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Objective: This study aimed to investigate the gait pattern of elderly women with and without fall-history, with high and low fear of falling, when exposed to a disturbing factor. Materials and Methods: Forty-nine elderly women without cognitive impairment agreed to participate. Participants were divided into four groups, considering the history of falls and fear of falling. Three-dimensional gait analysis was performed to assess gait kinematics before and after exposure to the fictional disturbing factor (psychological and non-motor agent). Results: After being exposed to the perturbation, all showed shorter step length, stride length and slower walking speed. Those without fall-history and with high fear of falling showed greater changes and lower Gait Profile Score. Conclusion: The gait changes shown in the presence of a fear-of-falling causing agent led to a cautious gait pattern in an attempt to increase protection. However, those changes increased fall-risk, boosted by fear of falling. Clinical Trial Registration: www.residentialclinics.gov.br , identifier: RBR-35xhj5.

Introduction: Postural abnormalities are common in patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD) and lead to gait abnormalities. Relationships between changes in the trunk posture of PD patients and gait profile score (GPS) and gait spatiotemporal parameters are poorly investigated. The aim of the current study was to investigate the relationships between trunk posture, GPS, and gait spatiotemporal parameters, in patients with PD. Materials and Methods: Twenty-three people with PD and nineteen age-matched healthy people participated in this study. A 3D gait kinematical analysis was applied to all participants using the Plug-In Gait Full BodyTM tool. Trunk and limb kinematics patterns and gait spatio-temporal parameters of patients with PD and the control group were compared. Additionally, correlations between trunk kinematics patterns, gait spatio-temporal parameters, and GPS of the PD group were tested. Results: Cadence, opposite foot off, step time, single support, double support, foot off, gait speed, trunk kinematics, and GPS showed significant differences between the two groups (p ≤ 0.05). Posture of the trunk during gait was not related to the spatio-temporal parameters and gait profile score in the PD group. The trunk flexor pattern influenced GPS domains, mainly of the ankle and the knee. Discussion and Conclusions: Flexed posture of the trunk in patients with PD seems to influence both ankle and knee movement patterns during the gait. The GPS analysis provided direct and simplified kinematic information for the PD group. These results may have implications for understanding the importance of considering the positioning of the trunk during gait.

The aging process causes changes in the physical and functional conditions, as well as in the foot structure and function. This study aimed to analyze the plantar pressure variation with respect to visual information and physical activity in adult and older women. This was a cross-sectional study that included 142 women (mean age of 67.8 years). Participants responded the anamnesis questionnaire, Mini Mental State Examination, and International Physical Activity Questionnaire. Plantar pressure was assessed using computerized baropodometry. Weight distribution was observed in semitandem positions for the right foot forward and then the left foot forward . Data analysis showed that foot type had no correlation with age (p = 0.37 right foot; p = 0.93 left foot) or level of physical activity (p = 0.28 right foot; p = 0.96 left foot). Moreover, plantar pressure variation showed no significant relationship with age (R2 = 0.2; p = 0.6). In conclusion, plantar pressure variation is not associated with the morphological foot type in women analyzed, as the visual condition did not generate plantar pressure variations when compared to its effect on the classification of plantar arches. Furthermore, level of physical activity was not associated with plantar pressure variation .

Comportamento dos parâmetros espaço-temporais de acordo com classificação de Ben Lomonding na marcha de crianças e adolescentes com paralisia cerebralBehavior of spatiotemporal parameters according to Ben Lomonding classification in the march of children and adolescents with cerebral palsy

Objetivo: Comparar dois instrumentos de avaliação do equilíbrio, BESTest e Baropodometria, em mulheres da comunidade e verificar a influência da idade, comorbidades e visão no equilíbrio. Método: Estudo tranversal, analítico, realizado com mulheres adultas (50 a 64 anos) e idosas (a partir dos 65 anos). O equilíbrio foi avaliado por uma plataforma baropodométrica e com o Balance Evaluation Systems Test (BESTest). Aplicou-se teste T, Anova, Bonferroni e Regressão Linear utilizando o Software SPSS 23.0, adotando-se p<0,05. Resultados: Participaram 156 mulheres sendo 54 adultas (59 anos ± 3,93) e 102 idosas (71 anos ± 4,8). O BESTest verificou que as mulheres adultas apresentaram melhor desempenho (p<0,01) em relação à idosas nas categorias restrições biomecânicas, transições e antecipações, orientação sensorial, estabilidade de marcha e escore total. Houve relação entre o BESTest e o autorrelato de doenças no grupo de idosas nas categorias restrições biomecânicas, transições/antecipações e escore total (p<0,01). A baropodometria identificou alteração do deslocamento latero-lateral com olhos fechados entre os grupos (p=0,01), sendo que, as idosas apresentaram pior desempenho. Todavia, as ferramentas supracitadas apresentaram pouca relação entre si, tendo sua associação variando entre 5 e 11%. Conclusão: O BESTest e a baropometria foram capazes de detectar diferenças entre o equilíbrio de mulheres adultas e idosas, porém apresentam baixa associação entre si. Sugere-se que sejam adotadas como avaliações complementares e não substituíveis na prática clínica do fisioterapeuta.

To describe reference values for the Closed Kinetic Chain Upper Extremity Stability Test (CKCU-EST) and Upper Quarter Y Balance Test (UQYBT) in young adults, and to determine whether there were differences in both tests based on gender and age. Intrarater reliability and measurement error were also assessed. Methods: Testretest design with a sample of 146 young adults. The CKCUEST (number of touches, normalized score, and power) and the UQYBT (normalized reach in the medial, superolateral, and inferolateral direction, and the composite score) were used. Mean and standard deviation were calculated for both tests. A linear and a mixed regression model were applied to determine significant differences in test scores. Reliability was determined using Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC) and error measurement through Standard Error of Measurement (SEM) and Smallest Detectable Change (SDC). Results:Normative values were established and divided by gender and age. Men presented greater scores regarding the number of touches, power score, superolateral and inferolateral reaches. Good intrarater reliability was found for both tests. In the CKCUEST, the SEM and SDC values were 1 and 3 touches. In the UQYBT, the SEM values ranged from 3 to 7 cm, while the SDC ranged from 8 to 19 cm. Conclusion: Normative data were provided and men presented greater scores than women. Good intrarater reliability was found and values of SEM and SDC were established. Clinicians must use both tests in clinical practice since different aspects of the upper quarter are assessed.

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