Impact of Lower Limb Fractures on the Quality of Life.

Background: Lower limb fractures are associated with severe disability, prolonged treatment and recovery time, and account for the greatest number of surgical procedures. Studies focusing on the health related quality of life (HRQOL) of patients who sustained lower limb fractures at a productive age are still scarce. The aim of the present study was to assess the HRQOL of individuals who sustained lower limb fractures at two time points: during the acute trauma period (hospitalization) and after six months.

Indicators of depression in elderly and different screening methods.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of depressive symptoms among elderly and correlate the agreement between the screening methods used.

Methods: A cross-section study of 137 elderly attending the Programa Vivendo a Terceira Idade [Living for the Elderly Program]. Depressive symptoms were screened by the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 and the 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale, by Yesavage.

[Respiratory muscle training programs: impact on the functional autonomy of the elderly].

Objective: To compare two respiratory muscle training programs for improving the functional autonomy of institutionalized elderly.

Methods: Clinical randomized trial conducted at a long stay institution with 42 elderly volunteers that were divided into three groups: Group ® Threshold (GT) with mean age (70.93 ± 8.