Acupoint Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation in Hospitalized COPD Patients with Severe Dyspnoea: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of acupuncture transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (acuTENS) on the reduction of dyspnoea during acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD). METHODS: A multicentric randomized control trial with masked patients and evaluators was carried out. During hospitalization, AECOPD patients received 45 min of acuTENS (experimental group) or sham acuTENS (controls) daily on 5 consecutive days. The trial was conducted at the Hospital del Mar, Barcelona, and Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, Manresa (both in Spain). Dyspnoea and peak expiratory flow were measured daily from the first to fifth days. Length of stay, readmissions at 3 months and adverse events were also analysed. RESULTS: Finally, 19 patients with moderately to severely exacerbated COPD were included. Although some tendencies in dyspnoea during day 1 and length of hospital stay were found favouring acupuncture, no significant differences were shown between groups. CONCLUSIONS: The acuTENS intervention was feasible#well tolerated in AECOPD patients and no important side effects were reported.

Análisis electromiográfico de los músculos del tobillo en adultos jóvenes con síndrome de Down antes y después de la implementación de un programa de actividad física basado en la danza / Electromyographic analysis of ankle muscles in young adults with Down syndrome before and after the implementation of a physical activity programme based on dance

Introducción: Las personas con síndrome de Down tienen dificultades de control postural, y muestran diferencias en cuanto a desplazamiento de su centro de presión y a su actividad muscular, en comparación con la población general. La investigación previa ha reflejado que el centro de la presión de desplazamiento es menos dependiente de las condiciones visuales en las personas con síndrome de Down, aunque se ha observado una mejora del equilibrio tras la realización de actividades físicas basadas en la danza. El objetivo del proyecto fue valorar el efecto de un programa de actividad física basado en la danza sobre la actividad muscular en adultos jóvenes con síndrome de Down. Material y métodos: Once participantes con síndrome de Down y 11 participantes sin síndrome de Down, como grupo control, siguieron un programa de danza de 18 semanas de duración. Se utilizó electromiografía de superficie para valorar la actividad del músculo del tobillo antes y después de la finalización del programa, con los ojos abiertos y cerrados. Resultados: Observamos un nivel superior de activación muscular en el grupo de síndrome de Down, que reflejó unas diferencias menores entre las diferentes condiciones visuales que el grupo control. No se observaron diferencias significativas previas y posteriores al entrenamiento en el grupo síndrome de Down. Sin embargo se observaron menores diferencias entre ambos grupos tras el entrenamiento, en relación a la situación previa al mismo. Conclusiones: Aunque no se observaron diferencias significativas en el grupo síndrome de Down tras el entrenamiento, sí se observó un descenso de las diferencias entre los grupos. Estas podrían guardar relación con ciertas adaptaciones posturales. En el futuro, sería interesante incrementar la muestra, y analizar también la posición del centro de presión en relación a los pies

Introduction: People with Down syndrome have difficulties in postural control and exhibit differences in the displacement of their centre of pressure and in muscle activity compared with the general population. Previous research has shown that centre of pressure displacement is less depending on visual conditions in people with Down syndrome, although improved balance has been observed following specific physical activities based on dance. The aim of the project was to assess the effect of a dance-based physical activity programme on muscle activity in young adults with Down syndrome. Material and methods: Eleven participants with Down syndrome and eleven participants without Down syndrome as the control group followed an 18-week dance programme. Surface electromyography was used to assess ankle muscle activity before and after completion of the programme in open and closed eyes conditions. Results: We observed a higher level of muscle activation in Down syndrome group. They showed minor differences between different visual conditions than control group. No significant differences were seen in pre- and post-training in Down syndrome group. Nevertheless, less differences were observed between both groups after training than before. Conclusions: Although no significant differences were observed in Down syndrome group after training, differences between groups were decreased. These could be related to some postural adaptations. In the future, it will be interesting to increase the sample and also analyze the position of centre of pressure in relation to feet