Robotic Gait Training for Individuals With Cerebral Palsy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To identify the effects of robotic gait training practices in individuals with cerebral palsy. DATA SOURCES: The search was performed in the following electronic databases: PubMed, Embase, Medline (OvidSP), Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Web of Science, Scopus, Compendex, IEEE Xplore, ScienceDirect, Academic Search Premier, and Physiotherapy Evidence Database. STUDY SELECTION: Studies were included if they fulfilled the following criteria: (1) they investigated the effects of robotic gait training, (2) they involved patients with cerebral palsy, and (3) they enrolled patients classified between levels I and IV using the Gross Motor Function Classification System. DATA EXTRACTION: The information was extracted from the selected articles using the descriptive-analytical method. The Critical Review Form for Quantitative Studies was used to quantitate the presence of critical components in the articles. To perform the meta-analysis, the effects of the intervention were quantified by effect size (Cohen d). DATA SYNTHESIS: Of the 133 identified studies, 10 met the inclusion criteria. The meta-analysis showed positive effects on gait speed (.21 [-.09, .51]), endurance (.21 [-.06, .49]), and gross motor function in dimension D (.18 [-.10, .45]) and dimension E (0.12 [-.15, .40]). CONCLUSIONS: The results obtained suggest that this training benefits people with cerebral palsy, specifically by increasing walking speed and endurance and improving gross motor function. For future studies, we suggest investigating device configuration parameters and conducting a large number of randomized controlled trials with larger sample sizes and individuals with homogeneous impairment.

Shadow Moiré technique for postural assessment: qualitative assessment protocol by intra- and inter-rater evaluation.

[Purpose] This study aimed to develop and validate an assessment tool for Moiré topogram made specifically with the Shadow Moiré technique of the dorsum. [Subjects and Methods] In the analysis of topograms, frontal, sagittal, and transverse planes of individuals' dorsal were considered. Two instructor evaluators analyzed the topograms at different times in the day and on different days. The measurements of intra- and inter- (intra- and interday) reliability were calculated. [Results] Of the three planes analyzed, in all analyses, good (0.61 to 0.80) and/or excellent (0.81 to 1) concordances were observed. [Conclusion] This analysis framework can be recommended to evaluate the topograms obtained with SMT.

Association of handgrip strength with anthropometry of a Brazilian healthy adolescent sample.

The importance of dynamometric and anthropometric information for industry is known; however, few studies have investigated the relationship between anthropometry and handgrip strength (HGS) in adolescents. The aim of the present study was to investigate the association of anthropometric variables with the level of HGS production in adolescents. Participants were 541 adolescents aged 12-16 years from a public school in the city of Rio de Janeiro. The behavior of the following variables was examined: the ability to generate HGS, age, total body mass, height and hand dimensions (hand width, hand span, hand length). The results showed an increase in the ability to generate HGS in adolescence and a significant difference between the genders from 13 years old, where boys generated higher HGS values. Correlations between HGS and total body mass and the hand width stood out in both genders, indicating a greater association.

The Brazilian version of the High-Activity Arthroplasty Score: cross-cultural adaptation.

BACKGROUND: The High Activity Arthroplasty Score (HAAS) is a self-administered questionnaire, developed in British English, that reliably and validly measures the levels of sports activities in patients following hip and knee arthroplasty surgery. OBJECTIVE: To cross-culturally adapt the HAAS to Brazilian Portuguese language. DESIGN AND SETTING: A cross-sectional study was conducted at a public university hospital in Brazil. METHODS: The Brazilian version of the HAAS was created through a six-step process: translation, synthesis, committee review, pretesting, back-translation, and submission to developers. The translation step was conducted by two independent bilingual translators, both native speakers of Brazilian Portuguese. The back-translation was performed by an independent translator, a native speaker of British English. To ensure the questionnaire's comprehensibility, 46 volunteers (51% men; average age 34-63) participated in the pre-testing step. RESULTS: The cross-cultural adaptation process necessitated modifications to certain terms and expressions to achieve cultural equivalence with the original HAAS. CONCLUSION: The HAAS has been translated from English into Brazilian Portuguese and culturally adapted for Brazil. The validation process for HAAS-Brazil is currently underway.

The Brazilian version of the Hip Sports Activity Scale: translation and cross-cultural adaptation.

BACKGROUND: The Hip Sports Activity Scale (HSAS) is a reliable and valid tool for determining the levels of sports activities among patients with femoroacetabular impingement (FAI). OBJECTIVE: To translate and cross-culturally adapt the HSAS to the Brazilian Portuguese language. DESIGN AND SETTING: This was a cross-sectional study conducted at the State University of Rio de Janeiro. METHODS: The Brazilian version of the HSAS was developed following a process that comprised six steps: translation, synthesis, back-translation, review by committee, pretesting and submission of documentation to the developers. The translation phase involved three independent bilingual translators whose mother language was Brazilian Portuguese. The back-translation phase involved three independent translators whose mother language was English. In order to verify comprehension of the questionnaire, 30 undergraduate students in physical education (65% men), with mean age 23.2 years (standard deviation = 6.8), participated in the pre-testing phase. RESULTS: During the translation step, some terms and expressions were changed to obtain cultural equivalence to the original HSAS. In the pre-testing phase, each item of the scale showed a comprehension level of 100%. CONCLUSION: The HSAS was translated from English to the Brazilian Portuguese language and adapted to Brazilian culture. The HSAS validation is ongoing.

Do hip strength, flexibility and running biomechanics predict dynamic valgus in female recreational runners?

BACKGOUND: Dynamic valgus has been the focus of many studies to identify its association to an increased risk of running-related injuries. However, it is not known which physical and biomechanical variables are associated with this movement dysfunction. RESEARCH QUESTION: This study aimed to test the correlation between strength, flexibility and biomechanical variables and dynamic valgus in female runners. METHODS: Twenty-nine healthy females ran on a treadmill at 2.92 m/s and performed strength, range of motion and endurance tests. Pelvic, hip and ankle kinematics were measured with a 3D motion analysis system. Six multiple linear regression models were used to identify the ability of physical and biomechanical variables to predict excursion and peak of contralateral pelvic drop, hip adduction and internal rotation. RESULTS: Contralateral pelvic drop and hip adduction were positively correlated to ankle eversion and step cadence. Hip internal rotation had a negative correlation with ankle eversion. Despite significance, predictor variables explained less than 30% of dynamic valgus variance during running. No interest variable had significant correlation with the hip strength and hip and ankle passive range of motion. SIGNIFICANCE: The results showed that distal joint kinematics and spatiotemporal variables should be considered during biomechanical running analysis to identify their possible relationship with joint overload caused by dynamic valgus. Caution should be taken when linking hip disorders during running to posterolateral hip strength and stiffness, core endurance, and ankle dorsiflexion range of motion since no correlation occurred amongstthese variables in this sample of female runners.

Gait analysis with videogrammetry can differentiate healthy elderly, mild cognitive impairment, and Alzheimer's disease: A cross-sectional study.

Gait parameters have been investigated as an additional tool for differential diagnosis in neurocognitive disorders, especially among healthy elderly (HE), those with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients. A videogrammetry system could be used as a low-cost and clinically practical equipment to capture and analyze gait in older adults. The aim of this study was to select the better gait parameter to differentiate these groups among different motor test conditions with videogrammetry analyses. Different motor conditions were used in three specific assessments: 10-meter walk test (10mWT), timed up and go test (TUGT), and treadmill walk test (TWT). These tasks were compared among HE (n=17), MCI (n=23), and AD (n=23) groups. One-way ANOVA, Kruskal-Wallis, and Bonferroni post-hoc tests were used to compare variables among groups. Then, an effect size (ES) and a linear regression analysis were calculated. The gait parameters showed significant differences among groups in all conditions, but not in TWT. Controlled by confounding variables, the gait velocity in 10mWT at usual speed, and TUGT in dual-task condition, predicts 39% and 53% of the difference among diagnoses, respectively. Finally, these results suggest that a low-cost and practical video analysis could be able to differentiate HE, those with MCI, and AD patients in clinical assessments.

Interrelationships Among Motor Coordination, Body Fat, and Physical Activity in Adolescent Boys.

Purpose: To analyze the interrelationships among motor coordination, body fat, and physical activity in adolescent boys. Methods: A total of 69 boys aged 12-14 years were recruited. Motor coordination was assessed using the Körperkoordinationstest für Kinder. Correlations (bivariate and partial) and mediation analysis were used to examine the interrelationships among the selected variables. Results: Body fat was significantly correlated with global motor coordination, walking backward (Motor Quotient 1), and one-legged hopping (Motor Quotient 2) scores with and without controlling for physical activity level. On the other hand, physical activity level was significantly correlated with global motor coordination and Motor Quotient 2 scores only in bivariate analyses (without controlling for body fat). Mediation analysis revealed that body fat percentage was not significantly related to physical activity. Conclusions: Correlations between motor coordination and physical activity can be influenced by body fat in adolescent boys. However, both body fat and physical activity were not mediator variables. Perhaps there are other complementary mechanisms that mediate the interrelationships among motor coordination, body fat, and physical activity in adolescent boys.

Prediction of mild anatomical leg length discrepancy based on gait kinematics and linear regression model.

BACKGOUND: Leg length discrepancy (LLD) can be related to different pathologies, due to an inadequate distribution of mechanical loads, as well as gait kinematics asymmetries resulted from LLD. RESEARCH QUESTION: To validate a model to predict anatomical LLD (ALLD) based on gait kinematics. METHODS: Gait of 39 participants with different lower limb pathologies and mild discrepancy were collected. Pelvic, hip, knee and ankle kinematics were measured with a 3D motion analysis system and ALLD, femur discrepancy (FD) and tibia discrepancy (TD) were measured by a computerized digital radiograph. Three multiple linear regression models were used to identify the ability of kinematic variables to predict ALLD (model 1), FD (model 2) and TD (model 3). RESULTS: Difference between peak knee and hip flexion of the long and short lower limb was selected by models 1 (p < 0.001) and 2 (p < 0.001). Hip adduction was selected as a predictor only by model 1 (p = 0.05). Peak pelvic obliquity and ankle dorsiflexion were not selected by any model and model 3 did not retain any dependent variable (p > 0.05). Regression models predicted mild ALLD with moderate accuracy based on hip and knee kinematics during gait, but not ankle strategies. Excessive hip flexion of the longer limb possibly occurs to reduce the limb to equalize the LLD, and discrepancies of the femur and tibia affects gait cycle in a different way. SIGNIFICANCE: This study showed that kinematic variables during gait could be used as a screening tool to identify patients with ALLD, reducing unnecessary x-ray exposure and assisting rehabilitation programs.

Stages of mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease can be differentiated by declines in timed up and go test: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Motor dysfunction increases in the moderate and severe stages of dementia. However, there is still no consensus on changes in mobility during its early stages. This meta-analysis aimed to measure the level of single-task functional mobility in older subjects with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and/or Alzheimer's disease (AD). In a search of the PubMed, ISI Web of Knowledge, and Scopus databases, 2728 articles were identified. At the end of the selection, a total of 18 studies were included in the meta-analysis. Functional mobility was investigated using the timed up and go (TUG) test in all studies. When compared to healthy elderly (HE) adults, the following mean differences (MD) in seconds were found for the investigated subgroups: no amnestic MCI (MD = 0.26; CI95% = -0.77, 1.29), amnestic MCI (MD = 0.86; CI95% = -0.02, 1.73), very mild AD (MD = 1.32; CI95% = 0.63, 2.02), mild AD (MD = 2.43; CI95% = 1.84, 3.01), mild-moderate AD (MD = 3.01; CI95% = 2.47, 3.55), and mild-severe AD (MD = 4.51; CI95% = 1.14, 7.88); for the groups, the following MD were found: MCI (MD = 0.97; CI95% = 0.51, 1.44) and AD (MD = 2.66; CI95% = 2.16, 3.15). These results suggest a transition period in motor capacity between healthy aging and dementia, wherein functional mobility analysis in a single-task (TUG) can contribute to the diagnosis and staging of predementia states and AD.

The Brazilian version of the High-Activity Arthroplasty Score: cross-cultural adaptation

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: The High Activity Arthroplasty Score (HAAS) is a self-administered questionnaire, developed in British English, that reliably and validly measures the levels of sports activities in patients following hip and knee arthroplasty surgery. OBJECTIVE: To cross-culturally adapt the HAAS to Brazilian Portuguese language. DESIGN AND SETTING: A cross-sectional study was conducted at a public university hospital in Brazil. METHODS: The Brazilian version of the HAAS was created through a six-step process: translation, synthesis, committee review, pretesting, back-translation, and submission to developers. The translation step was conducted by two independent bilingual translators, both native speakers of Brazilian Portuguese. The back-translation was performed by an independent translator, a native speaker of British English. To ensure the questionnaire's comprehensibility, 46 volunteers (51% men; average age 34-63) participated in the pre-testing step. RESULTS: The cross-cultural adaptation process necessitated modifications to certain terms and expressions to achieve cultural equivalence with the original HAAS. CONCLUSION: The HAAS has been translated from English into Brazilian Portuguese and culturally adapted for Brazil. The validation process for HAAS-Brazil is currently underway.

Dynamic leg length asymmetry during gait is not a valid method for estimating mild anatomic leg length discrepancy.

The purpose of this study was to test the validity of dynamic leg length discrepancy (DLLD) during gait as a radiation-free screening method for measuring anatomic leg length discrepancy (ALLD). Thirty-three subjects with mild leg length discrepancy walked along a walkway and the dynamic leg length discrepancy (DLLD) was calculated using a motion analysis system. Pearson correlation and paired Student t-tests were applied to calculate the correlation and compare the differences between DLLD and ALLD (α = 0.05). The results of our study showed DLLD is not a valid method to predict ALLD in subjects with mild limb discrepancy.

Spatiotemporal expression of extracellular matrix components during the chondrogenic and osteogenic phases of bone healing.

In this study, we investigated the cascade of events involved in the early phases of bone healing in rats, especially the transition from chondrogenesis to osteogenesis, which involves cellular and extracellular matrix (ECM) components. We used a standardized closed tibial fracture model in Wistar rats, which was divided into nine groups of five animals each, and the fracture area was evaluated at 0, 12, 24, 48, 72, 96, 144, 192, and 240 hours post-injury. Histological, histochemical, immunohistochemical and morphometric techniques were used to evaluate the proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-ß), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), type I procollagen (procoll-I), type I collagen (coll-I), and type II collagen (coll-II) expression at every time point. TGF-ß expression peaked after 144 hours, in the initial chondrogenic phase. VEGF expression reached the first peak at 96-144 hours post-injury, in the initial chondrogenic phase and the second peak at 240 hours, in the osteogenic phase. Except at 48 hours, PCNA expression increased gradually from 12 hours and peaked at 96 hours in the prechondrogenic phase, and then decreased gradually until 240 hours in the osteogenic phase. Total collagen (T-coll) and coll-II reached an expression peak at 144 hours, in the chondrogenic phase. No differences were observed between their expression from 12 hours to 72 hours and at 240 hours post-injury. The results suggest that spatiotemporal expression of ECM components during the chondrogenic and osteogenic phases of bone healing depends on several combined and orchestrated factors. A better understanding of the coordinated participation of cells and ECM components in the early bone healing process may provide new insights into the etiology of abnormal or delayed fracture healing.

The Brazilian version of the Hip Sports Activity Scale: translation and cross-cultural adaptation

Abstract BACKGROUND: The Hip Sports Activity Scale (HSAS) is a reliable and valid tool for determining the levels of sports activities among patients with femoroacetabular impingement (FAI). OBJECTIVE: To translate and cross-culturally adapt the HSAS to the Brazilian Portuguese language. DESIGN AND SETTING: This was a cross-sectional study conducted at the State University of Rio de Janeiro. METHODS: The Brazilian version of the HSAS was developed following a process that comprised six steps: translation, synthesis, back-translation, review by committee, pretesting and submission of documentation to the developers. The translation phase involved three independent bilingual translators whose mother language was Brazilian Portuguese. The back-translation phase involved three independent translators whose mother language was English. In order to verify comprehension of the questionnaire, 30 undergraduate students in physical education (65% men), with mean age 23.2 years (standard deviation = 6.8), participated in the pre-testing phase. RESULTS: During the translation step, some terms and expressions were changed to obtain cultural equivalence to the original HSAS. In the pre-testing phase, each item of the scale showed a comprehension level of 100%. CONCLUSION: The HSAS was translated from English to the Brazilian Portuguese language and adapted to Brazilian culture. The HSAS validation is ongoing.

Do Girls with Excess Adiposity Perform Poorer Motor Skills than Leaner Peers?

The main aim of this study was to analyze the joint association of body fat percentage and physical activity levels on motor coordination scores in girls with different adiposity status. Sixty-eight school-aged children between 12 and 14 years participated in the study. Skinfold thickness was measured and the Körperkoordinationstest für Kinder test was administered. Participants completed a self-reporting questionnaire on physical activity. Children's adiposity status was attributed in according to age-specific cutoff points of a Brazilian database. Analysis of Variance was used to compare motor coordination scores among groups with different status of adiposity and physical activity. Girls with appropriate body fat percentage performed higher motor coordination scores than girls with excess adiposity, regardless of their physical activity levels (p < 0.05). Additionally, within groups with the same adiposity status, no differences were found in motor coordination scores (p > 0.05). Adiposity status was predominant over physical activity status when joint associations of body fat percentage and physical activity levels on motor coordination scores were analyzed in girls. In addition to metabolic and cardiovascular issues, the acquisition and/or maintenance of appropriate body fat levels in female students should be focused in physical education classes due to its association with motor skills performance.

KNEE SYNERGISM DURING GAIT REMAIN ALTERED ONE YEAR AFTER ACL RECONSTRUCTION.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the activation of the vastus lateralis (VL) and biceps femoris (BF) muscles during gait, as well VL/BF muscular co-contraction (MCC) between healthy (CG) and anterior cruciate ligament reconstructed (ACL-R) subjects. METHODS: Nineteen subjects, ten controls and nine ACL-R patients had a VL and BF electromyogram (EMG) captured to calculate the MCC ratio. A Principal Component (PC) Analysis was applied to reduce the dimensionality effect of each of the MCC, VL and BF curves for both healthy and ACL reconstructed groups. The PC scores were used to calculate the standard distance (SD). SD values were employed in order to compare each dependent variable (MCC, VL and BF) between the two groups using unpaired t-test. RESULTS: ACL-R group presented a lower VL activation at the beginning and at the end of the gait cycle, as compared to the control group. However, no difference was found for BF or VL/BF MCC. CONCLUSION: The gait analysis of ACL reconstructed patients demonstrated a persistent deficit in VL activation when compared to the control group, even one year after surgery. Level of Evidence III. Case Control Study.

Exequibilidade da Técnica de Moiré de sombra na identificação de desvios posturais em escolares / Feasibility of shadow Moiré Technique to identify postural disorders in schoolchildren

O objetivo deste estudo foi examinar a exequibilidade do uso da Técnica de Moiré de Sombra (TMS) em triagens periódicas no ambiente escolar e estabelecer o estado da prevalência de desvios posturais em uma escola pública do município do Rio de Janeiro. A amostra se compôs por 304 alunos. O exame da TMS baseou-se na diferença do número de franjas nas regiões dorsal e cintura escapular. A exequibilidade foi identificada considerando-se parâmetros preestabelecidos. Identificaram-se 225 sujeitos com diferença de franjas na região dorsal, e 224 com diferença de franjas na cintura escapular. Quanto à exequibilidade, a amostra foi examinada em sete dias e não houve dificuldades na execução da técnica, no processamento das imagens e nos materiais requeridos. Considerou-se a TMS exequível para triagens populacionais, permitindo exames periódicos em larga escala. A TMS pode ser uma estratégia na implementação de programas de saúde pública na escola, objetivando a melhora da qualidade de vida.

This study aimed to examine the feasibility of the Shadow Moiré Technique (SMT) in carrying out periodic school screenings and to identify the prevalence of postural disorders in students from a public school in Rio de Janeiro. The sample was comprised of 304 students. The SMT exam was based on the difference in the number of fringes in the dorsal and scapulothoracic regions. The feasibility of the SMT was identified based on predetermined parameters. Two hundred and twenty-five subjects were identified with fringe difference in the dorsal region and 224 were identified with fringe difference in the scapulothoracic region. Regarding feasibility, the sample was examined over the period of 7 days. There were no difficulties in obtaining the materials, in the use of the technique or in the processing of the images. SMT was considered feasible to screen the population and it allows for large-scale periodic examination. The SMT can be a strategy for implementing public health programs at school aiming at improving the quality of life.

Correlation between muscle strength and the degrees of functionality and kinesiophobia reported by patients with chronic hip pain / Correlação entre força muscular e graus de funcionalidade e cinesiofobia relatada por pacientes com dor crônica no quadril

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to identify the association between hip muscle strength and the scores from subjective functional and psychological evaluation questionnaires in patients with chronic hip pain. METHODS: Fifty-fivepatients with painful hip injuries (30 males) performed isometric peak strength tests of the abductors, extensors, and internal and external rotators of the hips with a hand-held dynamometer. The degree of functionality was measured by the Hip Outcome Score (HOS) and Lower Extremity Functional Score (LEFS), pain was estimated by the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and kinesiophobia was calculated using the Tampa questionnaire. The Pearson correlation coefficient was used (alfa=5%) to test the associations between the muscle strength and the scores from the questionnaires. RESULTS: There were significant correlations between the strength of all four hip muscles and the HOS (r>0.29). Only the hip external rotators showed a significant correlation with pain (r=-0.30). No significant correlations were found for LEFS (r<0.24) and Tampa questionnaires (r¬0.15). CONCLUSION: The reduction in peak strength of the hip extensors, abductors and external rotators was associated with a reduction in the level of hip functionality but did not correlate with neither the level of overall functionality of the lower limbs nor the degree of kinesiophobia. Also, a reduction of hip external rotators strength was related to an increase in the intensity of pain.

RESUMO JUSTIFICATIVA E OBJETIVOS: Este estudo teve como objetivo identificar a associação entre a força muscular do quadril e os escores de questionários subjetivos de avaliação funcional e psicológica em pacientes com dor crônica no quadril. MÉTODOS: Cinquenta e cinco pacientes com lesões dolorosas no quadril (30 homens) realizaram testes isométricos do pico de força de abdutores, extensores e rotadores internos e externos do quadril com um dinamômetro portátil. O grau de funcionalidade foi medido pelo Hip Outcome Score (HOS) e Lower Extremity Functional Score (LEFS), a dor foi avaliada pela escala analógica visual (EAV) e a cinesiofobia foi calculada pelo questionário de Tampa. O coeficiente de correlação de Pearson foi utilizado (alfa=5%) para testar as associações entre a força muscular e os escores dos questionários. RESULTADOS: Houve correlações significativas entre a força de todos os quatro músculos do quadril e o HOS (r>0,29). Apenas os rotadores externos do quadril apresentaram correlação significativa com a intensidade da dor (r=-0,30). Nenhuma correlação significativa foi encontrada para LEFS (r<0,24) e questionário de Tampa (r¬0,15). CONCLUSÃO: A redução no pico de força dos extensores, abdutores e rotadores externos do quadril foi associada à redução no nível de funcionalidade do quadril, mas não se correlacionou com o nível de funcionalidade geral dos membros inferiores ou com o grau de cinesiofobia. Além disso, uma redução da força dos rotadores externos do quadril foi relacionada a aumento na intensidade da dor.

USE OF SPATIOTEMPORAL GAIT PARAMETERS TO DETERMINE RETURN TO SPORTS AFTER ACL RECONSTRUCTION.

OBJECTIVE: : To compare gait spatiotemporal parameters of healthy and ACL reconstructed subjects in order to classify the status of gait normality. METHODS: : Fourteen healthy subjects and eight patients submitted to ACL reconstruction walked along a walkway while the lower limbs movement was captured by an infrared camera system. The frames where the initial contact and toe-off took place were determined and the following dependent variables, which were compared between groups through the Mann-Whitney test (a=0.05) were calculated: percentage of time in initial double stance, percentage of time in single stance, percentage of time in terminal double stance, stride length and gait velocity. Initially, all variables were compared between groups using a Mann-Whitney test. A logistic regression was applied, including all dependent variables, to create a model that could differentiate healthy and ACL reconstructed subjects. RESULTS: : ACL reconstructed group showed no differences in any spatiotemporal parameter of gait (p > 0.05) in relation to the control group, although the angular kinematic differences of the knee remained altered, as evidenced in a study with a similar sample. CONCLUSION: : The regression classified all subjects as healthy, including the ACL reconstructed group, suggesting the spatiotemporal variables should not be used as the sole criterion of return to sports activities at the same level as prior to injury. Level of Evidence III, Case Control Study.

Kinematic analysis of subtalar eversion during gait in women with fibromyalgia.

OBJECTIVE: To analyse the subtalar eversion range of motion during walking in women with fibromyalgia. METHOD: Twenty women diagnosed with fibromyalgia were directed to walk barefoot at comfortable and self-paced speed on a 7m walkway. Subtalar eversion range of motion was measured using the difference between the maximum and minimum values of subtalar eversion in stance phase. A range of motion between 4°-6° was considered as reference values for subtalar eversion during gait. Descriptive statistics were performed. RESULTS: In both right and left lower limb analysis of subtalar eversion range of motion, five women showed joint hypomobility, and twelve showed hypermobility. Only one patient performed unaltered subtalar eversion range of motion in both lower limbs. Both joints expressed high variability, and there were no significant differences between the right and left sides. CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that biomechanical function of the subtalar joint eversion during the loading response phase of gait in women with fibromyalgia, by excessive rigidity or complacency joint, tends to be impaired. This finding suggests that the indication of walking as an auxiliary strategy in the treatment of women with fibromyalgia should be preceded by thorough examination of the mechanical conditions of the subtalar joint of the patient.