) and single limb (SLS) stances under conditions of normal or reduced vision, both with normal and perturbed proprioception. Center of pressure parameters were analyzed across conditions. Vision had a main effect in SLS, whereas proprioception perturbation showed effects only during DLS. Baseline stability was promptly achieved independently of visual input after proprioception reintegration. In conclusion, the role of vision increases in SLS. After proprioception reintegration, vision does not affect postural recovery. Balance training programs must take that into account.

Upper extremity function in stroke subjects: relationships between the international classification of functioning, disability, and health domains.

UNLABELLED: Upper limb (UL) impairments are the most common disabling deficits after stroke and have complex relationships with activity and participation domains. However, relatively few studies have applied the ICF model to identify the contributions of specific UL impairments, such as muscular weakness, pain, and sensory loss, as predictors of activity and participation. The purposes of this predictive study were to evaluate the relationships between UL variables related to body functions/structures, activity, and participation domains and to determine which would best explain activity and participation with 55 subjects with chronic stroke. Body functions/structures were assessed by measures of grip, pinch, and UL strength, finger tactile sensations, shoulder pain, and cognition (MMSE); activity domain by measures of observed performance (BBT, NHPT, and TEMPA); and participation by measures of quality of life (SSQOL). Upper-limb and grip strength were related to all activity measures (0.52

Additional sensory information reduces body sway of individuals with anterior cruciate ligament injury.

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the additional sensory information could improve postural control in individuals with unilateral anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury. Twenty-eight individuals with unilateral ACL injury (mean age 23.6, 26 males, 2 females) and 28 healthy young control subjects (mean age 22.1 years, 26 males, 2 females) participated in this study. Postural control was evaluated with subjects single-leg standing on a force platform with eyes closed under two sensory conditions: normal sensory information and light touch to a stationary bar (applied force below 1N). Three trials of 30s were performed in each single-leg stance and in each sensory condition. Mean sway amplitude and predominant frequency of center of pressure were calculated for both anterior-posterior and medial-lateral directions. Individuals with ACL injury showed greater mean sway amplitude than healthy control individuals even though the predominant frequency was similar for both groups. Additional sensory information improved postural control performance in individuals with ACL injury and healthy control, with a greater effect observed for the ACL group. Based on these results, we suggest that reduction in postural control performance in individuals with ACL injury would be due to the reduction of sensory information provided by the ACL, but when sensory information is enhanced, postural control performance improves. These results have implications for novel approaches to improve stability in individuals with ACL injury.

Implementing a clinical assessment protocol for sensory and skeletal function in diabetic neuropathy patients at a university hospital in Brazil.

CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE: Physiotherapy can contribute towards recovering or preventing physical and sensory alterations in diabetic neuropathy patients. Our objective was to create and apply a protocol for functional assessment of diabetic neuropathy patients' lower limbs, to guide future physiotherapy. DESIGN AND SETTING: Clinical study at the University Hospital and teaching/research center of Universidade de São Paulo. METHODS: An intentional sample of diabetic neuropathy patients was utilized. The protocol was divided into: (1) preliminary investigation with identification of relevant clinical diabetes and neuropathy characteristics; (2) thermal, tactile and proprioceptive sensitivity tests on the feet; (3) evaluations of muscle function, range of motion, lower limb function, foot anthropometry. RESULTS: The patients' mean age was 57 years, and they had had the diagnosis for 13 years on average. Distal numbness and tingling/prickling were present in 62% and 67%, respectively. There were tactile sensitivity alterations above the heel in 50%, with thermal sensitivity in 40% to 60%. The worst muscle function test responses were at the triceps surae and foot intrinsic muscles. Longitudinal plantar arches were lowered in 50%. Decreased thermal and tactile sensitivity of the heels was found. There was a general reduction in range of motion. CONCLUSIONS: The results provided detailed characterization of the patients. This protocol may be easily applied in healthcare services, since it requires little equipment, at low cost, and it is well understood by patients.