Relationship of the sacral slope with early gait derangements in robust older women.

Background: Trunk pelvic dissociation is fundamental to the compensatory mechanism for muscle weakness during body bending. We carried out an early investigation of gait changes in a sample of community-dwelling women ≥60 years without gait complaints. The primary objective was to correlate spine and pelvic angles with performance tests and accelerometry parameters.

[Isokinetic assessment of ankles in patients with rheumatoid arthritis].

Introduction: The foot and ankle in rheumatoid arthritis undergo highly destructive synovitis with loss of muscle strength.

Objective: To evaluate the muscle strength of ankles in patients with rheumatoid arthritis based on isokinetic dynamometry parameters.

Material And Methods: Thirty patients with a diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis involving the ankle(s) and 30 healthy subjects (control group) matched for age, gender, race, body mass index and lower limb dominance were studied.

[Monitoring the functional capacity of patients with rheumatoid arthritis for three years].

Objective: To quantify modification of functional capacity in a three year period in a group of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) using HAQ and EPM-ROM inventories.

Methods: Forty patients with RA on methotrexate (MTX) as disease-modifying anti rheumatic drug (DMARD) were followed for up to three years. The functional status was assessed at the beginning and end of the period by HAQ and EPM-ROM.

Isokinetic assessment of the hip muscles in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee.

Objectives: To evaluate the difference in isokinetic strength of hip muscles between patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA) and matched healthy controls, and to establish the correlation between this isokinetic strength and pain and function in patients with knee OA.

Methods: 25 patients with a diagnosis of unilateral knee OA, 25 patients with bilateral knee OA, and 50 matched controls were evaluated using the visual analog scale for pain, knee Lequesne index, Western Ontario and McMaster Universities questionnaire and an isokinetic test.

Results: The groups were matched for age, gender and body mass index.

Energy expenditure during cane-assisted gait in patients with knee osteoarthritis.

Objective: To compare the energy expenditure in patients with unilateral knee osteoarthritis while walking with canes of different lengths.

Methods: A quasi-experimental study (single-group) was carried out on thirty patients with unilateral knee osteoarthritis. An adjustable aluminum cane was used, and three different cane lengths were determined for each subject: C1--length from the floor to the greater trochanter; C2--length from the floor to the distal wrist crease; and C3--length obtained by the formula: height x 0.

Hydrotherapy versus conventional land-based exercise for the management of patients with osteoarthritis of the knee: a randomized clinical trial.

Background And Purpose: This study was designed to evaluate the effectiveness of hydrotherapy in subjects with osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee compared with subjects with OA of the knee who performed land-based exercises.

Subjects And Methods: Sixty-four subjects with OA of the knee were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 groups that performed exercises for 18 weeks: a water-based exercise group and a land-based exercise group. The outcome measures included a visual analog scale (VAS) for pain in the previous week, the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), pain during gait assessed by a VAS at rest and immediately following a 50-foot (15.

Development of a tool for early referral of children and adolescents with signs and symptoms suggestive of chronic arthropathy to pediatric rheumatology centers.

Objective: To develop an easy, time-efficient tool to identify children and adolescents with signs and symptoms suggestive of chronic arthropathies, and to evaluate its interobserver reproducibility and reliability.

Methods: The instrument used standardized techniques as required for the development of health-related instruments, targeting parents of apparently healthy children and adolescents ages 1-16 years. A multidisciplinary team was involved in the design of the instrument.

Polyarticular corticosteroid injection versus systemic administration in treatment of rheumatoid arthritis patients: a randomized controlled study.

Objective: To study the effectiveness and side effects of polyarticular corticosteroid injection compared to systemic administration in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and to examine the differential response to injection among joints.

Methods: Sixty-nine RA patients presenting with 6-12 swollen joints were enrolled to participate in a randomized trial consisting of polyarticular injection in 6-8 swollen joints of intraarticular (IA) triamcinolone hexacetonide (IA group) or intramuscular (IM) mini-pulse therapy with triamcinolone acetonide in equivalent doses (IM group). Blind examination at baseline (T0), Weeks 1 (T1), 4 (T4), 12 (T12), and 24 (T24) postintervention included American College of Rheumatology improvement criteria ACR20%, 50% and 70%, visual analog scale for articular pain, pain on movement, joint count, range of motion, morning stiffness, quality of life (Medical Outcome Study Short Form-36), use of nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs and oral corticosteroid, blood pressure, adverse effects, calls to the physician, and hospital visits.

Evaluation of pulmonary function and quality of life in women with osteoporosis.

Osteoporotic vertebral fractures generally result in an increased kyphotic angle, which in turn may lead to disturbances in pulmonary function. The objective of the present study was to evaluate pulmonary function and quality of life in a group of osteoporotic patients. Fifteen women with osteoporosis and thoracic vertebral fractures (group 1), 20 women with osteoporosis without vertebral fracture (group 2) and 20 control women (group 3) were submitted to spirometry using a Vitatrace-130 SL spirometer and to an SF-36 quality of life questionnaire.

Use of cryotherapy to enhance mouth opening in patients with cerebral palsy.

This study was conducted to assess the effect of cryotherapy on masseter spasticity on mouth opening, which is required for oral hygiene and dental treatment. The inter-incisal distance was measured before cryotherapy in 24 patients with cerebral palsy who had spasticity of the tetraparesis type. Ice was then applied on the skin surface with sliding movements over the masseter, bilaterally for one minute.

Evaluation of physical capacity and quality of life in osteoporotic women.

Introduction: Osteoporotic vertebral fractures result in increased kyphosis angle, an alteration that may lead to disturbance in physical capacity.

Objective: We sought to evaluate physical capacity and disability in a group of osteoporotic patients.

Material And Methods: Fifteen women with osteoporosis and vertebral fractures (G1), 20 women with osteoporosis without vertebral fractures (G2), and 20 control women (G3) were selected.

Peak oxygen uptake and ventilatory anaerobic threshold in fibromyalgia.

Objective: To compare maximum oxygen uptake and anaerobic threshold in patients with fibromyalgia (FM) and healthy sedentary controls matched by sex, age, weight, and body mass index.

Methods: Fifty women with FM aged 18-60 years and 50 healthy sedentary controls were studied. All were submitted to a maximum treadmill incremental test.