This study did not show an association between text neck and neck pain in 18-21-year-old young adults. The findings challenge the belief that neck posture during mobile phone texting is associated to the growing prevalence of neck pain.

Pain drawings have frequently been used for clinical information and research. The aim of this study was to investigate intra- and inter-rater reliability of area measurements performed on pain drawings. Our secondary objective was to verify the reliability when using computers with different screen sizes, both with and without mouse hardware. Pain drawings were completed by patients with chronic neck pain or neck-shoulder-arm pain. Four independent examiners participated in the study. Examiners A and B used the same computer with a 16-inch screen and wired mouse hardware. Examiner C used a notebook with a 16-inch screen and no mouse hardware, and Examiner D used a computer with an 11.6-inch screen and a wireless mouse. Image measurements were obtained using GIMP and NIH ImageJ computer programs. The length of all the images was measured using GIMP software to a set scale in ImageJ. Thus, each marked area was encircled and the total surface area (cm(2) ) was calculated for each pain drawing measurement. A total of 117 areas were identified and 52 pain drawings were analyzed. The intrarater reliability between all examiners was high (ICC = 0.989). The inter-rater reliability was also high. No significant differences were observed when using different screen sizes or when using or not using the mouse hardware. This suggests that the precision of these measurements is acceptable for the use of this method as a measurement tool in clinical practice and research.

A definitive answer on the relation of psychological factors and pain area is not available; the findings suggest that only depression might have a weak relation with pain area. Future studies that investigate sensory, psychological, emotional, cognitive and behavioral aspects, and also more accurate methods of PD assessment, are needed.

MS patients with no clinical disability have discrete changes in gait that can be evidenced by perceived impact on walking and kinematic evaluation, mainly of ankle movement. Moreover, there is a decrease in perceived balance confidence and an increase in perceived fatigue, which are correlated despite having different origins.

Objective. The purpose of this study was to analyze factors related to lower walking speed in persons with multiple sclerosis (PwMS). Methods. A cross-sectional survey was conducted. The study participants were 120 consecutive PwMS, who were able to walk, even with device assistance. Demographic and clinical data were collected. Walking speed was measured in 10 m walk test. Possible factors were assessed: disability, fatigue, visual functioning, balance confidence, physical activity level, walking impact, cognitive interference, and motor planning. A forward linear multiple regression analysis examined the correlation with lower speed. Results. Lower walking speed was observed in 85% of the patients. Fatigue (41%), recurrent falls (30%), and balance problems were also present, even with mild disability (average EDSS = 2.68). A good level of physical activity was noted in most of the subjects. Dual-task procedure revealed 11.58% of walking speed reduction. Many participants (69.57%) imagined greater walking speed than motor execution (mean ≥ 28.42%). Physical activity level was the only characteristic that demonstrated no significant difference between the groups (lower versus normal walking speed). Many mobility measures were correlated with walking speed; however, disability, balance confidence, and motor planning were the most significant. Conclusions. Disability, balance confidence, and motor planning were correlated with lower walking speed.

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of functional limitations and fatigue on the quality of life (QoL) in people with multiple sclerosis (MS). A descriptive case series study at Lagoa Hospital - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil was carried. The main outcome measurements were demographic variables, QoL (SF-36 v.1), disability (EDSS), motor function of the upper limb (Box & Blocks test), Tone (Modified Ashworth Scale), gait (Hauser ambulatory index) and fatigue (Fatigue Severity Scale). Sixty one patients fulfilled the study criteria. The mean age of patients was 39 years and 74% of patients were female. The most of cases presented mild disability (EDSS<3.5). A decrease was found in all domains of QoL. It was found association between physical functioning and the variables of EDSS, fatigue, lower limb tone and gait. Gait, disability, hypertonia of the lower limbs and fatigue negatively affected QoL in people with MS.

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