Do whole body vibration exercises affect lower limbs neuromuscular activity in populations with a medical condition? A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: The use of surface electromyography (sEMG) to evaluate muscle activation when executing whole body vibration exercises (WBVE) in studies provide neuromuscular findings, in healthy and diseased populations. OBJECTIVES: Perform a systematic review of the effects of WBVE by sEMG of lower limbs in non-healthy populations. METHODS: The search using the defined keywords was performed in PubMed, PEDRo and EMBASE databases by three independent researchers. Applying the PRISMA statement several studies were selected according to eligibility criteria and organized for the review. Full papers were included if they described effects of WBVE for the treatment of illnesses, evaluated by sEMG of lower limbs independently on the year of the publication; in comparison or associated with other treatment and evaluation techniques. RESULTS: Seven publications were selected; two in spinal cord injury patients, one in Friedreich's ataxia patients, three in stroke patients and one study in breast cancer survivors. Reported effects of WBV in were muscle activation by sEMG and also on strength, blood flow and exercise resistance; even in paretic limbs. CONCLUSION: By the use of sEMG it was verified that WBVE elicits muscle activation in diseased population. These results may lead to the definition of exercise protocols to maintain or increase muscular activation. However, due to the heterogeneity of methods among studies, there is currently no consensus on the sEMG signal processing. These strategies might also induce effects on muscle strength, balance and flexibility in these and other illnesses.

RELEVANCE OF WHOLE BODY VIBRATION EXERCISE IN SPORT: A SHORT REVIEW WITH SOCCER, DIVER AND COMBAT SPORT.

BACKGROUND: Whole body vibration exercise (WBVE) has been used as a safe and accessible exercise and important reviews have been published about the use of this exercise to manage diseases and to improve physical conditions of athletes The aim of this paper is to highlight the relevance of WBVE to soccer players, divers and combat athletes. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This study was made through a systematic review of publications involving WBVE and the selected sports in two databases (Pubmed and PEDRo). RESULTS: It were identified 10 studies involving WBVE and sports (6 of soccer, 2 of diving and 2 of sport combat) with 156 subjects (80 soccer players, 32 divers and 44 combat athletes), with age from 17 to 44 years old. CONCLUSION: The use of WBVE has proven to be a safe and useful strategy to improve the physical conditions of players of different sports. These findings may have clinical relevance and should be considered as a strategy to be used to try improve the physical conditions of players.

EFFECTS OF WHOLE BODY VIBRATION INTERVENTION ON HANDGRIP STRENGTH OF BRAZILIAN HEALTHY SOLDIERS.

BACKGROUND: Whole body vibration (WBV) exercises have been investigated as an alternative and complementary method to traditional resistance programs for fitness improvements in healthy subjects. Active militaries must have a high fitness level and have to improve some physical abilities to accomplish some specific tasks in Army, as climb ropes, climb walls and pull up. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seven young and healthy soldiers from Brazilian Army were exposed to mechanical vibration in a push-up position, with different frequencies, as 25 (first session), 30 (second session), 35 (third session), 40 (fourth session) and 45 Hz (fifth session). The WBV intervention consisted of five WBV sessions over a consecutive two and a half-weeks period of time. A WBV session consisted of twenty bouts, each one with 10- second vibration, interspersed with 10 seconds of passive rest and 4 minutes pause after the first 10 bouts. Handgrip strength was measured, as proposed by American Society of Hand Therapists - ASHT, before and after the session using 25 Hz of frequency and 45 Hz of frequency (1st and 5th sessions). RESULTS: No significant results were found between groups. CONCLUSION: Intervention of WBV exercises with 25 and 45 Hz of frequency applied by hands of healthy and young soldiers had no significant results. Further investigations should focus on the efficacy of WBV in the improvement of handgrip strength of young and healthy people.

ANTI-VIRAL EFFECTS OF MEDICINAL PLANTS IN THE MANAGEMENT OF DENGUE: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW.

BACKGROUND: Dengue is considered as an important arboviral disease. Safe, low-cost, and effective drugs that possess inhibitory activity against dengue virus (DENV) are mostly needed to try to combat the dengue infection worldwide. Medicinal plants have been considered as an important alternative to manage several diseases, such as dengue. As authors have demonstrated the antiviral effect of medicinal plants against DENV, the aim of this study was to review systematically the published research concerning the use of medicinal plants in the management of dengue using the PubMed database. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Search and selection of publications were made using the PubMed database following the guidelines of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA statement). RESULTS: Six publications met the inclusion criteria and were included in the final selection after thorough analysis. CONCLUSION: It is suggested that medicinal plants' products could be used as potential anti-DENV agents.

Immediate extubation in cardiac surgery: evaluation using electroencephalogram

INTRODUÇAO: As técnicas empregadas em cirurgia cardíaca visando a extubaçäo imediata (EI) dependem de analgesia adequada e titulaçäo de drogas anestésicas. OBJETIVO: A finalidade deste estudo é analisar a EI, utilizando eletroencefalograma (índice bispectral - BIS) para adequar o melhor momento de extubaçäo. MÉTODO: Foram analisados 12 pacientes, ASA III, 7 crianças (Grupo I) 58,4 por cento, com idades entre 0 e 7 anos, submetidas a correçäo cirúrgica de cardiopatias congênitas e 5 adultos (Grupo II), com idades entre 30 e 75 anos, submetidos a revascularizaçäo do miocárdio. No Grupo I realizou-se raquianestesia entre L5 e S1 com injeçäo de marcaína pesada (0,5 mg/kg) e morfina (5æg/kg). No Grupo II realizou-se bloqueio epidural entre T3 e T4, com introduçäo de cateter e injeçäo de 60mg de ropivacaína e 2mg de morfina. Na induçäo da anestesia, empregamos: Fentanil 4 mg/kg, propofol até BIS igual a 30 e relaxante muscular. A anestesia geral foi mantida com sevoflurano para BIS entre 40 e 60. Foi programada extubaçäo quando o BIS atingisse 90. RESULTADOS: Todos os pacientes foram extubados até 1 hora após o término da operaçäo, sendo 91,6 por cento na sala de operações, com funçäo cognitiva preservada, sem história de memória explícita, dor (adultos e crianças maiores) ou expressäo facial de dor (crianças menores). Cinqüenta e sete por cento (4) dos pacientes do Grupo I e 20 por cento (1) Grupo II apresentaram prurido e 28 por cento (2) Grupo I apresentaram vômitos. CONCLUSÕES: A técnica empregada mostrou-se segura e eficaz, desde que observados critérios rígidos para sua execuçäo.