Multidimensional Factors Can Explain the Clinical Worsening in People With Parkinson's Disease During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Multicenter Cross-Sectional Trial.

Background: Self-reported clinical worsening by people with Parkinson's disease (PD) during social distancing may be aggravated in Brazil, where the e/tele-health system is precarious. Objectives: This study aims to investigate self-reported changes in motor and non-motor aspects during social distancing in people with PD living in Brazil and to investigate the factors that might explain these changes. Methods: In this multicenter cross-sectional trial, 478 people with a diagnosis of idiopathic PD (mean age = 67, SD = 9.5; 167 female) were recruited from 14 centers distributed throughout the five geographical regions of Brazil. The evaluators from each center applied a questionnaire by telephone, which included questions (previous and current period of social distancing) about the motor and non-motor experiences of daily living, quality of life, daily routine, and physical activity volume. Results: Self-reported clinical worsening in non-motor and motor aspects of daily life experiences (Movement Disorder Society-Unified PD Rating Scale-parts IB and II-emotional and mental health, and fear of falling) and in the quality of life was observed. Only 31% of the participants reported a guided home-based physical activity with distance supervision. Perceived changes in the quality of life, freezing of gait, decreased physical activity volume, daily routine, and fear of falling explained the self-reported clinical worsening (P < 0.05). Conclusions: Self-reported clinical worsening in people with PD living in Brazil during social distancing can also be aggravated by the precarious e/tele-health system, as perception of decreased physical activity volume and impoverishment in daily routine were some of the explanatory factors. Considering the multifaceted worsening, the implementation of a remote multi-professional support for these people is urgent.

Estudo da associação entre os dados antropométricos e articulares com a dor em praticantes de balé clássico / Study of the association between anthropometric and articular data with pain in classical ballet practice

Objetivo: o estudo tem como objetivo, estudar os fatores musculoesqueléticos que podem gerar dor em bailarinas clássicas. Os movimentos do balé requerem que o desempenho seja realizado com maestria, envolvendo posições articulares em seu limite e esforços musculares que podem exceder as amplitudes normais de movimento, gerando assim, elevado estresse mecânico nos ossos e tecidos moles. Diversos fatores podem estar associados a dores intensas e a lesões musculoesqueléticas em praticantes de balé clássico. Materiais e métodos: foi realizado um estudo de caso, no qual foram avaliados os dados de três bailarinas clássicas com idade entre 15 e 17 anos, em um estúdio de balé clássico selecionado e localizado no interior de Goiás. Para coleta de dados foram utilizados dois instrumentos, sendo eles o Questionário de Avaliação da Bailarina Clássica, formulado pela própria pesquisadora e a avaliação física, onde foram coletados dados a partir de uma ficha elaborada pelos pesquisadores. Resultados: as voluntárias referiram dor, principalmente no movimento de grand plié, aumento da amplitude de abdução de quadril e fraqueza nos rotadores laterais de quadril. Conclusão: este estudo revelou uma maior incidência de episódios de dor em bailarinos clássicos causada por desequilíbrio de força muscular em membros inferiores..(AU)

Objective: this study aims to study the musculoskeletal factors that can generate pain in classical dancers. There are several types of dance and classic ballet stands out among them, because it is common to find dancers with various injuries due to physical exertion, because their practitioners suffer high mechanical stress their musculoskeletal structures. Several factors may be associated with intense pain and musculoskeletal injuries in classical ballet practitioners. Materials and methods: a case study was carried out, in which the data of three classical ballet dancers aged 15 to 17 years old were evaluated in a classical ballet studio selected and located in the interior of Goias. Two instruments were used to collect data, The Classical Dancer Evaluation Questionnaire, formulated by the researcher herself and the physical evaluation, where data were collected from a file prepared by the researchers. Results: the volunteers referred pain mainly to the large movement, with increased abduction hip range of motion and weakness in the lateral hip rotators. Conclusion: this study revealed a higher incidence of pain episodes in classical dancers caused by imbalance of muscle strength in the lower limbs..(AU)

Comparison of Quality of Life and Work Ability of Taxi and Motorcycle Taxi Drivers: Evidence from Brazil.

Urban transport drivers, specifically taxi and motorcycle taxi drivers, are exposed to particular environmental, societal, and health situations related to their occupation. To compare work capacity and quality of life of taxi and motorcycle taxi drivers, and correlate quality of life and work ability, a cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted among 232 motorcycle taxi drivers and 60 male taxi drivers in urban cities of Brazil. Three instruments were used for evaluation: a questionnaire on sociodemographic and occupational issues, the Work Capacity Index (WCI), and the WHOQOL-bref (World Health Organization Quality of Life⁻Bref). Taxi drivers presented better evaluation scores in the physical and psychological domains and general quality of life (QOL) (p < 0.01), and better self-perceived work ability (lower physical and mental demands, fewer diagnosed diseases, less incapacity for professional practice, p < 0.001). In addition, there was a positive relationship between QOL and WCI (p = 0.001). Motorcycle taxi drivers had worse self-perceived QOL and of work ability, and there was a positive correlation between QOL and work ability.