Atividade física e doenças crônicas em idosos de Rio Claro-SP

The aim of this study was to analyzed physical activity level (PAL) and the prevalence of chronic diseases (CD) in older people living at Rio Claro/SP city. The sample was composed by 192 older people, mean 70 +/- 7 years-old; selected by stratified technique according to tractus census. The assessments were done by means of: Baecke Questionnaire Modified for the Elderly and Socio-Demographic and Health Questionnaire. The data analysis included descriptive statistics and parametric and non- parametric tests, at p < 0.05. In general the PAL of older people was low and no differences between genders were observed. With regards pathologies women reported more diseases than men and hypertension was the most prevalent. We conclude that older people living at Rio Claro/SP present: a) low PAL and they can be classified as sedentary; with no difference between men and women; b) higher prevalence of CD in women; hypertension as the most common pathology.Este estudo teve por objetivo analisar o nível de atividade física (NAF) e a prevalência de doenças crônicas (DC) de idosos do município de Rio Claro/SP. Participaram do estudo 192 idosos, média de 70 +/- 7 anos que foram selecionados de forma estratificada por setor censitário. O Questionário Baecke Modificado para Idosos e um questionário com itens relacionados à saúde foram utilizados na avaliação. Os dados foram analisados por meio de estatística descritiva, análise paramétrica e não paramétrica, assumindo p < 0,05. De maneira geral, o NAF dos idosos mostrou-se baixo e sem diferença entre gêneros. Nas patologias, as mulheres são mais acometidas em comparação aos homens e a hipertensão arterial foi a mais prevalente. Conclui-se que os idosos de Rio Claro/SP apresentam: a) baixo NAF, podendo ser classificados como sedentários; sem diferença entre gênero; b) Maior prevalência de DC entre as mulheres; hipertensão arterial como a patologia mais prevalente

Visual restriction and anterior-posterior body oscillations in Parkinson’s disease

Sem visão poucos ajustes antecipatórios e/ou compensatórios ocorrem na doença de Parkinson e as evidências destes ajustes são menores quando a evolução da doença e as oscilações corporais são consideradas. Objetivo: O objetivo deste estudo foi evidenciar os efeitos da restrição visual sobre os ângulos das oscilações corporais ântero-posteriores na postura ereta de parkinsonianos considerando os estágios inicias de evolução da doença. Método: Dez idosos com Doença de Parkinson até o estágio 2 de Hoehn &amp; Yahr (HY) ficaram de pé parados por 30 segundos para medir os ângulos das oscilações corporais com e sem visão. Resultados: ANOVA two-way com medidas repetidas revelou efeito principal de visão (F(1,7) = 8,931; p &lt; 0,02). Conclusão: Os ângulos das oscilações corporais ântero-posteriores sem visão foram maiores do que com visão, estes não diferiram entre si quanto aos estágios de HY e as condições de visão interferiram no controle da postura independente do estágio de evolução da Doença de Parkinson.With their vision restricted, sufferers of Parkinson’s disease (PD) make few anticipatory and/or compensatory adjustments in their posture and the evidence of these adjustments is even less when the disease progresses and body oscillations are considered. Objective: The aim of this study was to demonstrate the effects of visual restriction on the anterior-posterior body oscillation angles in parkinsonian stance considering the early stages of this disease. Method: Ten elderly PD patients with Hoehn &amp; Yahr (HY) stage 2 remained standing still for 30 seconds to measure the body oscillation angles with and without restricted vision. Results: Two-way ANOVA analyses with repeated measurements revealed the main effect of vision (F(1,7) = 8.931, p &lt; 0.02). Conclusion: The angles of the anterior-posterior body oscillations without visibility were greater than with visibility. They did not differ in correlation with the HY stages and visibility conditions interfered with the postural control regardless of the PD evolution stage

Efeitos de uma informação sensorial adicional no controle postural: envelhecimento e doença de Parkinson

A instabilidade postural é um dos sinais constatados na doença de Parkinson (DP) e, freqüentemente, está relacionada com quedas. Distúrbio no sistema somatossensorial pode ocorrer na DP e contribuir com o déficit do controle postural. Este distúrbio pode estar relacionado com déficits nos receptores sensoriais, na integração central destas informações ou na resposta motora inapropriada. Contudo, a informação somatossensorial adicional pode auxiliar na manutenção da postura ereta em indivíduos sadios. Desta forma, o objetivo do estudo foi analisar os efeitos da informação somatossensorial adicional, aplicada na sola do pé, no controle postural de adultos jovens, idosos neurologicamente sadios e idosos com DP. Nove participantes de cada grupo mantiveram a postura ereta bipodal, sobre uma plataforma de força, em duas condições: descalço e sobre palmilhas. As palmilhas utilizadas neste estudo foram projetadas com o objetivo de adicionar informação sensorial na sola dos pés. Para isso, as palmilhas possuem elevações em forma de semi-esferas distribuídas em locais estratégicos, onde há maiores concentrações de mecanorreceptores de adaptação lenta e pontos mais utilizados durante a oscilação postural. As variáveis tradicionais da posturografia foram calculadas para analisar o controle postural. Independente das condições, não houve diferença do controle postural entre adultos jovens e idosos neurologicamente sadios, porém, idosos com DP apresentaram aumento na maioria das variáveis calculadas em relação aos outros dois grupos, confirmando estratégias compensatórias para manter a postura ereta. A informação somatossensorial adicional proporcionada pelas palmilhas foi suficiente para melhorar o controle postural dos três grupos analisados. Assim, adultos jovens, idosos sadios e idosos com DP utilizam a informação adicional para reduzir a oscilação postural no plano frontal.The postural instability is a signal of Parkinson’s disease (PD) and it is often related to falls. Somatosensory system disturbance can occur with PD and it can contribute to impairment in postural control. This impairment can be related to deficits in the sensory receptors, in the central integration of this information or in the inappropriate motor response. However, additional somatosensory information can help in the maintenance of upright quiet stance in healthy individuals. Thus, the aim of this study was to analyze the effects of the additional somatosensory information, applied on the foot sole, on the postural control of young adults, healthy older adults and older adults with PD. Nine participants of each group were asked to maintain an upright quiet bipedal stance on a force plate under two conditions: barefoot and on the insoles. The insoles used in this study were designed to add sensory information on the foot sole. In order to do that, the insoles have elevated half-spheres distributed in strategic sites, where there are higher concentrations of mechanoreceptors of slow adaptation and/or the sites more utilized for postural oscillation. Traditional posturography variables were calculated to analyze the postural control. Independently of the conditions, there were no differences between young adults and healthy older adults in postural control. Almost all variables increased for patients with PD when compared with the other groups, which can be considered as compensatory strategies to maintain the upright stance. The additional somatosensory information provided by the insoles was sufficient to improve postural control of all three groups. Therefore, young adults, healthy older adults and patients with PD were able to use the additional information provided by the insoles to decrease body sway, especially in the frontal plane.Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES

Physical activity, quality of life and medication in aging: differences between age and gender

Studies have shown an inverse relationship between physical activity level (PAL), quality of life (QoL) and use of medications in the elderly. The objective of this study was to analyze possible relationships and differences between PAL, QoL and use of medications in the elderly. A total of 192 subjects (≥ 60 years) were selected by stratified random sampling according to census sector. The following assessment instruments were used: a) Modified Baecke Questionnaire for older adults, b) Medical Outcomes Study – 36-Item Short Form Health Survey, and c) Sociodemographic and Health Factors Questionnaire. Descriptive statistics and parametric and nonparametric tests were used (p < 0.05). a) With respect to chronological age, significant differences between groups were only observed for PAL, with G1 (60-69 years) being more active than the other groups. b) With respect to gender irrespective of age, analysis showed a difference in QoL and in the number of medications, with men reporting better perceived QoL and using fewer medications. c) With respect to gender but considering chronological age, differences in PAL, QoL and medication use were observed between genders for specific age groups. In conclusion, in the elderly a) PAL is low, declines even more during advanced age and is higher in men than in women during the first decade of old age, and b) men report better perceived QoL and use fewer medications than women

<b>Physical activity, quality of life and medication in aging: differences between age and gender</b>

Studies have shown an inverse relationship between physical activity level (PAL), quality of life (QoL) and use of medications in the elderly. The objective of this study was to analyze possible relationships and differences between PAL, QoL and use of medications in the elderly. A total of 192 subjects (≥ 60 years) were selected by stratified random sampling according to census sector. The following assessment instruments were used: a) Modified Baecke Questionnaire for older adults, b) Medical Outcomes Study – 36-Item Short Form Health Survey, and c) Sociodemographic and Health Factors Questionnaire. Descriptive statistics and parametric and nonparametric tests were used (p < 0.05). a) With respect to chronological age, significant differences between groups were only observed for PAL, with G1 (60-69 years) being more active than the other groups. b) With respect to gender irrespective of age, analysis showed a difference in QoL and in the number of medications, with men reporting better perceived QoL and using fewer medications. c) With respect to gender but considering chronological age, differences in PAL, QoL and medication use were observed between genders for specific age groups. In conclusion, in the elderly a) PAL is low, declines even more during advanced age and is higher in men than in women during the first decade of old age, and b) men report better perceived QoL and use fewer medications than women

Effects of the cognitive tasks in the postural control of elderly: A systematic revision

Demanding attention in order to keep postural balance increases with aging and with the presence of concurrent tasks that require information processing. Several studies have demonstrated that motor performance can be related to the complexity of the task and aging process, presenting a possible interaction between these factors. The aim of this review was to identify and analyze published papers about the effects of cognitive tasks on the postural control of elderly individuals. A systematic search in the Web of Science, SportDiscus, CINAHL, Science Direct on line, Biological Abstracts, PsycINFO, and Medline databases was made and 444 articles were found. Eight were selected that studied the variables of interest. These studies showed that postural control seems to be influenced by the individual's attention processes and that deficits in such ability may be associated to an increased risk of falls