Brain activity and upper limb movement analysis in children with Down syndrome undergoing transcranial direct current stimulation combined with virtual reality training: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Children with Down syndrome have poorer functional and sensory skills compared to children with typical development. Virtual reality (VR) training could help improve these skills. Moreover, transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has achieved promising results in terms of enhancing the effects of physical and sensory therapy by modulating cortical excitability.

Evaluation of autonomic modulation of lung function and heart rate in children with cystic fibrosis.

The autonomic nervous system (ANS) plays an important role in modulating bronchial smooth muscle contractility, which is altered in cystic fibrosis (CF). A convenient approach to probe ANS regulation is the quantitative analysis of heart rate variability (HRV). The purpose of this study was to evaluate ANS regulation in children with CF and to investigate the influence of colonization by Pseudonomas aeruginosa via assessment of HRV in colonized CF (CCF) children and noncolonized CF (NCCF) children.

Impact of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) on the respiratory capacity of chronic kidney disease patients under hemodialysis treatment.

Purpose: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients on long-term dialysis present changes in pulmonary function and respiratory muscle strength, negatively influencing physical capacity.

Objective: To analyze the impact of a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) protocol on the respiratory capacity of CKD patients under hemodialysis.

Methods: A randomized clinical trial was conducted involving 40 CKD patients 19-83 years old divided into two groups: control (n = 20) and CPAP (n = 20).

Effect of a preoperative protocol of aerobic physical therapy on the quality of life of patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: a randomized clinical study.

Patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) have lower potential for physical activity because of lung dysfunction and lower muscle strength, which can be reversed by the cardiorespiratory and musculoskeletal conditioning provided by standardized physical activities. We conducted a study to determine if a preoperative protocol of aerobic exercise would improve quality of life (QoL) both before and after training and if there would be any differences between patients who received the therapy and those who did not. Patients with the indication of surgical correction of AIS were randomized to receive or not receive a 4-month preoperative course of aerobic physical training.

Impact of a physical rehabilitation program on the respiratory function of adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis.

Background: Idiopathic adolescent scoliosis (AIS) causes not only spinal deformities but rib cage abnormalities that lead to abnormal volumes and pulmonary capacity on pulmonary function testing (PFT). The objective of this study was to analyze the impact of a physical rehabilitation program on respiratory function in surgical patients with AIS.

Methods: From October 2003 to October 2004, a total of 34 patients (age range, 10 to 18 years) presenting with AIS and a thoracic curvature between 45 degrees and 88 degrees were studied prospectively at a tertiary academic hospital.