The WBV is a training that could improve respiratory muscle strength and quality of life and promote different ventilatory strategies in chest wall and thoracoabdominal compartments in healthy elderly adults.

This study evaluated the immediate effects of respiratory muscle stretching on chest wall kinematics and electromyographic activity in COPD patients. 28 patients with COPD were randomized into two groups: 14 to the treatment group (TG) and 14 to the control group (CG). The TG underwent a stretching protocol of the rib cage muscles, while the CG remained at rest under similar conditions. After a single session, TG increased the tidal volume of the pulmonary rib cage (Vrcp) (p=0.020) and tidal volume of abdominal rib cage (Vrca) (p=0.043) variations and their percentages in relation to the thoracic wall, Vrcp% (p=0.044) and Vrca% (p=0.022). Also, TG decreased the end-expiratory Vrcp (p=0.013) and the end-inspiratory Vrcp (p=0.011) variations. In addition, there was a reduction in respiratory rate (RR) (p=0.011) and minute volume (MV) (p=0.035), as well as an increase in expiratory time (Te) (p=0.026). There was also an immediate reduction in sternocleidomastoid (p=0.043) and upper trapezium (p=0.034) muscle electrical activity. Then, the study supports the use of stretching to improve COPD chest wall mobility with positive effects on chest wall mechanics, on volume distribution and electromyography.

BACKGROUND: Heliox and forward-leaning posture (torso inclined forward at 50 -60°with the elbows resting on the thighs) are adjuncts in the administration of nebulized bronchodilator to patients with acute asthma. METHODS: We randomized 59 patients who presented to the emergency department in severe asthma crisis, into 4 treatment groups: nebulized bronchodilator ؉ oxygen; nebulized bronchodilator ؉ oxygen ؉ forward-leaning posture; nebulized bronchodilator ؉ heliox; and nebulized bronchodilator ؉ heliox ؉ forward-leaning posture. Before and after the bronchodilator treatments the subjects were seated with torso erect, breathing room air. Each subject received 2 doses, 20 min apart, of nebulized fenoterol (2.5 mg) plus ipratropium bromide (0.25 mg) in 3 mL of 0.9% saline, delivered with a semi-closed valved aerosol reservoir. The nebulizer was run with oxygen or 80:20 heliox. The post-treatment pulmonary function tests were performed 15 min after the second nebulization. The group's mean age was 35.1 ؎ 13.6 y, and there were 20 men and 39 women. RESULTS: The oxygen ؉ forward-leaning-posture group had a greater FEV 1 improvement than the oxygen group (59% vs 38%, P ‫؍‬ .02). The heliox ؉ forwardleaning-posture group had a greater FEV 1 improvement than the oxygen group (103% vs 38%, P ‫؍‬ .001) and the heliox group (103% vs 42%, P ‫؍‬ .03). The heliox group had greater reduction in respiratory rate than the oxygen group (P ‫؍‬ .03). The heliox ؉ forward-leaning-posture group had significantly greater peak expiratory flow improvement than any of the other groups. CON-CLUSIONS: Heliox plus forward-leaning posture during bronchodilator nebulization improves bronchodilator efficacy in patients with severe acute asthma. (ClinicalTrials.gov registration NCT00922350).

Introduction: The literature presents different findings about the vibration training efficacy on muscle per- formance, even using protocols with similar parameters. Objective: The purpose of this systematic review was to investigate the effects of whole body vibration (WBV) on strength and quality of life in health elderly people, presenting a meta-analisys. Methods: PubMed, CINAHL, SciELO, LILACS and PEDro databases were systematically searched for studies that used WBV in healthy elderly. These searches were supplemented with material identified in references and a qualitative and quantitative analysis was performed to sum- marize the findings. The search was performed by two independent researchers with a third was selected to solve problems of search disagreement, data collection, and quality score. Results: Nine studies with strength outcome and two studies with quality of life outcome were identified, with sample ranging 21 to 220 elderly, all studies had control groups performing exercises or guidelines. Some studies have shown sig- nificant improvements in muscle strength, muscle power, vertical jump height, timed get up and go test and quality of life. Conclusion: The meta-analysis of the findings in these studies shows that WBV could benefit health elderly, increasing muscle strength and improving the quality of life mainly in functional capacity. The number of publications found in the databanks searched is small, with limitations in design of protocols with a weakness to the interpretation of the findings, suggesting the need of investigation with WBV with well-designed protocols and controlled parameters into the effects of WBV training in elderly people.

Sitting position without back support enhances the activation of respiratory muscles by increasing the tidal volume and supine position seems to favor lung deflation by increasing the expiratory time. It seems appropriate to adopt these positions to optimize the ventilation/perfusion relationship and physiotherapeutic intervention in different clinical conditions.

Aim: To evaluate the effects of whole-body vibration (WBV) on ergospirometric variables in the elderly. Methods: A total of 31 elderly people were randomly assigned to 1 of the 3 groups—resistance, WBV, WBV + resistance—training twice per week, 3 months, evaluating ventilatory thresholds by ergospirometry and peripheral strength. Results: WBV groups increased JOURNAL/tgere/04.03/00013614-201810000-00003/3FSM1/v/2023-10-01T043932Z/r/image-gif o 2 after training when compared to the resistance group (25.2 ± 1.6 in WBV with P < .001 and 25.2 ± 3.2 in WBV + resistance with P < .001), as the percentage heart rate reserve (resistance = 27%; WBV = 48.4%; and WBV + resistance = 49.9%). Conclusions: In the elderly, WBV increased strength and JOURNAL/tgere/04.03/00013614-201810000-00003/3FSM1/v/2023-10-01T043932Z/r/image-gif o 2max, combining into a single program both aerobic and resistance workouts.

Generating adaptive locomotion has seen a growing interest for the design of hexapods due to improving the autonomy of these robots, allowing them to execute tasks in more demanding environments. Data from the robot's surrounding must be acquired and processed to adjust the locomotion, and aid with the actuation of the six limbs. This paper aims at using force sensors placed on the feet of a hexapod to control the changes of the gait phase of each limb. These sensors also assist in the search of new footholds when no contact forces are established with the ground. The system is tested in a smooth irregular terrain with obstacles, steps, and ramps, using CoppeliaSim and ROS (Robot Operating System), to dynamically evaluate the behavior of the hexapod.