Plantar Myofascial Mobilization: Plantar Area, Functional Mobility, and Balance in Elderly Women: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of plantar myofascial mobilization (PMM) on the plantar area, balance, and functional mobility of elderly women. METHODS: In this randomized, single-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial, elderly women with maintained independent orthostatism were recruited from the community and randomly separated into a PMM group (MG = 15), a placebo group (PG = 13), or a control group (control group = 14). Vigorous PMM and soft PMM were performed in the MG and PG, respectively, for 5 days with a rest day between each. The measures of plantar area, single leg stance test with open eye and closed eye, and timed up-and-go test were performed pre-PMM, immediately post-PMM, and on the last day of the protocol. The control group only underwent evaluation before and on the last day of the protocol. The sample size was calculated, and, for quantitative variables, a mixed analysis of variance was used for repeated measurements (split plot), followed by the Bonferroni post hoc test. The results were analyzed in 2 ways: 3 groups at 2 moments (pre, last day), and 2 groups at 3 moments (pre, post, last day). RESULTS: Forty-two elderly women with mean age of 69.03 ± 3.32 years were included in the study. The vigorous MMP showed a statistically significant increase in the plantar area of the right foot (3 groups: P = .49) and single leg stance test with open eye time (2 groups: P = .002; 3 groups: P = .001), and a decrease in the timed up-and-go time (2 groups: P = .04; 3 groups: P = .0001). CONCLUSION: The vigorous PMM showed increases of the plantar area and promoted beneficial effects on functional mobility and body balance.

A relationship between brainstem auditory evoked potential and vagal control of heart rate in adult women.

Numerous studies have investigated the connection between autonomic control of heart rate (HR) and auditory stimulus. Yet, the literature lacks evidence of a close association between auditory brainstem processing and HR autonomic control. We aimed to evaluate and verify the relationship between auditory brainstem response (ABR) and HR variability (HRV) in healthy women. Forty­six healthy female subjects, between the ages of 18 and 30 years old participated in the study. They were subjected to an audiometry examination, followed by rest for 10 minutes for HR recording. Next, ABR evaluation was completed discretely in both ears, with I, III and V wave components. Linear regression revealed that the root­mean square of differences between adjacent normal RR intervals (RMSSD) and the triangular interpolation of RR interval (TINN) exhibited a significant association with Wave I in the right ear. These variables contributed to 28.2% (R²) of Wave I. In conclusion, there was a significant interaction between the autonomic control of HR and auditory processing in the right ear, suggesting that vagal tone interacts with the cochlear nerve.