Effects of functional and traditional training in body composition and muscle strength components in older women: A randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: While traditional resistance exercises have been widely used to promote muscle strength and hypertrophy in the elderly, few studies have reported the use of a functional approach in which common patterns for daily activities are considered the primary stimulus. OBJECTIVE: Investigate whether functional training has similar effects the traditional on body composition and muscle strength components in physically active older women. METHODS: Forty-seven older women completed a randomized and crossover clinical trial, distributed in three groups: Functional or Traditional Training (FUNCT/TRAD: n = 32; 65.28 ±â€¯4.96 years) and Stretching Group (STRETCH: n = 15; 64.40 ±â€¯3.68 years). Maximal dynamic strength was verified with the 1 repetition maximum (RM) test in the leg press and rowing machines. Muscular power was analyzed using 50% of the maximum load, speed was determined using a linear encoder, and isometric strength was analyzed with hand and lumbar dynamometers. ANOVA for repeated measures was applied for comparisons. RESULTS: The FUNCT showed a significant decrease in fat percentage (p = 0.015, 3.51%) and the TRAD a significant increase in lean mass (p = 0.008, 2.92%). Both FUNCT and TRAD generated significant increases in all components of muscle strength compared to baseline whereas STRETCH showed declines in these variables. No statistically significant differences were observed between the experimental groups in body composition. CONCLUSION: Functional and traditional training are equally efficient in improving strength components in physically active older women and, therefore, they may be complementary to combat some of the deleterious effects of senescence. This trial was registered at Brazilian Registry of Clinical Trials (RBR-9Y8KJQ).

Development of an experimental model of schistosomal myeloradiculopathy.

Schistosomal myeloradiculopathy (SMR) is a severe form of presentation of schistosomiasis in which Schistosoma spp. affect the spinal cord. The aims of the present study were to develop an animal model of SMR caused by S. mansoni, to characterize both sensory and motor abnormalities in the infected animals, and to investigate the relationship of the sensory, motor and histological findings with the progression of the infection over time. Mechanical sensitivity and behavioral tests were performed followed by euthanasia in male Wistar rats divided into six groups of five animals each, on days 5, 10, 20 and 30 after infection of S. mansoni eggs. The controls were subjected to the same procedure but were administered phosphate-buffered saline (PBS). The spinal cord was removed and subjected to histological analysis. S. mansoni eggs were found in the spinal cord of 25% of the infected animals, which belonged to the groups that exhibited more significant reduction of the superficial mechanical sensitivity, thermal sensitivity and muscle strength. This model proved to be satisfactory to assess functional changes in Wistar rats and might be used in studies investigating the pathogenesis of SMR. To our knowledge, this is the first experimental model of SMR.

Radiographic measurement of the cervical spine in patients with temporomandibular dysfunction.

AIM: To compare the craniocervical angles and distances between temporomandibular dysfunction (TMD) and free TMD subjects. CASUISTIC AND METHODS: The sample consisted of young adults, of both genders, with age ranging between 18 and 30 years. TMD diagnosis was based on the clinical criteria of the Research Diagnostic Criteria for TMD (RDC/TMD), associated with self-reported symptoms of TMD. For radiological analysis we measured three angles and two distances of craniocervical region. RESULTS: Of the 56 subjects, only 23 completed all stages of research, which were divided into two groups: (1) free TMD group - composed of 11 individuals; (2) TMD group - constituted of 12 subjects. The most common clinical diagnosis of TMD was arthralgia (75.0%) followed by myofascial pain without limited mouth opening (58.4%). Among the self-reported symptoms of TMD, the most frequents were facial (83.4%) and neck (66.6%) pain. Of radiological measurement, only plane atlas angle (APA) (p=0.026) and anterior translation distance (Tz C(2)-C(7)) (p=0.045) showed statistical difference between groups TMD (APA=16.7+/-1.63; Tz C(2)-C(7)=28.7+/-2.58) and free TMD (APA=21.64+/-1.24; Tz C(2)-C(7)=19.82+/-3.29). CONCLUSION: It could be verified that the symptomatic TMD patients presented a flexion of the first cervical vertebra associated with an anteriorization of the cervical spine (hyperlordosis).