Vestibular rehabilitation exercises programs to improve the postural control, balance and gait of children with sensorineural hearing loss: A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Several studies have demonstrated that children with sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) exhibit postural instabilities, as well as balance and gait disorders, due to the vestibular dysfunction that they are prone to display as a consequence of inner ear injury. Thus, some experiments have proposed vestibular rehabilitation exercises programs as a treatment to improve these motor skills in children with SNHL. OBJECTIVE: Assess the evidence quality of the trials that used vestibular rehabilitation exercises programs to improve the postural control, balance and gait of children with SNHL. METHODS: This is a systematic review that surveyed articles in nine databases, published up to July 4, 2019, in any language, using the following inclusion criteria: (1) Randomized or quasi-randomized controlled trials. (2) Participants of both groups with clinical diagnosis of SNHL, aged up to 12 years old, with no physical problems, cognitive or neurological impairments, except the vestibular dysfunction. (3) Using vestibular rehabilitation exercises programs to improve the following outcomes: postural control, balance and/or gait. RESULTS: Six experiments, including 153 children, met the inclusion criteria of this systematic review. Two randomized controlled trials (45 children) on the postural control exhibited low evidence quality and four others; three randomized and controlled trials (90 children) on the balance and one quasi-randomized (18 children) on the gait demonstrated very low evidence quality, respectively. CONCLUSION: There is promising evidence that vestibular rehabilitation exercises programs improve the postural control, balance and gait of children with SNHL. However, due to the methodological limitations of the trials and low quality of current evidence on this topic, the trials results analyzed by this systematic review should be interpreted with caution. Due to the low quality of evidence observed in this review, we suggest that new trials be proposed on this topic, with better methodological quality, to prove the effectiveness of vestibular rehabilitation exercises programs to improve the postural control, balance and gait of children with SNHL.

Abdominal and pelvic floor electromyographic analysis during abdominal hypopressive gymnastics.

INTRODUCTION: Abdominal hypopressive gymnastics appeared as an alternative to traditional abdominal exercises to promote abdominal muscles strength without overloading the pelvic floor muscles (PFM). To determine the activation level of abdominal muscles and PFM and the posture influence in the level of activation in these muscles during abdominal hypopressive gymnastics, we used surface electromyography in young and healthy multipara women. METHODS: This is an observational study with eutrophic nulliparous women aged between 18 and 35 years, with abdominal skinfold less than or equal to 3 cm and active or irregularly active physical activity. Surface electromyography was used for rectus abdominis, external oblique, transversus abdominal/internal oblique (TrA/IO) and PFM assessment in the supine, quadruped and orthostatic (upright standing) positions during abdominal hypopressive gymnastics using normalized electromyographic (%EMG) data. We also analyzed the difference in activation between each muscle and between muscles and positions. RESULTS: Thirty women were evaluated and the mean age was 25.77 years (SD 3.29). The group formed by the TrA/IO muscles and the PFM showed higher %EMG in all the positions assessed, followed by the external oblique and rectus abdominis muscles. A comparison of %EMG of each muscle between the different positions showed differences only in rectus abdominis between the supine and quadruped (p = 0.001) and supine and orthostatic positions (p = 0.004), and in TrA/IO between the supine and orthostatic (p = 0.023) and orthostatic and quadruped positions (p = 0.019). CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that abdominal hypopressive gymnastics can activate the abdominal muscles and PFM and the position do not have influence on electromyographic activation level of the PFM and external oblique.

Therapeutic play to prepare children for invasive procedures: a systematic review / Brinquedo terapêutico no preparo de crianças para procedimentos invasivos: revisão sistemática

Abstract: Objective: To analyze the available evidence regarding the efficacy of using therapeutic play on behavior and anxiety in children undergoing invasive procedures. Data source: The systematic review search was performed in the MEDLINE, LILACS, CENTRAL and CINAHL databases. There was no limitation on the year or language. Synthesis of data: The literature search found 1892 articles and selected 22 for full reading. Eight articles were excluded, as they did not address the objectives assessed in this review. Twelve studies, representing 14 articles, were included. The studies were conducted between 1983 and 2015, five in Brazil, one in the United States, five in China, one in Lebanon, one in Taiwan, and one in Iran. Most studies showed that intervention with therapeutic play promotes reduction in the level of anxiety and promotes collaborative behavior and acceptance of the invasive procedure. Conclusions: Evidence related to the use of therapeutic play on anxiety and behavior of children undergoing invasive procedures is still questionable. The absence, in most studies, of the creation of a random sequence to assign the subjects to either the control or the experimental group, as well as allocation concealment, are factors that contribute to these questions. Another issue that characterizes an important source of bias is the absence of blinded evaluators. It is necessary to perform further studies that will take into account greater methodological stringency.

Resumo: Objetivo: Revisar, de forma sistemática, as evidências em relação à eficácia do uso do brinquedo terapêutico sobre o comportamento e a ansiedade de crianças submetidas a procedimentos invasivos. Fontes dos dados: A busca da revisão sistemática foi efetuada nas bases MedLine, Lilacs, Central e Cinahl. Não houve limitação quanto ao ano ou idioma. Síntese dos dados: Na busca de literatura foram encontrados 1.892 artigos e selecionados 22 para leitura integral. Foram excluídos 8 que não respondiam aos objetivos avaliados nesta revisão. Foram incluídos 12 estudos, correspondentes a 14 artigos. Os estudos foram conduzidos entre 1983 e 2015, cinco no Brasil, um nos Estados Unidos, cinco na China, um no Líbano, um em Taiwan e um no Irã. A maioria dos estudos mostrou que a intervenção com brinquedo terapêutico promove redução no nível de ansiedade e favorece um comportamento de colaboração e aceitação do procedimento invasivo. Conclusões: As evidências relacionadas ao uso do brinquedo terapêutico sobre a ansiedade e comportamento de crianças submetidas a procedimentos invasivos ainda são questionáveis. A ausência, na maioria dos estudos, de uma geração de sequência aleatória para direcionamento dos sujeitos para os grupos controle ou experimental e do sigilo de alocação são fatores que contribuem para esse questionamento. Uma outra questão que caracteriza importante fonte de viés é o não cegamento dos avaliadores. Se fazem necessárias novas pesquisas que levem em consideração um maior rigor metodológico.

Therapeutic play to prepare children for invasive procedures: a systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the available evidence regarding the efficacy of using therapeutic play on behavior and anxiety in children undergoing invasive procedures. DATA SOURCE: The systematic review search was performed in the MEDLINE, LILACS, CENTRAL and CINAHL databases. There was no limitation on the year or language. SYNTHESIS OF DATA: The literature search found 1892 articles and selected 22 for full reading. Eight articles were excluded, as they did not address the objectives assessed in this review. Twelve studies, representing 14 articles, were included. The studies were conducted between 1983 and 2015, five in Brazil, one in the United States, five in China, one in Lebanon, one in Taiwan, and one in Iran. Most studies showed that intervention with therapeutic play promotes reduction in the level of anxiety and promotes collaborative behavior and acceptance of the invasive procedure. CONCLUSIONS: Evidence related to the use of therapeutic play on anxiety and behavior of children undergoing invasive procedures is still questionable. The absence, in most studies, of the creation of a random sequence to assign the subjects to either the control or the experimental group, as well as allocation concealment, are factors that contribute to these questions. Another issue that characterizes an important source of bias is the absence of blinded evaluators. It is necessary to perform further studies that will take into account greater methodological stringency.

[Sexual function and factors associated with sexual dysfunction in climacteric women.] / Função sexual e fatores associados à disfunção sexual em mulheres no climatério.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the sexual function and factors associated with sexual dysfunction in climacteric women. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 173 women aged 35 to 65 years old, with a steady partner during the last 6 months, who are literate, without cognitive impairment, and with sexual activity for at least 6 months. The instrument used to assess sexual performance was the Sexual Quotient, female version. The association between sexual dysfunction and sociodemographic data, personal, obstetric and sexual history was determined by Pearson's χ2 test and strength of association by the odds ratio (OR) with a 95% confidence interval (95%CI). RESULTS: In this study, 46.2% of the women reported sexual dysfunction. There was a decrease in the chance of sexual dysfunction for the age group between 35 and 49 years old (OR=0.3; 95%CI 0.2-0.6) and for women who felt comfortable talking about sex (OR=0.5; 95%CI 0.2-0.8). However, the presence of osteoporosis (OR=3.3; 95%CI 1.5-7.6), urinary incontinence (OR=2.0; 95%CI 1.1-3.7), and surgical corrections of the pelvic floor (OR=2.2; 95%CI 1.1-4.5) increased this chance. CONCLUSIONS: The frequency of sexual dysfunction in women aged 35 to 65 years old was 46.2% and factors such as osteoporosis, urinary incontinence and surgical corrections of the pelvic floor increased the chance of sexual dysfunction.

Função sexual e fatores associados à disfunção sexual em mulheres no climatério / Sexual function and factors associated with sexual dysfunction in climacteric women

OBJETIVO: Avaliar a função sexual e os fatores associados à disfunção sexual de mulheres no período do climatério. MÉTODOS: Foi realizado um estudo de corte transversal incluindo 173 mulheres, na faixa etária de 35 a 65 anos, com parceiro fixo nos últimos 6 meses, alfabetizadas, sem comprometimento cognitivo e com atividade sexual há pelo menos 6 meses. O instrumento utilizado para avaliar o desempenho sexual foi o Quociente Sexual, versão feminina. A associação entre disfunção sexual e dados sociodemográficos, antecedentes pessoais e obstétricos e história sexual foi realizada por meio do teste do χ2 de Pearson e da força de associação, por meio do odds ratio (OR) com intervalo de confiança de 95% (IC95%). RESULTADOS: Neste estudo, 46,2% das mulheres apresentaram disfunção sexual. Houve uma diminuição da chance de disfunção sexual para a faixa etária entre 35 e 49 anos (OR=0,3; IC95% 0,2–0,6) e para as mulheres que se sentiam à vontade para falar sobre sexo (OR=0,5; IC95% 0,2–0,8). Entretanto, presença de osteoporose (OR=3,3; IC95% 1,5–7,6), incontinência urinária (OR=2,0; IC95% 1,1–3,7) e correções cirúrgicas do assoalho pélvico (OR=2,2; IC95% 1,1–4,5) elevaram essa chance. CONCLUSÕES: A frequência de disfunção sexual em mulheres na faixa etária entre 35 e 65 anos foi 46,2% e fatores como osteoporose, incontinência urinária e correções cirúrgicas do assoalho pélvico aumentaram a chance de disfunção sexual. .

PURPOSE: To evaluate the sexual function and factors associated with sexual dysfunction in climacteric women. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 173 women aged 35 to 65 years old, with a steady partner during the last 6 months, who are literate, without cognitive impairment, and with sexual activity for at least 6 months. The instrument used to assess sexual performance was the Sexual Quotient, female version. The association between sexual dysfunction and sociodemographic data, personal, obstetric and sexual history was determined by Pearson's χ2 test and strength of association by the odds ratio (OR) with a 95% confidence interval (95%CI). RESULTS: In this study, 46.2% of the women reported sexual dysfunction. There was a decrease in the chance of sexual dysfunction for the age group between 35 and 49 years old (OR=0.3; 95%CI 0.2–0.6) and for women who felt comfortable talking about sex (OR=0.5; 95%CI 0.2–0.8). However, the presence of osteoporosis (OR=3.3; 95%CI 1.5–7.6), urinary incontinence (OR=2.0; 95%CI 1.1–3.7), and surgical corrections of the pelvic floor (OR=2.2; 95%CI 1.1–4.5) increased this chance. CONCLUSIONS: The frequency of sexual dysfunction in women aged 35 to 65 years old was 46.2% and factors such as osteoporosis, urinary incontinence and surgical corrections of the pelvic floor increased the chance of sexual dysfunction. .