Cognitive Deficits in Machado-Joseph Disease Correlate with Hypoperfusion of Visual System Areas

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

Age-related differences in postural control: effects of the complexity of visual manipulation and sensorimotor contribution to postural performance

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

Efeito da intervenção terapêutica ocupacional junto a crianças com déficts de percepção visual, coordenação motora e integração visuo-motora

To students with special educational needs participate actively at school are required effective and systematic investment, involving the school community as a whole. The occupational therapist is one of the professionals who can facilitate this student inclusion process. This study aimed to discuss the occupational therapy intervention effects with two disability children with deficits in visual perceptual skills, motor coordination and visual motor integration, that was included in regular education. The Beery-Buktenica Developmental Test of Visual Motor Integration was use to evaluate visual perceptual skills, motor coordination and visual-motor integration. Because the deficits presented in the functions investigates was identified the need of an occupational therapy intervention program designed to improve the performance in theses functions. After the program, the test was reapplied. The results pointed to an improvement of all functions considered deficient. These results highlight to the training importance to improve the performance in abilities evaluated.

Visual conditions and postural directions affect postural sway variability in patients with Parkinson’s disease

Postural sway variability was evaluated in Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients at different stages of disease. Twenty PD patients were grouped into two groups (unilateral, 14; bilateral, 6) according to disease severity. The results showed no significant differences in postural sway variability between the groups (p ≥ 0.05). Postural sway variability was higher in the antero-posterior direction and with the eyes closed. Significant differences between the unilateral and bilateral groups were observed in clinical tests (UPDRS, Berg Balance Scale, and retropulsion test; p ≤ 0.05, all). Postural sway variability was unaffected by disease severity, indicating that neurological mechanisms for postural control still function at advanced stages of disease. Postural sway instability appears to occur in the antero-posterior direction to compensate for the stooped posture. The eyes-closed condition during upright stance appears to be challenging for PD patients because of the associated sensory integration deficit. Finally, objective measures such as postural sway variability may be more reliable than clinical tests to evaluate changes in balance control in PD patients.