No abstract

Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) has been used as an alternative treatment for pain reduction in fibromyalgia. In this study, in addition to behavioral measures, we analyzed oscillations in alpha 2 frequency band in the frontal, occipital, and parietal regions, in response to the application of two neuromodulation protocols in fibromyalgia. The study was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial with 31 women diagnosed with fibromyalgia. The participants were allocated to three groups with the anodic stimulation applied on the left motor cortex: Group 1, for five consecutive days; Group 2, for 10 consecutive days; and Group 3, sham stimulation for five consecutive days. Statistical analysis showed a reduction in pain intensity after treatment for groups in general [F (1.28) = 8.02; p = 0.008; η2 = 0.223], in addition to a reduction in alpha 2 in the frontal (p = 0.039; d = 0.384) and parietal (p = 0.021; d = 0.520) regions after the treatment on five consecutive days. We conclude that neuromodulation protocols produced similar effects on pain reduction, but differed with respect to the changes in the alpha 2 frequency band in the frontal and parietal regions.

Patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) have difficulties while performing dual-task activities, a condition present in everyday life. It is possible that strategies such as transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) can be associated with motor training enriched with dual-task training to improve the performance of two concurrent tasks. Currently, it is unclear whether specific tasks and clinical conditions of PD patients have different results after the intervention. Therefore, the proposed randomized controlled trial will examine task-dependency in enhancing the effects of tDCS-linked rehabilitation training on PD and the relationships between baseline outcomes in responders and non-responders to therapy. Fifty-six patients with Parkinson's disease will be recruited to participate in this controlled, double-blind randomized multicentric clinical trial. Patients in modified Hoehn & Yahr stage 1.5–3, age between 40 and 70 years will be included. Subjects will be randomly assigned to an experimental group (EG) and a control group (CG). The EG will perform treadmill gait training associated with dual task exercises+tDCS, while the CG will only engage in treadmill gait training+tDCS. Blinded testers will assess patients before and after 12 intervention sessions and after a 4-week follow-up period. All patients will undergo a screening and an initial visit before being assessed for primary and secondary outcomes. The primary outcome measure is functional mobility measured by Timed Up and Go Test. Secondary outcomes include cognitive function, participation, motor function and body function and structure. This study will evaluate the effectiveness of an intervention protocol with tDCS, dual-task training and gait training in patients with PD. The study will also highlight the clinical factors and variability between individuals that could interfere in the training of a specific task and influence the therapeutic effect.Clinical Trial registration: www.ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier NCT04581590.

Background: Preliminary evidence suggests that access to multidisciplinary rehabilitation is insufficient after hospital discharge of individuals with stroke. Objective: The AReA study intends to collect data about access to rehabilitation in different Brazilian regions. Methods: Seventeen public health centers will participate in the study. Each center will include 36 participants (n = 612). Patients with 6 months and less than oneyear post-ictus, age ≥18 years-old, stroke confirmed by CT or MRI and with any neurological impairment after stroke will be included. In each center, researchers will train the team on the application of the Brazilian versions of the Rankin Modified Scale and the NIH Stroke Scale. The survey consists of the following questions: 1. In the first 6 months after discharge from stroke, were you treated by a Physiatrist /Physiotherapist / Speech / Neurologist / Psychologist / Occupational Therapist?; 2. Has a treatment program been established?; 3. Has this program been or is it being carried out?; 4. On discharge, have you been referred to any rehabilitation service?; 5. Did you look for any service on your own?; 6. Did you receive any guidance about stroke?; 7. Considering that rehabilitation would be indicated for its improvement, how would you like it to be carried out (hospitals, centers, home)? Results: At the moment, 13 centers obtained ethical approval, and three of them started data collection (n=55). Conclusion: The results of this project will be relevant to plan strategies for effective rehabilitation within the Unified Health System in Brazil.

This was a descriptive, observational and crosssectional study, whose sample consisted of 104 adolescents, aged between 13 and 19 years, whom were approached in the immediate postpartum period. The data were collected from medical records and interviews with the mothers in the immediate postpartum period. Results: The mean age of participants was 18.5±1.4 years; 52.4 % had mixed ethnicity; 61.5% had dropped out of school; 90% had studied in a public school. There was a predominance of the elementary education level (55.8%). The family and the partner supported the adolescent during pregnancy in 94.2% and 87.5% of cases, respectively. Conclusion: The most common age group of adolescent mothers was between 16 and 19 years, although there was a significant rate of mothers aged between 17 and 19 years. In addition, there was a high prevalence of mothers who dropped out of school due to pregnancy; however, in general, the adolescents were supported by their family and child's father. DESCRIPTORSTeenage pregnancy. Living conditions. Health profile.http://periodicos.ufpb.br/ojs2/index.php/rbcs

ResumoA síndrome do ombro doloroso é considerada um achado comum em pacientes que sofreram acidente vascular cerebral. Várias modalidades terapêuticas são apontadas para melhoria do quadro clínico dos pacientes. Neste relato, será apresentado um caso de síndrome do ombro doloroso, cujo tratamento consistiu no emprego de toxina botulínica A associada à fisioterapia. Após quatro meses de tratamento, houve melhorias significativas quanto à dor, espasticidade, amplitude de movimento e qualidade de vida, e isso sugere ser essa associação terapêutica uma ferramenta eficaz contra os efeitos incapacitantes relacionados a esta síndrome. Palavras-chave: Síndrome do ombro doloroso. Acidente vascular cerebral.Toxina botulínica A .Fisioterapia. AbstractThe syndrome of the painful shoulder is considered a common finding in patients who suffered stroke. Several therapeutic modalities are suggested for the improvement of the patients' clinical condition. In this report, a case of syndrome of the painful shoulder will be discussed, whose treatment consisted of the use of botulinum toxin A associated to physiotherapy. After a four-month treatment, significant improvements occurred concerning pain, spasticity, range of motion and quality of life, suggesting that this therapeutic association is an efficient tool against the incapacitating effects related to this syndrome.

A Doença de Alzheimer (DA) é uma desordem neurodegenerativa progressiva, com apresentação de declínio das funções cognitivas e, consequentemente, perda gradual da autonomia, de acordo com a evolução da doença. O objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar os efeitos da técnica de Estimulação Transcraniana por Corrente Contínua (ETCC) associada ao Treino Cognitivo (COG) nos domínios cognitivos responsáveis pela Linguagem e Praxia em sujeitos que se encontram na fase leve da DA. Trata-se de um estudo tipo relato de caso com 2 sujeitos, em que ambos foram submetidos ao protocolo de intervenção de ETCC e COG aplicados simultaneamente. Foi realizada uma análise descritiva dos resultados obtidos através dos subtestes do ADAS-Cog (Nomeação de objetos e dedos, Compreensão de ordens, Capacidade construtiva, Praxia ideativa, Linguagem oral, Dificuldade em encontrar palavras em um discurso espontâneo, Compreensão da linguagem oral), do Teste de Fluência Verbal (FAS) e do Teste de Figuras Sobrepostas de Poppelreuter aplicados nos períodos pré e pós-tratamento que avaliaram os domínios estudados no presente trabalho. Após realizado o protocolo de intervenção, observou-se melhora significativa no desempenho dos sujeitos por meio dos instrumentos de avaliação utilizados. A abordagem terapêutica empregada mostrou-se um método eficaz para o tratamento da DA na fase leve, atuando na manutenção e preservação das funções cognitivas dos sujeitos.Abstract Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder, presenting a decline in cognitive functions and, consequently, a gradual loss of autonomy, according to the evolution of the disease. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effects of the Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) technique associated with Cognitive Training (COG) in the cognitive domains responsible for Language and Praxis in subjects who are in the light phase of AD. This is a case-report study with 2 subjects, in which both were submitted to the tDCS and COG intervention protocol applied simultaneously. A descriptive analysis of the results obtained through ADAS-Cog subtests (Naming of objects and fingers, Order comprehension, Constructive capacity, Praxis ideal, Oral language, Difficulty finding words in a spontaneous speech, Understanding of oral language), The Verbal Fluency Test (FAS) and the Poppelreuter Overlap Test applied in the pre- and post-treatment periods that evaluated the domains studied in the present study. After the intervention protocol, a significant improvement in the performance of the subjects was observed through the evaluation instruments used. The therapeutic approach employed was an effective method for the treatment of AD in the light phase, acting in the maintenance and preservation of the cognitive functions of the subjects.Keywords: Alzheimer's disease, Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation, Cognitive Training, Language, Praxis.Resumen La enfermedad de Alzheimer (DA) es un desorden neurodegenerativo progresivo, con una presentación de declive de las funciones cognitivas y, consecuentemente, pérdida gradual de la autonomía, de acuerdo con la evolución de la enfermedad. El objetivo del presente estudio fue evaluar los efectos de la técnica de Estimulación Transcraniana por Corriente Continua (ETCC) asociada al Entrenamiento Cognitivo (COG) en los dominios cognitivos responsables del Lenguaje y Praxia en sujetos que se encuentran en la fase leve de la DA. Se trata de un estudio tipo relato de caso con 2 sujetos, en que ambos fueron sometidos al protocolo de intervención de ETCC y COG aplicados simultáneamente. Se realizó un análisis descriptivo de los resultados obtenidos a través de los subtítulos del ADAS-Cog (Nombramiento de objetos y dedos, Comprensión de órdenes, Capacidad constructiva, Praxia ideativa, Lenguaje oral, Dificultad en encontrar palabras en un discurso espontáneo, Comprensión del lenguaje oral), de la Prueba de Fluencia Verbal (FAS) y del Prueba de Figuras superpuestas de Poppelreuter aplicadas en los períodos pre y post-tratamiento que evaluaron los dominios estudiados en el presente trabajo. Después de realizado el protocolo de intervención, se observó una mejora significativa en el desempeño de los sujetos por medio de los instrumentos de evaluación utilizados. El abordaje terapéutico empleada se mostró un método eficaz para el tratamiento de la DA en la fase leve, actuando en el mantenimiento y preservación de las funciones cognitivas de los sujetos.Palabras clave: Enfermedad de Alzheimer, Estimulación Transcraniana por Corriente Continua, Entrenamiento Cognitivo, Lenguaje, Praxia.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: In temporomandibular disorder, the pain is a very present and striking symptom, with a tendency to chronicity, through mechanisms of maladaptive neuroplasticity. In the face of this, transcranial direct current stimulation appears as a possible strategy for the treatment of chronic pain in the temporomandibular disorder. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of anodal transcranial direct current stimulation in the pain symptoms and anxiety levels in individuals with chronic myofascial temporomandibular disorder. METHODS: The participants received three different types of intervention in a randomized order: anodic in the primary motor cortex, in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and sham stimulation. RESULTS: There were significant improvements in clinical pain in all stimulation protocols, with a relief of approximately 40% (p=0.001). There was no significant difference in the effect of the transcranial direct current stimulation between the different types of stimulation (p=0.14). There was a positive impact on anxiety symptoms, leading to a significant decrease in state anxiety levels (p=0.035) and trait (p=0.009). CONCLUSION: The use of the transcranial direct current stimulation improved the health status of patients with chronic myofascial temporomandibular disorder, promoting pain relief, decreased level of anxiety, and quality of life.