Publications by authors named "Ana Cristina de David"

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) results in worsening of postural balance, functional mobility, and self-perceived fatigue as influences of quality of life.

Objective: To examine the effects of hippotherapy on postural balance, functional mobility, self-perceived fatigue, and quality of life in people with MS.

Methods: Participants were assigned into a hippotherapy intervention group (n= 17) or a control group (n= 16).

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of body fat distribution on postural balance and lower-limb muscle quality in women aged 60 years and over. Two hundred and twenty-two volunteers took part in this cross-sectional analysis. Participants underwent body fat distribution assessment using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry and were classified as nonobese, gynoid obese, or android obese.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Walking dysfunction is one of the most common symptoms of multiple sclerosis (MS).

Objective: To evaluate the effects of an 8-week hippotherapy intervention on walking performance and spatiotemporal gait parameters in people with relapsing-remitting MS; and to examine whether the effects of hippotherapy on walking performance are mediated by changes in spatiotemporal gait parameters.

Methods: Participants were assigned into a hippotherapy intervention group (n = 17) or a control group (n = 16).

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Lower-limb functional capacity is impaired in most people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS). Reductions in lower-extremity muscle mechanical function (e.g.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

: To verify the effects of 12, 24, 36 hippotherapy sessions over time on postural balance while sitting in children with cerebral palsy as well the effects of treatment after one interruption period of 45 days. : Hippotherapy program with a twice-weekly treatment with a total of 13 children aged 5-10 years old. Measurements of postural balance during sitting were performed using the AMTI AccuSway Plus platform.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Obesity is associated with higher foot loading during walking. The impact of this condition on running, however, has yet to be elucidated.

Research Question: The purpose of this study was to examine the association between childhood obesity and plantar pressure distribution during running.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Unlabelled: Background/Study context: Falls represent the leading cause of accidental deaths in the elderly. Sarcopenia is a geriatric syndrome defined as the loss of muscle mass and strength. However, the association between falls and sarcopenia is still unclear.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background And Purpose: Recent investigations demonstrate an association between obesity and the propensity of older adults to fall. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between body adiposity measures, postural balance, fear of falling, and risk of falls in older women.

Methods: One hundred forty-seven volunteers took part in this cross-sectional study.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Increased plantar pressure has been found to be related with greater risk of falling. Although there is evidence suggesting that obesity is linked to foot disorders, the association between obesity and plantar pressure of older adults has been poorly investigated. The purpose of this study was to examine the association between obesity and plantar pressure distribution and to explore its relationship with body fat distribution.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Objectives: To investigate the association between baseline serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) and gait pattern in patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty (THA).

Methods: Prospective study of patients with hip osteoarthritis undergoing primary THA between January 2012 and December 2013. Blood samples were collected on the day of hospital admission.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

This study introduces the Balance Exercises Circuit (BEC) and examines its effects on muscle strength and power, balance, and functional performance in older women. Thirty-five women aged 60+ (mean age = 69.31, SD = 7.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Joint moments can be used as an indicator of joint loading and have potential application for sports performance and injury prevention. The effects of changing walking and running speeds on joint moments for the different planes of motion still are debatable. Here, we compared knee and ankle moments during walking and running at different speeds.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF