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SUMMARYStanding balance is the process which keeps the pressure center (PC), a projection of gravity center on the ground inside the support area of the body. This study evaluates postural control in patients with unilateral lesion of knee anterior cruciate ligament and in healthy individuals (control group), through parameters of pressure center. Nineteen healthy individuals (11 men

O objetivo foi avaliar os efeitos dos exercícios de fortalecimento de tronco sobre a dor lombar crônica de origem mecânica e comparar o uso do dinamômetro isocinético e da bola terapêutica. Dezenove pacientes com dor lombar crônica foram distribuidos randomicamente em dois grupos, para fortalecimento do tronco: grupo bola (5 homens e 5 mulheres, idade média 31,2±8,2) e grupo dinamômetro (2 homens e 7 mulheres, idade média 37,9±11,2). Os grupos foram tratados em duas sessões semanais, por três meses, e avaliados antes e após o tratamento, quanto à dor (escala visual analógica), incapacidades funcionais (Questionário de Roland-Morris), mobilidade do tronco (teste de Schöber e distância do 3º dedo ao solo) e força concêntrica dos flexores e extensores de tronco, no dinamômetro isocinético Cybex 6000. Os parâmetros avaliados foram: pico de torque, ângulo de pico de torque, potência, trabalho, tempo de aceleração e a relação flexores/extensores. Os dados foram tratados estatisticamente, sendo adotado um nível de significância de 5%. Foi observada uma melhora significante (p<0,05) da dor, da mobilidade, das incapacidades funcionais e da força dos músculos extensores em ambos os grupos. Os exercícios de fortalecimento melhoraram a dor, as incapacidades funcionais, a mobilidade e a força extensora. Ambas as técnicas foram igualmente efetivas.

Objective: To analyze the effects of whole body electrostimulation (WB-EMS) with body weight training on functional fitness and body composition of older men.Methods: Twenty physically inactive older men were randomized into: Control group (control), performed the body weight exercise training wearing electrostimulation clothing, but without receiving electrical current stimuli (n = 10), and body weight associated with whole body electrostimulation group (BW+WB-EMS), performed the body weight exercise training wearing electrostimulation clothing plus whole body electrostimulation (n = 10). The training sessions were performed twice a week for 6 weeks and included eight exercises using body weight, performed in two sets of eight repetitions. Physical function was assessed using a battery composed of seven tests, six derived from the Senior fitness test and a handgrip strength test. We also measured the muscle thickness (MT) of the biceps and triceps brachii and vastus lateralis.Results: The BW+WB-EMS group presented increased (p &lt; 0.05) performance in the 30-s chair stand test (10.2 ± 3.3 vs. 13.8 ± 5.0 reps), arm curl (16.6 ± 3.9 vs. 19.9 ± 6.1 reps), 6-min walk test (402 ± 96 vs. 500 ± 104 m), and handgrip strength test (30 ± 11 vs. 32 ± 11 kgf). The BW+WB-EMS group also presented increased MT (p &lt; 0.05) in the biceps brachii (17.7 ± 3.0 vs. 21.4 ± 3.4 mm), triceps brachial (14.7 ± 3.6 vs. 17.5 ± 4.1 mm), and vastus lateralis muscles (15.1 ± 2.6 vs. 18.6 ± 4.3 mm). Moderate correlations were found in arm curl (p = 0.011, r = 0.552) but not handgrip strength (p = 0.053, r = 0.439) with changes in the biceps MT. Moderate changes in the 6-min walk distance were significantly correlated with changes in vastus lateralis MT (p = 0.036, r = 0.471). There was a moderate correlation between the changes in the 30-s chair stand test (p = 0.006, r = 0.589) and changes in the vastus lateralis MT. Furthermore, although a moderate correlation (r = 0.438) was found between triceps MT and handgrip strength no significant difference (p = 0.053) was reported. Additionally, there were no statistical differences in any parameters for the control group.Conclusion: WB-EMS with body weight training increased functional fitness, MT, and lean mass, and decreased body fat in physically inactive older men.

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