Do cognitive tasks during gait increase the risk of accidents with pedestrians? A study based on electromyographic parameters

Introduction: Accidents involving pedestrians are responsible for many cases of serious injuries and deaths. Crossing streets safely requires complex planning and cognitive demand because it is necessary to perform more than one task at a time. Objective: The aim of this study was to identify electromyographic changes during gait in young subjects who performed the cognitive tasks concurrently. Methods: The study included 17 younger women aged between 18 and 25 years. Data collection was performed on a treadmill. The volunteers were instructed to walk in four different conditions: normal gait (NG), gait with dual easy task (DET), gait with dual hard task (DHT) and gait with dual mixed task (DMT). Results: Significant differences were found between the MN condition to the other conditions for all muscles and, during the NG, smaller values of muscle activation were found. Muscle co-contraction between muscles VM / BF showed a significant difference between the conditions of NG and DMT (p = 0.04) and, during the NG, smaller values of co-contraction were observed. Conclusion: The data of this study permits to conclude that the competition between motor and cognitive resources significantly affects the levels of muscle activation and co-contraction during gait in young adult women. Thus, we conclude that the performance of dual cognitive tasks while driving can be considered a risk factor for safe driving

Lung function and functional capacity in school age children

Introduction: Six-minute walk test (TC6) and peak expiratory flow (PEF) can be influenced by variables like gender, age and body mass index (BMI). In the school context, these tests can identify losses caused by sedentary habits and/or manifestation of overweight/obesity. Nevertheless, although widely studied in the adult context, they have not been properly clarified in the child public. Objective: To assess the PEF andTC6 between students in the public and private network and to correlate them with factors like age, gender and BMI. Methods: 39 male and female children between eight and ten years of age were selected for the study. The TC6 was held at a sports court. The child was instructed to walk at maximum speed for six minutes and the PEF test took place in accordance to the recommendations by Pereira et al (1). Results: No significant correlation was found between the BMI and the PEF and TC6 scores. No significant correlation was found between sex and PEF, with measures within normal parameters for the entire sample. The EPF measures did not influence the distance walked in the TC6. A significant correlation was found between sex and distance walked in the TC6 only among male children attending public schools. Conclusion: Both sex and BMI did not influence the PEF measures which, in turn, does not seem to have influenced the distance the sample walked in the TC6. Also concerning the TC6, only the children from public school reached the normal scores proposed in the literature

Subjective and objective parameters in paediatric respiratory conditions: cultural adaptation to Portuguese population

Introduction: Young children are at high risk of respiratory infections. The severity of the disease is based on the assessment of signs and symptoms, although there is a lack of validated scales to the Portuguese population. Objective: The aim of this study was to accomplish the cultural adaptation and validation of the subjective and objective parameters in paediatric respiratory conditions, according to Postiaux. Methods: We ensured the cultural adaptation of the Paramètres anamnestiques et cliniques utiles au suivi et à l´achèvement de la toilette bronchopulmonaire du nourrisson et de l´enfant, created by Guy Postiaux. Then we analysed content, conceptual and construct validity, as well as test-retest reliability. The Portuguese version was applied in a sample of 59 children, with a mean age of 23.05 ± 8.34 months, 55.9% male. Results: We stablished semantics and construct validity and adopted the title Paediatric Respiratory Severity Score (PRSS). PRSS obtained a good internal consistency (e#945; de Cronbach = 0.80) and an excellent intra-rater reliability (ICC = 0.91). Subjective parameters revealed a Cronbach e#945; = 0.80 and an ICC = 0.90. Objective parameters obtained a Cronbach e#945; = 0.73 and an ICC = 0.85. The application of PRSS to the sample showed that 37.3% of the children had a normal health condition (PRSS = 8) and 62.7% ofthe children had a moderate impairment of their health condition (9 e#8804; PRSS e#8804; 16). Conclusion: Paediatric Respiratory Severity Score is a valid and reliable measure to assess the severity of acute respiratory infections in children under 36 months of age

The respiratory physiotherapy causes pain in newborns? A systematic review

Introduction: Neonatal respiratory physicaltherapy plays an important role in prevention and treatment of respiratory pathologies. In preterm neonates, immaturity of respiratory system can let development of variousrespiratory diseases. Meanwhile, it is discussed if respiratory physiotherapy can cause pain. Objective: Investigate presence of pain in neonates undergone to respiratory physiotherapy by a systematic review. Methods: Scientific search in electronic databases: Medline, Lilacs, Bireme, PEDro, Pubmed, Scielo and Capes thesis and dissertations base. Portuguese, English and Spanish, publication year from 2000 to 2012. Results: Thriteen studies were included, but one of them was excluded due to fulltext unavaiable. Therefore, twelve articles were included, nine (81,8%) confirm pain in newborn (NB), from these, in eight (72,7%) intervention was suction and in only one vibrocompression. Four articles studied term and premature newborns. Mechanical ventilatory assistance was used in seven of the studies analyzed. Conclusion: Results: suggest that suction and vibrocompression were pain causers in NB. However, evidenced the necessity of well delineated methods to evaluate if physicaltherapy techniques can cause pain in neonates

Relationship between body functions and referral to rehabilitation post-stroke

Introduction: Stroke has a high prevalence in the world´s population and a significant impact on those affected. Objective: To determine the relationship between body functions evaluated according to the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) parameters and the referral of poststroke subjects to rehabilitation services in the city of João Pessoa-PB. Methods: This study was an observational cross-sectional study involving patients diagnosed with stroke who were affected for less than 60 months and linked to the Family Health Strategy (Estratégia de Saúde da Família - ESF). The ICF stroke core sets that identify disabilities in the body function dimension were used to construct the research instrument. Access to rehabilitation was explored using a questionnaire developed from a literature review. The statistical method of logistic regression was used to identify the disabilities in body functions that were relevant to the referral of the post-stroke subject for rehabilitation. Results: The functions that were significant (p elt; 0.05) were functions relating to muscle tone (OR = 2.38), functions relating to voluntary movement control (OR = 2.60), emotional functions (OR = 2.22), and sexual functions (OR = 3.92). Conclusion: The findings of this study indicate that the presence of disability in these functions is associated with the referral of chronic phase post-stroke subjects to rehabilitation. Therefore, rehabilitation services should be organized to meet the specific requirements of treatment of the sequelae caused by stroke

Portraying the amputation of lower limbs: an approach using ICF

Introduction: Amputation is a trauma that involves important functional, psychological and social sequelae. The International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) is based on the biopsychosocial model and enables understanding functioning and disability through the interaction of its components. Objective: This studys aim was to depict functioning and disability using the ICF conceptual interaction model from the perspective of individuals who suffered a lower limb amputation. Methods: The qualitative approach was used and included a semi-structured interview held with six participants. Results: All the participants used assistive devices such as crutches, wheelchairs or walkers: three used prostheses and the other three emphasized their difficulty in acquiring prostheses from the Social Security Service or Public Health System. Social support, especially that provided by family and friends, is a major facilitator. The importance of acquiring and adapting prostheses to enable the rehabilitation of amputees became clear; however, rehabilitation is not restricted to the acquisition of prostheses. A rehabilitation program directed to restoring functionality is needed. Conclusion: The multidirectional approach using the ICFs conceptual interaction model enabled important insights concerning public health issues, such as obstacles related to the access to rehabilitation services and a lack of preparedness on the part of health professionals in relation to care provided to amputees

Effects of exergame training on the health promotion of young adults

Introduction: Training with exergames has been prescribed for health problems prevention, however, little is known about its influence on the self-perception of the physical condition and on the physical and motor skills (PMS). Objective: To investigate the effects of exergames (EXG) on the self-perception of the physical condition, level of physical activity and PMS in healthy young adults. Methods: Forty young adults, of both genders, were allocated by convenience into Control Group (CG, n = 20, 21.85 ± 0.62 years old), the individuals did not perform the physical training with exergames, and Intervention Group (IG, n = 20, 23.10 ± 0.61 years old), the subjects practiced exergames training (XBOX360 Kinect®), in pairs, twice a week, for 12 weeks. Anthropometric measurements; self-perceived physical condition (International Fitness Scale-IFIS); International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) and PMS (flexibility; abdominal endurance; upper limb strength and endurance, agility and velocity) were evaluated. Results: The IG presented better self-perception of the physical condition; increased physical activity level in the leisure domain and enhanced PMS after 12 weeks of intervention, compared to the CG. Conclusion: The EXG was efficient to improve skeletal muscle function, to contribute to physical exercise adherence and to promote physical health in active young adults