Early mobilization programme improves functional capacity after major abdominal cancer surgery: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Major abdominal oncology surgery is associated with substantial postoperative loss of functional capacity, and exercise may be an effective intervention to improve outcomes. The aim of this study was to assess efficacy, feasibility and safety of a supervised postoperative exercise programme. Methods: We performed a single-blind, parallel-arm, randomized trial in patients who underwent major abdominal oncology surgery in a tertiary university hospital. Patients were randomized to an early mobilization postoperative programme based on supervised aerobic exercise, resistance and flexibility training or to standard rehabilitation care. The primary outcome was inability to walk without human assistance at postoperative day 5 or hospital discharge. Results: A total of 108 patients were enrolled, 54 into the early mobilization programme group and 54 into the standard rehabilitation care group. The incidence of the primary outcome was nine (16.7%) and 21 (38.9%), respectively (P=0.01), with an absolute risk reduction of 22.2% [95% confidence interval (CI) 5.9-38.6] and a number needed to treat of 5 (95% CI 3-17). All patients in the intervention group were able to follow at least partially the exercise programme, although the performance among them was rather heterogeneous. There were no differences between groups regarding clinical outcomes or complications related to the exercises. Conclusions: An early postoperative mobilization programme based on supervised exercises seems to be safe and feasible and improves functional capacity in patients undergoing major elective abdominal oncology surgery. However, its impact on clinical outcomes is still unclear. Clinical trial registration: NCT01693172.

Proximal tibia fracture in a patient with incomplete spinal cord injury associated with robotic treadmill training.

STUDY DESIGN: One case report of proximal tibia fracture in a patient with incomplete spinal cord injury (SCI) associated with robotic treadmill training. OBJECTIVE: To raise the awareness that bone densitometry may be recommended before starting the robotic treadmill therapy, as well as the active vigilance of symptoms after therapy. SETTING: Institute of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, Lucy Montoro Institute for Rehabilitation, Hospital das Clínicas, School of Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil. CASE REPORT: The patient, female gender, with a fracture of vertebra T12 and arthrodesis from T9 to L1 (American Spinal Injury Association Classification (ASIA-C)). Training on Lokomat consisted of five 30-min weekly sessions, under the supervision of a qualified professional. At the beginning of the 19th session, the patient complained of pain in the anterior region of the left knee. Lokomat and any other body support therapy were discontinued. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) evidenced a transverse, oblique, metaphyseal proximal anterior and medial tibial fracture. CONCLUSION: Fractures are among the chronic complications of a SCI, affecting 34% and many times arising from minimal traumas. Lokomat resembles physiological walking, and more studies show its benefits. Many studies encourage the use of robotic devices for the rehabilitation of lower limbs, but there are still several unanswered questions. However, there are not enough studies to show whether there is a higher risk of fracture incidence in patients with osteopenia or osteoporosis who trained on the Lokomat.

Time variation of some selected topics in bioethical publications.

OBJECTIVE: To analyse the time variation of topics in bioethical publications as a proxy of the relative importance. METHODS: We searched the Medline database for bioethics publications using the words "ethics or bioethics", and for 360 specific topics publications, associating Medical Subject Heading topic descriptors to those words. We calculated the ratio of bioethics publications to the total publications of Medline, and the ratio of each topic publications to the total bioethics publications, for five-year intervals, from 1970 to 2004. We calculated the time variation of ratios, dividing the difference between the highest and lowest ratio of each topic by its highest ratio. Four topics were described, selected to illustrate different patterns of variation: "Induced Abortion", "Conflict of Interest", "Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome", "Medical Education." RESULTS: The ratio of bioethics publications to total Medline publications increased from 0.003 to 0.012. The variation of the topic's ratios was higher than 0.7 for 68% of the topics. The Induced Abortion ratios decreased from 0.12 to 0.02. Conflict of Interest ratios increased from zero to 0.07. The Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome ratios were nearly zero in the first three intervals, had a peak of 0.06 during 1985-9, followed by a decrease to 0.01. Medical Education ratios varied few, from 0.04 to 0.03. CONCLUSIONS: There was an increase of bioethical publications in the Medline database. The topics in bioethics literature have an important time variation. Some factors were suggested to explain this variation: current legal cases, resolution of the issue, saturation of a discussion and epidemiologic importance.

Computerized pedobarography in the characterization of ankle-foot instabilities of haemophilic patients.

Among the most common clinical manifestations of haemophilia are joint haemorrhages. This study aimed to verify whether repetitive ankle haemarthrosis is associated with instability of the rear foot. We evaluated haemophilic patients with repetitive bleeding in the ankles, 39 of type A and four of type B, whose mean age was 16.1 years. All presented a functional gait, without the need for motion assistance devices. The number of rear-foot and ankle haemarthrosis episodes during the 6 months prior to the study was verified from the medical records of each patient. After verifying the alignment of the rear foot of the patients, we evaluated the subjects through computerized pedobarography with the f-scan system, emphasizing the study of the trajectory of the centre of pressure (COP) with each step taken. All patients received functional orthoses according to the results of these examinations, and were re-evaluated 1 week and 6 months after being fitted. The number of haemarthrosis episodes at the rear foot and the ankle was compared with the occurrence of joint bleeding within the previous 6 months. In the first examination, the COP trajectory showed that all the 43 patients studied had some sort of instability. Six months later, a significant reduction in the frequency of spontaneous bleeding events (P<0.001) concerning the rear foot and the ankle was observed. This method of evaluation was useful to identify joint instabilities, allowing the best prescription of orthoses to improve stability in the rear foot and the ankle.

The effect of foot orthoses in rheumatoid arthritis.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of foot orthoses using the foot function index (FFI) in a group of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) during a period of 6 months. METHODS: Thirty-six rheumatoid subjects with foot pain were examined and appropriate foot orthoses were prescribed according to each patient's needs. All the patients were evaluated 30, 90 and 180 days after the baseline visit. FFI values, daily time of wearing the orthoses and adverse effects were noted at each appointment. The Stanford Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) was used at the initial visit to evaluate the influence of physical condition on FFI response. RESULTS: With the use of foot orthoses, FFI values decreased in all subscales (pain, disability and activity limitation). This reduction was noted in the first month and was maintained throughout the trial. Those using EVA (ethyl-vinyl acetate; n = 28) orthoses presented results similar to those for the total group. Patients wearing made-to-measure orthoses (n = 8) exhibited higher initial FFI values and worse evolution during the trial, significant for pain and disability but not for activity limitation. Minor adverse reactions were noted; none required interruption of treatment. There was no relation between HAQ and FFI evolution. CONCLUSIONS: Foot orthoses were effective as an adjuvant in the management of rheumatoid foot. They significantly reduced pain, disability and activity limitation, as measured by the FFI, with minor adverse effects.

Effect of alendronate on bone mineral density in spinal cord injury patients: a pilot study.

STUDY DESIGN: Prospective, randomised controlled trial. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of alendronate on bone mineral density in chronic spinal cord injury (SCI) patients. SETTING: University-based rehabilitation centre in São Paulo, Brazil. METHODS: A total of 19 chronic SCI patients were evaluated, divided into a control group and an experimental group. Control group patients received 1000 mg of calcium daily, and experimental group patients received 1000 mg of calcium plus 10 mg of alendronate daily. The study duration was 6 months. In all, 12 densitometric parameters were analysed using whole-body dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry at baseline and after 6 months. RESULTS: The experimental group presented increases in nine densitometric parameters, although statistical significance was attained in only two of those parameters. In the control group, an increase was observed in only one parameter, whereas the remaining 11 presented either no alteration or a decrease. CONCLUSION: The use of alendronate had a positive effect on bone mineral density in SCI patients and therefore represents a potential tool for prevention and treatment of osteoporosis in this population.

Non-operative treatment of flexion contracture of the knee in haemophilia.

For the non-operative treatment of flexion contracture of the haemophilic knee we have used serial casting and wedging in 58 patients, and extension/de-subluxation orthoses in 13 patients. On average it was possible to achieve -5 degrees of extension by 4 weeks, with only a little improvement in the following 4 weeks. The short--to medium-term results using either the extension/de-subluxation hinges or serial casting were similar. Both methods have been shown to result in significant improvement in joint contracture.

Rehabilitation in haemophilia--options in the developing world.

Musculoskeletal care is provided in many different settings by many different providers. Physicians are better prepared to treat acute diseases, acute manifestations and have problems in following chronic patients and to preventing losses of functional independence. Haematoma affecting muscles and joints is the most common musculoskeletal finding in haemophilic patients. Proper treatment is fundamental to prevent disability. Treatment aims at restoring the original muscle trophism and strength because joint stability is dependent on the uniform distribution of muscle power over different joint surfaces. Physical rehabilitation continues until complete anatomical and functional recovery is achieved. Coordination and proprioceptive stimulation complement the exercises to recover original muscle strength. Recurrent haemorrhages usually progress to chronic synovitis, the leading cause of motor disability and joint degeneration in haemophilic patients. Moreover, chronic synovitis is a predisposing factor for repetitive episodes of haemarthrosis, a leading cause of joint deformities and severe muscle atrophy. At this point, an efficient treatment alternative should be put into effect to restrain bleeding and prevent synovitis-related joint degeneration, which is synovectomy. Synovectomy is an effective alternative, less costly and easier to perform. Rifampicin synovectomy is advantageous because it is safe, not aggressive to the patient, can be repeated if necessary, and it does not prevent the use of either radiotherapy or surgery after, if necessary. Once the sequelae have set in, treatment tends to be conservative, and it aims at giving the patient functional independence for gait and other activities. The most common limb deformities seen in these patients are knee and elbow flexion, but the patient should also be assessed for compensatory scoliosis, hyperlordosis and lower limb length discrepancies. Chronic joint pain is a rather common complaint in this patient population with early arthrosis, and special drugs and physical treatment must be put into action. Rehabilitation is often inexpensive and very efficient.

Maintenance of musculoskeletal function in people with haemophilia.

Bleeding affecting muscles and joints is the most common manifestation of haemophilia. In the long term, prevention of musculoskeletal abnormality in haemophilic patients is cost effective. Early diagnosis and proper treatment is fundamental to prevent disability. Prevention can be divided into secondary and tertiary levels. Secondary prevention concentrates on how to handle a haemophilic child, and on the education of the family so that they develop a safe and healthy lifestyle and awareness of the importance of early diagnosis and treatment. Tertiary prevention deals with minimizing the musculoskeletal consequences of muscle and joint bleeding. Coagulation factor replacement, appropriate care of the bleeding site and early physical therapy helps to prevent complications and yields the best results. Recurrent episodes of joint bleeding can lead to chronic synovitis. Initially synovitis demands conservative treatment. However, conservative methods are often not successful. Chronic synovitis is the most important cause of joint degeneration and the aim of rehabilitation is to achieve functional status using special casting techniques, orthoses or preventative surgery. Surgical, radioisotope or chemical synovectomy may be used. Technical requirements and availability of haemostatic cover limit the use of surgical and radioisotope synovectomy. The author has found chemical synovectomy with rifampicin to be an easier and more effective procedure than surgery. Problems related to joint deformities, muscle atrophy and chronicle pain demand comprehensive care. They are the main factors affecting the maintenance of musculoskeletal function and the social integration of people with haemophilia.

Aplicaçäo do exercício físico em portadores de insuficiência cardíaca congestiva / Exercising in patients with congestive heart failure

Pacientes com insuficiência cardíaca congestiva das mais diversas etiologias têm se beneficiado com programa de reabilitaçäo supervisionado. Considera-se hoje que o exercício físico é um método secundário de pevençäo e tratamento da insuficiência cardíaca congestiva. Vários estudos, nesses casos, têm demonstrado melhora da qualidade de vida.

[Early physical conditioning of patients surgically treated for myocardial revascularization. Influence on the functional capacity]. / Condicionamento físico precoce de pacientes submetidos à cirurgia de revascularização do miocárdio. Influência sobre a capacidade funcional.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the early physical conditioning (PC) effect [initiated 15 days after the myocardial revascularization surgery (MRS)] in the functional capacity. METHODS: Twenty-two male patients (mean-age of 52y-o), divided in two groups (A and B, 11 patients each), were studied. Group A started PC 3 months after MRS (phase III), with a training intensity of about 70% of the maximum heart rate reserve, during three months, three sessions per week with one hour duration. Group B started PC 15 days after the MRS (fase II), with a training intensity up to five metabolic unities, three times a week, 1 hour and 15 duration. The post-MRS period of three months was designated as the time I (beginning of fase III) and six months as time 2. Stress test, Kraus-Weber flexibility test, coxo-femural flexibility test (flexion, elevation and abduction) and scapule-umeral flexibility test (flexion, extension and abduction) were applied. RESULTS: The maximum oxygen uptake and the total work increased significantly from time 1 to time 2 in both groups, but there was no significant difference between the two groups, either in time 1 or 2. Flexibility in the Kraus-Weber test and in the scapule-umeral flexibility test when in flexion, were significantly greater in group B than A, in both times (1 and 2). Other flexibility variables studied show no significant difference, neither between the studied groups nor in the times 1 and 2 of evaluation. CONCLUSION: Early PC after MRS increased the value of two variables that measure flexibility. However, it has not increased other flexibilities variables and the aerobic capacity.

Assessment of functional capacity during gait using a reciprocal propulsion orthosis (ARGO)--a comparative study with a conventional mechanical orthosis.

One subject (male, 24 years) with an incomplete motor and sensitive SCI, neurological level C6-C7 was submitted to a comparative study during gait using an advanced reciprocating gait othosis (ARGO) and a conventional mechanical orthosis (CMO) and respiratory and metabolic variables were compared at peak effort and in the second minute of recovery. We found that the ARGO, as with the CMO, not guarantee gait independence but the ARGO does enable a more functional gait pattern with a more efficient ventilation. The ratio of CO2/O2 showed that ARGO enable aerobic conditions of work and the energy expenditure using is significantly lower than CMO.

[Soft tissue rheumatism: therapeutic approach]. / Reumatismo de partes moles: abordagem terapêutica.

The authors review the conventional methods for the management of the soft tissue rheumatism. The success in relieving the patient's chief complaint, i.e. pain, depends on the choice of the appropriate measures that can be used without inconvenience to the patients.

[Osteomyoarticular injuries in a physical conditioning program]. / Lesões osteomioarticulares no programa de condicionamento físico.

From the follow-up of one hundred and thirty patients in a physical conditioning program during the period of one year, partially disabling lesions with preliminary complaints were observed at the beginning of the program in thirteen patients, and lesions during the development of the program were observed in nineteen patients. Within the first group, four patients had to quit the program, two temporarily and two definitively. In the second group, five patients had to interrupt the program for periods varying from twenty days to two months. In both groups, treatment involving physical agents, kinesiotherapy and drugs was proposed. Interruptions in the physical conditioning program for periods longer than three weeks imply in considerable reduction of the cardiovascular benefits. The clinician must be aware of the fact that sedentary patients have not only cardiovascular, but also musculoskeletal deconditioning. These patients must be evaluated by the physiatrist in order that the disabling lesions be avoided and treated.

[Chronotropic and pressoric response in myocardiopathy in patients with heart failure during ergometric test. Correlation of spirometry variables with effort]. / Resposta cronotrópica e pressórica nas miocardiopatias em portadores de insuficiência cardíaca durante prova ergométrica. Correlação das variáveis espirométricas ao esforço.

PURPOSE: To correlate the variables heart rate (HR), blood pressure (BP) and double product (DP) during the ergometric test with the variables oxygen consumption (VO2) and pulmonary ventilation (VE) of spiroergometry. METHODS: A study was carried out with 40 male patients suffering from cardiomyopathy with heart failure (functional class II-IV of NYHA)-of ischemic (IS), Chagas' disease (CH) and idiopathic (ID) etiology. These three groups were compared to a group of 10 normal individuals (N). The 4 groups were evaluated under 4 different conditions: rest (RES), anaerobic threshold (LA), power peak of exercise (P) and in the fourth minute recovery (REC). The investigation was carried out with the data obtained through spiroergometry (using a treadmill and spiroergometric equipment specific for the effort), as well as data related to HR, BP, DP, VO2 and VE. RESULTS: There were significant differences observed in the ergometric evaluate of the HR, BP and DP responses in the IS, CH and ID groups as compared with the N group. There were significant difference observed in the spirometric evaluation to the VO2 and VE efforts in the IS, CH and ID groups as compared with the N group. CONCLUSION: The HR, BP and DP variables studies, obtained by means of classic ergometry, unaided by direct methodology (spiroergometry) enabled them to infer valuable data for the control and evaluation of cardiomyopathies with IC, taking into consideration the low chronotropic and pressoric responses in the various phases of evaluation during this study, corresponding to the concomitant low performance of O2 consumption and pulmonary ventilation.