To determine the prevalence and characteristics of pain in symptomatic and asymptomatic patients with HTLV-1, for HAM/TSP, Cross-sectional study conducted in patients with HTLV seen at a referral center for patient care and research in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil. Sociodemographic data were evaluated by means of interviews. The presence of neuropathic pain was evaluated by the DN4 questionnaire, its intensity by the Visual Analog Scale and its location by the body map, Among the 115 patients, 84.3% complained of pain. The most affected locations were the lumbar spine and lower limbs (63.1%). Of these 46.1% presented defined or probable HAM/TSP. There was no association between the type of pain and presence of HAM/TSP, but symptomatic patients had a higher prevalence of pain in relation to asymptomatic for HAM/TSP, We found a high prevalence of pain in patients with HAM/TSP, mainly located in the lower back and lower limbs.

Patients with chronic pain due to neuropathy or musculoskeletal injury frequently exhibit reduced alpha and increased theta power densities. However, little is known about electrical brain activity and chronic pain in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). For this purpose, we evaluated power densities of spontaneous electroencephalogram (EEG) band frequencies (delta, theta, alpha, and beta) in females with persistent pain due to RA. This was a cross-sectional study of 21 participants with RA and 21 healthy controls (mean age = 47.20; SD = 10.40). EEG was recorded at rest over 5 min with participant's eyes closed. Twenty electrodes were placed over five brain regions (frontal, central, parietal, temporal, and occipital). Significant differences were observed in depression and anxiety with higher scores in RA participants than healthy controls (p = 0.002). Participants with RA exhibited increased average absolute alpha power density in all brain regions when compared to controls [F(1.39) = 6.39, p = 0.016], as well as increased average relative alpha power density [F(1.39) = 5.82, p = 0.021] in all regions, except the frontal region, controlling for depression/anxiety. Absolute theta power density also increased in the frontal, central, and parietal regions for participants with RA when compared to controls [F(1, 39) = 4.51, p = 0.040], controlling for depression/anxiety. Differences were not exhibited on beta and delta absolute and relative power densities. The diffuse increased alpha may suggest a possible neurogenic mechanism for chronic pain in individuals with RA.

FO may improve pain in RA patients, but their impact on disability remains undetermined. Additional large RCTs are needed to investigate the effects of these devices in RA patients. Implications for Rehabilitation The use of foot orthoses (FO) often part of the conservative treatment of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, the indication of these devices is usually empiric. Thus, the results of this meta-analysis can provide guidance to rehabilitation professionals to undertake these devices to therapeutic programs. There is no consensus among rehabilitation professionals regarding the efficacy of FO improved pain and disability in patients with RA. The results of this meta-analysis suggest that the use of the FO improves pain but has no impact on disability. Thus, rehabilitation professionals, from reading this article will make clear to their patients that benefit of the FO is exclusively in pain improvement. Healthcare professionals and organizations should take into account the costs of production of FO during the definition of the therapeutic program. In case of low cost, the effect on improvement of pain in the feet can justify the indication of these devices to a patient with RA.

Introdução: No Ballet clássico, a bailarina mantém uma postura ereta e alongada. Esta, ainda opta pelo lado dominante para execução dos passos, podendo levar a desvios posturais, sobrecarga nas articulações e facilitar lesões. Objetivo: Analisar os desvios posturais das bailarinas clássicas e relacioná-los com a prática do Ballet. Metodologia: A amostra foi constituída de 14 bailarinas de instituições de Ballet em Salvador, Bahia. Foi aplicado um questionário pré-testado relacionado à prática do Ballet, realizada uma avaliação antropométrica e dos tipos de pé através de fotografias e avaliação postural conforme o protocolo Sistema de Análise Postural (SAPO). Resultados: As alterações posturais significantes foram cabeça anteriorizada, ombro direito mais elevado, torácica retificada, lombar normal e retificada, pelve retrovertida e joelho recurvatum. Estas alterações tiveram relação com a prática de 9 a 12 anos de Ballet clássico, de 6 a 8 anos de Ballet com sapatilha de ponta, treinar mais de três vezes por semana e mais de duas horas por dia. Conclusão: As bailarinas apresentaram como perfil postural cabeça anteriorizada, ombro direito mais elevado, torácica retificada, lombar normal ou retificada, pelve retrovertida e joelhos recurvatum apresentando relação com um treino mais intenso e por mais tempo.

Human T-lymphotropic virus 1 (HTLV-1) infection may be associated with damage to the spinal cord – HTLV-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis – and other neurological symptoms that compromise everyday life activities. There is no cure for this disease, but recent evidence suggests that physiotherapy may help individuals with the infection, although, as far as we are aware, no systematic review has approached this topic. Therefore, the objective of this review is to address the core problems associated with HTLV-1 infection that can be detected and treated by physiotherapy, present the results of clinical trials, and discuss perspectives on the development of knowledge in this area. Major problems for individuals with HTLV-1 are pain, sensory-motor dysfunction, and urinary symptoms. All of these have high impact on quality of life, and recent clinical trials involving exercises, electrotherapeutic modalities, and massage have shown promising effects. Although not influencing the basic pathologic disturbances, a physiotherapeutic approach seems to be useful to detect specific problems related to body structures, activity, and participation related to movement in HTLV-1 infection, as well as to treat these conditions.

HTLV-1 creates a chronic health condition that involves moderate to severe pain with a negative impact on quality of life (QoL). There is no consensus on which attitudes to pain are more related to the worsening of QoL in HTLV-1 infected patients. The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation between QoL and multidimensional aspects of pain in patients with HTLV-1. A cross-sectional study was conducted in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil. The study included individuals diagnosed with HTLV-1. The Short Form 36 Questionnaire was used to analyze QoL, and the Brief Pain Inventory was used to assess multidimensional aspects of pain. The mean pain intensity was 4.88±3.06 on the visual pain scale, and the average impact on QoL corresponded to a loss of approximately 40%. Moderate to high correlations between pain intensity and all domains of QoL were observed and compared reaction attitudes for general activity, mood, ability to walk, ability to work, relationships, sleep, and ability to enjoy life (r>0.40; p<0.05). Moderate correlations were found between all domains of QoL, pain intensity, and reactive attitudes to pain. The greatest pain intensity impacts involved difficulty to walk and to work, and interpersonal relationships in the emotional aspect of QoL.

Introdução: Estudos apontam uma alta prevalência de alterações posturais da coluna entre crianças e adolescentes devido o uso de mochilas. Há discussão sobre qual o peso ideal que deve ter a mochila, sendo que as opiniões variam de 10 a 15% do peso corporal. É importante a identificação das posturas inadequadas em crianças e adolescentes a fim de prevenir possíveis alterações que geram distúrbios musculoesqueléticos. Objetivo: Verificar alterações posturais provenientes do uso de mochilas em escolares. Métodos: Estudo transversal com 78 indivíduos com idade entre 7 e 14 anos. Foram tiradas fotografias com e sem mochila, as quais posteriormente foram avaliadas pelo Software de avaliação postural (SAPO). As variáveis numéricas foram analisadas pelo teste t de student pareado e as variáveis qualitativas pelo Qui-quadrado. Resultados: O tipo mais freqüente de mochila foi o de rodinhas, a média do peso da mochila foi de 11% da média do peso corporal das crianças e 60,3% destas carregam um ou dois livros. As alterações significativas foram: ângulo frontal do membro inferior direito, translação anterior da cabeça, posteriorização da cabeça, extensão de tronco, inclinação posterior do corpo e anteversão da pelve. Conclusão: O peso da mochila altera a postura da criança a partir de 11% da massa corporal, indicando que o menor peso possível deve ser usado nesta fase do desenvolvimento corporal.

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