Does the practice of sports or recreational activities improve the balance and gait of children and adolescents with sensorineural hearing loss? A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Balance and gait disorders have been observed in children and adolescents with sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL), justified by vestibular dysfunctions that these children may present, due to the injury to the inner ear. Therefore, some investigations have suggested that the practice of sports or recreational activities can improve the balance and gait of this population. OBJECTIVE: Assess the evidence quality from randomized or quasi-randomized controlled trials that used sports or recreational activities as an intervention to improve the balance and /or gait of children and/or adolescents with SNHL. METHODS: Systematic review that surveyed articles in nine databases, published up to January 10, 2019, in any language, using the following inclusion criteria: (1) Randomized or quasi-randomized controlled trials. (2) Participants from both groups with the clinical diagnosis of SNHL, aged 6-19 years old, without physical problems, cognitive or neurological deficits, except the vestibular dysfunction. (3) Using the practice of sports or recreational activities as an intervention, to improve the balance and/or gait outcomes. RESULTS: 4732 articles were identified in the searches, after the removal of the duplicates articles and the reading of the titles and their abstracts, remained 16 articles for reading in full, being 5 trials eligible for this systematic review. Of the five eligible trials, three used sports activities and two recreational activities as intervention and presented very low-quality evidence for balance and gait outcomes. SIGNIFICANCE: Sports and recreational practices seem to represent promising modalities to improve the balance and gait of children and adolescents with SNHL. However, due to the methodological limitations of the trials and the low quality of the current evidence on the topic, the results of the trials should be interpreted with caution. Due to the low quality of evidence observed, we suggest that new trials be proposed on this topic, with greater methodological rigor, to provide high-quality evidence on the effectiveness of sports and recreational practices to improve the balance and gait of children and adolescents with SNHL.

Functionality, school participation and quality of life of schoolchildren with cerebral palsy / Funcionalidade, participação escolar e qualidade de vida de escolares com paralisia cerebral

Abstract Introduction: The quality of life (QoL) of schoolchildren with cerebral palsy (CP) should be evaluated considering the functional variability of the child with CP with an extended view on functionality in the school context and the determinants of QoL. Objective: to evaluate the school participation and the QoL of schoolchildren with CP in Recife's municipal public network, as well as to analyze the influence of GMFCS levels and motor performance on these variables in the study population. Method: This is an exploratory observational study whose evaluation model was structured based on the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (CIF). Children with CP were classified in the Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) and evaluated according to Gross Motor Function Measure-88 (GMFM-88). The School Function Assessment (SFA) and the Quality of Life Questionnaire for Cerebral Palsy (CPQOL-Caregiver) were answered by teachers and mothers, respectively. Results: In the study population, the higher the GMFCS level, the lower the participation and the lower the independence in school activities, aspects that add to the QoL construct, mainly with less functionality, less emotional well-being and self-esteem, and lower family health. Conclusion: GMFCS levels and motor performance of schoolchildren with CP can affect school participation and QoL, and it is important to consider each child's individual and contextual factors. These results can help the development of functional, care, inclusion and pedagogical strategies for students with CP.

Resumo Introdução: A qualidade de vida (QV) do escolar com paralisia cerebral (PC) deve ser avaliada considerando a variabilidade funcional da criança com PC com olhar ampliado sobre a funcionalidade no contexto escolar e os determinantes da QV. Objetivo: avaliar a participação escolar e a QV de escolares com PC da rede pública municipal do Recife, bem como analisar a influência dos níveis do GMFCS e do desempenho motor sobre essas variáveis na população estudada. Método: Trata-se de um estudo observacional exploratório cujo modelo de avaliação foi estruturado com base na Classificação Internacional de Funcionalidade, Incapacidade e Saúde (CIF). As crianças com PC foram classificadas no Sistema de Classificação da Função Motora Grossa (GMFCS) e avaliadas segundo o Gross Motor Function Measure-88 (GMFM-88). O School Function Assessment (SFA) e o Questionário de Qualidade de Vida da Paralisia Cerebral (CPQOL-Cuidador) foram respondidos por professores e mães, respectivamente. Resultados: Na população estudada, quanto maior o nível do GMFCS, menor a participação e menor a independência nas atividades escolares, aspectos que se somam ao constructo de QV, principalmente, com a menor funcionalidade, o menor bem-estar emocional e autoestima e a menor saúde familiar. Conclusão: Os níveis de GMFCS e o desempenho motor de escolares com PC podem repercutir na participação escolar e na QV, sendo importante considerar fatores individuais e contextuais de cada criança. Esses resultados podem auxiliar o desenvolvimento de estratégias funcionais, assistenciais, inclusivas e pedagógicas aos escolares com PC.

Efeito em curto prazo de dois protocolos de hidrocinesioterapia em crianças com síndrome congênita associada à infecção do vírus Zika / Short-term effect of two hydrokinesiotherapy protocols of children with Zika congenital syndrome

Objective: To evaluate the short-term effect of two hydrokinesiotherapy protocols on muscle tone and stress levels in children with SCZ. Method: A crossover, randomized, blinded study with children with microcephaly/SCZ between 3-36 months of age. Was evaluated by the Modified Tardieu Scale(EMT), analyzing the degree of muscle tone and the range of articular movement(ROM); the level of stress, through a visual analogue scale of faces ranging from a state without stress(1) to intense stress(4). Two hydrocinesotherapy protocols(PI and PII) were applied in a restricted aquatic environment, for 15 minutes with water temperature at 37ºC. Results: Twelve children participated in the study (mean age in months: 23.9+3.97), 58.7% female. After PI, we observed a reduction in the degree of tone of the extensor muscles of the elbow(p = 0.03) and knee(p = 0.04); in PII, there were no significant changes in the degree of tone. There were no significant changes in the level of stress in PI and PII, however 83.3% were without stress or mild stress before the interventions. Conclusions: Protocol I reduced the degree of muscle tone in the short term when compared to PII. It is emphasized that the protocols applied are of low cost, and can be a viable non-pharmacological technique option in the therapeutic follow-up of these children. It should be noted that the physiotherapist's experience should guide the choice of the appropriate protocol for the therapeutic objective of each child and the advantage of being a technique easily replicable in a therapeutic and home environment.

Objective: To evaluate the short-term effect of two hydrokinesiotherapy protocols on muscle tone and stress levels in children with SCZ. Method: A crossover, randomized, blinded study with children with microcephaly/SCZ between 3-36 months of age. Was evaluated by the Modified Tardieu Scale(EMT), analyzing the degree of muscle tone and the range of articular movement(ROM); the level of stress, through a visual analogue scale of faces ranging from a state without stress(1) to intense stress(4). Two hydrocinesotherapy protocols(PI and PII) were applied in a restricted aquatic environment, for 15 minutes with water temperature at 37ºC. Results: Twelve children participated in the study (mean age in months: 23.9+3.97), 58.7% female. After PI, we observed a reduction in the degree of tone of the extensor muscles of the elbow(p = 0.03) and knee(p = 0.04); in PII, there were no significant changes in the degree of tone. There were no significant changes in the level of stress in PI and PII, however 83.3% were without stress or mild stress before the interventions. Conclusions: Protocol I reduced the degree of muscle tone in the short term when compared to PII. It is emphasized that the protocols applied are of low cost, and can be a viable non-pharmacological technique option in the therapeutic follow-up of these children. It should be noted that the physiotherapist's experience should guide the choice of the appropriate protocol for the therapeutic objective of each child and the advantage of being a technique easily replicable in a therapeutic and home environment.