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Background: Falls are frequent in older adults and can cause trauma, injury, and death. Fall prevention with virtual reality presents good results in improving postural control. Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) has been used with the same aim; however, the combination of the two techniques has still been little studied. Purpose: To assess whether tDCS can enhance the effect of video game training (VGT) on improving the postural balance of healthy older women. Method: A blinded, randomized, controlled clinical trial was conducted with 57 older women who were randomized to three balance training groups: Control Group (VGT), Anodal Group (VGT combined with anodic tDCS‐atDCS), and Sham Group (VGT combined with sham tDCS‐stDCS). Balance training was performed twice a week for four weeks, totalizing eight 20‐min sessions using VGT associated with tDCS. Postural balance was assessed pre‐and post‐training and 30 days after the end of the eight sessions using the Mini‐Balance Evaluation Systems Test. Results: Compared to pre‐intervention the Mini BEST test increased similarly in the three groups in post‐intervention (control: pre 23.7 ± 2.8 to post 27.0 ± 2.2; anodal: pre 24.4 ± 1 to post 27.7 ± 0.8 and sham: pre 24.2 ± 1.9 to post 26.5 ± 1.6; p < 0.001) and follow‐up (control: pre 23.7 ± 2.8 to follow‐up 26.8 ± 2.3; anodal: pre 24.4 ± 1 to follow‐up 27.3 ± 1.4 and sham: pre 24.2 ± 1.9 to follow‐up 26.8 ± 1.5; p < 0.001). Conclusion: There was an improvement in the postural balance of the three training groups that were independent of tDCS. Discussion: Some studies have shown the positive tDCS effects associated with other tasks to improve balance. However, these results convey the effects of only anodic‐tDCS compared to sham‐tDCS. Possibly, the effect of VGT surpassed the tDCS effects, promoting a ceiling effect from the combination of these two therapies. However, studies with other therapies combined with tDCS for older adults deserve to be investigated, as well as in frail older people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To evaluate the additive effect of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) associated with multi-component training (MT) on the functional capacity (FC) of older adults and to assess whether these effects remain after the end of training. The secondary objectives were to evaluate the locomotion capacity, balance, functional independence, and quality of life and correlate them with functional capacity. Twenty-eight older adults were randomized into two groups: experimental (MT associated with active tDCS – a-tDCS) and control (MT associated with sham tDCS – s-tDCS). The FC was measured by the Glittre-ADL test, locomotion capacity by the 6-minute walk test, balance by the BESTest, functional independence by the FIM, and quality of life by the WHQOL. The assessments were performed pre-, post-intervention, and 30-day follow-up. There was a significant decrease in the time to the Glittre-ADL test when comparing the a-tDCS and s-tDCS groups after the interventions (139.77 ± 21.62, 205.10 ± 43.02, p <.001) and at the 30-day follow-up (142.74 ± 17.12, 219.55 ± 54.05, p <.001), respectively. There was a moderate correlation between FC and locomotion capacity and balance. The addition of tDCS potentiated the results of MT to impact FC, maintaining the positive results longer. Locomotion and balance influenced the improvement of functional capacity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the Glittre Daily Living Activity (ADL) test's validity and reproducibility for assessing functional capacity in stroke patients. Thirty patients with hemiparesis stemming from a stroke and 20 healthy peers were evaluated. Reproducibility was determined using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), standard measurement error (SME), minimum detectable change (MDC), and Bland-Altman analysis. For construct validity, the Glittre ADL test was correlated with the Six-Minute Walk Test (6MWT), Timed Up and Go Test (TUG), and Functional Independence Measure (FIM), and analyzed based on convergent validity and the comparison of known groups (stroke survivors and healthy peers). Intra- and inter-observer reliability were excellent (ICC3,1 = 0.98; 0.96, respectively). Intra-observer SME ranged from 0.27 to 0.31 minutes and inter-observer SME was 0.45 minutes. Intra-observer MDC ranged from 1.44 to 1.54 minutes and inter-observer MDC was 1.86 minutes. Strong statistically significant correlations were found between time on the Glittre ADL test and time on the 6MWT (rh = −0.91; p <.001) and TUG test (rh = 0.82; p <.001), whereas a moderate correlation was found with the FIM (rh = −0.47; p <.008). The Glittre ADL test is valid for assessing functional capacity in stroke patients. It demonstrated good convergent and construct validity and excellent intra- and inter-observer reproducibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of ConScientiae Saúde is the property of Nove de Julho University and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of ConScientiae Saúde is the property of Nove de Julho University and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of ConScientiae Saúde is the property of Nove de Julho University and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Fisioterapia e Pesquisa is the property of Universidade de Sao Paulo, Faculdade de Medicina and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: The adequate control of asthma includes the absence of nocturnal symptoms, minimal use of medication, normal or nearly normal lung function and no limitations to physical activity. The choice of a more sedentary lifestyle can lead to physical de-conditioning, thereby aggravating asthma symptoms and increasing the risk of obesity. Methods: This study aimed at performing a battery of function-related assessments in patients with asthma and comparing them to a healthy control group. A prospective, transversal and case-control study was designed. It was set up at Santa Casa de Misericórdia Hospital -Sao Paulo and Nove de Julho University on a population of outpatients. Subjects of the study were patients affected by moderate to severe asthma. A case-control study was carried out involving 20 patients with moderate to severe asthma and 15 healthy individuals (control group). All participants underwent body composition analysis (BMI and BIA) and a controlled walk test (Shuttle test), resistance muscle test (1RM) and answered a physical activity questionnaire (IPAQ). The group with asthma also answered a questionnaire addressing the clinical control of the illness (ACQ). Results: In comparison to the control group (unpaired Student's t-test), the patients with asthma had a significantly higher BMI (31.09 ±5.98 vs. 26.68 ± 7.56 kg/m²) and percentage of body fat (38.40 ±6.75 vs. 33.28 ± 8.23%) as well as significantly lower values regarding distance traveled on the walk test (369 ± 110 vs. 494 ± 85 meters) and metabolic equivalents (3.74 ± 0.87 vs. 4.72 ± 0.60). A strong correlation was found between the distance completed and peripheral muscle strength (r: 0.57, p < 0.05) and METs (Metabolic equivalents - minutes/week) and peripheral muscle strength of 1RM (r: 0.61, p = 0.009). Conclusions: The individuals with asthma had lower functional capacity and levels of physical activity as well as a higher percentage of body fat compared to healthy individuals. This suggests that such patients have a reduced physical performance stemming from a sedentary lifestyle. Despite the existence of few studies reporting moderate to severe asthmatic patients and functional capacity assessment, it is clear that the assessment presented in the current study is a valid and accessible tool in clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]