Revista Iberoamericana de Fisioterapia y Kinesiología最新文献

Objective

To determine the main postural alterations in the students from the Stomatology Clinical of the Benemerita Autonomous University of Puebla (BUAP), in order to prevent future injuries associated with the clinical practice.

Materials and methods

A descriptive, observational, cross-sectional study based on the assessment of 100 students from the BUAP with at least one year of clinical practice. The students were examined in their underwear and barefoot, using a grid. Nine items were analyzed using the lateral view, 7 with the posterior view and 5 with the anterior view. The posture of the student was then classified comprehensively as: posture without deviation, mild deviation, moderate deviation and severe deviation. Descriptive statistics was calculated for all variables.

Results

We included 72 (72%) females and 28 (28%) males, with an average of 21.4±1.8 years of age, 61.7±12.7 kg, 1.63±09 m of height and BMI of 22.5±3.3. In the lateral view, 39.5% had moderate deviation, in the posterior view 81.4% mild deviation, and in anterior view, 48.1% mild deviation. The total alignment revealed that 73.6% had mild deviation and 26.4% moderate deviation.

Conclusion

The entire sample had some postural alterations. Two out of every ten students had moderate postural deviation and the remaining eight showed mild postural alterations.

The present work has been designed to verify the loss of force in the erector muscle of the spine after a marathon, evaluating the importance of training for it. The subject evaluated is an experienced popular runner who underwent a lumbar isometric evaluation protocol using the MedX Lumbar Extension technology before and after the Marathon rare of Valencia. Loss of average resultant force was 30.86%. This result should be verified in future studies.

Alzheimer's dementia (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder that causes motor and cognitive decline. The aim of this study was to analyze the influence of a specific physical activity program on the cognitive, depressive symptoms and functional capacity of patients with diagnosis of probable AD. The subject, a 79-year old woman, participated in this program for three months, with 50 min sessions three times a week. The instruments used were the Cambridge Cognitive Examination; the Geriatric Depression Scale; and the Battery of the American Alliance for Health Physical Education, Recreation and Dance. The results in relationship with the depressive symptoms and functional capacity were significantly positive. There were no changes in regards to the patient's cognitive functions. In conclusion, this physical activity program seems to be an important part of the treatment for patients with AD, as it improves the functional capacity and also stimulates cognitive tasks.

Objective

To review the scientific evidence published on the McKenzie method for back pain.

Research strategy

A search was made in the Medline database, and on the McKenzie Institute website, and the evidence published by May and Donelson (2008) was analyzed.

Studies and data selection

The search was limited to the last five years. A reverse search and a manual filtering (as a function of the level of evidence) focused on extracting results closely related to the subject under research were performed.

Results summary

Evidence on the different aspects of the McKenzie method has been found: inter-examiner reliability as exploratory method, specificity of the centralization phenomenon, and effectiveness compared to other treatments.

Conclusions

The McKenzie method has similar effectiveness as that of stabilization exercises with a favorable tendency in comparison with strengthen-building exercises. The centralization phenomenon has a positive prognostic value. The method present high reliability as an exploratory method.

Objective

To identify the relationship between physical variables and the increase of the activity of the lumbar muscles during the performance of squat exercises.

Materials and methods

Twenty-four normal subjects were evaluated. Anthropometric heights, lengths, breadths and girths were measured and an analysis of body proportionality of these variables was made with the Z-phantom model. Measurements were also obtained of back kinematics, muscle flexibility and ankle motion. The squat exercises were performed with and without weight load conditions. Electrical activity of lumbar extensors muscles was measured with superficial electromyography. A statistical analysis was performed by bivariate and multiple linear regression, using the change in the electromyographic activity of the spinal muscles between the no load condition and the loaded weight as the dependent variable.

Results

During squat exercise, no single predictor adequately explained the change of electromyographic activity with load increment. The multiple regression analysis of the change in electromyographic activity of the upper lumbar extensor muscles included femur length, umbilicus girth and z-sitting height (R2=0.57). Z thorax and Z-umbilicus girth in the analysis of the lower back extensors (R2=0.3).

Conclusion

Based on the results of this research, we could not establish a prediction equation of strong electromyographic activity of the paravertebral muscles, although the Z set of variables, femur length and umbilicus perimeter should be considered in future research.

Objectives

To become acquainted with the principal homecare physiotherapy services that are offered within the Public Health System for dependent elderly patients in the Iberian Peninsula (Spain and Portugal).

Methods

A thorough and up-dated review of the literature regarding previous studies, research stays in Hospitals, Primary Health Care Centers and Public Health institutions in both countries financed by the Public Health Administration; in-depth interviews with specific informants.

Results

The situation of homecare physiotherapy in Spain from the year 1987 to the August 2008 is described. In Portugal, these services are established within the services regulated by Primary Health Care (Decree-Law no. 28/2008, of February 22).

Conclusions

There are few studies in the Iberian Peninsula that offer scientific evidence based information on the effectiveness of these physiotherapy services, user satisfaction and the effect they have in relation to other treatments. However, these studies are needed in order to evaluate the current health legislations, appropriate distribution of resources, to review the clinical programs, clinical action methodologies, etc.