Knee extensor torque of men with early degrees of osteoarthritis is associated with pain, stiffness and function Homens com graus iniciais de osteoartrite apresentam correlação entre torque extensor do joelho e dor, rigidez e função Paula R. M. S. Serrão, Karina Gramani-Say, Giovanna C. Lessi, Stela M. Mattiello AbstractBackground: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic-degenerative disease. The knee is the most commonly affected joint and the symptoms are generally attributed to quadriceps muscle weakness. However, few studies have evaluated this relationship in a population with early stages of knee OA. Objective: To investigate whether a correlation among the knee extensor torque and the three subscales of the WOMAC questionnaire in men with early stages of knee OA exists. Method: Twenty-one men with knee OA grades I or II (according to Kellgren and Lawrence* criteria) participated in this study. The concentric and eccentric knee extensor torque were assessed using a Biodex System 3 Pro ® isokinetic dynamometer, at a speed of 90°/s. Self-reported symptoms and disability were assessed using the WOMAC questionnaire. Spearman's correlation coefficient was used to test the relationship between the dependent variables (three subscales of WOMAC questionnaire) and the independent variables (average knee extensor peak torque). Results: We found a strong negative correlation between the concentric extensor torque and pain (r=-0.7, p<0.001) and a moderate and negative correlation among the concentric extensor torque and stiffness (r=-0.62, p=0.002) and physical function (r=-0.54, p=0.011). Eccentric extensor torque presented a moderate and negative correlation with the three subscales of the WOMAC (r=-0.40 to 0.69, p<0.05). Conclusions: The concentric and eccentric knee extensor torque is significantly correlated with self-report symptoms of patients in initial stages of knee OA. Therefore, the strengthening of the quadriceps muscles, through concentric and eccentric exercise is indicated for these patients in order to minimize these symptoms.Trial registration: number RBR-8q4zfh.Keywords: physical therapy; knee osteoarthritis; WOMAC; muscle strength. ResumoContextualização: A osteoartrite (OA) é uma doença crônico-degenerativa. O joelho é a articulação mais afetada, e os sintomas geralmente são atribuídos à fraqueza do músculo quadríceps. Entretanto, poucos estudos têm avaliado essa relação em indivíduos com graus iniciais de OA. Objetivo: Verificar se existe correlação entre o torque extensor do joelho e as seções dor, rigidez e função física do questionário WOMAC de homens com OA de joelho nos graus iniciais. Método: Participaram deste estudo 21 homens com OA de joelho graus I ou II (segundo critérios de Kelgren e Lawrence*). Foi avaliado o torque extensor concêntrico e o excêntrico do joelho por meio do dinamômetro isocinético (Biodex System 3 Pro ® ), na velocidade de 90º/s. O autorrelato de sintomas e incapacidades foi avaliado por meio do questionário WOMAC. O Coeficiente de Correlação de Spearman foi utilizado para d...

Although the effects of cognitive tasks on postural control have been widely investigated, the influence of cognitive load on sensorimotor coupling in postural control is still being uncovered. The purpose of the present study was to investigate and compare the influence of conscious knowledge, intention, and cognitive load on the relationship between visual information and body sway in postural control in young adults. Sixteen young adults stood upright, as still as possible, inside a moving room under four experimental conditions: the participants remained still without knowing that the room was moving (dynamic condition); the participants were informed about the room's movement (information condition) and asked to resist the room's movement (resisted condition); the participants performed a counting task while resisting the visual influence (dual-task condition). The results showed that the influence of visual manipulation on body sway decreased when the participants were informed about the movement of the room and decreased further after they were asked to resist its movement. However, performing a dual-task led to an increase in visual influence. We conclude that intention plays a role in sensorimotor system functioning in the postural control system to alter its function if required. Nevertheless, such change demands cognitive effort, which limits attentional resources and can compromise performance in secondary tasks.

No abstract

No abstract

Men with early stages of knee OA do not present alterations of concentric strength but had decreased eccentric strength and morphologic quadriceps muscle changes, indicating neuromuscular adaptations.

This study investigated the relationship between metabolic parameters and low serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels in older adults (n = 265). They were assessed for anthropometrics and metabolic measurements, including 25(OH)D, insulin, glucose, total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), triglycerides (TG) and other inflammatory markers. Vitamin D deficiency was defined as a 25(OH)D level below 50 nmol/L. Comparisons between groups were performed using Wilcoxon–Mann–Whitney or Pearson’s Chi-squared test. A multivariate adjusted Poisson regression was used to model the number of metabolic parameters as a function of a set of explanatory variables. Subjects with 25(OH)D deficiency were predominantly females and presented higher body weight, body mass index, waist circumference, triglycerides and Tumor Necrosis Factor-α (TNF-α), and higher insulin resistance. Metabolic syndrome was also more prevalent among 25(OH)D-deficient subjects. In those without metabolic syndrome, 25(OH)D deficiency was related only to obesity and higher insulin resistance. Female sex, hypertension, higher waist circumference and higher levels of hemoglobin A1C (%), HDL-C, and TG were significantly associated with an increased number of metabolic syndrome parameters after adjusting for covariates, but 25(OH)D was not. The fact that serum 25(OH)D concentration was inversely associated with metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance not only reaffirms the relevance to consider serum 25(OH)D concentration as an influencing factor for insulin resistance, but also the need to actively screen for hypovitaminosis D in all patients with this condition.

No abstract

Objetivo: A proposta desse trabalho foi investigar o efeito da rotação do quadril na atividade elétrica dos músculos Vasto Medial Oblíquo (VMO), Vasto Lateral Oblíquo (VLO) e Vasto Lateral Longo (VLL) no agachamento a 45º de flexão do joelho associado à posição neutra, rotação lateral a 45º e rotação medial a 15 e 30º de quadril. Materiais e Método: Foram avaliadas 27 mulheres, sendo 15 mulheres normais do grupo Controle (21,1±2,1 anos) e 12 portadoras de Síndrome da Dor Femoropatelar (SDFP) (21,0±2,3 anos). A atividade elétrica do músculo quadríceps foi captada por eletrodos ativos diferenciais simples de superfície, eletromiógrafo de 8 canais e programa Aqdados 7.2.6. Os dados foram normalizados pela porcentagem da média do agachamento a 75º com o quadril em posição neutra-RMS (μV). A análise estatística utilizada foi a ANOVA two way com medidas repetidas e Turkey post hoc (p≤0,05). Resultados: Os resultados evidenciaram interação entre grupos e músculos (p=0,00), independente da posição do quadril (p=0,39) e não houve interação entre grupos e posições do quadril (p=0,96). Os músculos VMO e VLL do grupo SDFP apresentaram atividade elétrica significativamente maior que o VMO (p=0,00) e VLL (p=0,04) do grupo controle. Por outro lado, a atividade elétrica do músculo VLO não apresentou diferença significativa entre os grupos (p=0,99). Conclusão: Os resultados dessa pesquisa, nas condições experimentais utilizadas, sugerem que a rotação do quadril não influenciou a atividade elétrica das porções do quadríceps nos dois grupos no agachamento a 45º de flexão do joelho.