Postural balance in type 2 diabetics with vertigo, dizziness and/or unsteadiness.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the postural balance of type 2 diabetics with vertigo, dizziness, and/or unsteadiness. METHODS: limit of stability, pressure center displacement area, and sway velocity of 20 patients with type 2 diabetes were compared with 22 controls using the Balance Rehabilitation Unit (BRUTM, Medicaa) posturography. RESULTS: Compared to the control group, patients with type 2 diabetes showed a significantly lower limit of stability and a significantly higher-pressure center displacement area on a firm surface with eyes open, eyes closed, and horizontal vestibular-visual interaction; and higher sway velocity on a firm surface with eyes open and with eyes closed. CONCLUSION: type 2 diabetics with vertigo, dizziness, and/or imbalance compromised postural balance related to visual stimuli and vestibular-visual interaction and moderate impairment in the quality of life.

Postural control in Parkinson's disease.

INTRODUCTION: Postural instability is one of the most disabling features of Parkinson's disease. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate postural balance in Parkinson's disease. METHODS: Thirty patients with Parkinson's disease were compared with controls using Tetrax™ interactive balance system posturography. RESULTS: For different positions, patients with Parkinson's disease showed a significantly higher weight distribution index, fall index, Fourier transformation at low-medium frequencies (F2-F4), and significantly lower right/left and toe/heel synchronization versus controls. CONCLUSION: Postural imbalance in Parkinson's disease patients is characterized by the abnormalities of weight distribution index, synchronization index, Fourier transformation index, and fall index as measured by Tetrax™ posturography.

Postural control in Parkinson's disease / Controle postural na Doença de Parkinson

Introduction: Postural instability is one of the most disabling features of Parkinson's disease. Objective: To evaluate postural balance in Parkinson's disease. Methods: Thirty patients with Parkinson's disease were compared with controls using Tetrax™ interactive balance system posturography. Results: For different positions, patients with Parkinson's disease showed a significantly higher weight distribution index, fall index, Fourier transformation at low-medium frequencies (F2–F4), and significantly lower right/left and toe/heel synchronization versus controls. Conclusion: Postural imbalance in Parkinson's disease patients is characterized by the abnormalities of weight distribution index, synchronization index, Fourier transformation index, and fall index as measured by Tetrax™ posturography. .

Introdução: A instabilidade postural é um dos principais problemas na doença de Parkinson. Objetivo: Avaliar o controle postural na doença de Parkinson. Método: Um grupo de 30 pacientes com doença de Parkinson foi comparado com um grupo controle à posturografia estática do Tetrax Interactive Balance System (Tetrax™). Resultados: Em diferentes condições sensoriais, houve diferenças significantes entre os dois grupos, tendo sido encontrados nos parkinsonianos valores maiores do índice de distribuição de peso, do índice de risco de queda e da faixa de frequência F2-4 e valores menores da sincronização da oscilação postural direito-esquerda e dedos/calcanhares. Conclusão: O comprometimento do controle postural em pacientes com doença de Parkinson é caracterizado por alterações na distribuição de peso, na sincronização da oscilação postural direita/esquerda e dedos/calcanhares, nas faixas de frequência de oscilação postural e no índice de risco de queda à posturografia do Tetrax™. .

Evaluation of postural control in unilateral vestibular hypofunction.

INTRODUCTION: Patients with vestibular hypofunction, a typical finding in peripheral vestibular disorders, show body balance alterations. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the postural control of patients with vertigo and unilateral vestibular hypofunction. METHOD: This is a clinical cross-sectional study. Twenty-five patients with vertigo and unilateral vestibular hypofunction and a homogeneous control group consisting of 32 healthy individuals were submitted to a neurotological evaluation including the Tetrax Interactive Balance System posturography in eight different sensory conditions. RESULTS: For different positions, vertiginous patients with unilateral vestibular hypofunction showed significantly higher values of general stability index, weight distribution index, right/left and tool/heel synchronizations, Fourier transformation index and fall index than controls. CONCLUSION: Increased values in the indices of weight distribution, right/left and tool/heel synchronizations, Fourier transformation and fall risk characterize the impairment of postural control in patients with vertigo and unilateral vestibular hypofunction.

Evaluation of postural control in unilateral vestibular hypofunction / Avaliação do controle postural na hipofunção vestibular unilateral

INTRODUCTION: Patients with vestibular hypofunction, a typical finding in peripheral vestibular disorders, show body balance alterations. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the postural control of patients with vertigo and unilateral vestibular hypofunction. METHOD: This is a clinical cross-sectional study. Twenty-five patients with vertigo and unilateral vestibular hypofunction and a homogeneous control group consisting of 32 healthy individuals were submitted to a neurotological evaluation including the Tetrax Interactive Balance System posturography in eight different sensory conditions. RESULTS: For different positions, vertiginous patients with unilateral vestibular hypofunction showed significantly higher values of general stability index, weight distribution index, right/left and tool/heel synchronizations, Fourier transformation index and fall index than controls. CONCLUSION: Increased values in the indices of weight distribution, right/left and tool/heel synchronizations, Fourier transformation and fall risk characterize the impairment of postural control in patients with vertigo and unilateral vestibular hypofunction. .

INTRODUÇÃO: Pacientes com hipofunção vestibular, achado típico em vestibulopatias periféricas, apresentam alterações de equilíbrio corporal. OBJETIVO: Avaliar o controle postural de pacientes vertiginosos com hipofunção vestibular unilateral. MÉTODO: Trata-se de um estudo clínico transversal. No total, 25 pacientes vertiginosos com hipofunção vestibular unilateral e um grupo controle homogêneo de 32 indivíduos hígidos foram submetidos à avaliação otoneurológica, incluindo a posturografia do Tetrax Interactive Balance System em oito diferentes condições sensoriais. RESULTADOS: O grupo experimental apresentou valores significantemente maiores do que o grupo controle quanto ao índice de estabilidade geral, índice de distribuição de peso, índice de sincronização da oscilação postural direita/esquerda e dedos/calcanhar, faixas de frequência de oscilação postural (F1, F2-F4, F5-F6, F7-F8) e índice de risco de queda, em diferentes condições sensoriais. CONCLUSÃO: Alterações de distribuição de peso, sincronização da oscilação postural direita/esquerda e dedos/calcanhares, faixas de frequência de oscilação postural e do índice de risco de queda caracterizam o comprometimento do controle postural em pacientes vertiginosos com hipofunção vestibular unilateral. .

Eustachian tube function in adults with intact tympanic membrane.

UNLABELLED: The Eustachian tube has the function of equilibrating the environmental pressure with inner pressure, protecting the middle ear from abrupt pressure changes. AIM: To compare the Eustachian tube function in adults with and without history of otitis media and/or respiratory tract inflammation without tympanic membrane perforation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The Eustachian tube function was evaluated in forty-two females and males of 18 to 55 years of age with intact tympanic membrane, tympanometric A curves and without historic of otological surgery. The patients (study group with past otological disease) were matched by a control group. The data was analyzed to compare the Eustachian tube function in both groups. RESULTS: In the study group, 21.4% of the persons presented dysfunction of the tube against 0% in the control group. There was no statistically significant difference considering the affected ear. We observed a higher percentage of men (90.9%) with normal functioning Eustachian tube in relation to women (65%). CONCLUSION: Middle ear infections, rhinitis and/or sinusitis influenced the Eustachian tube functioning. Therefore it is important to test its function in such individuals. Other studies are important to establish a standard of normality in each condition of the test and for a better understanding of these people's complaints.

Função da tuba auditiva em adultos com membrana timpânica íntegra / Eustachian tube function in adults with intact tympanic membrane

The Eustachian tube has the function of equilibrating the environmental pressure with inner pressure, protecting the middle ear from abrupt pressure changes. AIM: To compare the Eustachian tube function in adults with and without history of otitis media and/or respiratory tract inflammation without tympanic membrane perforation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The Eustachian tube function was evaluated in forty-two females and males of 18 to 55 years of age with intact tympanic membrane, tympanometric A curves and without historic of otological surgery. The patients (study group with past otological disease) were matched by a control group. The data was analyzed to compare the Eustachian tube function in both groups. RESULTS: In the study group, 21.4 percent of the persons presented dysfunction of the tube against 0 percent in the control group. There was no statistically significant difference considering the affected ear. We observed a higher percentage of men (90.9 percent) with normal functioning Eustachian tube in relation to women (65 percent). CONCLUSION: Middle ear infections, rhinitis and/or sinusitis influenced the Eustachian tube functioning. Therefore it is important to test its function in such individuals. Other studies are important to establish a standard of normality in each condition of the test and for a better understanding of these people's complaints.

A tuba auditiva tem a função de equalizar a pressão do meio externo com a orelha média, protegendo-a contra mudanças rápidas de pressão e auxiliar na drenagem da mesma. OBJETIVO: Comparar a função da tuba auditiva em adultos com e sem história de otite média e/ou infecções de via aérea superior sem perfuração de membrana timpânica. MATERIAL E MÉTODO: Foi realizada a pesquisa da função tubária em 22 indivíduos com idades entre 18 e 55 anos, membrana timpânica íntegra, curva timpanométrica tipo A e sem histórico de cirurgias otológicas. Os pacientes foram divididos em Grupo controle e Grupo estudo (com passado otológico positivo). RESULTADO: No grupo estudo, 21,4 por cento dos indivíduos apresentaram disfunção tubária, contra nenhum indivíduo do grupo controle. Não houve diferença estatisticamente significante para o lado da orelha acometida. Observamos maior porcentagem de homens (90,9 por cento) com funcionamento normal da tuba auditiva em relação às mulheres (65 por cento). CONCLUSÃO: A presença de histórico de infecções de orelha média, de rinite e/ou sinusite influenciou no funcionamento da tuba auditiva, sendo importante realizar a pesquisa da função tubária nestes indivíduos. Outros estudos para estabelecer um padrão de normalidade para cada condição do teste seriam importantes para a prática clínica e melhor entendimento das queixas destes indivíduos.