Assessment of respiratory muscle strength and airflow before and after microimplant-assisted rapid palatal expansion.

Objectives: To assess alterations in respiratory muscle strength and inspiratory and expiratory peak flow, as well as skeletal and dental changes in patients diagnosed with transverse maxillary deficiency before and after microimplant-assisted rapid maxillary expansion (MARPE).

Materials And Methods: Twenty patients (13 female and 7 male) were assessed by respiratory tests in three different periods: T0 initial, T1 immediately after expansion, and T2 after 5 months. Tests included: maximum inspiratory pressure (MIP) and maximum expiratory pressure (MEP), oral expiratory peak flow, and inspiratory nasal flow.

EVALUATION OF THE THORACOABDOMINAL MOBILITY OF OBESE SUBJECTS IN PRE-BARIATRIC SURGERY.

Background: Obesity can affect the thorax, diaphragm, and alterations in respiratory function even if the lungs are within normality. The respiratory compliance is very reduced by the increase in fat mass.

Aim: To evaluate the effect of the physical therapeutic respiratory exercises on the thoracoabdominal mobility of obese individuals in pre-bariatric surgery.

Cross-cultural adaptation and validation of the Brazilian-Portuguese version of the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI).

Objective: To conduct a cross-cultural adaptation of the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI) into Brazilian-Portuguese language and to assess its measurement properties.

Methods: The BASFI was translated by four rheumatologists and three English teachers. The translated questionnaire was applied to ankylosing spondylitis patients by trained observers, and self-administered in three moments: days 1, 2, and 14.