The influence of the use of stabilizer bracelet in a child with choreoathetoid cerebral palsy

Introduction: The use of stabilizer bracelet is a frequent treatment for movement disorders to strengthen muscles and adjust coordination. Still questions remain regarding the benefi t of using loads to decrease involuntary movements and the best load and placement. Objective: To measure the infl uence of the stabilizer bracelet on the kinematics and spatiotemporal parameters in planar movements performed by the upper limb. Method: One child, who has the spastic diplegy type of cerebral palsy with choreoathetoid component, and a control child without cerebral palsy, both female and 7 years old, were subjected to analysis of movements in relation to displacement, velocity, linear acceleration, and the calculation of mean square error (MSE) with and without use of stabilizer bracelet with loads of 25, 50, and 75% of the supported maximum load. Results: After comparing data between subjects, a difference was found between patient and control in all situations and variables. An inter-individual comparison using 25% of the maximum load showed the smallest difference with the NDE. Discussion and Conclusion: This therapeutic option is low cost, easy to apply, and does not signifi cantly interfere in the aesthetic of the individual. Therefore, physiotherapists may prescribe this for activities that require greater control of the upper limb because for the case studied the upper limb movement was more effi cient with the use of the stabilizer bracelet.

Taste and Temperature in Swallowing Transit Time after Stroke

Background: Oropharyngeal dysphagia is common in individuals after stroke. Taste and temperature are used in dysphagia rehabilitation. The influence of stimuli, such as taste and temperature, on swallowing biomechanics has been investigated in both healthy individuals and in individuals with neurological disease. However, some questions still remain unanswered, such as how the sequence of offered stimuli influences the pharyngeal response. The goal of the present study was to determine the influence of the sequence of stimuli, sour taste and cold temperature, on pharyngeal transit time during deglutition in individuals after stroke. Methods: The study included 60 individuals with unilateral ischemic stroke, 29 males and 31 females, aged 41–88 years (mean age: 66.2 years) examined 0–50 days after ictus (median: 6 days), with mild to moderate oropharyngeal dysphagia. Exclusion criteria were hemorrhagic stroke patients, patients with decreased level of consciousness, and clinically unstable patients, as confirmed by medical evaluation. The individuals were divided into two groups of 30 individuals each. Group 1 received a nonrandomized sequence of stimuli (i.e. natural, cold, sour, and sour-cold) and group 2 received a randomized sequence of stimuli. A videofluoroscopic swallowing study was performed to analyze the pharyngeal transit time. Four different stimuli (natural, cold, sour, and sour-cold) were offered. The images were digitalized and specific software was used to measure the pharyngeal transit time. Since the values did not present regular distribution and uniform variances, nonparametric tests were performed. Results: Individuals in group 1 presented a significantly shorter pharyngeal transit time with the sour-cold stimulus than with the other stimuli. Individuals in group 2 did not show a significant difference in pharyngeal transit time between stimuli. Conclusions: The results showed that the sequence of offered stimuli influences the pharyngeal transit time in a different way in individuals after stroke and suggest that, when the sour-cold stimulus is offered in a randomized sequence, it can influence the response to the other stimuli in stroke patients. Hence, the sour-cold stimulus could be used as a therapeutic aid in dysphagic stroke patients.

Simulação numérica através do método dos elementos finitos e comparação experimental para obtenção de tensões e deformações específicas em fêmur com prótese total de quadril

Pós-graduação em Engenharia Mecânica - FEG

Projeto e construção de um dispositivo para testes em coluna vertebral

Pós-graduação em Engenharia Mecânica - FEG

Análise da distribuição de força plantar e postura em diferentes alturas de salto alto por meio de uma plataforma de força simuladora de salto alto

Pós-graduação em Engenharia Mecânica - FEG

Morphofunctional characterization of decellularized vena cava as tissue engineering scaffolds

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

BIOMECHANICAL BEHAVIOR OF THE SYSTEM PROSTHESIS/DENTAL IMPLANT: ANALYSIS BY THE PHOTOELASTICITY METHOD

One of the main reasons for the failure in dental implant treatments is the overload, which can cause bone resorption and later, the osseointegration loss in the implant. Therefore, the aim of this study was to analyze the tension generated around dental implants in the rehabilitation of three mandible posterior teeth, varying the connection type, the disposal, and the quantity of implants. The photoelasticity method was used in order to accomplish it. Through photoelasticity, the quantity and localization of the tensions around the implants in the different studied groups were compared (three straight line implants, three offset placement implants, two implants with a mesial cantilever, and two implants with a pontic). The results showed that the tension quantity and disposition around the dental implants of the connection external hexagon and internal hexagon were similar in all groups. In the group where the cantilever was used, an increase of the tension around the implant, adjacent to the cantilever, was observed. From the results it is concluded that the type of connection used in this study did not influence the tension quantity and distribution around the implants; however, the prosthetic configuration with the cantilever use, led to an increase of the tension around the implant, adjacent to the cantilever.

Positive effects of auditory cue in locomotor pattern of people with Parkinson's disease (off and on medication)

Gait disorders are identified in people with Parkinson’s disease. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of auditory cues and medication on kinematic, kinetic and EMG parameters, during different gait phases of people with PD and healthy elderly. Thirty subjects distributed in two groups (Group 1, PD patients off and on medication; Group 2, healthy elderly) participated in this study and were instructed to walk in two experimental conditions: non-cued and cued. Therefore, kinematic, kinetic and electromyography analyses were utilized to investigate the locomotor pattern. Changes in locomotor pattern (greater muscular activity) with auditory cue were observed for PD patients. Regarding the medication, locomotor parameter improvement was observed after levodopa intake in association with the auditory cue. These results confirm the hypothesis about the external cues therapy that could be used as a complement to drug therapy to achieve improvement in the locomotor pattern of PD patients.

Desenvolvimento de um equipamento para análise de desgastes em prótese de articulação total de quadril

Pós-graduação em Engenharia Mecânica - FEG

Análise biomecânica do chute frontal de karatê: implicações em lesões nos membros inferiores

Pós-graduação em Engenharia Mecânica - FEG

Sistema de avaliação e tratamento da coluna lombar com o uso de tração mecânica

Pós-graduação em Engenharia Mecânica - FEG

Implementação de um sistema de aquisição de dados da técnica de judô Osotogari utilizando dummy na realização do uchikomi

Pós-graduação em Engenharia Mecânica - FEG

Necessidade de ancoragem do grupo A e o controle biomecanico da mola T pré-ativada por curvatura para o fechamento de espacos

Contemporary orthodontics has sought, beyond the esthetic, occlusal and functional goals, treatments even faster and with less visits to the orthodontist — especially in patients that require dental extractions in which the generated space becomes a nuisance. The segmented arch technic (SAT), by the use of a "T" loop spring, has provided such results within these requirements. Therefore, this study aimed to appraise and demonstrate the confection, activation and biomechanical control of "T" loop spring, in the group with high anchorage necessity (group A), for retraction of anterior teeth; as well as to present a case report, with high anterior retraction necessity, treated with "T" loop spring.

Crimpable double tubes for segmental retraction

When a T-loop is used in segmental mechanics, it is generally attached posteriorly to an auxiliary tube in the first molars and anteriorly to a crimpable cross tube or a Burstone canine bracket. This article illustrates the use of a crimpable tube with a 90-degree bend on the base wire to secure a T-loop in segmental retraction. Both of these approaches allow a T-loop to be reactivated in a simple manner without undesirable changes in the system of forces, which could happen if the T-loop is skewed posteriorly.

Photoelasticity in Dentistry: a literature review

Introduction and Objective: Photoelasticity consists of an experimental technique of stress analysis. This technique is very used in most different areas including Dentistry. This literature review presents the several applications of photoelastic technique in Dentistry the several applications of photoelastic technique in Dentistry as well as its advantages and disadvantages. Literature review: Based on this method of analysis, it is possible the verification of the stress distribution and deformation in structures with complex geometry as maxilla and mandible. It can be used to evaluate the distribution of stress on several types of prosthesis as removable partial denture systems with different retention systems, conventional implant prosthesis, overdentures and Brånemark protocols. Moreover, photoelasticity can be used to assess the stress generated by various by various orthodontic movements, different orthodontic systems and different materials (orthodontic wires). In addition, it is used to analyze different defects of maxillectomy, splint types on traumatized tooth and post-core restoration methods. This technique can also be used to assess dental instruments such as evaluation of different designs of periodontal probe. Conclusion: The photoelastic analysis has been a technique of great importance in health area studies, more specifically in Dentistry. Based on this method of analysis, it is possible to measure the stress distribution and deformation in structures with complex geometry as maxilla and mandible.