Search

Introduction: low back pain (LBP) is characterized by pain in the region between the last costal arches and the gluteal fold. It can occur due to several intrinsic and extrinsic factors, and it has a very high prevalence in adulthood, causing several problems which directly influence the quality of life. Neurosensory Postural Therapy (NPT) is a technique which uses manual neural stimulation to adjust muscle tone. Objective: The aim of the present study was to verify the effects of NPT on pain, mobility, flexibility, functionality, cardiac variability and body oscillation. Methodology: Seven women over 20 years old were recruited, which were evaluated before and after the technique, which consisted of pressure on the upper and lower roots of the sciatic nerve at 3 points for 60 seconds. Results: The mean pain score was 2.71 ± 1.38 and 1.35 ± 1.18, with a value of p = 0.02. For the Schöber test we obtained a mean of 21.93 ± 1.36 and 22.34 ± 1.30 cm in the pre- and post-test with p=0.01. No statistical difference was found in the Rolland Morris questionnaire. The electromyography obtained statistical difference in the analysis of the gluteus medius with p=0.02. Significant results (p=0.0001) were found in the lateral evaluation by the stabilometry and the HF/LF ratio showed difference with p=0.03 in the pretest and after 30 days. Conclusion: The technique of NPT has benefits in the parameters studies, demonstration being a fast technique with period of efficiency.

Background: Children with Down Syndrome have poorer functional and sensory skills compared to children with typical development. Virtual reality training could help improve these skills. Moreover, transcranial direct current stimulation has achieved promising results in terms of enhancing the effects of physical and sensory therapy by modulating cortical excitability. Methods/design The sample will be defined after conducting a pilot study with the same methodology as that to be used in the main study. The study will involve individuals with Down Syndrome with a cognitive age of six to 12 years according to the Wechsler Abbreviated Intelligence Scale. Will be randomly allocated into two groups: Group 1 AtDCS combined with a virtual reality game and a manual motor task. Group 2 sham AtDCS with a virtual reality game and a manual motor task. The training protocol will involve 10 sessions of AtDCS during memory and motor task games. Three 20-minute sessions will be held per week for a total of 10 sessions. Evaluations will be performed on three different occasions: pre-intervention, post-intervention (after session 10) and follow-up (one month after the proposed training). The evaluations will consist of an analysis of electroencephalographic signals, electromyographic signals of the biceps and triceps brachii and the three-dimensional reconstruction of the reaching movement. The results will be analyzed statistically, with the significance level set at 5% (p ≤ 0.05). Discussion: The optimization of the results obtained is believed to be related to interactive training with a wide range of activities and scenarios involving multiple sensory channels and the creation of exercises, the intensity of which can be adjusted to the needs of individuals. Therefore, the proposed study aims to complement the literature with further information and different variables to provide the scientific community with clinical data on this combination of interventions. Trial Registration: REBEC protocol number RBR-43pk59 registered on 2019/03/27 and Human Ethics Committee number 3.608.521 approved on 2019/09/30.

Team handball is a complex intermittent sport game, which requires several motor abilities and effective postural control. Objective evaluation of stabilometric variables may be interesting to assess and improve functional parameters by postural control management. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the effects of a small additional thickness placed under the great toe (TUGT) on the Centre of Pressure (CoP) parameters in elite women handball players. Fourteen elite women handball players voluntarily participated in this study. Two conditions were compared: TUGT 0 (control) and TUGT 0.8 mm; four variables were computed from the CoP displacements. A paired T‐test was performed for each variable. This study concludes that a low focal additional thickness placed under both great toes has an effect on the CoP measures used to assess postural control during an unperturbed stance. These results suggest that a low TUGT could contribute to a change in balance ability, and may be of clinical interest. This brings new perspectives in the management of athletes to prevent injury risk and optimize performance.

Introduction. This study evaluated the effects of foot reflexotherapy on pain and postural balance in elderly individuals with low back pain. Design. Randomized, controlled pilot study. Participants (n=20) were randomly assigned to 2 groups: individuals submitted to conventional foot massage (control group) or foot reflexotherapy (RT, intervention group) for a period of 5 weeks. Questionnaires on pain and disability (visual analogue scale [VAS] and Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire [RMDQ]), heart rate variability, and orthostatic balance and baropodometric analysis were assessed at two intervals: before and after intervention. Results. RT group showed statistically significant differences when compared to control group in the following parameters: decrease in VAS scores for pain throughout the study, decrease in parasympathetic activity, and improvement in RMDQ scores. The two groups did not statistically differ in either orthostatic balance or baropodometric analyses. Conclusion. This study demonstrated that foot reflexotherapy induced analgesia but did not affect postural balance in elderly individuals with low back pain.

Made available in DSpace on 2018-11-26T16:27:43Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2016-02-01 Objective: To determine the immediate effect of a Basic Body Awareness Therapy (BAT) session on measures of heart rate variability (HRV) in healthy young people. Methods: 13 healthy young subjects of both genders, who showed no illnesses related to the autonomic nervous system (ANS) underwent an ANS evaluation before and after conducting a session of BAT. The assessment of ANS activity was conducted through the HR with the aid of Nerve-Express (R) software. The BAT session lasted for 50 min and was performed by one investigator (blinded to the assessment procedures). Results: After BAT session significant improvement was found in the sympathetic and parasympathetic modulation (p < 0.05), and the general estimate of heart rate variability (p < 0.04). Conclusion: BAT was found to be an effective, easy to apply and inexpensive therapeutic technique, able to change ANS in order to improve HR which may suggest better health conditions for participating individuals. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Univ Estadual Paulista, Inst Biosci, PhD Student Sci Motr, BR-19060900 Rio Claro, SP, Brazil Univ Estadual Paulista, Dept Post Grad Program Phys Therapy, BR-19060900 Presidente Prudente, Brazil Salgado Inst Integral Hlth, Sch Postural & Manual Therapy, BR-86055240 Londrina, PR, Brazil Nove Julho Univ, Rehabil Sci Master & Doctoral Degree Program, UNINOVE, BR-01504000 Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil Univ Estadual Paulista, Inst Biosci, PhD Student Sci Motr, BR-19060900 Rio Claro, SP, Brazil Univ Estadual Paulista, Dept Post Grad Program Phys Therapy, BR-19060900 Presidente Prudente, Brazil

resumo disponí­vel no artigo em PDF

The Transcranial LED Therapy (TCLT) is a modality of low-level energy therapy based on the principle of photons delivered in a non-invasive manner for the rehabilitation of some neurological conditions such as psychological disorders, traumatic brain injuries, and neurodegenerative diseases among others. Because the phototherapy approach has attracted interest in the scientific medical field we discuss the action of TCLT at the cellular level in this review. Cytochrome c oxidase is the main target of TCLT for therapeutic effects by enhancing cerebral blood flow. This enzyme boosts cell respiration and energy production, which induces cell proliferation and reduces apoptosis in Alzheimer and Parkinson’s diseases. Thus, TCLT is a safe, non-invasive, and low cost alternative treatment compared to other treatment modalities for clinical neurological disorders.