Usual and dual-task gait adaptations under visual stimulation in older adults at different ages.

BACKGROUND: During the walk along the streets, older adults are exposed to various visual stimuli that can affect their gait in a harmful or beneficial way. AIMS: To evaluate gait strategies during different situations with and without visual stimulation in older adults to identify the influence of the visual stimulus on these gait parameters. METHODS: A total of 200 older adults were divided into 4 groups according to age range between 60 and 102 years. Gait was evaluated in the following situations: (1) habitual gait (HG); (2) gait with the visual stimulation (GVS) provided by a pedestrian traffic light, and (3) GVS associated with a cognitive task (GVS-C). The GAITRite Platinum equipment was used to assess gait variables. RESULTS: Comparison of GVS and HG revealed that the visual stimulus influences the gait parameters and promotes a gait speed increase. However, to increase their gait speed, older adults aged 60-89 years used strategies of increased step length and cadence, whereas subjects older than 90 years used only strategies of increased cadence. In addition, comparison of GVS and GVS-C revealed a decrease in gait speed in all age ranges when the cognitive task was added, although this reduction was more pronounced in subjects older than 70 years. CONCLUSION: Visual stimulus influences the gait parameters in older adults and the strategy used is different depending on their age, a fact that shows that traffic light may be an interesting strategy to improve the gait performance during physical therapy.

Kinematic gait parameters for older adults with Parkinson's disease during street crossing simulation.

Safe street crossing is important for older adults' social inclusion. We assessed gait kinematic adaptation under different simulated street crossing conditions in older adults with Parkinson's disease (PD) and made comparisons with older adults without PD to understand how PD interferes in outdoor task performance, helping in the development of strategies to reduce road traffic accident risk. In 20 older adults without PD (control group - CG) and 20 with PD (GPD), we assessed usual gait (C1), gait during street crossing simulation (C2), and gait during reduced-time street crossing simulation (C3). Velocity, step length, and step, swing, stance, and double support time were analyzed. Spatiotemporal differences in gait between groups and conditions were analyzed. The GPD walked 16% slower in C1 and 12% slower in C2 and C3 than the CG. GPD also took 11% shorter steps in C1 and 9.5% shorter steps in C2. The double support time was 8.5% greater in C1. In intragroup comparisons, there were significant differences in all gait conditions. The CG showed increased velocity (C2 15% > C1; C3 13% > C2; C3 26% > C1), step length (C2 8% > C1; C3 5% > C2; C3 13% > C1), and swing time (C2 2% > C1; C3 3.7% > C2; C3 6% > C1), and decreased step time (C2 7.5% < C1; C3 8% < C2; C3 15% < C1), stance time (C2 1.3% < C1; C3 2.5% < C2; C3 3.6% < C1), and double support time (C2 6.3% < C1; C3 10.5% < C2; C3 16% < C1). GPD showed increased velocity (C2 19% > C1; C3 13.5% > C2; C3 29.7% > C1), step length, (C2 6% > C1; C3 7% > C2; C3 16% > C1), and swing time (C2 3% > C1; C3 3% > C2; C3 5.5% > C1) and decreased step time (C2 10.3% < C1; C3 7.7% < C2; C3 17% < C1), stance time (C2 1.7% < C1; C3 1.7% < C2; C3 3.4% < C1), and double support time (C2 7% < C1; C3 9.5% < C2; C3 16% < C1). Kinematic changes observed in the intergroup comparison show that participants with PD had lower velocity in all conditions. However, per the intragroup results, both participants with and without PD managed to significantly modify gait variables to attempt to cross the street in the given time. It is necessary to assess whether this increases fall risk by exposing them to road traffic accidents.

Everyday tasks impair spatiotemporal variables of gait in older adults with Parkinson's disease.

INTRODUCTION: Although it is known that individuals with Parkinson's disease (PD) have difficulties performing dual-task activities, most of the studies have verified the effect of dual tasks on gait using tasks that are uncommon to perform while walking. However, the realization of tasks involving gait that really represents the daily activities carried out by the participants, allow us to detect real fall risk situations of individuals with PD during their gait. OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to verify the influence of daily-life dual-tasks on gait spatiotemporal variables of the older adults with PD. METHODS: 20 older adults without PD and 20 older adults with PD participated in the study. Gait kinematic was analyzed under three different conditions: walking without dual task, walking carrying bags with weight, and walking talking on the cell phone. RESULTS: Older adults with PD presented lower speed (p = .001), cadence (p = .039), and shorter step length (p = .028) than older adults without PD during walking without dual tasks. When walking while carrying bags with weight, older adults with PD had a lower speed (p < .001), cadence (p = .015), shorter step length (p = .008), and greater double support time (p = .021) compared with older adults without PD. During walking while talking on the cell phone, older adults with PD walked with lower speed (p < .001), cadence (p = .013), shorter step length (p = .001) and swing time (p = .013), and increased double support time (p = .008) and support time (p = .014) in relation to older adults without PD. CONCLUSION: Daily-life dual tasks impair the spatiotemporal variables of gait in the older adults with PD, which was most evident during walking talking on the cell phone.

Fisioterapia em grupo melhora o equilíbrio e a funcionalidade de indivíduos com hemiparesia / Physiotherapy in group improves balance and functionality of individuals with hemiparesis

Introdução: O treinamento em grupo parece ser uma opção eficaz na melhora de alterações de indivíduos acometidos pelo Acidente Vascular Encefálico. Objetivo: Avaliar a influência do tratamento fisioterapêutico em grupo na funcionalidade e no equilíbrio de sujeitos com hemiparesia. Métodos: 12 sujeitos com hemiparesia, de ambos os sexos, com média de idade de 59.85 (±7.24) anos foram avaliados quanto à funcionalidade e o equilíbrio utilizando o Índice de Barthel modificado e a Escala de Equilíbrio de Berg respectivamente, antes e após as sessões de tratamento. O tratamento foi realizado durante 90 dias, totalizando 36 sessões, três vezes por semana com duração de 60 minutos. O protocolo envolvia exercícios de fortalecimento, equilíbrio, coordenação motora fina e grosseira, e, alongamentos musculares. Resultados: Houve melhora significativa tanto da funcionalidade (p=0.019), quanto do equilíbrio (p=0.018) dos sujeitos. Conclusão: O tratamento em grupo foi capaz de melhorar a funcionalidade e o equilíbrio de indivíduos com hemiparesia.

Introduction: The group training seems to be an effective option in changes improvement of individuals affected by stroke. Objective: Evaluate the influence of physiotherapy in group on functionality and balance of subjects with hemiparesis. Methods: 12 subjects with hemiparesis, of both genders, with mean age of 59.85 (±7.24) years were evaluated for functionality and balance using the modified Barthel Index and the Berg Balance Scale respectively, before and after the treatment sessions. The treatment was carried out for 90 days, totaling 36 sessions, three times a week lasting 60 minutes. The protocol involved strengthening, balance, fine and gross motor coordination exercises, and muscle stretching. Results: There was a significant improvement in both the functionality (p = 0.019) and balance (p = 0.018) of subjects. Conclusion: The group treatment was able to improve the functionality and balance of individuals with hemiparesis.

Influência do fortalecimento muscular no equilíbrio e qualidade de vida em indivíduos com doença de Parkinson / Influence of muscle strengthening in the balance and quality of life in individuals with Parkinson's disease / Influencia del fortalecimiento muscular en el equilibrio y calidad de vida en individuos con enfermedad de Parkinson

Esse estudo teve como objetivo avaliar o ­efeito do fortalecimento muscular no equilíbrio, mobilidade e na qualidade de vida (QV) de indivíduos com doença de Parkinson (DP), e verificar a correlação entre fortalecimento muscular e qualidade de vida. Participaram do estudo nove sujeitos, de ambos os sexos, com diagnóstico médico de DP. Eles, inicialmente, passaram por ­avaliação do equilíbrio e da mobilidade funcional por meio da Escala de Equilíbrio de Berg (EEB) e teste Timed Up and Go (TUG) e da QV pelo questionário Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire (PDQ-39). Os sujeitos realizaram ainda o teste de determinação de carga máxima (1 RM) para os grupos musculares treinados. Depois de verificadas a normalidade e homogeneidade dos dados, foram realizados o teste t de Student e o teste de correlação de Spearman. Foi considerado nível de significância de p<0,05. Foi verificada melhora no equilíbrio (p=0,008) e na QV (p=0,013), e correlação negativa entre equilíbrio e QV (avaliação r=-0,65 e p=0,05; e na reavaliação r=-0,82 e p=0,005). O ­fortalecimento muscular foi eficaz na melhora no equilíbrio e na qualidade de vida de indivíduos com doença de Parkinson...

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of muscle strengthening in the balance, mobility and quality of life (QoL) in individuals with Parkinson's disease (PD), and to check the correlation between muscle strengthening and QoL. Nine subjects belonging to both sexes, diagnosed with PD, participated in this study. Initially, they went through an evaluation of their balance and functional mobility through the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), the ­Timed Up and Go (TUG) test, and a QoL test through the Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire (PDQ-39). The subjects also performed a test for determining the maximum load (one-repetition maximum) for the muscle groups trained. After the normality and homogeneity of the data were verified, the Student's t-test and Spearman correlation test were carried out. A significance level of p<0.05 was considered. We verified an improvement in balance (p=0.008) and QoL (p=0.013), and a negative correlation between balance and QoL (evaluation: r=-0.65 and p=0.05, revaluation: r=-0.82 and p=0.005). It was concluded that muscle strengthening was efficient in the improvement of balance and QoL in individuals with PD...

Este estudio tiene como objetivo evaluar el efecto del fortalecimiento muscular en el equilibrio, movilidad y en la calidad de vida (CV) de individuos con Enfermedad de Parkinson (EP), y verificar la correlación entre el fortalecimiento muscular y calidad de vida. Participaron del estudio nueve sujetos, de ambos sexos, con diagnóstico médico de EP. Inicialmente los sujetos pasaron por una evaluación del equilibrio y la movilidad funcional por medio de la Escala de Equilibrio de Berg (EEB) y el test Timed "Up and Go" (TUG), y de la CV por el cuestionario Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire (PDQ-39). Los sujetos realizaron también el test de determinación de carga máxima (1 RM) para los grupos musculares entrenados. Después de verificar la normalidad y homogeneidad de los datos fue realizado el Test t de student y el test de correlación de Spearman. Fue considerado nivel de significancia de p<0,05. Fue verificada una mejora en el Equilibrio (p=0,008) y en la CV (p=0,013), y correlación negativa entre el equilibrio y CV (evaluación r= -0,65 y p=0,05; y en la reevaluación r=-0,82 p=0,005). El fortalecimiento muscular fue eficaz en la mejora del equilibrio y en la calidad de vida de individuos con enfermedad de Parkinson...