Chronic low back pain and muscle activity in women during the sit-to-stand task: A cross-sectional study.

Introduction: The ability to stand up and sit down is important. Due to the large number of repetitions of these activities during the day and the demand that the task requires, it is cited as painful in the presence of low back pain (LBP). Individuals with LBP present alterations in muscle activation, however, this statement needs to be verified during everyday situations like the sit-to-stand task (STST).

Activation, strength, and resistance: Which variables predict the kinematics of women with and without patellofemoral pain?

Introduction: Investigating the possible relationship between neuromuscular changes and movement alterations could help to describe the mechanisms underlying patellofemoral pain (PFP).

Objective: To investigate whether activation and muscle strength of the trunk and lower limb and muscle resistance of the trunk predict the knee frontal and trunk sagittal kinematics in women with and without PFP.

Method: Sixty women (PFP, n = 30; asymptomatic, n = 30) underwent the single-leg squat test to collect electromyographic and kinematic data.

Women with patellofemoral pain show changes in trunk and lower limb sagittal movements during single-leg squat and step-down tasks.

Background: Changes in the trunk and lower limbs' sagittal movements may cause patellofemoral pain (PFP) because they influence the forces acting on this joint.

Objectives: To compare trunk and lower limb sagittal kinematics between women with and without PFP during functional tests and to verify whether sagittal trunk kinematics are correlated with those of the knees and ankles.

Methods: A total of 30 women with PFP and 30 asymptomatic women performed single-leg squat (SLS) and step-down (SD) tests and were filmed by a camera in the sagittal plane.

Motor control exercises versus general exercises for greater trochanteric pain syndrome: A protocol of a randomized controlled trial.

Introduction: Greater trochanteric pain syndrome is an overarching term used to define pain and tenderness in the greater trochanteric region of the femur, which is more common in women. Abnormal control of lower limb movements and deficient neuromuscular parameters may lead to greater trochanteric pain syndrome; however, no studies have used neuromuscular training as a treatment strategy. Thus, this study aims to compare the effect of a protocol of general exercises versus a program of motor control training on pain at baseline and after treatment in women with greater trochanteric pain syndrome.

Efficacy of the Pilates versus general exercises versus educational workshops on neuromuscular parameters: A randomized controlled trial.

Introduction: Muscle strength, flexibility and changes in muscle recruitment patterns are usually associated to low back pain (LBP). Physical exercises can reverse the adverse changes associated to LBP.

Objectives: Compare Pilates, general exercises and educational workshop on muscle flexibility, strength and recruitment of the trunk extensor muscles in women with LBP.

Effect of different residential settings on gait kinematic parameters in older adults with cognitive impairment.

Objective: To compare the parameters of gait kinematics of older adults with cognitive impairment who live in community dwellings or those living or spending most of the time in non-family environment settings.

Methods: The sample was composed of 33 older adults of both sexes with cognitive impairment. Participants were separated into three groups: a community-dwelling older adult group comprised of 11 subjects; a semi-institutionalized older adult group comprised of 10 older adults attended in a geriatric daycare institution; and an institutionalized older adult group comprised of 12 older adults living in long-term institutions.

The ability of gait kinematic parameters to predict falls in older adults with cognitive impairments living in long term institutions.

Background: Cognitive impairments reduce adaptive responses and may increase the risk of falls.

Objectives: To compare gait kinematics in older adults with cognitive impairments living in long term institutions and to identify the ability of gait kinematics to predict falls in older adults with cognitive impairments living in long term institutions.

Methods: Data of 23 older adults with cognitive impairments living in long term institutions were considered for this study.

Quadriceps muscle weakness influences the gait pattern in women with knee osteoarthritis.

Background: Osteoarthritis is the most prevalent rheumatic disease in the population and is characterized by limitation of main functional activities of daily living, as the gait. Muscle strength is a variable that may be related to performance in daily tasks.Therefore, we to analyze the gait pattern in individuals with knee osteoarthritis (KOA) and to determine associations of gait variables with the level of muscle strength of knee extensors.

Is it possible to predict falls in older adults using gait kinematics?

Background: Gait kinematic parameters have been reported as an important clinical tool to assess the risk of falls in older adults. However, the ability of these parameters to predict falls in the older population is still unclear.

Objective: To identify the ability that gait kinematic parameters present to predict fall in older adults.

Discriminatory Ability of Lower-Extremity Peak Torque and Rate of Torque Development in the Identification of Older Women With Slow Gait Speed.

The aim was to compare torque and rate of torque development of lower limb muscles between older women with functional and slow gait speeds to determine which muscle group is the best predictor of functional gait speed, and to establish strength thresholds needed for functional walking speed. Torque and rate of torque development of hip, knee, and ankle muscles were measured in older women who were divided in 2 groups according to gait speed: slow gait speed (<1.22 m·s) and functional gait speed (≥1.

Rate of force development and muscle activation of trunk muscles in women with and without low back pain: A case-control study.

Objective: To evaluate the rate of force development (RFD) and the rate of electromyography rise (RER) of global and local trunk muscles in women with and without low back pain.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Setting: Laboratory setting.

Age-related alterations in the activation of trunk and lower limb muscles during walking.

Background: Walking is a complex motor task that requires an integrated coordination of the trunk, lower limb, and upper limb movements. Previously, few studies have investigated the activation pattern of trunk muscles during walking. However, the mechanisms by how aging affects the recruitment of trunk muscles during walking remain unclear.

Equilibrium in women with osteoporosis submitted to balance training with and without an oscillating vibratory pole.

Objectives: An eight-week balance training program, with and without oscillation of vibratory pole, was shown to have a medium-term persistence effect on the performance of elderly physically-active women with osteoporosis.

Methods: The 29 women who completed the study were randomly separated into two groups: an Oscillating Pole Group (OPG; 69.6 ± 5.

Peak torque, reaction time, and rate of torque development of hip abductors and adductors of older women.

Impaired muscle function at the hip has been implicated to be a major factor related to falls in older adults. Therefore, the aim of this study was to analyze the rate of torque development (RTD), reaction time (RT), and peak torque (PT) of hip abductors and hip adductors in young women (YW), older women nonfallers (ONF), and older women fallers (OF). Eighteen YW and 44 older women divided among OF (n = 20) and ONF (n = 24) performed maximum isometric hip abductor and adduction contractions on a dynamometer.

Neuromuscular performance in the hip joint of elderly fallers and non-fallers.

Backgrounds: Low strength and neuromuscular activation of the lower limbs have been associated with falls making it an important predictor of functional status in the elderly.

Aim: To compare the rate of neuromuscular activation, rate of torque development, peak torque and reaction time between young and elderly fallers and non-fallers for hip flexion and extension.

Methods: We evaluated 44 elderly people who were divided into two groups: elderly fallers (n = 20) and elderly non-fallers (n = 24); and 18 young people.

Cardiac autonomic responses induced by a single bout of exercise with flexible pole.

Background: Flexible poles are tools used to provide rapid eccentric and concentric muscle contractions. It lacks in the literature studies that analyze acute cardiovascular responses in different exercises performed with this instrument. It was investigated the acute effects of exercise with flexible poles on heart period in healthy women.

Discriminant analysis of neuromuscular variables in chronic low back pain.

Background: Investigation and discrimination of neuromuscular variables related to the complex aetiology of low back pain could contribute to clarifying the factors associated with symptoms.

Objective: Analysing the discriminative power of neuromuscular variables in low back pain.

Methods: This study compared muscle endurance, proprioception and isometric trunk assessments between women with low back pain (LBP, n=14) and a control group (CG, n=14).

Antagonist coactivation of trunk stabilizer muscles during Pilates exercises.

The purpose of this study was to compare the antagonist coactivation of the local and global trunk muscles during mat-based exercises of Skilled Modern Pilates. Twelve women performed five exercises and concurrently, surface EMG from internal oblique (OI), multifidus (MU), rectus abdominis (RA) and iliocostalis lumborum (IL) muscles was recorded bilaterally. The percentage of antagonist coactivation between local (OI/MU) and global muscles (RA/IL) was calculated.

Association between energy cost of walking, muscle activation, and biomechanical parameters in older female fallers and non-fallers.

Objective: To determine the nervous activation, muscle strength, and biomechanical parameters that influence the cost of walking in older fallers and non-fallers.

Methods: Maximal voluntary isokinetic torque was measured for the hip, knee and ankle of older women. Oxygen consumption was measured at rest and during 8min of walking at self-selected speed.