Desempenho muscular e equilíbriu postural em idosas frágeis residentes na comunidade

Human aging is physiological process causes alterations in several systems of the organism. In the musculoskeletal system, a main change is the decreased muscle strength, that in the lower extremity, compromises the ability to respond quickly with enough strength to prevent falls, causing alterations in postural balance. Currently, many researchers have study the human frailty, defined as a multifactorial syndrome, with excess of vulnerability to stressors, reducing ability in maintaining or regulating homeostasis. Its characteristics are directly related to physical function. Aim: To analyze muscle performance and postural balance in frail and pre-frail elderly women, and to compare them according with the frailty phenotypes criteria proposed by Fried 2001. Method: 39 frail elderly women living in the community, aged 65 years and older, were assessed muscle performance of lower extremity using isokinetic dynamometer and postural balance using Berg s balance scale and computerized baropodometry. Results: There was significant difference in plantar flexor, knee flexor and knee extensor strength, in anteroposterior (AP) oscillation with eyes open and on Berg s scores between groups. A weak correlation was observed between strength and balance. Conclusion: The results suggest that the frail elderly present worse muscle performance in lower extremity and worse postural balance compared to the pre-frail elderly. There were correlations between muscle performance and balance impairments in these elderly, but several variables are also involved in maintaining postural balance

Development of an active orthosis prototype for lower limbs

ARAUJO, Márcio V. ; ALSINA, Pablo J. ; MEDEIROS, Adelardo A. D. ; PEREIRA, Jonathan P.P. ; DOMINGOS, Elber C. ; ARAÚJO, Fábio M.U. ; SILVA, Jáder S. . Development of an Active Orthosis Prototype for Lower Limbs. In: INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING, 20., 2009, Gramado, RS. Proceedings… Gramado, RS: [s. n.], 2009

Desempenho motor de pacientes com acidente vascular cerebral em um jogo baseado em realidade virtual

The Cerebral Vascular Accident (CVA) is the leading cause of motor disability in adults and elderly and that is why it still needs effective interventions that contribute to motor recovery. Objective: This study was aimed to evaluate the performance of stroke patients in chronic stage using a virtual reality game. Method: 20 patients (10 with injury to the left and 10 to the right side), right-handed, average age 50.6 ± 9.2 years, and 20 healthy subjects with average age of 50.9 ± 8.8, also right-handed participated. The patients had a motor (Fugl-Meyer) and muscle tone assessment (Ashworth). All participants made a kinematic evaluation of the drinking water activity and then underwent training with the table tennis game on XBOX 360 Kinect®, 2 sets of 10 attempts for 45 seconds, 15 minutes rest between sets, giving a total of 30 minutes session. After training the subjects underwent another kinematic evaluation. The patients trained with the right and left hemiparect upper limb and the healthy ones with the right and left upper limb. Data were analyzed by ANOVA, t Student test and Pearson correlation. Results: There was significant difference in the number of hits between the patients and healthy groups, in which patients had a lower performance in all the attempts (p = 0.008), this performance was related to a higher level of spasticity (r = - 0.44, p = 0.04) and greater motor impairment (r = 0.59, p = 0.001). After training, patients with left hemiparesis had improved shoulder and elbow angles during the activity of drinking water, approaching the pattern of motion of the left arm of healthy subjects (p < 0.05), especially when returning the glass to the table, and patients with right hemiparesis did not obtain improved pattern of movement (p > 0.05). Conclusion: The stroke patients improved their performance over the game attempts, however, only patients with left hemiparesis were able to increase the angle of the shoulder and elbow during the functional activity execution, better responding to virtual reality game, which should be taken into consideration in motor rehabilitation