We aimed to evaluate the influence of different types of wheelchair seats on paraplegic individuals' postural control using a maximum anterior reaching test. Balance evaluations during 50, 75, and 90% of each individual's maximum reach in the forward direction using two different cushions on seat (one foam and one gel) and a no-cushion condition were carried out on 11 individuals with a spinal cord injury (SCI) and six individuals without SCI. Trunk anterior displacement and the time spent to perform the test were assessed. No differences were found for the three types of seats in terms of trunk anterior displacement and the time spent to perform the test when intragroup comparisons were made in both groups (P>0.05). The intergroup comparison showed that body displacement was less prominent and the time spent to perform the test was more prolonged for individuals with SCI (P<0.05), which suggests a postural control deficit. The seat type did not affect the ability of the postural control system to maintain balance during the forward-reaching task.

No abstract

acolher-me nesta casa em 1996 e por confiar a mim a tarefa de continuar o seu trabalho no Grupo de Oncologia Ortopédica.

A 45-year-old female patient presented with intense low back pain for 2 years, irradiating for both lower limbs and perineum with significant worsening in the orthostatic position. She referred weakness of lower limbs and bladder dysfunction with urinary retention. She developed renal insufficiency with increase of urea nitrogen (73mg/dl) and creatinine (2.5mg/dl). Patient had controlled high blood pressure, without other comorbidities. Physical exam Patient needed crutches to walk. She presented with hypoesthesia in the plantar region of left foot and degree IV force for plantar flexion of both feet. Anal sphincter reflex was reduced and she had recurrent urinary retention, with intermittent urinary catheterization. No signs of myelopathy or pyramidal release were found. Electroneuromyography: chronic axonal loss of low sacral roots. Computed tomography: Significant bone destruction of posterior elements of S1 and S2 (Figure 1).

The main causes of death in SCI subjects are connect with cardiovascular diseases, confirmed by intimal carotid layer stiffness, Metabolic Syndrome thru fat accumulation in the torso, upper body and caquexia and inflammation caused by physical inactivity (MATOS