Epidemiological profile of fatally injured victims in motor vehicles accidents and the relation with alcohol use

In Brazil, there still is a social tolerance about drinking and driving. This behavior can be confirmed by the numbers obtained in this study, which shows the strict relation between death caused by traffic accidents and the abusive use of alcohol. Blood samples were obtained for 2.360 killed in motor traffic accidents (collision and run over) in the State of São Paulo - Brazil and the blood alcohol concentrations were determined. The results showed that, almost half of the accident victims, had ethanol in their blood. The study showed that most of the victims where man, from 25 to 40 years; that male victims are more related to alcohol use than female; and that young women death is also more related to alcohol use than older ones.No Brasil, ainda se observa, com freqüência, uma grande tolerância social em relação ao ato de beber e dirigir. Esse comportamento está, de certa forma, expresso nos números deste estudo, que mostram a estreita relação entre a mortalidade dos acidentes de trânsito com o uso abusivo do álcool. Foram analisados dados de 2360 vítimas fatais de acidentes de trânsito (colisões e atropelamentos) ocorridos no Estado de São Paulo no ano de 1999. Os dados levantados foram sexo, idade e verificação da alcoolemia. Os resultados obtidos revelaram que o álcool etílico estava presente no sangue de quase metade das vítimas por acidentes de trânsito na amostra estudada; que o segmento da população mais atingido pelos acidentes de trânsito foi do sexo masculino com idade entre 25 e 40 anos; que as mortes por acidentes de trânsito no sexo masculino estão mais relacionadas com o uso do álcool que no sexo feminino; e que a morte de mulheres jovens está mais relacionada com o uso de álcool que a das mais idosas

Analysis of static and dynamic balance in healthy elderly practitioners of Tai Chi Chuan versus ballroom dancing

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether Tai Chi Chuan or ballroom dancing promotes better performance with respect to postural balance, gait, and postural transfer among elderly people. METHODS: We evaluated 76 elderly individuals who were divided into two groups: the Tai Chi Chuan Group and the Dance Group. The subjects were tested using the NeuroCom Balance Master¯ force platform system with the following protocols: static balance tests (the Modified Clinical Tests of Sensory Interaction on Balance and Unilateral Stance) and dynamic balance tests (the Walk Across Test and Sit-to-stand Transfer Test). RESULTS: In the Modified Clinical Test of Sensory Interaction on Balance, the Tai Chi Chuan Group presented a lower sway velocity on a firm surface with open and closed eyes, as well as on a foam surface with closed eyes. In the Modified Clinical Test of Sensory Interaction on Unilateral Stance, the Tai Chi Chuan Group presented a lower sway velocity with open eyes, whereas the Dance Group presented a lower sway velocity with closed eyes. In the Walk Across Test, the Tai Chi Chuan Group presented faster walking speeds than those of the Dance Group. In the Sit-to-stand Transfer Test, the Tai Chi Chuan Group presented shorter transfer times from the sitting to the standing position, with less sway in the final standing position. CONCLUSION: The elderly individuals who practiced Tai Chi Chuan had better bilateral balance with eyes open on both types of surfaces compared with the Dance Group. The Dance Group had better unilateral postural balance with eyes closed. The Tai Chi Chuan Group had faster walking speeds, shorter transfer times, and better postural balance in the final standing position during the Sit-to-stand Test

Biofeedback eletromiográfico e parâmetros da dinamometria isocinética de joelho e tornozelo de jogadores de futebol amador

Electromyography has been used to evaluate the voluntary control of muscular activity. One of the highlights among the techniques is electromyography biofeedback (EMGBio), which works as a facilitator of neuromotor development, including playing sports. Objective: To analyze the effect of EMGBio within the isokinetic parameters of knee flexion and extension and ankle inversion and eversion in amateur soccer players. Subjects: Two randomized groups of fourteen male amateur soccer players: Training group (TG) – seven athletes, with an age of 23 ± 2 (22 and 28) years old, body mass 75.7kg ± 4.0kg (72 and 80), height 182cm ± 4cm (176 and 188) and Control Group (CG) – seven athletes, with an age of 24 ± 2 (21 and 28) years old, body mass 72.3kg ± 9.4kg (59 and 79), height 175cm ± 5cm (169 and 180). Methods: all athletes were evaluated by a clinical protocol: anamnesis, occurrence of injuries and visual analogue scale of pain and were subjected to knee flexion and extension and ankle inversion and eversion isokinetic dynamometry. The training group had twelve sessions of EMGBio once a week. At the end of the sessions, all athletes were revaluated. Results: At a velocity of 30 deg/s, the ankle eversion peak torque of 0.18 seconds (PT of 0.18s) was higher in the training group and at a velocity of 60 deg/s, the knee flexion PT of 0.18s was higher in the training group. Conclusion: Electromyographic biofeedback improved the isokinetic parameters of the amateur soccer players.A eletromiografia tem sido utilizada para avaliar o con- trole voluntário da atividade muscular. Dentre as técnicas destaca-se o biofeedback eletromiográfico como facilitador do aprendizado neuromotor, inclusive na prática esportiva. Objetivo: Analisar o efeito do biofeedback eletromiográfico nos parâmetros isocinéticos dos fle- xores e extensores do joelho e inversores e eversores do tornozelo em jogadores de futebol amador. Casuística: 14 atletas de futebol amador do gênero masculino randomizados em dois grupos: Gru- po Treino (GT) - sete atletas, idade de 23 ± 2 (22 e 28) anos, massa corpórea 75,7 ± 4,0(72 e 80) kg , estatura 182 ± 4 (176 e 188) cm e Grupo Controle (GC) - sete atletas com idade 24 ± 2 (21 e 28) anos, massa corpórea 72,3± 9,4 (59 e 79) kg, estatura 175± 5 (169 e 180) cm. Método: Todos os atletas foram avaliados por um protocolo clínico: anamnese, incidência de lesões e escala visual análoga de dor e foram submetidos à dinamometria isocinética dos inversores e eversores do tornozelo e flexores e extensores do joelho. O GT realizou 12 sessões de biofeedback eletromiográfico, uma vez por semana. No final das sessões, todos os atletas foram reavaliados. Resultados: Na velocidade de 30º/ seg., o pico de torque 0,18 segundos (PT 0,18s) dos eversores do tornozelo foi maior no GT e no joelho, na velocidade de 60º/seg. o PT 0,18s dos flexores de joelho foram maiores no GT. Conclusão: O biofeedback eletromiográfico melhorou os parâmetros isocinéticos dos jogadores de futebol amador