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[Purpose] Tilt table use is associated, most often, with the assessment of syncope. However, it also has applications for patients with neurologic and orthopedic problems. These applications do not appear to be widely applied. The purpose of this review, therefore, was to summarize the research literature addressing the use of tilt tables for treating specific musculoskeletal and neurologic impairments in adults. [Methods] Relevant literature was identified by searches of the PubMed, CINAHL, and Scopus databases and hand searches (December 2018 and October 2020). The methodological quality of the identified research articles was assessed using the PEDro scale. [Results] Of 482 unique articles identified, 20 matched the eligibility criteria of the review and were included. The studies varied widely in the populations studied, procedures used, and responses reported. The studies provide limited support for tilt table standing as an intervention. [Conclusion] However, evidence that some patients with neurologic conditions may respond positively to tilt-table standing is available. Among such individuals are those with decreased ankle range of motion, positive neurologic signs in the lower limbs, and decreased levels of consciousness.
RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Studies suggest that moderate drinking may benefit cognition and the effect may favor women. This study investigated effects of moderate drinking on visuospatial functioning in postmenopausal women. Visuospatial processes are sensitive to alcohol abuse and are thought to be sensitive to hormonal fluctuations. Three questions were posed in order to: explore visuospatial processes in moderate-drinking and abstaining postmenopausal women, assess visuospatial differences in women using no estrogen replacement therapy (No-ERT), ERT alone (ERT-only), and ERT with progestin (ERT+Pro), and identify alcohol/ERT interactions associated with visuospatial performance. METHODS: Two hundred fourteen postmenopausal women participated (75 No-ERT; 63 ERT-only; 76 ERT+Pro. All were moderate drinkers or teetotalers and all received the Block Design test from the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Revised. A raw score was calculated and progress at 30-sec intervals was assessed. RESULTS: ANOVA revealed an alcohol main effect [F(3,202) = 4.74; p < 0.004] on 60- to 120-sec change scores. Teetotalers had significantly smaller change scores (less improvement) compared with all levels of drinkers. ANOVA on design 9 (the most difficult trial) revealed an ERT main effect [F(3,202) = 4.37; p < 0.02]. ERT nonusers scored significantly lower than ERT-only and ERT+Pro groups. A design 9 trend toward an alcohol x ERT interaction was noted [F(6,202) = 1.93; p < 0.08], and a design 9 time x alcohol interaction was revealed [F(6,404) = 2.65; p < 0.02]. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that moderate drinking may be positively associated with visuospatial processes in postmenopausal women. They also suggest that ERT, alone and with progestin, is positively associated with visuospatial processes, but only when the task is difficult. These findings support Kaplan's assertion that subtle performance deficits may not be detectible with traditional endpoint measures. A provocative alcohol x ERT trend suggests that alcohol consumption should be considered in studies of ERT effects on cognitive ability.