Ultrasonography as an instrument to evaluate lymphedema secondary to breast cancer: systematic review.

Lymphedema is a chronic and progressive disease characterized by fluid accumulation, causing tissue edema as a result of a compromised lymphatic system. Diagnostic ultrasound (DUS) is a method capable of assessing soft tissue characteristics that can be used reliably to diagnose lymphedema as well as for measuring tissue compliance in a clinical setting. This is a systematic review, aiming to evaluate articles that made use of DUS in management of lymphedema secondary to breast cancer.

The effect of vibration on postural response of Down syndrome individuals on the seesaw.

In order to better understand the role of proprioception in postural adjustments on unstable surfaces, we analyzed the effect of vibration on the pattern of muscle activity and joint displacements (ankle, knee and hip) of eight intellectually normal participants (control group-CG) and eight individuals with Down syndrome (DS) while balancing on seesaws of different heights. The individuals with DS adopted a pattern of co-contraction and were not able to modulate the magnitude of postural response with the seesaw's height. The vibration affected neither the ability of individuals with DS to maintain balance nor the pattern of muscle contraction.