Lower limb muscle coactivation levels in healthy younger and older adults during functional dual-task gait

The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of daily cognitive task on stiffness of old and young female adults during the gait. The study included 17 physically active younger and 18 older women, with low risk of falls. The volunteers were asked to walk on the treadmill at two different gait conditions: normal gait and functional dual-task gait. The electromyographic signals were collected of the lower limb muscles. The percentage of coactivation for the tibialis anterior/gastrocnemius lateralis and tibialis anterior/soleus were significantly higher in elderly than in younger in the normal gait and dual-task gait. Our results suggest that the elderly have a greater stiffness in the ankle joint during gait normal and daily dual task gait. Thus, we conclude that challenging cognitively situations during the gait may increase the risk of falls in this population.

Effect of triceps surae and quadriceps muscle fatigue on the mechanics of landing in stepping down in ongoing gait

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Gait stability in diabetic peripheral neuropathy

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Analysis of the positioning of the head, trunk, and upper limbs during gait in children with visual impairment

Background: This study analyzed the positioning of the head, trunk, and upper extremities during gait in children with visual impairment. Methods: A total of 11 children participated in this study: 6 with blindness and 5 with low vision. The kinematics of the positioning of the head, trunk, shoulders, and elbows in each participant was analyzed during the four phases of the gait cycle: foot strike, support, toe-off, and swing. Results: There were significant differences between children with blindness and low vision in the positioning of the trunk in the sagittal plane during the foot strike, support, and swing phases. Conclusions: The analysis identified postural alterations of the head, trunk, shoulder, and elbow during the children’s gait, highlighting the relevance of appropriate stimulation at an early age in orientation and mobility programs, as well as the essential presence of professionals who work with movement.

Visual cues and gait improvement in Parkinson's disease: which piece of information is really important?

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Gait analysis in giant anteater (myrmecophaga tridactyla) with the use of a pressure-sensitive walkway

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Temporo-spatial gait parameters during street crossing conditions: a comparison between younger and older adults

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Excess body weight and gait influence energy cost of walking in older adults

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Effects of Water-Based and Callisthenic Exercise on Freezing of Gait, Postural Control, and Functional Independence in Patients With Mild to Moderate Parkinson Disease

Objective: This study aimed to analyze and compare the role of a water-based exercise program versus a combination of water and callisthenic exercises on postural control, functional independence, and freezing of gait (FOG) in patients with mild to moderate Parkinson disease.Methods: Twenty-five community-dwelling participants with idiopathic Parkinson disease were recruited. Of these, 9 participants took part in a water-based program of physical exercises and the other 16 participants took part in a combined program that consisted of callisthenic exercises plus an aquatic exercise session. Both programs were 16 weeks in duration. The clinical evaluation assessed the festination by means of the FOG score test; postural control was verified by means of the balance test of the short physical performance battery, and the Spanish validated version of the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale part 2 was used to assess functional independence. Participants were evaluated before and after 16 weeks of both proposed programs.Results: The results showed improvement in FOG for both groups, although a significant main effect was observed only in the patients who performed the callisthenic exercise plus an aquatic exercise program. Postural control did not show significant improvements after both proposed physical exercise programs as soon as functional autonomy. Our preliminary results suggest that training sessions with the combination of water plus callisthenic exercises may be a useful physical rehabilitation strategy for individuals with mild to moderate Parkinson disease who have FOG.

Pathology of dogs in Campo Grande, MS, Brazil naturally co-infected with Leishmania infantum and Ehrlichia canis

Different parasites that commonly occur concomitantly can influence one another, sometimes with unpredictable effects. We evaluated pathological aspects of dogs naturally co-infected with Leishmania infantum and Ehrlichia canis. The health status of the dogs was investigated based on histopathological, hematological and biochemical analyses of 21 animals infected solely with L. infantum and 22 dogs co-infected with L. infantum and E. canis. The skin of both groups showed chronic, predominantly lymphohistioplasmacytic inflammatory reaction. The plasmacytosis in the lymphoid tissues was likely related with the hypergammaglobulinemia detected in all the dogs. The disorganization of extracellular matrix found in the reticular dermis of the inguinal region and ear, characterized by the substitution of thick collagen fibers for thin fibers, was attributed to the degree of inflammatory reaction, irrespective of the presence of parasites. In addition, the histopathological analysis revealed that twice as many dogs in the co-infected group presented Leishmania amastigotes in the ear skin than those infected solely with Leishmania, increasing the possibility of becoming infected through sand fly vectors. Our findings highlight the fact that the health of dogs infected concomitantly with L. infantum and E. canis is severely compromised due to their high levels of total plasma protein, globulins, alkaline phosphatase and creatine kinase, and severe anemia.

Effects of 6-month, multimodal exercise program on clinical and gait parameters of patients with idiopathic parkinson's disease: a pilot study

This pilot study aimed to identify the effects of a 6-month, multimodal exercise program on clinical and gait parameters in patients with Parkinson's disease. Two groups of participants were enrolled in the study: Trained Group (TG) and Control Group (CG). Individuals in the TG exercised three times a week for 24 weeks (in a multimodal exercise program), while the CG participants maintained their regular activity level. Participants in both the TG and the CG were assessed at pre- and posttest by clinical rates and the spatiotemporal parameters of self-paced walking. The two groups were not significantly different in demographic, clinical, and gait data at baseline. There were no significant differences between groups for clinical data at posttest. The purposed multimodal exercise program has found improvement in some kinematic gait parameters for the TG. Further study in the form of randomized controlled trial would be required to establish effectiveness of the intervention.

Gait analysis in a cat with scapular luxation and contralateral forelimb amputation

This report describes the use of a pressure-sensitive walkway to evaluate an uncommon case of a cat with dorsal luxation of the left scapula and an amputated right forelimb. The findings suggest that limb amputation induced load redistribution mostly to the contralateral forelimb despite the scapular luxation.