Functional and EMG responses to a physical therapy treatment in patellofemoral syndrome patients.

There are several pathologies related to the patellofemoral joint, in which the patellofemoral syndrome is one of the most common and challenging to treat. The patellofemoral syndrome results from a malalignment of the knee extensor mechanism. The purpose of our study was to describe and compare EMG responses of the vastus medialis and vastus lateralis muscles while walking up and down stairs and other clinical and functional responses in PFS subjects before and after a physical therapy intervention. Eleven subjects were studied and divided in two groups: six subjects with clinically diagnosed patellofemoral syndrome and five healthy control subjects. Subjects were evaluated by a functional and biomechanical evaluation protocol: postural evaluation, pain and knee function evaluation, and electromyographic activity of vastus medialis and lateralis muscles while walking up and down a staircase. Results showed higher efficiency of the vastus medialis muscle in carrying out eccentric exercises and increased muscle activity in both the vastus medialis and vastus lateralis muscles while climbing stairs after physical therapy treatment. We were able to identify an improvement in postural alignment of lower limb muscles and knee functionality among patellofemoral syndrome group subjects after treatment.

Respostas eletromiográficas, funcionais e posturais a um tratamento fisioterapêutico da síndrome femoropatelar / EMG, functional and postural responses to a physical therapy treatment for patellofemoral syndrome

A síndrome femoropatelar (SFP), patologia de difícil tratamento, decorre de um desiquilíbrio das forças que incidem sobre a patela durante seu movimento normal; frequentemente não se obtém alívio total da dor. Este estudo visou avaliar o efeito de tratamento fisioterapêutico em seis sujeitos com SFP.

Patellofemoral syndrome (PFS), a challenging pathology to treat wherein full pain relief is rarely obtained - results from force imbalance exerted on the patella during its normal movement. This study assessed the effect of a physical therapy treatment on six...

Análise biomecânica e cinesiológica de posturas mediante fotografia digital: estudo de casos / Biomechanical and kinesiological study of postures trough digital photographs: cases report

A utilização de posturas equivocadas durante as atividades que realizamos freqüentemente pode levar a uma aceleração do processo de desgaste sofrido pelo aparelho locomotor. O estudo da relação entre a postura adotada e as estruturas anatômicas acometidas por diversas patologias é uma preocupação crescente de diversas áreas da ciência, sendo a Biomecânica importante representante deste grupo. Neste contexto, o objetivo deste trabalho foi aplicar um método de análise biomecânico em diferentes situações da vida diária, nas quais alterações posturais fossem registradas: em decúbito lateral, durante a realização de manobras massoterapêuticas em divãs com diferentes alturas, durante o suporte de mochila escolar e na utilização do salto alto. Foi utilizado o método da cinemetria, mediante fotos digitais, além do cálculo do centro de gravidade por meio do método segmentar, a determinação de ângulos articulares e torques externos nestas posturas. Com este protocolo, procurou-se estabelecer uma metodologia simples e objetiva de quantificação de alterações posturais em situações cotidianas e/ou ergonômicas. Foram discutidos aspectos cinesiológicos, complicações crônicas da adoção de tais posturas e possíveis intervenções fisioterapêuticas. Em todos os estudos, a metodologia mostrou-se válida para identificar as alterações posturais adotadas nas situações estudadas, e possibilitou a discussão das implicações biomecânicas e cinesiológicas de tais posturas para a fisioterapia.

The adoption of certain postures during our daily activities can lead to an acceleration of the damage process suffered by the motor system. The study of the relationship between daily posture and anatomical structures attacked by various pathologies is a growing concern among several areas related to Health, particulary to Biomechanics.Within this context, the purpose of this paper was to apply a biomechanical method to analysis to 4 different daily life situations in which postural alterations were registered: in lateral decumbency, during performance of therapeutic massage handling on couches at different heights, in the bearing of school backpacks and the wearing of high heel shoes. The method applied was kinemetry through use of digital pictures, besides calculation of the center of gravity through segmentary method and determination of articular angles and external torques in those postures. With this protocol, we sought to establish a simple and objective methodology to quantify postural alterations in daily and/ or ergonomic situations. Kinesiological aspects, chronic complications due to the adoption of those altered postures, and potential therapeutic interventions were discussed. In all studies the methodology appeared to be valid to identify postural alterations adopted in the 4 situations studied and allowed the discussion of biomechanical and kinesiological implications of those postures for physiotherapy.