Translation and cross-cultural adaptation of the Nordic Occupational Skin Symptoms Questionnaire to Brazilian Portuguese.

Introduction: Occupational skin diseases are a frequently self-reported condition in industrialized countries. However, there are few developed and standardized self-report instruments to screen the population at risk for occupational dermatological diseases.

Objectives: Translation and cross-cultural adaptation of the long and short versions of The Nordic Occupational Skin Symptoms Questionnaire into Brazilian Portuguese.

Incremental shuttle walk test: is it able to detect exercise-induced bronchospasm in young adult asthmatics?

Objective: To determine the accuracy of incremental Shuttle Walking Test (ISWT) in detecting exercise-induced bronchospasm (EIB) in adults with asthma and to verify whether there is an association of the drop in FEV between ISWT and cardiopulmonary exercise testing with constant-load CPET-CL.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study 32 individuals with asthma performed two ISWTs, an incremental cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET-I) and a constant-load cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET-CL) with na interval of 48 h between tests. Spirometric measurements were obtained 5, 10, 15, 20 and 30 min after exercise; an FEV1 decline > 10% was considered EIB.

Reliability of Cardiorespiratory and Metabolic Responses During Incremental Shuttle Walk Test in Adult Subjects With Asthma.

Background: The incremental shuttle walk test (ISWT) has been widely used to assess exercise capacity of subjects with COPD. However, to date, no studies have assessed its reliability in the asthmatic population. This study aimed to assess the test-retest reliability of ISWT for the distance walked (ISWD) and cardiorespiratory and metabolic responses in adult subjects with asthma.

Reproducibility of inspiratory muscle endurance testing using PowerBreathe for COPD patients.

Background: Assessing the strength and endurance of respiratory muscles is fundamental for characterizing respiratory muscle dysfunction. Although a variety of tests are used to evaluate respiratory muscle endurance, not all of them are applicable in clinical practice. Assessments can be made using a practical device called PowerBreathe®, but its reproducibility has not been tested in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients.

Should the 6-Minute Walk Test Be Compared When Conducted by 2 Different Assessors in Subjects With COPD?

Background: The 6-min walk test (6MWT) is an important tool in the assessment of functional capacity and prognosis in patients with COPD. However, especially in long-term follow-up in clinical settings, this test may be executed by a different assessor, and it is not well known whether 6MWT has an acceptable inter-rater reliability. The aim of this study is to analyze the intra- and inter-rater reliability of the performance in 6MWT, its cardiorespiratory changes, and effort perception in subjects with COPD.

Effects of Inspiratory Muscle Training and Calisthenics-and-Breathing Exercises in COPD With and Without Respiratory Muscle Weakness.

Background: Patients with COPD may experience respiratory muscle weakness. Two therapeutic approaches to the respiratory muscles are inspiratory muscle training and calisthenics-and-breathing exercises. The aims of the study are to compare the effects of inspiratory muscle training and calisthenics-and-breathing exercises associated with physical training in subjects with COPD as an additional benefit of strength and endurance of the inspiratory muscles, thoracoabdominal mobility, physical exercise capacity, and reduction in dyspnea on exertion.

Validity and Reliability of the 6-Minute Step Test in Healthy Individuals: A Cross-sectional Study.

Objective: To determine the 6-minute step test's (6MST) reliability and validity and to establish reference performance values of this test.

Design: Prospective observational cross-sectional study.

Setting: Spirometry and Respiratory Physiotherapy Laboratory, Federal University of São Carlos (institutional).

Increased sympathetic modulation and decreased response of the heart rate variability in controlled asthma.

Objective: To compare the autonomic modulation of heart rate (HR) in asthmatic and healthy volunteers to correlate it with the forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1).

Methods: Ten healthy and 14 asthmatic volunteers were included in this cross-sectional study. The volunteers underwent a cardiopulmonary exercise test, spirometry and a register of both resting heart rate variability (HRV) in the supine and seated positions along with HRV during the respiratory sinus arrhythmia maneuver (M-RSA).

Validity of the six-minute step test of free cadence in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Objectives: to evaluate the concurrent validity of the six-minute step test (6MST) in assessing exercise capacity of COPD patients using the six-minute walk test (6MWT) as a gold-standard. The predictive validity of the 6MST was assessed to determine a cut-off point for identification of low exercise capacity.

Method: thirty-two COPD patients (50-87 years old) with mild to very severe obstruction performed the 6MST and 6MWT twice.

Relationship between exercise capacity and quality of life in adolescents with asthma.

Objective: To determine whether the quality of life of adolescents with asthma correlates with parameters obtained prior to and after the six-minute step test (6MST); spirometric results after the 6MST; and level of physical activity.

Methods: Nineteen adolescents with asthma, ranging from 11-15 years of age, were assessed with spirometry, 6MST, the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), the Pediatric Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (PAQLQ), and the 10-point Borg category-ratio (CR10) scale.

Results: Sensation of dyspnea correlated negatively with the total PAQLQ score (r = -0.

Assessment of exercise capacity among asthmatic and healthy adolescents.

Objectives: To compare the physical performance and responses obtained in the six-minute walking test (6MWT) and the six-minute step test (6MST) between asthmatic and healthy adolescents; and to investigate the relationship between the responses obtained in the tests and the body mass index (BMI), physical activity level and spirometric variables.

Methods: Nineteen asthmatic adolescents (AG) and 19 healthy adolescents (HG) of both sexes, aged between 11 and 15 years, were assessed by means of spirometry, the 6MWT and the 6MST, and their physical activity levels were quantified using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ).

Results: The AG had poorer physical performance, lower heart rate (HR) and greater lower-limb (LL) fatigue in the 6MST.