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Summary Study aim: The purposes of this study were to analyze: the influence of physical activity level on the association between motor coordination and body fatness; the influence of body fatness on the association between motor coordination and physical activity; and how much physical activity and body fatness, separately and together, explain motor coordination in adolescent boys. Material and methods: Fifty-one boys (n = 51), aged between 12 and 14 years, participated in the study. Motor coordination and physical activity and body fat percentage were assessed with, respectively, the Körperkoordinationstest für Kinder (KTK) and a validated self-administered questionnaire (PAQ-C). Skinfold thickness was measured to assess the participant’s body fat percentage. The Kruskal-Wallis test was performed to compare levels of motor coordination, physical activity, and body fat according to age (12, 13, 14 years). Bivariate and partial correlations were used to analyze the interrelationships among the selected variables. Results: In the total studied group (n = 51 boys), motor coordination was positively associated with physical activity level (r = 0.300) and negatively associated with body fatness (r = –0.297). However, these associations were not statistically significant (p > 0.05) when controlled for body fatness and physical activity, respectively. Also, body fat and physical activity together explained 11% of the variance in the motor coordination level in adolescent boys. Conclusions: These findings suggest that body fatness can influence the association between motor coordination and physical activity as well as that physical activity level can influence the association between motor coordination and body fat percentage. Also, body fat and physical activity together, but not separately, partially explained the variance in the motor coordination level. Therefore, body fat and physical activity seem to be complementarily associated with motor coordination in adolescent boys.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to identify the association between hip muscle strength and the scores from subjective functional and psychological evaluation questionnaires in patients with chronic hip pain. METHODS: Fifty-fivepatients with painful hip injuries (30 males) performed isometric peak strength tests of the abductors, extensors, and internal and external rotators of the hips with a hand-held dynamometer. The degree of functionality was measured by the Hip Outcome Score (HOS) and Lower Extremity Functional Score (LEFS), pain was estimated by the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and kinesiophobia was calculated using the Tampa questionnaire. The Pearson correlation coefficient was used (alfa=5%) to test the associations between the muscle strength and the scores from the questionnaires. RESULTS: There were significant correlations between the strength of all four hip muscles and the HOS (r>0.29). Only the hip external rotators showed a significant correlation with pain (r=-0.30). No significant correlations were found for LEFS (r0,29). Apenas os rotadores externos do quadril apresentaram correlação significativa com a intensidade da dor (r=-0,30). Nenhuma correlação significativa foi encontrada para LEFS (r

Gait parameters have been investigated as an additional tool for differential diagnosis in neurocognitive disorders, especially among healthy elderly (HE), those with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients. A videogrammetry system could be used as a low-cost and clinically practical equipment to capture and analyze gait in older adults. The aim of this study was to select the better gait parameter to differentiate these groups among different motor test conditions with videogrammetry analyses. Different motor conditions were used in three specific assessments: 10-meter walk test (10mWT), timed up and go test (TUGT), and treadmill walk test (TWT). These tasks were compared among HE (n=17), MCI (n=23), and AD (n=23) groups. One-way ANOVA, Kruskal-Wallis, and Bonferroni post-hoc tests were used to compare variables among groups. Then, an effect size (ES) and a linear regression analysis were calculated. The gait parameters showed significant differences among groups in all conditions, but not in TWT. Controlled by confounding variables, the gait velocity in 10mWT at usual speed, and TUGT in dual-task condition, predicts 39% and 53% of the difference among diagnoses, respectively. Finally, these results suggest that a low-cost and practical video analysis could be able to differentiate HE, those with MCI, and AD patients in clinical assessments.

Objective : To compare gait spatiotemporal parameters of healthy and ACL reconstructed subjects in order to classify the status of gait normality. Methods : Fourteen healthy subjects and eight patients submitted to ACL reconstruction walked along a walkway while the lower limbs movement was captured by an infrared camera system. The frames where the initial contact and toe-off took place were determined and the following dependent variables, which were compared between groups through the Mann-Whitney test (a=0.05) were calculated: percentage of time in initial double stance, percentage of time in single stance, percentage of time in terminal double stance, stride length and gait velocity. Initially, all variables were compared between groups using a Mann-Whitney test. A logistic regression was applied, including all dependent variables, to create a model that could differentiate healthy and ACL reconstructed subjects. Results : ACL reconstructed group showed no differences in any spatiotemporal parameter of gait (p > 0.05) in relation to the control group, although the angular kinematic differences of the knee remained altered, as evidenced in a study with a similar sample. Conclusion : The regression classified all subjects as healthy, including the ACL reconstructed group, suggesting the spatiotemporal variables should not be used as the sole criterion of return to sports activities at the same level as prior to injury. Level of Evidence III, Case Control Study.

Leg length discrepancy (LLD) can be related to different pathologies, due to an inadequate distribution of mechanical loads, as well as gait kinematics asymmetries resulted from LLD.To validate a model to predict anatomical LLD (ALLD) based on gait kinematics.Gait of 39 participants with different lower limb pathologies and mild discrepancy were collected. Pelvic, hip, knee and ankle kinematics were measured with a 3D motion analysis system and ALLD, femur discrepancy (FD) and tibia discrepancy (TD) were measured by a computerized digital radiograph. Three multiple linear regression models were used to identify the ability of kinematic variables to predict ALLD (model 1), FD (model 2) and TD (model 3).Difference between peak knee and hip flexion of the long and short lower limb was selected by models 1 (p 0.001) and 2 (p 0.001). Hip adduction was selected as a predictor only by model 1 (p = 0.05). Peak pelvic obliquity and ankle dorsiflexion were not selected by any model and model 3 did not retain any dependent variable (p 0.05). Regression models predicted mild ALLD with moderate accuracy based on hip and knee kinematics during gait, but not ankle strategies. Excessive hip flexion of the longer limb possibly occurs to reduce the limb to equalize the LLD, and discrepancies of the femur and tibia affects gait cycle in a different way.This study showed that kinematic variables during gait could be used as a screening tool to identify patients with ALLD, reducing unnecessary x-ray exposure and assisting rehabilitation programs.

Purpose. The aim of this study was to analyze the interrelationships among motor coordination, body fat percentage, and physical activity levels in adolescent girls. Methods. Sixty-eight girls aged 12-14 years participated in the study. Skinfold thickness was measured and the Körperkoordinationstest für Kinder test was administered. Participants completed a self-reporting questionnaire on physical activity. Bivariate and partial correlations were used to analyze the interrelationships among the selected variables. Results. There were no significant (p > 0.05) correlations between any motor coordination scores and physical activity levels with and without controlling for body fat percentage. All motor coordination scores were significantly (p < 0.05) associated with body fat with and without controlling for physical activity levels. Conclusions. The relationships between motor coordination scores and physical activity levels, as well as between motor coordination scores and body fat percentage, were not influenced by body fat and physical activity levels, respectively. However, the overall low physical activity level in this sample may have biased these results. Additional research involving girls with higher physical activity levels should be pursued.

Purpose. While the usefulness of gross motor coordination score as predictor of sports performance in young athletes has been demonstrated, practical applications in the settings where the focus is not on elite performance is limited. Further, little is known about the extent to which gross motor coordination score is associated with sport-specific skills among adolescent nonathletes. The aim of this study was to analyse the relationship between the degree of gross motor coordination and execution in specific volleyball tests among adolescent non-athletes. Methods. The total of 34 students (27 females and 7 males) aged 13-14 years who regularly participated in volleyball during physical education classes were randomly recruited. Gross motor coordination was assessed with the Körperkoordinationstest für Kinder. Motor performance on volley-specific skills was indicated by two product-oriented tasks: volleyball under service and service reception. Correlation and linear regression analyses were applied to examine the associations between motor coordination scores and motor performance in volley-specific skills. Results. Motor coordination score was positively correlated with motor performance on specific skills (r = 0.503, p = 0.02). Linear regression analysis revealed that motor coordination score accounted for 23% of the variance in the motor performance on volleyball skills (R2 = 0.253, R2 adjusted = 0.230, F = 10.836, p = 0.02). Conclusions. The degree of gross motor coordination seems to play a significant role in the execution of specific volleyball tasks.

Motor dysfunction increases in the moderate and severe stages of dementia. However, there is still no consensus on changes in mobility during its early stages. This meta-analysis aimed to measure the level of single-task functional mobility in older subjects with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and/or Alzheimer’s disease (AD). In a search of the PubMed, ISI Web of Knowledge, and Scopus databases, 2728 articles were identified. At the end of the selection, a total of 18 studies were included in the meta-analysis. Functional mobility was investigated using the timed up and go (TUG) test in all studies. When compared to healthy elderly (HE) adults, the following mean differences (MD) in seconds were found for the investigated subgroups: no amnestic MCI (MD = 0.26; CI95% = -0.77, 1.29), amnestic MCI (MD = 0.86; CI95% = -0.02, 1.73), very mild AD (MD = 1.32; CI95% = 0.63, 2.02), mild AD (MD = 2.43; CI95% = 1.84, 3.01), mild-moderate AD (MD = 3.01; CI95% = 2.47, 3.55), and mild-severe AD (MD = 4.51; CI95% = 1.14, 7.88); for the groups, the following MD were found: MCI (MD = 0.97; CI95% = 0.51, 1.44) and AD (MD = 2.66; CI95% = 2.16, 3.15). These results suggest a transition period in motor capacity between healthy aging and dementia, wherein functional mobility analysis in a single-task (TUG) can contribute to the diagnosis and staging of predementia states and AD.

To investigate the state of art about motor coordination during gait in patients with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury. Searches were carried out, limited from 1980 to 2010, in various databases with keywords related to motor coordination, gait and ACL injury. From the analysis of titles and applying the inclusion/exclusion criteria 24 studies were initially selected and, after reading the abstract, eight studies remained in the final analysis. ACL deficient patients tend to have a more rigid and less variable gait, while injured patients with ACL reconstruction have less rigid and more variable gait with respect to healthy individuals. The overall results suggest the existence of differences in motor coordination between the segments with intact and those with injured knee, regardless of ligament reconstruction. ACL injured patients present aspects related to the impairment of the capability to adapt the gait pattern to different environmental conditions, possibly leading to premature knee degeneration. However, the techniques used for biomechanical gait data processing are limited with respect to obtaining information that leads to the development of intervention strategies aimed at the rehabilitation of that injury, since it is not possible to identify the location within the gait cycle where the differences could be explained.Investigar o estado da arte acerca da coordenação motora durante a marcha em pacientes com lesão no ligamento cruzado anterior (LCA). Foram realizadas pesquisas, delimitadas entre 1980 e 2010, em diversas bases de artigos com palavras-chave relacionadas à coordenação motora, marcha e lesão no LCA. A partir da análise de títulos e aplicação dos critérios de inclusão/exclusão, 24 estudos foram selecionados inicialmente e, após a leitura do resumo, oito permaneceram na análise final. Os resultados indicam que pacientes com deficiência no LCA tendem a apresentar uma marcha menos variável, enquanto pacientes com reconstrução do LCA têm uma marcha mais variável, em relação a sujeitos hígidos. Os resultados sugerem a existência de diferenças na coordenação motora entre os segmentos entre sujeitos com e sem lesão no LCA, independentemente da reconstrução ligamentar. Pacientes com lesão no LCA apresentam aspectos relacionados ao comprometimento de adaptar seus padrões de marcha a diferentes condições externas, o que pode levar à degeneração precoce. No entanto, as técnicas usadas pelos estudos para o processamento dos dados biomecânicos foram limitadas no que diz respeito à obtenção de informações que possibilitem o desenvolvimento de estratégias de intervenção voltadas para a reabilitação da lesão. Isso se deve ao fato de as técnicas atuais de estudo da coordenação motora, apesar de possibilitar a identificação de alterações no padrão de marcha saudável, não serem capazes de identificar as principais articulações e fases do ciclo da marcha alteradas.

Objective To examine the influence of a preventative training program (PTP) on sagittal plane kinematics during different landing tasks and vertical jump height (VJH) in males. Design Six weeks prospective exercise intervention. Participants Fifteen male volleyball athletes (13 ± 0.7 years, 1.70 ± 0.12 m, 60 ± 12 kg). Interventions PTP consisting of plyometric, balance and core stability exercises three times per week for six weeks. Bilateral vertical jumps with double leg (DL) and single leg (SL) landings were performed to measure the effects of training. Main outcome measurements Kinematics of the knee and hip before and after training and VJH attained during both tasks after training. The hypothesis was that the PTP would produce improvements in VJH, but would not generate great changes in biomechanical behavior. Results The only change identified for the SL was the longest duration of landing, which represents the time spent from initial ground contact to maximum knee flexion, after training, while increased angular displacement of the knee was observed during DL. The training did not significantly alter the VJH in either the SL (difference: 2.7 cm) or the DL conditions (difference: 3.5 cm). Conclusions Despite the PTP's effectiveness in inducing some changes in kinematics, the changes were specific for each task, which highlights the importance of the specificity and individuality in selecting prevention injury exercises. Despite the absence of significant increases in the VJH, the absolute differences after training showed increases corroborating with the findings of statistically powerful studies that compared the results with control groups. The results suggest that short-term PTPs in low risk young male volleyball athletes may enhance performance and induce changes in some kinematic parameters.

Objective: To compare the activation of the vastus lateralis (VL) and biceps femoris (BF) muscles during gait, as well VL/BF muscular co-contraction (MCC) between healthy (CG) and anterior cruciate ligament reconstructed (ACL-R) subjects. Methods: Nineteen subjects, ten controls and nine ACL-R patients had a VL and BF electromyogram (EMG) captured to calculate the MCC ratio. A Principal Component (PC) Analysis was applied to reduce the dimensionality effect of each of the MCC, VL and BF curves for both healthy and ACL reconstructed groups. The PC scores were used to calculate the standard distance (SD). SD values were employed in order to compare each dependent variable (MCC, VL and BF) between the two groups using unpaired t-test. Results: ACL-R group presented a lower VL activation at the beginning and at the end of the gait cycle, as compared to the control group. However, no difference was found for BF or VL/BF MCC. Conclusion: The gait analysis of ACL reconstructed patients demonstrated a persistent deficit in VL activation when compared to the control group, even one year after surgery. Level of Evidence III. Case Control Study

Objective: To measure the validity and reliability of the WOMAC, IKDC and Lysholm questionnaires among patients with knee osteoarthritis and determine the influence of age on their scores. Method: Fifty-seven patients diagnosed with primary osteoarthritis of the knee answered the SF-36, WOMAC, IKDC and Lysholm questionnaires. Validity was tested by measuring the correlation (Pearson’s correlation coefficient, “r”) between the questionnaires. Internal consistency was measured using Cronbach’s α and concordance was measured through the Altman-Bland graphical representations and survival concordance. To determine the influence of age on the results, we correlated this variable with the scores from the three knee questionnaires using Pearson’s coefficient of determination (“r2”). Results: IKDC (0.62) and WOMAC (0642) showed moderate to strong correlations in relation to the summarized physical capacity score of the SF-36, while Lysholm showed moderate correlations (0.555). The Cronbach α values for IKDC, WOMAC and Lysholm were 0.811, 0.959 and 0.734, respectively. Despite the strong correlations between IKDC and WOMAC (0.843), Lysholm and WOMAC (0.759) and IKDC and Lysholm (0.858), the Bland-Altman graphical representations and survival concordance showed that the concordance between the three questionnaires was low. IKDC, Lysholm and WOMAC showed coefficients of determination (r2) with age of 0.004, 0.010 and 0.043, respectively. Conclusion: Age was not found to be a limiting factor for the use of any of the questionnaires applied in this study. The concordance tests and correlations with the physical components of SF-36 suggest that WOMAC is more appropriate for assessing physical capacities and limitations relating to physical traits, while IKDC seems more appropriate for assessing the functional limitations relating to pain.

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries are common in sports. Studies investigating injury mechanisms have demonstrated that most injuries arise from landing tasks. Despite the demonstration of differences between male and female kinematics, there are no studies showing how males behave during different landing tasks. The objective of this study was to compare the angular and temporal kinematics of the lower limbs between two different landing tasks. Double leg and single leg landings were recorded in the frontal and sagittal plane in 15 male volleyball athletes by videogrammetry. Reduced hip and knee flexion and increased knee valgus were observed in the single leg landing task compared to the double leg landing task. No significant difference in landing time was observed between the two tasks. In conclusion, the results support the premise that lower limb kinematics change according to the task performed. Further studies are necessary to explore the impact of these kinematic differences on knee loading and to relate them to ACL injury mechanisms in men.

Objective To analyse the subtalar eversion range of motion during walking in women with fibromyalgia. Method Twenty women diagnosed with fibromyalgia were directed to walk barefoot at comfortable and self-paced speed on a 7m walkway. Subtalar eversion range of motion was measured using the difference between the maximum and minimum values of subtalar eversion in stance phase. A range of motion between 4°–6° was considered as reference values for subtalar eversion during gait. Descriptive statistics were performed. Results In both right and left lower limb analysis of subtalar eversion range of motion, five women showed joint hypomobility, and twelve showed hypermobility. Only one patient performed unaltered subtalar eversion range of motion in both lower limbs. Both joints expressed high variability, and there were no significant differences between the right and left sides. Conclusions The findings suggest that biomechanical function of the subtalar joint eversion during the loading response phase of gait in women with fibromyalgia, by excessive rigidity or complacency joint, tends to be impaired. This finding suggests that the indication of walking as an auxiliary strategy in the treatment of women with fibromyalgia should be preceded by thorough examination of the mechanical conditions of the subtalar joint of the patient.

The aim of this study was to compare the ratio of activation of the vastus lateralis (VL) and biceps femoris (BF) muscles between healthy (CG) and anterior cruciate ligament reconstructed (ACL-R) subjects during gait. Nineteen subjects, ten from GC and nine from ACL-R, participated in the study. VL and BF activity was captured and the VL/BF ratio was obtained by dividing each point on the curve of the vastus lateralis and biceps femoris. This ratio was compared between the two groups using an unpaired t test (a = 0.05). Differences between the two groups were found (p

The aim of this study was to compare the knee kinematics of anterior cruciate ligament reconstructed (ACL-R) and healthy subjects (CG) during gait and classify the status of normality. Ten healthy and six ACL-R subjects had their gait analyzed at 60 fps. 3D knee angles were calculated and inserted into three separate matrices used to perform the principal component (PC) analysis. The scores of PCs retained in each analysis were used to calculate the standard distances (SD) of each participant in relation to the center of the CG. The PC scores of the three planes were used in a logistic regression to define normality. In the sagittal plane there was no difference between groups. In the frontal and transverse planes ACL-R subjects showed higher SD values than CG. PCs identified that ACL-R subjects showed increased adduction, internal and external rotation. All these subjects had their gait classified as abnormal by logistic regression. Therefore, in the studied ACL-R subjects the gait pattern did not return to normal levels after surgery. This may lead to degenerative injuries, as osteoarthritis, in the future.

Introduction: While evidence suggests that the levels of motor coordination and body mass index (BMI) are positively correlated, little is known about the in fl uence of levels of physical activity on associations between these variables among adolescents. Objective: To analyse the relationships between levels of motor coordination and BMI in normal weight and overweight/obese adolescents, controlling for physical activity levels. Methods: Fifty-six students (50% overweight/obese adolescents), aged 12–14 years old, participated in this study. The Physical Activity Questionnaire for Older Children and the Korperkoordinationstest fur Kinder were used in order to assess the levels of physical activity and motor coordination, respectively. Bivariate and partial correlations were used to analyse the interrelationships among motor coordination, BMI and physical activity. The analysis of covariance test was used in order to compare the levels of motor coordination between normal weight and overweight adolescents, considering the physical activity level as a covariate. Results: Weak to moderate negative correlations (p < 0.05) were found between motor coordination and BMI in the sample as a whole, normal weight and overweight/obese groups. However, when controlled for physical activity levels. no signi fi cant correlation was observed in the normal weight group. Further, overweight/obese adolescents showed lower levels of motor coordination than their normal weight peers Conclusion: Physical activity levels in fl uence the association between levels of motor coordination and BMI in normal weight adolescents, but not in their overweight/obese peers.

Clinical measurement.To translate and culturally adapt the Lower Extremity Functional Scale (LEFS) into a Brazilian Portuguese version, and to test the construct and content validity and reliability of this version in patients with knee injuries.There is no Brazilian Portuguese version of an instrument to assess the function of the lower extremity after orthopaedic injury.The translation of the original English version of the LEFS into a Brazilian Portuguese version was accomplished using standard guidelines and tested in 31 patients with knee injuries. Subsequently, 87 patients with a variety of knee disorders completed the Brazilian Portuguese LEFS, the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey, the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index, and the International Knee Documentation Committee Subjective Knee Evaluation Form and a visual analog scale for pain. All patients were retested within 2 days to determine reliability of these measures. Validation was assessed by determining the level of association between the Brazilian Portuguese LEFS and the other outcome measures. Reliability was documented by calculating internal consistency, test-retest reliability, and standard error of measurement.The Brazilian Portuguese LEFS had a high level of association with the physical component of the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (r = 0.82), the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (r = 0.87), the International Knee Documentation Committee Subjective Knee Evaluation Form (r = 0.82), and the pain visual analog scale (r = -0.60) (all, P.05). The Brazilian Portuguese LEFS had a low level of association with the mental component of the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (r = 0.38, P.05). The internal consistency (Cronbach α = .952) and test-retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.957) of the Brazilian Portuguese version of the LEFS were high. The standard error of measurement was low (3.6) and the agreement was considered high, demonstrated by the small differences between test and retest and the narrow limit of agreement, as observed in Bland-Altman and survival-agreement plots.The translation of the LEFS into a Brazilian Portuguese version was successful in preserving the semantic and measurement properties of the original version and was shown to be valid and reliable in a Brazilian population with knee injuries.

OBJETIVO: Mensurar a validade e a confiabilidade dos questionários WOMAC, IKDC, Lysholm em pacientes com osteoartrite no joelho e determinar a influência da idade no escore destes. MÉTODO: Cinquenta e sete pacientes com diagnóstico de OA primária de joelho completaram os questionários SF-36, WOMAC, Lysholm e IKDC. A validade foi testada mensurando a correlação (coeficiente de correlação de Pearson, "r") entre os questionários. A consistência interna foi mensurada através do α de Cronbach e a concordância através das representações gráficas de Altman-Bland e concordância- sobrevivência. Para determinar a influência da idade nos resultados correlacionamos esta com os escores dos três questionários de joelho através do coeficiente de determinação de Pearson (r²). RESULTADOS: O IKDC (0,62) e o WOMAC (0,642) apresentaram correlações moderadas para forte em relação ao resumo das capacidades físicas do SF-36, enquanto que o Lysholm apresentou correlações moderadas (0,555). O α de Cronbach apresentou valores de 0,811 para o IKDC, 0,959 para o WOMAC e 0,734 para o Lysholm. Apesar da forte correlação entre WOMAC e IKDC (0,843), WOMAC e Lysholm (0,759) e IKDC e Lysholm (0,858), as representações gráficas de Altman-Bland e concordância-sobrevivência demonstram que a concordância entre os três questionários é baixa. O IKDC, Lysholm e WOMAC apresentaram um coeficiente de determinação de Pearson (r²) de 0,004, 0,010 e 0,043 com a idade, respectivamente. CONCLUSÃO: A idade não demonstrou ser fator limitante à utilização de nenhum dos questionários aplicados neste estudo. Os testes de concordância e das correlações com os componentes físicos do SF-36 sugerem que o WOMAC é mais adequado para avaliar as capacidades funcionais e limitações relacionadas aos aspectos físicos, enquanto que o IKDC parece ser mais adequado para avaliar as limitações funcionais relacionadas à dor. OBJECTIVE: To measure the validity and reliability of the WOMAC, IKDC and Lysholm questionnaires among patients with knee osteoarthritis and determine the influence of age on their scores. METHOD: Fifty-seven patients diagnosed with primary osteoarthritis of the knee answered the SF-36, WOMAC, IKDC and Lysholm questionnaires. Validity was tested by measuring the correlation (Pearson's correlation coefficient, "r") between the questionnaires. Internal consistency was measured using Cronbach's α and concordance was measured through the Altman-Bland graphical representations and survival concordance. To determine the influence of age on the results, we correlated this variable with the scores from the three knee questionnaires using Pearson's coefficient of determination ("r2"). RESULTS: IKDC (0.62) and WOMAC (0642) showed moderate to strong correlations in relation to the summarized physical capacity score of the SF-36, while Lysholm showed moderate correlations (0.555). The Cronbach α values for IKDC, WOMAC and Lysholm were 0.811, 0.959 and 0.734, respectively. Despite the strong correlations between IKDC and WOMAC (0.843), Lysholm and WOMAC (0.759) and IKDC and Lysholm (0.858), the Bland-Altman graphical representations and survival concordance showed that the concordance between the three questionnaires was low. IKDC, Lysholm and WOMAC showed coefficients of determination (r2) with age of 0.004, 0.010 and 0.043, respectively. CONCLUSION: Age was not found to be a limiting factor for the use of any of the questionnaires applied in this study. The concordance tests and correlations with the physical components of SF-36 suggest that WOMAC is more appropriate for assessing physical capacities and limitations relating to physical traits, while IKDC seems more appropriate for assessing the functional limitations relating to pain.

Background: The perception of improvement by a patient has assumed a central role in functional evaluation after a variety of knee problems. One of the instruments most used in clinical research is the International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) Subjective Knee Form because its psychometric properties are considered to be excellent. Nonetheless, this questionnaire was originally developed for use in the English language. Therefore, to use this questionnaire in the Brazilian population, it is essential to translate and validate it. Purpose: The aim of this study was to translate the IKDC Subjective Knee Form into a Brazilian version and to test its validity and reproducibility. Study Design: Cohort study (diagnosis); Level of evidence, 2. Methods: The translation of the original IKDC Subjective Knee Form into a Brazilian version was accomplished in accordance with the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine guidelines and was tested in 32 patients with knee pathologic conditions to develop the first Brazilian version. To test validity and reproducibility, 117 patients with several knee complaints completed the Brazilian IKDC Subjective Knee Form, the Short Form 36 (SF-36), the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), and the Lysholm score. From these patients, 85 were retested within a week to achieve reproducibility. The validation was addressed by correlating the Brazilian IKDC Subjective Knee Form to the other outcome measures. The reproducibility was tested by measuring internal consistency, test-retest reliability, and agreement. Results: The Brazilian IKDC Subjective Knee Form was highly related to the physical component summary of the SF-36, the Lysholm score, and the WOMAC, and weakly related to the mental component summary of SF-36 ( r = .79, .89, .85, and .51, respectively). The internal consistency was strong, with a Cronbach α value of .928 and .935 in the test and retest assessment, respectively. The test-retest reliability proved to be excellent, with a high value of the intraclass correlation coefficient (.988), as well as the agreement, demonstrated by the low differences between the means of the test and retest, and the short limit of agreement, observed in the Altman-Bland and survival-agreement plots. Conclusion: The results of this study provide evidence that the Brazilian IKDC Subjective Knee Form has psychometric properties similar to the original version. In addition, it was a reliable evaluation instrument for patients with knee-related problems.

Este estudo teve por objetivo investigar se existem diferenças no grau de flexibilidade nas fases do ciclo menstrual de mulheres adultas jovens praticantes de ginástica de academia. A amostra intencional foi composta de 20 mulheres, com idade de 18 a 35 anos (25,8 ± 6,06), com o ciclo menstrual regular (28 até 32 dias) e que não faziam uso de anticoncepcional oral. Dados referentes ao ciclo menstrual e atividade física habitual foram obtidos através da aplicação de um questionário. A flexibilidade foi aferida através da goniometria, utilizando-se oito movimentos, em três fases do ciclo menstrual. Os sujeitos foram submetidos a um teste hormonal, em que foram verificadas as taxas de estrona, estradiol e progesterona. O tratamento estatístico foi feito através de análise descritiva e inferencial (teste de Kolmogorov-Smirnov e ANOVA). Os resultados encontrados demonstraram que não houve diferença significativa (p < 0,05) no grau de flexibilidade do grupo estudado, durante as fases folicular, ovulatória e lútea do ciclo menstrual. This study aims to verify if there are differences in the degree of flexibility in the phases of the menstrual cycle of adult young women who practice gymnastics at fitness centers. A sample of 20 adult women aged between 18 and 35 years (25.8 ± 6.06) was studied; they had regular menstrual cycle (28 up to 32 days) and were not taking oral contraceptives. Information concerning the menstrual cycle and routine physical activity was obtained through a questionnaire. The flexibility was evaluated through the goniometry, using eight movements, in three phases of the menstrual cycle. The subjects were submitted to a hormonal test, where the estrone, estradiol and progesterone levels were verified. The statistics treatment was conducted through descriptive and inferential analysis; Kolmogorov-Smirnov's test and ANOVA were used to verify hypothesis. The results demonstrated that no significant differences (p < 0.05) in the flexibility degree were observed during the follicular, ovulatory and luteal phases of the menstrual cycle. Este estudio ha tenido por objetivo investigar si existen diferencias en el grado de flexibilidad en las fases del ciclo menstrual de mujeres adultas jóvenes practicantes de gimnasia de academia. La muestra intencional fue compuesta de 20 mujeres, con edades entre 18 a 35 años (25,8 ± 6,06), con ciclo menstrual regular (28 a 32 días) y que no hacían uso de anticonceptivo oral. Datos referentes al ciclo menstrual y actividad física habitual fueron obtenidos a través de una encuesta. La flexibilidad fue medida a través de la goniometría, utilizándose ocho movimientos, en tres fases del ciclo menstrual. Los individuos fueron sometidos a un test hormonal, en donde se verificaron la tasa de estrona, estradiol y progesterona. El tratamiento estadístico fue hecho a través del análisis descriptivo y de inferencia (test de Kolmogorov-Smirnov y ANOVA). Los resultados encontrados mostraron que no hubo diferencia significativa (p < 0,05) en el grado de flexibilidad del grupo estudiado, durante las fases folicular, ovular y final del ciclo menstrual.