Low-level laser therapy (904 nm) can reduce inflammatory cell migration in mice with LPS-induced peritonitis in a dose-dependent manner.

Twenty-four ICF categories were coded and qualified with the use of the SS-QOL, enabling the participation component of the ICF biopsychosocial model to be easily evaluated in clinical practice. Overall, the sample in the present study demonstrated a moderate decline in participation following a stroke and only the "social roles" domain was severely affected. The FIM was the main predictor of participation and the depression was a moderate predictor. Therefore, health professionals involved in the rehabilitation of these patients should focus on the promotion of functional independence and improvements in emotional health to optimize social participation following a stroke. Implications for Rehabilitation The Brazilian stroke individuals analyzed exhibited a moderate level of participation. Functional independence was the main predictor of participation and the occurrence of depressive symptoms was a moderate predictor. Age, sex and affected side of the body were not predictors of participation. Our findings support that twenty-four International classification of functioning, disability and health categories were coded and qualified with the use of the stroke specific quality of life. Rehabilitation of social functioning post stroke patients should be focused on the promotion of functional independence and improvement in emotional health. This study offers a participation assessment model that can facilitate the incorporation of the ICF in the clinical practice.

This study aimed to identify the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health categories addressed by the assessment tools commonly used in post-stroke rehabilitation and characterize patients based on its evaluation model. [Subjects and Methods] An exploratory, descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted involving 35 individuals with chronic post-stroke hemiparesis. Handgrip strength was assessed to evaluate body functions and structures. The 10-meter gait speed test and Timed Up and Go test were administered to evaluate activity. The Stroke Specific Quality of Life scale was used to evaluate participation. Moreover, a systematic review of the literature was performed to identify studies that have associated these assessment tools with the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health categories. [Results] The tools employed in this study for evaluating function addressed 63 International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health categories: 24 related to body functions and structures; 36 related to activity and participation; and 3 related to environmental factors. [Conclusion] The assessment tools employed in this study addressed 63 International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health categories and allowed a more complete evaluation of stroke survivors with hemiparesis. Use of this classification can therefore be more easily incorporated into clinical practice.

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[Purpose] The aim of the present study was to evaluate the immediate effects of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) and functional electrical stimulation (FES) on activity of the tibialis anterior muscle (TA) and static balance of individuals with hemiparesis stemming from stroke. [Subjects and Methods] A randomized, double-blind, crossover, clinical trial conducted with 30 individuals with chronic post-stroke hemiparesis. Median frequency of electrical activity of the TA were determined using electromyography in five contractions concentrics and Static balance (body sway velocity and frequency), both before and immediately after the intervention. The participants were submitted to four 20-minute intervention protocols with 48-hour interval: anodal tDCS + sham FES; sham tDCS + active FES; anodal tDCS + active FES and sham tDCS + sham FES. Anodal tDCS was administered over C3 or C4, the cathode was positioned in the supraorbital region on the contralateral side and FES was administered to the affected TA. [Results] No significant differences among the protocols were found regarding electrical activity of the TA and static balance. [Conclusion] The results demonstrate that tDCS alone or in combination with FES had no immediate effect on electrical activity of the TA and static balance of the 30 individuals analyzed.

| Background: According to the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF), the participation component is considered to be the most complex component characterized in existing instruments that assess quality of life related to health (HRQoL). Questionnaires such as the Nottingham Health Profile (NHP) and the Stroke-Specific Quality of Life (SS-QOL) are currently used to evaluate the participation of individuals in life activities after stroke. However, because participation and HRQoL are different constructs, it is unclear whether these instruments are best suited to this evaluation. Objective: To investigate whether the NHP and SS-QOL are suitable instruments for assessing the participation component of ICF. Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted in which a sample of 35 individuals completed the SS-QOL and NHP. The study correlated the total score on the questionnaires with the scores on items that evaluate the participation component of the ICF. Both analyses used the Spearman correlation coefficient (r). Results: There was a statistically significant, positive and strong correlation between total score on the SS-QOL and NHP and the score on specific components related to participation (r=0.8, p=0.001 and r=0.9, p=0.001, respectively). Conclusions: Both the NHP and the SS-QOL show strong correlations between the total score and the score on items that assess the participation categories of the ICF. However, the SS-QOL questionnaire appeared to be the most complete for this assessment because it evaluates more distinct domains and contains the largest number of items related to participation.

RESUMO -Objetivo: Buscar parâmetros da marcha de pacientes após ter sofrido acidente vascular encefálico ( AVE) com hemipare s i a . Método: Comparados 15 voluntários pós-AVE e 15 voluntários saudáveis com a m e sma idade, gênero e peso. A comparação foi feita por eletromiografia utilizando cinco pares de eletrodos de superfície do lado comprometido (espástico) e um eletrogoniômetro sobre o eixo articular de rotação da articulação do tornozelo em estudo. Resultados: O início da atividade eletromiográfica, a partir da f a s e de apoio, para os músculos glúteo medial, reto femoral, tibial anterior, sóleo, e porção medial dos isquiotibiais foi significantemente ativados anteriormente durante o ciclo da marcha nos voluntários pós-AVE. O final da atividade eletromiográfica para os músculos reto femoral, tibial anterior, sóleo, e porção medial dos isquiotibiais foi significantemente prolongado nos voluntários pós-AVE. Voluntários pós-AVE demonstraram também mais co-ativação dos músculos agonistas e antagonistas da articulação do tornozelo e joelho durante a fase de balanceio. Conclusão: Essas alterações e co-contrações musculares da marcha permitem que os voluntários pós-AVE adotem um padrão de marcha mais seguro e mais estável para compensar a diminuição da informação sensorial da articulação do tornozelo. PALAVRAS-CHAVE: acidente vascular encefálico, eletromiografia, espasticidade.Muscle activity during gait following stroke ABSTRACT -Objective: To compare muscle activity and joint moments in the lower extremities during walking between subjects with stroke and control subjects. Method: We compared fifteen healthy volunteers and fifteen stroke patients, with the same age gender and weight data had been compared by elect ro m y o g r a p h y. The system of signals acquisition used consisted of five pairs of electrodes of surface, beyond one electrogoniometer on the axis articulate of rotation of the joint of the ankle in study. Results: O n s e t times with respect to heel-strike for the medial gluteus, tibialis anterior, soleus, rectus femoris and medial hamstring muscles were significantly earlier during the gait cycle in subjects with stroke than in contro l subjects. The cessation times of soleus, tibialis anterior, rectus femoris, and medial hamstring muscles were significantly prolonged in subjects with stro k e . Conclusion: Subjects with stroke showed more co-contractions of agonist and antagonist muscles at the ankle and knee joints during stance phase. These gait changes and co-contractions may allow subjects with stroke to adopt a safer, more stable gait pattern to compensate for diminished sensory information from the ankle.KEY WORDS: stroke, electromyography, spasticity.O acidente vascular encefálico (AVE) apre s e n t a manifestações clínicas que refletem a localização e extensão da lesão vascular 1 . Lesões no sistema c o rticoespinal após AVE interf e rem com as atividades de vida diária, mobilidade e comunicação. Pacientes com seqüelas de AVE demonstram dificuldade em controlar o início do movimento,...

[Purpose] The aim of the present study was to analyze the psychometric properties of the Stroke Specific Quality of Life (SS-QOL) scale for the assessment of social participation following a stroke. [Methods] A preliminary analysis was performed of the SS-QOL items that address the participation category. For this, the scoring patterns of the answers of individuals and internal consistence were determined using the Rasch model. Reliability was assessed by intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC). [Results] The reliability coefficients analyzed by the Rasch model were 0.91 for the items and 0.87 for the patients. The separation index was 3.19 for the items and 2.58 for the patients. The findings indicate that the items separated the patients into three levels of participation: low, medium, and high. Among the 26 items addressing participation, three did not fit the model. All items showed adequate reliability (ICC ≥ 0.60). [Conclusion] The Rasch analysis detected three items with erratic behavior; however, the erratic patterns of these items may be explained by individual peculiarities among the patients. These items should be monitored to determine if the problems found in the present study persist. If so, the items should also be revised or possibly even eliminated.