Terminology of Pelvic Floor Muscle Function in Women With and Without Urinary Incontinence: A Systematic Review.

Background: Pelvic floor muscle function (PFMF) is a target of the physical therapist intervention for women with urinary incontinence (UI). However, possible variations in PFMF terminology might hamper communication among researchers and health care professionals in Women's Health. Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate the terminology of PFMF regarding clear terms, conceptual definitions, and operational definitions. Data Sources: Data sources include PUBMED, CINAHL, LILACS, and SCIELO. Study Selection: Observational studies investigating any PFMF in women with or without UI, published in English, Spanish, or Portuguese from 2005 through 2017, were considered. Data Extraction: The risk of bias was assessed by a questionnaire on the quality of observational studies. Data on terminology were extracted as terms, conceptual definitions, and operational definitions of PFMF and were synthesized according to key words, key ideas, and key operationalization, respectively. Consistencies and variations were identified for the most frequently investigated PFMF. Data Synthesis: Sixty-four studies were included, and a low risk of bias was identified. All studies presented terms and operational definitions of PFMF, but only 29.7% presented conceptual definitions of those terms. One hundred ninety-six different terms referred to PFMF. According to similarities in terminology, 161 PFMF terms could be grouped under 26 terms; the other 35 were left ungrouped. Therefore, a total of 61 different PFMF terms were identified in the literature. Limitations: A limitation in the study was that only observational studies were included. Conclusions: A large variation in PFMF terminology was identified, precluding data gathering and meta-analysis. The lack of use of standardized terminology delays the progress of scientific knowledge and evidence-based practice dissemination. Efforts toward creating a collaborative, consensual terminology based on a sound framework are necessary.

Relation between hand function and gross motor function in full term infants aged 4 to 8 months.

BACKGROUND: In children, reaching emerges around four months of age, which is followed by rapid changes in hand function and concomitant changes in gross motor function, including the acquisition of independent sitting. Although there is a close functional relationship between these domains, to date they have been investigated separately. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the longitudinal profile of changes and the relationship between the development of hand function (i.e. reaching for and manipulating an object) and gross motor function in 13 normally developing children born at term who were evaluated every 15 days from 4 to 8 months of age. METHOD: The number of reaches and the period (i.e. time) of manipulation to an object were extracted from video synchronized with the Qualisys(r) movement analysis system. Gross motor function was measured using the Alberta Infant Motor Scale. ANOVA for repeated measures was used to test the effect of age on the number of reaches, the time of manipulation and gross motor function. Hierarchical regression models were used to test the associations of reaching and manipulation with gross motor function. RESULTS: RESULTS revealed a significant increase in the number of reaches (p<0.001), the time of manipulation (p<0.001) and gross motor function (p<0.001) over time, as well as associations between reaching and gross motor function (R2=0.84; p<0.001) and manipulation and gross motor function (R2=0.13; p=0.02) from 4 to 6 months of age. Associations from 6 to 8 months of age were not significant. CONCLUSION: The relationship between hand function and gross motor function was not constant, and the age span from 4 to 6 months was a critical period of interdependency of hand function and gross motor function development.

Relation between hand function and gross motor function in full term infants aged 4 to 8 months

Background: In children, reaching emerges around four months of age, which is followed by rapid changes in hand function and concomitant changes in gross motor function, including the acquisition of independent sitting. Although there is a close functional relationship between these domains, to date they have been investigated separately. Objective: To investigate the longitudinal profile of changes and the relationship between the development of hand function (i.e. reaching for and manipulating an object) and gross motor function in 13 normally developing children born at term who were evaluated every 15 days from 4 to 8 months of age. Method: The number of reaches and the period (i.e. time) of manipulation to an object were extracted from video synchronized with the Qualisys(r) movement analysis system. Gross motor function was measured using the Alberta Infant Motor Scale. ANOVA for repeated measures was used to test the effect of age on the number of reaches, the time of manipulation and gross motor function. Hierarchical regression models were used to test the associations of reaching and manipulation with gross motor function. Results: Results revealed a significant increase in the number of reaches (p<0.001), the time of manipulation (p<0.001) and gross motor function (p<0.001) over time, as well as associations between reaching and gross motor function (R2=0.84; p<0.001) and manipulation and gross motor function (R2=0.13; p=0.02) from 4 to 6 months of age. Associations from 6 to 8 months of age were not significant. Conclusion: The relationship between hand function and gross motor function was not constant, and the age span from 4 to 6 months was a critical period of interdependency of hand function and gross motor function development. .

Bilateral and unilateral increases in calcaneal eversion affect pelvic alignment in standing position.

Excessive foot pronation has been associated with the occurrence of low back pain, possibly for generating changes in the lumbopelvic alignment. However, the influence of foot pronation (measured as calcaneal eversion) on pelvic alignment during standing has not been well established. Fourteen young healthy subjects participated in the study. A Motion Analysis System was used to obtain pelvic positions in sagittal and frontal planes and calcaneal position in the frontal plane. Volunteers were filmed in relaxed standing position during three trials, in three conditions: control; unilateral experimental with increased right calcaneal eversion and bilateral experimental with increased bilateral calcaneal eversion. Increased calcaneal eversion was obtained using wedges tilted 10 degrees medially, unilaterally and bilaterally. Repeated measures ANOVAs with Bonferroni corrections were used for statistical analysis. Unilateral and bilateral use of medially tilted wedges produced a significant increase of calcaneal eversion (P

Critically appraised topics.

This article describes the critically appraised topic (CAT) as a means to disseminate evidence from research literature to rehabilitation professionals. A CAT is a standardized, one-page summary of research evidence organized around a clinical question. A CAT includes a clinical bottom line that reflects synthesis of a research article and clinical application of the results. The synthesis includes a critique of the internal, external, and statistical validity of the research. The process of writing CATs has been used in the preparation of evidence-based practitioners. Commonly used websites for preparation and posting of CATs are included as well as an example of a CAT on the topic of cerebral palsy.

O que os pais de recém-nascidos de alto risco conhecem sobre o desenvolvimento infantil / What do parents of high risk new-born children know on child development?

Com o intuito de sistematizar um serviço de orientaçäo aos pais de recém-nascidos de alto risco, a equipe de Fisioterapia e Terapia Ocupacional do Ambulatório de Acompanhamento do Recém-Nascido de Alto Risco, inserido no Ambulatorio Bias Fortes do Hospital das Clínicas da UFMG, realizou estudo prévio para avaliar o conhecimento destes pais a respeito do desenvolvimento infantil e, assim, conhecer o nível de informaçäo a ser oferecido em tal serviço de orientaçäo. Pais de recém-nascidos de alto risco (Grupo A),pais de crianças de pré-escola particular (Grupo B) e pais de crianças de pré-escola publica (Grupo C) foram entrevistados sobre 12 ítens extraídos do Teste de Desenvolvimento de Denver, abrangendo áreas do desenvolvimento pessoal-social, de linguagem, motor-fino e motor-grosso. As diferenças entre os grupos encontradas säo apresentadas e discutidas neste trabalho