Desenvolvimento infantil e práticas parentais de crianças brasileiras no segundo ano da pandemia de COVID-19 / Child development and parenting practices of Brazilian children in the second year of the COVID-19 pandemic

Usando o modelo biopsicossocial da CIF, este estudo teve o objetivo de examinar a associação entre o desenvolvimento infantil e as práticas parentais de famílias brasileiras no segundo ano da pandemia de COVID-19. Trata-se de uma pesquisa descritiva transversal que envolveu 30 crianças e suas respectivas famílias. O teste Denver-II foi aplicado presencialmente, e, de forma virtual, as famílias responderam perguntas sobre fatores biológicos e ambientais relacionados à interferência da pandemia no cotidiano da criança. Verificou-se que 83,3% das crianças foram classificadas com desenvolvimento típico, e 16,7%, com desenvolvimento questionável. Quanto às práticas parentais durante a COVID-19, identificou-se que as crianças tiveram tempo excessivo de tela (60%) e diferentes impactos comportamentais e emocionais (43,3%). Apesar do potencial da pandemia de afetar o desenvolvimento das crianças, não houve efeito negativo do segundo ano da pandemia no desenvolvimento global, o que pode dever-se às características dos participantes e suas famílias.

Using the ICF biopsychosocial model, this study aimed to examine the association between child development and parenting practices of Brazilian families during the second year of the COVID-19 pandemic. This was a descriptive cross-sectional study. Thirty children and their respective families participated. Denver-II test was applied in person. In a virtual form, families answered questions about biological and environmental factors related to the interference of the COVID-19 pandemic in the child's daily life. It was verified that 83,3% of children were classified with typical development and 16,7% of children with questionable development. Regarding parenting practices during the pandemic, it was identified that children had excessive screen time (60%) and different behavioural, and emotional impacts (43.3%). Despite the potential of the pandemic to affect children's development, there was no negative effect of the second year of the COVID-19 pandemic on their global development which could be due to the characteristics of the participants and their families.

Diabetic older women without peripheral neuropathy amplify body sway but are capable of improving postural stability during a saccadic gaze task.

BACKGROUND: Diabetic older people tend to present deteriorated performance in balance and locomotion activities, even those without peripheral neuropathy. There is evidence that saccadic eye movements are used to reduce body sway in young and older healthy adults, but it has not been shown that diabetic older people preserve this visuomotor adaptation capacity. RESEARCH QUESTION: Are diabetic older women without peripheral neuropathy capable of improving postural stability during a saccadic gaze task? METHODS: Seventeen type 2 diabetic older women (68.2 ± 10.7 years old) and seventeen healthy women, age-matched controls (66.0 ± 8.4 years old) voluntarily participated in the study. All participants were instructed to stand upright, barefoot, as stable as possible, for 30 s. Participants maintained their feet parallel to each other, at standard and narrow bases of support, while either fixating on a stationary target (fixation condition) or performing horizontal saccadic eye movements to follow a target (eccentricity of 11° of visual angle), which continuously disappeared and reappeared immediately on the opposite side (saccade 0.5 Hz and saccade 1.1 Hz conditions). RESULTS: Results indicated that the diabetic group clearly had deteriorated postural control, as shown by increased values of mean sway amplitude and mean sway velocity. However, diabetic and control groups were similarly capable of using saccadic eye movements to improve their postural stability, reducing their sway velocity compared to a gaze fixation condition. SIGNIFICANCE: Diabetes per se (without peripheral neuropathy) amplifies postural sway of older women as compared to their healthy age-matched controls. However, diabetic older women without peripheral neuropathy are capable of improving postural stability during a saccadic gaze task.

DEVELOPMENTAL PHYSICAL EDUCATION PROGRAM ENLARGES THE ACQUISITION AND REFINEMENT OF THE FUNDAMENTAL MOTOR / EDUCACIÓN FÍSICA DEL DESARROLLO AMPLÍA LA ADQUISICIÓN Y PERFECCIONAMIENTO DE HABILIDADES MOTRICES FUNDAMENTALES / EDUCAÇÃO FÍSICA DESENVOLVIMENTISTA NA EDUCAÇÃO INFANTIL AMPLIA A AQUISIÇÃO E REFINAMENTO DAS HABILIDADES MOTORAS FUNDAMENTAIS

The objective of this study was to verify the gross motor development of children aged three to five years old who participated in a Developmental Physical Education program. Specifically, this study aimed to identify the gross motor quotient and motor age of children. Participated 19 children enrolled in an early childhood education center aged from three years to three years and eleven months, from four years to four years and eleven months, and from five years to five years and eleven months To verify the level of motor development thick, the TGMD-2 test was used. The variables calculated were the raw score (locomotor and object control), the equivalent motor ages as well as the gross motor quotient. Descriptive analyzes (mean, standard deviation, percentage) were applied to all variables. The results showed that all participants achieved satisfactory motor development, presenting a motor age similar to or greater than the chronological age. 13 children (68.42%) had average global descriptive patterns, three children (15.8%) had above-average global descriptive patterns and three children (15.8%) had superior global descriptive patterns. The locomotor age equivalent was greater than the chronological age and object control age equivalent when the total number of children was considered. It is concluded that the motor profile of the participants is adequate for their chronological age and that the implementation of a Developmental Physical Education Program expands the acquisition and refinement of fundamental motor skills of children from three to five years old.

El objetivo de este estudio fue verificar el desarrollo motor grueso de niños de tres a cinco años que participaron en un programa de Educación Física para el Desarrollo. Específicamente, este estudio tuvo como objetivo identificar el cociente motor grueso y la edad motora de los niños. Participaron 19 niños matriculados en un centro de educación infantil con edades de tres años a tres años y once meses, de cuatro años a cuatro años y once meses y de cinco años a cinco años y once meses Con el fin de verificar el nivel de desarrollo motor grueso , se utilizó la prueba TGMD-2. Las variables calculadas fueron la puntuación bruta (control locomotor y de objetos), las edades motoras equivalentes y el cociente motor grueso. Se aplicaron análisis descriptivos (media, desviación estándar, porcentaje) a todas las variables. Los resultados mostraron que todos los participantes lograron un desarrollo motor satisfactorio, presentando una edad motora similar o superior a la edad cronológica. 13 niños (68,42%) tenían patrones descriptivos globales promedio, tres niños (15,8%) tenían patrones descriptivos globales por encima del promedio y tres niños (15,8%) tenían patrones descriptivos globales superiores. El equivalente de la edad locomotora fue mayor que la edad cronológica y el equivalente de la edad de control del objeto cuando se consideró el número total de niños. Se concluye que el perfil motor de los participantes es adecuado para su edad cronológica y que la implementación de un Programa de Educación Física para el Desarrollo amplía la adquisición y perfeccionamiento de las habilidades motrices fundamentales de los niños de tres a cinco años.

O objetivo deste estudo foi verificar o desenvolvimento motor grosso de crianças de três a cinco anos de idade que participaram de um programa de Educação Física Desenvolvimentista. Especificamente, este estudo visou identificar o quociente motor grosso e a idade motora das crianças. Participaram 19 crianças matriculadas em um centro de educação infantil com idades de  três anos a três anos e onze meses, de quatro anos a quatro anos e onze meses e de cinco anos a cinco anos e onze meses A fim de verificar o nível de desenvolvimento motor grosso foi utilizado o teste TGMD-2. As variáveis calculadas foram o escore bruto (locomotor e do controle do objeto), as idades motoras equivalentes bem como o quociente motor grosso. Foram aplicadas análises descritivas (média, desvio-padrão, porcentagem) para todas variáveis. Os resultados mostraram que todos os participantes atingiram desenvolvimento motor satisfatório, apresentando uma idade motora similar ou maior que a idade cronológica. 13 crianças (68,42%) apresentaram padrões descritivos globais médios, três crianças (15,8%) apresentaram padrões descritivos globais acima da média e três crianças (15,8%) apresentaram padrões descritivos globais superiores. A idade equivalente locomotora foi maior do que a idade cronológica e idade equivalente de controle do objeto quando o número total de crianças foi considerado. Conclui-se que o perfil motor dos participantes estão adequados à sua idade cronológica e que a implementação de um Programa de Educação Física Desenvolvimentista amplia a aquisição e refinamento das habilidades motoras fundamentais de crianças de três a cinco anos de idade.

Saccadic eye movement performance reduces visual manipulation influence and center of pressure displacements in older fallers.

This study examined changes in postural control and gaze performance of faller and non-faller older adults under conditions of visual tasks and optical flow manipulations. Fifteen older non-fallers (69.8 years, ± 3.2) and fifteen older fallers (71.1 years, ± 6.4) stood on a force platform inside a moving room wearing an eye tracker. Four tasks were performed: gaze fixation; predictable saccades; unpredictable saccades; and free-viewing. The stimuli appeared at a frequency of 1.1 Hz during conditions of predictable and unpredictable saccades. Sixteen trials were divided into two blocks. In the first block, the room remained stationary. In the second block, the room oscillated, without the participant's awareness, with a 0.6 cm amplitude and 0.2 Hz frequency. Results showed postural sway attenuation in older fallers during the saccadic tasks compared to gaze fixation and free-viewing tasks, in both stationary and moving room conditions. Both groups showed increased center of pressure (CoP) magnitude during the moving room condition and CoP displacements strongly coupled to the room's movement. The influence of the moving room on the postural sway was reduced during the saccadic tasks for both older groups. Older fallers exhibited higher variability compared to older non-fallers. Gaze behavior differences between groups were dependent on the goals of the visual tasks. Therefore, CoP displacements of older adults are reduced during saccadic tasks regardless of their falling history. However, postural and gaze performance of older fallers suggests increased deterioration of postural and oculomotor control which may be used as a predictor of fall risk.

Motor strategy during postural control is not muscle fatigue joint-dependent, but muscle fatigue increases postural asymmetry.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of ankle and hip muscle fatigue on motor adjustments (experiment 1) and symmetry (experiment 2) of postural control during a quiet standing task. Twenty-three young adults performed a bipedal postural task on separate force platforms, before and after a bilateral ankle and hip muscle fatigue protocol (randomized). Ankle and hip muscles were fatigued separately using a standing calf raise protocol (ankle fatigue) on a step and flexion and extension of the hip (hip fatigue) sitting on a chair, at a controlled movement frequency (0.5Hz), respectively. In both experiments, force, center of pressure, and electromyography parameters were measured. The symmetry index was used in experiment 2 to analyze the postural asymmetry in the parameters. Our main findings showed that muscle fatigue impaired postural stability, regardless of the fatigued muscle region (i.e., ankle or hip). In addition, young adults used an ankle motor strategy (experiment 1) before and after both the ankle and hip muscle fatigue protocols. Moreover, we found increased asymmetry between the lower limbs (experiment 2) during the quiet standing task after muscle fatigue. Thus, we can conclude that the postural motor strategy is not muscle fatigue joint-dependent and a fatigue task increases postural asymmetry, regardless of the fatigued region (hip or ankle). These findings could be applied in sports training and rehabilitation programs with the objective of reducing the fatigue effects on asymmetry and improving balance.

Virtual reality head-mounted goggles increase the body sway of young adults during standing posture.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of wearing virtual reality head-mounted goggles (VR) on body sway in young adults. We run two experiments, in which we compared the body sway while standing during the conditions of 1) wearing and non-wearing VR with eyes-opened (experiment #1), 2) wearing and no-wearing VR with eyes-closed (experiment #2), and 3) wearing VR with eyes-opened when the scene was turned on and off (experiment #2). Forty-four (experiment #1) and fifteen (experiment #2) young adults were instructed to remain as still as possible on a force plate for 60-s and performed three trials in each quiet standing condition. The center of pressure (CoP) displacement, mean velocity, root mean square (RMS), area and median frequency of sway were calculated in both experiments. In the experiment #1, wearing VR condition with eyes-opened largely increased the AP and ML CoP displacement, AP mean velocity, AP and ML RMS, and area (p < 0.05) compared to non-wearing VR with eyes-opened. In the experiment #2, no differences were found for any conditions (eyes-closed and eyes-opened with turned on and off VR scene). In conclusion, wearing VR head-mounted goggles increased body sway of young adults during standing postural task, when the individuals were with eyes-opened. However, the effects of wearing VR head-mounted goggles on body sway disappeared when the individuals were with eyes-closed or the google scene was turned off the scene compared to not wearing VR head-mounted goggles with eyes-closed or turned on scene, respectively.

Parkinson's patients delay fixations when circumventing an obstacle and performing a dual cognitive task.

BACKGROUND: People with Parkinson's disease (PD) do not differ from neurologically healthy individuals in obstacle circumvention during walking, therefore they are able to use visual feedback adequately to control motor behavior in this task. However, individuals are often distracted by the secondary task when circumventing an obstacle. An increased cognitive load can require prolonged gaze fixation time on a location of interest to compensate for longer information processing duration. RESEARCH QUESTION: To investigate the effects of cognitive dual tasking (DT) on gaze behavior during waking with obstacle circumvention in people with PD and control group, and to determine the impact of gaze behavior on motor strategy. METHODS: Fifteen individuals with PD (PD-group) and 15 neurologically healthy individuals walked at a self-selected speed over a walkway and circumvented an obstacle centered in the walkway. The experimental conditions (5 trials each one) included obstacle circumvention without DT (OC) and obstacle circumvention with DT (OCDT). In the cognitive task, the participant mentally counted the number of times a target number appeared in an audio recording. We analyzed gaze behavior (i.e. number of gaze fixations and duration on the ground and obstacle), standard gait measures and DT cost. Two-way ANOVAs were completed for gait parameters and moment of fixation. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in DT cost between groups and no obstacle contacts. The participants performed a longer mean duration of fixations on the ground during OCDT compared to OC. Group x condition interactions indicated that the PD-group delayed the obstacle fixation relative to the NHI for OCDT (p < 0.001) and presented greater medial-lateral body clearance (p < 0.001) and longer double support time (p < 0.001) during OCDT compared to OC. SIGNIFICANCE: The results of this study suggest that deficits in locomotion during DT in PD-group may be caused, at least in part, by a reduced ability to fixate gaze at appropriate times during walking.

Influence of obstacle color on locomotor and gaze behaviors during obstacle avoidance in people with Parkinson's disease.

The color of an obstacle may enable a more detailed view of the environment to facilitate obstacle avoidance. However, people with Parkinson's disease (PD) present visual contrast and color detection dysfunction, which could affect obstacle avoidance according to obstacle color. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the influence of obstacle color on locomotor and gaze behavior during obstacle avoidance in people with PD and neurologically healthy older individuals. Thirteen people with PD and eleven matched-control group individuals, with normal visual acuity (20/20 on the Snellen chart), performed 20 trials (5 trials for each obstacle color condition) of the obstacle avoidance task with the following obstacle colors: white, black, red, and blue. Participants were positioned at the beginning of a walkway with their eyes closed and, after the start command, opened their eyes, started walking at their preferred velocity, and crossed the obstacle. Spatial-temporal parameters and fixations on the obstacle (gaze behavior) were measured using a three-dimensional camera system and mobile eye-tracker, respectively. Our main findings were the absence of significant color interaction on locomotor and gaze behaviors, the absence of significant main effect of color on gaze behavior, and an effect of obstacle color on locomotor behavior, specifically in the placement of the heel from the obstacle after crossing and toe-clearance for both trailing and leading limbs, which indicates that obstacle color can play a role in obstacle avoidance during walking. However, there was no consistent obstacle color that influenced the locomotor behavior. Therefore, the conclusion of this study is that obstacle color seems to affect locomotor behavior, but not gaze behavior, during walking with obstacle avoidance in people with PD and neurologically healthy individuals. However, no particular obstacle color causes a consistent effect on locomotor behavior.

Obstacle circumvention and eye coordination during walking to least and most affected side in people with Parkinson's disease.

BACKGROUND: The mechanisms that contribute to gait asymmetry in people with Parkinson's disease (PD) are unclear, mainly during gait with greater environmental demand, such as when an obstacle is circumvented while walking. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of obstacle circumvention of the least and most affected side on motor and gaze behavior in people with PD under/without the effects of dopaminergic medication. METHODS: Fifteen people with PD and 15 matched-control individuals were instructed to walk along a pathway, at a self-selected velocity, and to circumvent an obstacle, avoiding contact with it. Each participant performed five trials for each side. Kinematic parameters, mediolateral and horizontal body clearance to the obstacle, strategy to circumvent the obstacle, and gaze behavior were calculated. Parameters were grouped according to the side that the obstacle was circumvented and compared by three-way ANOVAs. RESULTS: Both people with PD and the control group presented asymmetry to circumvent an obstacle during walking, however this was exacerbated in people with PD. Individuals with PD presented safe strategies (largest mediolateral and horizontal body clearance to the obstacle, "lead-out" strategy, and higher number and time of fixations on the obstacle) during obstacle circumvention for the least affected side compared to the most affected side. In addition, positive effects of dopaminergic medication on body clearance, spatial-temporal parameters, and gaze behavior were evidenced only when the obstacle was circumvented to the least affected side. CONCLUSIONS: The obstacle circumvention to the most affected side is risky for people with PD.

Gaze position interferes in body sway in young adults.

Postural control is influenced by eye movements. Gaze fixation, which comprises a component of ocular vergence, is important in the acquisition of highly specific task information, but its relation to postural control is little investigated. The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of gaze fixation position (central and lateral fixations) on postural sway in young adults. Forty young adults with ages ranging from 20 to 35 years were invited to participate in the study. Postural sway was measured in quiet stance in bipedal support in three 60-s trials under the following conditions: gaze fixation on a target positioned in front of participant, gaze fixation on a target positioned on right side of participant, and gaze fixation on a target positioned on left side of participant. The following center of pressure parameters (COP) in the anteroposterior (AP) and mediolateral directions (ML) were analyzed for each of the trials: body sway displacement, mean velocity of sway, root mean square (RMS) of sway, and median frequency. In addition, detrended fluctuation analysis (DFA) exponent, in anteroposterior and medio-lateral directions, was calculated. The COP presented greater AP and ML displacement (p<0.03, effect size=1.37; and p<0.03, effect size=1.64, respectively) and RMS AP and ML (p<0.04, effect size=1.66; and p<0.02, effect size=2.50, respectively) for lateral gaze fixation compared to central gaze fixation. These results suggest that gaze fixation on a laterally positioned target increases body sway in anteroposterior and mediolateral directions.

Saccadic and smooth pursuit eye movements attenuate postural sway similarly.

Saccadic eye movements reduce body sway, yet visually pursuing a moving dot seems to increase body sway. However, how these two types of eye movements affect postural control remains ambiguous, particularly for smooth pursuit eye movements. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of saccade and smooth pursuit eye movements on body sway magnitude during low and high frequencies. Ten young adults (19.5 ± 1.9 years) participants were required to stand upright, barefoot for 70s using a bipedal stance, with feet hip width apart, fixating or pursuing a target that was displayed on a monitor positioned 100 cm away from their eyes. Each participant performed three trials using both types of eye movements, in particular, slow and fast saccades, and slow and fast smooth pursuit movements. Body sway was obtained using reflective markers attached to a participant's head and trunk, which were recorded by two video cameras. The results indicated that body sway was reduced during both saccadic eye movements and smooth pursuit movements when compared to fixation, independent of visual frequencies. These results suggested similarities in the control of saccades and smooth pursuit on postural control.

Efectos de los movimientos sacádicos oculares en la estabilización de control postural / Efeitos dos movimentos sacádicos oculares na estabilização do controle postural / Effects of saccadic eye movements on postural control stabilization

Several structures of the central nervous system share involvement in both ocular and postural control, but the visual mechanisms in postural control are still unclear. There are discrepant evidences on whether saccades would improve or deteriorate stabilization of posture. The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of saccadic eye movements on postural control while standing in different basis of support. Twelve young adults stood upright in wide and narrow stances while performing fixation and saccades of low and high frequencies. Body sway was attenuated during saccades. Trunk anterior-posterior sway and trunk total displacement decreased during saccades compared to fixation; higher sway mean frequency in anterior-posterior direction during saccades was observed. Body sway was reduced in wide compared to narrow stance during high frequency saccades. These results indicate that eye movement improves postural stabilization and this effect is stronger in combination of wide stance-high frequency gaze condition.

Várias estruturas do sistema nervoso central compartilham envolvimento nos controles ocular e postural, mas os mecanismos visuais no controle postural ainda não estão claros. Existem evidências discrepantes sobre a possibilidade de movimentos sacádicos melhorarem ou deteriorarem a estabilização postural. O objetivo desse estudo foi determinar a influência de movimentos sacádicos dos olhos sobre o controle postural em diferentes bases de apoio. Doze adultos jovens ficaram em pé, mantendo a postura sobre base ampla e restrita enquanto realizavam fixações e movimentos sacádicos de baixa e alta frequência. Oscilação corporal foi atenuada durante movimentos sacádicos. A oscilação do tronco na direção ântero-posterior e o deslocamento total do tronco diminuíram durante movimentos sacádicos comparados à fixação; maior frequência média de oscilação na direção ântero-posterior durante movimentos sacádicos também foi observada. Oscilação corporal foi reduzida em postura com base ampla comparada à restrita durante movimentos sacádicos de alta frequência. Estes resultados indicam que o movimento do olho melhora a estabilização postural e este efeito é mais forte na condição que combina base ampla e alta frequência do olhar.

Varias estructuras del sistema nervioso central comparten de participación en los controles ocular y de postura. Existen pruebas dispares sobre lo movimiento sacádico mejorar o deteriorar la estabilización postural. El objetivo de este estudio fue determinar la influencia de los movimientos oculares sacádicos sobre el control postural en diferentes bases de apoyo. Doce jóvenes quedaram de pie manteniendo la postura de base amplia y restringido mientras hacian fijaciones y movimientos sacádicos de baja y alta frecuencia. Lal oscilación del cuerpo fue atenuada durante los movimientos sacádicos. La oscilación del tronco en dirección antero-posterior y el desplazamiento total del tronco han disminuido durante los movimientos sacádicos comparados con fijación; también se ha observado mayor frecuencia media de oscilación en la dirección anteroposterior durante los movimientos sacádicos. La oscilación del cuerpo se redujo por la postura de base amplia en comparación con la restringida durante los movimientos sacádicos de alta frecuencia. Estos resultados indican que lo movimiento de ojo mejora la estabilización postural y este efecto es más fuerte para la condición de base amplia y alta frecuencia de la mirada.

Efeitos da informação comportamental na dinâmica intrínseca do controle postural / Behavioral information effects on postural control intrinsic dynamics

Esse estudo teve como objetivo examinar possíveis alterações na dinâmica intrínseca de crianças e adultos decorrentes de informações externas na realização de uma tarefa de manutenção da postura ereta. Participaram do estudo dez crianças de 8 anos de idade e dez adultos jovens de ambos os gêneros. Eles permaneceram na posição ereta dentro de uma sala móvel que foi movimentada continuamente para frente e para trás. Os participantes recebiam informação sobre o movimento da sala e eram solicitados a não oscilar ou a oscilar junto com o movimento da mesma. Os resultados mostraram que a manipulação da informação visual induziu oscilação corporal correspondente (dinâmica intrínseca) em crianças e adultos. Informação sobre o movimento da sala e solicitação de uma ação (informação comportamental) alteraram o relacionamento entre informação visual e oscilação corporal. Crianças apresentaram mais dificuldades em alterar a dinâmica intrínseca do que adultos, indicando que elas são mais dependentes da dinâmica intrínseca do que adultos. Esses resultados trazem implicações importantes para a situação de ensino-aprendizagem, pois indica que aprendizagem envolvendo crianças deve ser estruturada propiciando condições mais favoráveis para alterações na dinâmica intrínseca para que os objetivos da mesma sejam alcançados.

The purpose of this study was to examine possible changes in the intrinsic dynamics of children and adults resulting from external information in upright stance task. Ten eight-year-old children and ten young adults, both genders, maintained upright position inside a moving room that was continuously moved frontward and backward. Participants were informed about the room movement and they were requested to sway or not sway with the moving room. The results showed that visual manipulation induces correspondent body sway (intrinsic dynamics) in children and adults. Information about the room movement and the request of an action (behavioral information) changed the relation between visual information and body sway. Although it can be changed, children showed more difficulty in changing the intrinsic dynamics than adults, showing that they are more dependent on intrinsic dynamics than adults. These findings bring important implications to learning, suggesting that children's learning opportunities must be structured properly in order to provide condition of intrinsic dynamics changes towards the goals of the task at hand.

Age-related changes in postural control sensory reweighting.

The aim of this study was to investigate the adaptive process in the coupling between visual information and body sway in children postural control. Twenty-seven children from 4-, 8- and 12-year-olds and ten adults stood upright inside of a moving room. In the first 2 min, the room was moved continuously at frequency of 0.2 Hz, velocity of 0.6 cm/s and amplitude of 0.5 cm. In the minute subsequent the room was moved with velocity of 3.5 and amplitude of 3.2 and in the last 2 min with velocity of 0.6 cm/s and amplitude of 0.5 cm. Gain, phase, SFSA and transient gain were used to examine the relationship between sensory information and body sway. The results showed that children and adults were capable to adapt to the changes of visual stimulus, downweighting the visual information influences when the room's amplitude/velocity increased. However, the young children did not show calibrated response to the 12-year-old children and adults level, being more influenced by the visual stimulus.

Efeito do toque suave e da informação visual no controle da posição em pé de adultos / Light touch and visual information effects on upright stance control in adults

Informação somatossensorial, fornecida através do toque suave reduz oscilação corporal. No entanto, não se sabe qual o efeito do toque suave na oscilação corporal, quando a informação visual é manipulada, por meio da sala móvel. Assim, o objetivo deste estudo foi verificar o efeito do toque suave sobre a oscilação corporal de adultos em diferentes condições visuais. Oito adultos jovens foram instruídos a permanecer em pé em uma sala móvel, em frente a uma barra de toque. Foram afixados emissores infravermelhos na cabeça, entre as escápulas e na região lombar dos participantes. Os participantes realizaram seis condições experimentais, sendo combinadas as situações: com e sem visão, com e sem toque na barra e; com e sem movimento da sala móvel. Cada tentativa teve a duração de 60 segundos e freqüência de coleta de 100 Hz, sendo analisadas as variáveis: amplitude média de oscilação e ganho. Os resultados apontaram que o toque suave reduziu a oscilação corporal em todas as situações visuais e diminuiu a influência do estímulo visual proveniente da oscilação da sala móvel. Desta forma, em uma situação na qual o estímulo visual é manipulado por meio de uma sala móvel, o toque suave diminui aoscilação corporal indicando que, nesta situação experimental, a informação somatossensorial sobre põe a informação proveniente do sistema visual.

Efeito da exposição visual no acoplamento entre informação visual e controle postural em bebês / Practice effects in the development of visual information and postural control coupling in infants

O objetivo deste estudo foi examinar os efeitos da exposição visual no acoplamento entre informação visual, propiciada pelo movimento de uma sala móvel, e oscilação postural em bebês na posição sentada. Dez bebês, com sete meses de idade e níveis de experiência no sentar independente variando entre 0,5 e 1,5 meses, permaneceram sentados sobre uma plataforma de força dentro de uma sala móvel que foi movimentada para frente e para trás por meio de um servomecanismo nas freqüências de 0,2 e 0,5 Hz. Estes bebês foram submetidos a este procedimento experimental em sete dias consecutivos, realizando 10 tentativas (cinco em cada freqüência), com duração de 60 segundos, em cada sessão de exposição visual. As coletas de dados foram realizadas na primeira, quarta e sétima sessões. Os resultados obtidos apontaram que os bebêsforam influenciados pelos movimentos da sala em ambas as freqüências e que a exposição visual pode alterar o acoplamento entre informação sensorial e ação motora em bebês. Com a exposição ao estímulo visual, proveniente da sala móvel, verificou-se uma diminuição no acoplamento entre informação visual e o deslocamento do centro de pressão para a freqüência de 0,5 Hz, mas não para a de 0,2 Hz. Uma possível explicação para o efeito da exposição visual no acoplamento entre informação visual e o deslocamento do centro de pressão pode residir no fato de que com a exposição ao estímulo visual os bebês foram capazes de utilizar as informações relevantes para aquela situação e diminuir a influência do estímulo gerado pela sala móvel.

Efeito de um programa geral de atividade física de intensidade moderada sobre os níveis de resistência de força em pessoas da terceira idade / Influence of a general and moderate intensity physical activity program upon strength resistence level in older people

Via de regra, assume-se que um aumento na força é conseguido exclusivamente com trabalho de musculaçäo com alta intensidade. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o efeito de 9 meses de um programa regular de atividade física generalizada de moderada intensidade sobre os níveis de resitência de força em idosos. A amostra consistiu de 26 sujeitos fisicamente ativos de ambos os sexos, participantes do projeto de extensäo "Atividade Física para Terceira Idade", com média de idade de 58,27 ñ 7,95 anos que se voluntariaram para a realizaçäo do estudo. Para avaliar a resistência de força destes indivíduos foi utilizado o teste de força muscular / endurance de membro superior (bíceps) da bateria de testes da AAHPERD (Osness et al., 1990) destinada especificamente à mensuraçäo da aptidäo funcional em idosos, totalizando três avaliaçöes durante o estudo (início, meio e fim). Os resultados obtidos foram: 24,08 ñ 5,97; 25,27 ñ 5,28 e 27,35 ñ 4,52 repetiçöes respectivamente. A análise de variância para medidas repetidas seguida do teste de Bonferroni, detectou diferença estatisticamente significativa entre a primeira e a terceira avaliaçäo. Conclui-se assim, que os idosos retêm o potencial para melhorar a resitência de força muscular e, em especial e de maior relevância, este estudo demostra que a referida capacidade física pode ser desenvolvida mesmo através de propramas de atividades físicas generalizadas e de intensidade moderada

Controle postural em crianças: oscilaçäo corporal e frequência de oscilaçäo / Postural control in children: body sway and its frequency

O objetivo deste estudo foi examinar a oscilaçäo corporal durante a manutençäo da posiçäo estática em pé em crianças com idade entre 2 e 6 anos e o papel da informaçäo visual na manutençäo desta posiçäo. Trinta e três crianças, divididas em cinco grupos etários (2, 3, 4, 5 e 6 anos) participaram deste estudo. Estas crianças mantiveram a posiçäo estática em pé durante 20 segundos em duas condiçöes experimentais: com e sem visäo. Um emissor infra-vermelho (OPTOTRAK 3020) foi afixado nas costas de cada participante, na posiçäo estimada do centro de massa. A partir deste emissor, a amplitude média de oscilaçäo e a frequência predominante de oscilaçäo do centro de massa foram calculadas para as direçöes médio-lateral e ântero-posterior. Análises de multivariância näo revelaram qualquer efeito para os fatores idade e condiçäo experimental (com e sem visäo) tanto para a amplitude média de oscilaçäo quanto para a frequência predominante de oscilaçäo nas direçöes médio-lateral e ântero-posterior, embora uma tendência de diferenciaçäo...