The purpose of the present study was to translate and adapt the Berg balance scale, an instrument for functional balance assessment, to Brazilian-Portuguese and to determine the reliability of scores obtained with the Brazilian adaptation. Two persons proficient in English independently translated the original scale into Brazilian-Portuguese and a consensus version was generated. Two translators performed a back translation. Discrepancies were discussed and solved by a panel. Forty patients older than 65 years and 40 therapists were included in the cultural adaptation phase. If more than 15% of therapists or patients reported difficulty in understanding an item, that item was reformulated and reapplied. The final Brazilian version was then tested on 36 elderly patients (over age 65). The average age was 72 years. Reliability of the measure was assessed twice by one physical therapist (1-week interval between assessments) and once by one independent physical therapist. Descriptive analysis was used to characterize the patients. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and Pearson's correlation coefficient were computed to assess intra-and interobserver reliability. Six questions were modified during the translation stage and cultural adaptation phase. The ICC for intra-and interobserver reliability was 0.99 (P < 0.001) and 0.98 (P < 0.001), respectively. The Pearson correlation coefficient for intra-and interobserver reliability was 0.98 (P < 0.001) and 0.97 (P < 0.001), respectively. We conclude that the Brazilian version of the Berg balance scale is a reliable instrument to be used in balance assessment of elderly Brazilian patients.

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The majority of authors report that laser therapy speeds up the process of tissue repair, but further studies are suggested to determine the best parameters to be used.

Osteoporotic vertebral fractures generally result in an increased kyphotic angle, which in turn may lead to disturbances in pulmonary function. The objective of the present study was to evaluate pulmonary function and quality of life in a group of osteoporotic patients. Fifteen women with osteoporosis and thoracic vertebral fractures (group 1), 20 women with osteoporosis without vertebral fracture (group 2) and 20 control women (group 3) were submitted to spirometry using a Vitatrace-130 SL spirometer and to an SF-36 quality of life questionnaire. Women with osteoporosis and vertebral fractures showed an increased kyphotic angle (median=60 degrees) and decreased forced vital capacity (group 1 vs. group 2, P =0.020; group 1 vs. group 3, P =0.039) and forced expiratory volume in 1 s (group 1 vs. group 2, P =0.008; group 1 vs. group 3, P =0.014) when compared with women without vertebral fractures or osteoporosis. A negative correlation was observed between thoracic kyphosis and the predicted value of expiratory forced volume in 1 s ( r =-0.713, P =0.003). No differences in the quality of life were detected between the three groups studied. We conclude that women with thoracic vertebral fractures have an increased kyphotic angle and present a decrease in lung volume.

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Energy expenditure showed a correlation with the angle of thoracic kyphosis. Patients with or without osteoporosis showed the same energy expenditure during the walking period. The SF-36 score was similar for the three groups.

Women with and without RA have similar changes in response to a RE session in levels of inflammation biomarkers, but not of cartilage breakdown. IL-10 and IL-1ra increased after the RE session, indicating that RE may have an acute anti-inflammatory effect. Additional studies are necessary to clarify if repeated RE sessions can have long-term anti-inflammatory effects and the possible clinical repercussions of this cartilage breakdown characteristic in response to exercise in RA patients.

No abstract