Constraint Induced Movement Therapy Increases Functionality and Quality of Life after Stroke.

This blind randomized clinical trial evaluated the effect of CIMT on the functionality and quality of life (QOL) of chronic hemiparetics. Thirty volunteers were divided into two groups: Control (CG) and CIMT (CIMTG); evaluated before and after 12 and 24 intervention sessions. The scales used were: adapted Fugl-Meyer Motor Assessment (FMA), Modified Ashworth, Stroke Specific Quality Of Life (SS-QOL) and the Functional Reach Test (FRT).

Impact of physical activity levels on musculoskeletal symptoms and absenteeism of workers of a metallurgical company.

Introduction: Physical inactivity is the fourth biggest risk factor for global mortality. In Brazilian metallurgical industries, workers present a high incidence of musculoskeletal symptoms as one of the main causes of absenteeism.

Objectives: To investigate the impact of physical activity levels and leisure-time physical exercise on musculoskeletal symptoms and absenteeism among administrative and production workers of a metallurgical industry.

A single bout of downhill running attenuates subsequent level running-induced fatigue.

Fatigue can be defined as exercise-induced strength loss. During running, fatigue can be partially explained by repetitive low-intensity eccentric contractions-induced muscle damage (EIMD). Previous studies showed that a bout of downhill running (DR) attenuated subsequent EIMD.

AIRWAY POSITIVE PRESSURE VS. EXERCISES WITH INSPIRATORY LOADING FOCUSED ON PULMONARY AND RESPIRATORY MUSCULAR FUNCTIONS IN THE POSTOPERATIVE PERIOD OF BARIATRIC SURGERY.

Background: Bariatric surgery can trigger postoperative pulmonary complications due to factors inherent to the procedure, mainly due to diaphragmatic dysfunction.

Aim: To evaluate and compare the effects of two levels of positive pressure and exercises with inspiratory load on lung function, inspiratory muscle strength and respiratory muscle resistance, and the prevalence of atelectasis after gastroplasty.

Methods: Clinical, randomized and blind trial, with subjects submitted to bariatric surgery, allocated to two groups: positive pressure group, who received positive pressure at two levels during one hour and conventional respiratory physiotherapy and inspiratory load group, who performed exercises with load linear inspiratory pressure, six sets of 15 repetitions, in addition to conventional respiratory physiotherapy, both of which were applied twice in the immediate postoperative period and three times a day on the first postoperative day.

Analysis of the prevalence of atelectasis in patients undergoing bariatric surgery.

Background And Objective: To observe the prevalence of atelectasis in patients undergoing bariatric surgery and the influence of the body mass index (BMI), gender and age on the prevalence of atelectasis.

Method: Retrospective study of 407 patients and reports on chest X-rays carried out before and after bariatric surgery over a period of 14 months. Only patients who underwent bariatric surgery by laparotomy were included.

[Analysis of the prevalence of atelectasis in patients undergoing bariatric surgery].

Background And Objective: To observe the prevalence of atelectasis in patients undergoing bariatric surgery and the influence of the body mass index (BMI), gender and age on the prevalence of atelectasis.

Method: Retrospective study of 407 patients and reports on chest X-rays carried out before and after bariatric surgery over a period of 14 months. Only patients who underwent bariatric surgery by laparotomy were included.

[Use of positive pressure in pre and intraoperative of bariatric surgery and its effect on the time of extubation].

Background And Objective: to investigate the influence of intraoperative and preoperative airway positive pressure in the time of extubation in patients undergoing bariatric surgery.

Method: Randomized clinical trial, in which 40 individuals with a body mass index between 40 and 55kg/m(2), age between 25 and 55 years, nonsmokers, underwent bariatric surgery type Roux-en-Y gastric bypass by laparotomy and with normal preoperative pulmonary function were randomized into the following groups: G-pre (n = 10): individuals who received treatment with noninvasive positive pressure before surgery for one hour, G-intra (n = 10): individuals who received positive end-expiratory pressure of 10cm H2O throughout the surgical procedure and G-control (n = 20): not received any pre or intraoperative intervention. Following were recorded: time between induction of anesthesia and extubation, between the end of anesthesia and extubation, duration of mechanical ventilation, and time between extubation and discharge from the Post-Anesthetic Recovery.

Lung age in women with morbid obesity.

Objective: To investigate the influence of morbid obesity on the lung age in women and to correlate with body mass, body mass index (BMI), and ventilatory variables.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study with 72 morbidly obese women and a control group consisting of 37 normal weight women. The subjects performed a pulmonary function test to determine lung age, and the results were correlated to anthropometric variables and lung volumes.

Swimming exercise in the acute or late phase after sciatic nerve crush accelerates nerve regeneration.

There is no consensus about the best time to start exercise after peripheral nerve injury. We evaluated the morphological and functional characteristics of the sciatic nerves of rats that began to swim immediately after crush nerve injury (CS1), those that began to swim 14 days after injury (CS14), injured rats not submitted to swimming (C), and uninjured rats submitted to swimming (S). After 30 days the number of axons in CS1 and CS14 was lower than in C (P < 0.

Immediate and lasting improvements in weight distribution seen in baropodometry following a high-velocity, low-amplitude thrust manipulation of the sacroiliac joint.

The biomechanics of the sacroiliac joint makes the pelvic segment responsible for proper weight distribution between lower extremities; however, it is known to be susceptible to altered mobility. The objective of this study was to analyze baropodometric responses following thrust manipulation on subjects with sacroiliac joint restrictions. Twenty asymptomatic subjects were submitted to computerized baropodometric analysis before, after, and seven days following sacroiliac manipulation.

Effect of laser (670 nm) on healing of wounds covered with occlusive dressing: a histologic and biomechanical analysis.

Objectives: To analyze the effects of low-level laser therapy (LLLT), 670 nm, with doses of 4 and 7 J/cm(2), on the repair of surgical wounds covered by occlusive dressings.

Background Data: The effect of LLLT on the healing process of covered wounds is not well defined.

Materials And Methods: For the histologic analysis with HE staining, 50 male Wistar rats were submitted to surgical incisions and divided into 10 groups (n = 5): control; stimulated with 4 and 7 J/cm(2) daily, for 7 and 14 days, with or without occlusion.

New reference values for maximal respiratory pressures in the Brazilian population.

Objective: To compare MIP and MEP determined in healthy subjects with those predicted using the equations proposed in another study, and, if necessary, to suggest new equations for MIP and MEP to be used in the Brazilian population.

Methods: The study sample comprised 60 healthy males and 60 healthy females, 20-80 years of age (20 subjects per ten-year age bracket). Maximal respiratory pressures were determined following a standardized protocol.

The effect of local muscle endurance training on cardiorespiratory capacity in young women.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of local muscle endurance training on maximal oxygen uptake and ventilatory threshold in young women. Nineteen untrained women, ranging in age from 18 to 26 years, were included in the study and assigned to two groups: the control group (n = 10), and the resistance training group (n = 9). The following variables were obtained at baseline and after 12 weeks: body mass; maximal oxygen uptake, maximal heart rate, maximal oxygen pulse, oxygen uptake at the ventilatory threshold, heart rate at the ventilatory threshold, and oxygen pulse at the ventilatory threshold assessed by cardiopulmonary exercise testing on treadmill; 1-repetition maximum (RM) tests in bench press, latissimus pull down, military press, lying barbell extension, standing barbell curls, leg press, knee extension, and hamstring curl.

Effects of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass on resting energy expenditure in women.

Background: Bariatric surgery is the gold standard treatment for morbid obesity, but little is known about its effects on resting energy expenditure.

Method: Twenty-one women underwent anthropometric and resting energy expenditure (REE) measurements before and 3 months after bariatric surgery using the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGBP) technique developed by Capella.

Results: The patients experienced a significant reduction in body weight, body mass index, waist circumference, and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR).