ABSTRACT The dynamic balance of the lower limbs has shown great importance in accomplishing activities of daily living, especially for walking and maintenance in the orthostatic position. In this context, individuals with knee osteoarthritis have changes in their physical capacity, mainly due to joint changes and muscular wear. The instrument called OctoBalance® is one of the most used to evaluate this balance, which analyses four different executions of movement in the limbs. However, individuals with knee osteoarthritis cannot perform this evaluation due to the need for single limb support during movements. This study aimed to verify whether it is reproducible to perform the dynamic balance evaluation of lower limbs with a reduction of 10% of body weight through a suspension system. A cross-sectional study was carried out with 2 collections with a 48-hour interval between them, using the Lower Body Test performed with OctoBalance®. The dynamic balance test followed the protocol of 3 repetitions observing the learning factor and then 3 repetitions where the values were collected, with the suggested adaptation for all 4 diagonals in both limbs. The interclass correlation index (ICI), coefficient of variation (CV), estimative standard error (EEE) and minimum detectable difference (MDD) were calculated as indicators of reproducibility. Also, Bland-Altman Graphs were used for visual verification of the agreement between the means. Results: The reliability tests showed a very high interclass correlation through the ICI and low variation values for all the movements evaluated through the CV. The EEE and MDD calculations showed positive responses for greater reliability, and the Bland-Altman graphs showed an agreement between the means. Reproducibility was positive for the Lower Body Test with the Octobalance® platform for the evaluation of lower limb dynamic balance in women with knee osteoarthritis.

Abstract Background: Neuromuscular electrical stimulation seems to be a promising option to intensify the rehabilitation and improve the exercise capacity of patients in the immediate postoperative period of cardiac surgery. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the hemodynamic (heart rate, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, and mean blood pressure) and respiratory (respiratory rate and oxygen saturation) responses to neuromuscular electrical stimulation in the immediate postoperative period in patients submitted to cardiac surgery and to verify its feasibility and safety. Methods: This is a pilot randomized controlled trial, wherein critical patients in the immediate postoperative period of cardiac surgery were randomly assigned to a control group, using sham neuromuscular electrical stimulation, or an experimental group, submitted to neuromuscular electrical stimulation sessions (FES), for 60 min, with a 50-Hz frequency, 200-µs pulse duration, time on: 3 s, and time off: 9 s. Data distribution was evaluated by the Shapiro-Wilk test. The analysis of variance was used and a p-value < 0.05 was considered significant. Results: Thirty patients were included in the study. The neuromuscular electrical stimulation was applied within the first 23.13 ± 5.24 h after cardiac surgery, and no changes were found regarding the hemodynamic and respiratory variables between the patients who underwent neuromuscular electrical stimulation, and those in the control group. Conclusions: In the present study, neuromuscular electrical stimulation did not promote changes in hemodynamic and respiratory responses of patients in the immediate postoperative period of cardiac surgery.

RESUMO Objetivo: Avaliar a dor e observar parâmetros fisiológicos em crianças sedadas e submetidas à ventilação mecânica durante um procedimento de rotina. Métodos: Estudo observacional realizado em uma unidade de terapia intensiva pediátrica. Foram avaliadas 35 crianças, com idades entre 1 mês e 12 anos, em três momentos distintos: antes, durante e 5 minutos após coleta de sangue arterial para análise gasométrica (procedimento doloroso). Utilizou-se a Escala Face, Legs, Activity, Cry and Consolability para avaliação da dor e foram registradas a frequência cardíaca, frequência respiratória, saturação periférica de oxigênio e pressão arterial (sistólica e diastólica). O nível de sedação dos participantes foi verificado utilizando-se a escala Comfort-B, aplicada antes da mensuração da dor e da avaliação dos parâmetros fisiológicos. Resultados: Durante os estímulos dolorosos, ocorreu aumento do escore da Escala Face, Legs, Activity, Cry and Consolability (p = 0,0001). Houve também aumento da frequência cardíaca (p = 0,03), da frequência respiratória (p = 0,001) e da pressão arterial diastólica (p = 0,006) em razão da dor causada pelo procedimento de rotina. Conclusões: Avaliação da dor com uso de escalas padrão, como a Escala Face, Legs, Activity, Cry and Consolability, e observação de parâmetros fisiológicos, deve ser realizada rotineiramente para melhorar o manejo da dor nas unidades de terapia intensiva pediátricas.

ABSTRACT Objective: This study assessed pain and observed physiological parameters in sedated and mechanically ventilated children during a routine procedure. Methods: This observational study was performed in a pediatric intensive care unit. Thirty-five children between 1 month and 12 years of age were assessed before, during, and five minutes after an arterial blood collection for gas analysis (painful procedure). Face, Legs, Activity, Cry and Consolability scale was used to assess pain. In addition, patients' heart rate, respiratory rate, peripheral saturation of oxygen and blood pressure (diastolic and systolic) were recorded. COMFORT-B scale was applied before the pain and physiological parameter assessments to verify sedation level of the subjects. Results: There was an increase in Face, Legs, Activity, Cry and Consolability score (p = 0.0001) during painful stimuli. There was an increase in heart rate (p = 0.03), respiratory rate (p = 0.001) and diastolic blood pressure (p = 0.006) due to pain caused by the routine procedure. Conclusions: This study suggests that assessments of pain using standard scales, such as Face, Legs, Activity, Cry and Consolability score, and other physiological parameters should be consistently executed to optimize pain management in pediatric intensive care units.

Introdução: A força muscular periférica tem sido pouco explorada na literatura atual no contexto da reabilitação cardiovascular. Objetivo: Avaliar a força muscular periférica de pacientes submetidos à cirurgia cardíaca eletiva. Métodos: Trata-se de um estudo observacional e longitudinal. A força muscular periférica foi mensurada por meio de dinamometria isométrica de MMII (extensores e flexores de joelho) em três momentos distintos: pré-operatório (M1), dia da alta da unidade de terapia intensiva (M2) e dia da alta hospitalar (M3). Os participantes receberam atendimento fisioterapêutico pré e pós-operatório durante os dias do internamento, nos períodos matutino e vespertino. Resultados: Foram avaliados 22 pacientes. Os valores de força muscular periférica de extensores de joelho pré-operatórios encontrados foram cerca de 50% menores do que os preditos para a população saudável. Ao comparar a força muscular prévia (M1), com os demais momentos de avaliação, encontrou-se em M2 queda de 29% para o movimento de extensão do joelho e 25% para o movimento de flexão de joelho e queda de 10% para o movimento de extensão do joelho e 13% para o movimento de flexão de joelho em M3 ao comparar com M1. Conclusão: Os valores de força muscular periférica prévia dos pacientes do estudo foram menores do que o predito para a população saudável com a mesma faixa etária. Após o evento cirúrgico, essa redução é ainda mais notável, sendo reestabelecida até o momento da alta hospitalar a valores próximos ao basal.

Introduction: Peripheral muscle strength has been little explored in the literature in the context of cardiac rehabilitation. Objective: To evaluate the peripheral muscle strength of patients undergoing elective cardiac surgery. Methods: This was a longitudinal observational study. The peripheral muscle strength was measured using isometric dynamometry lower limb (knee extensors and flexors) at three different times: preoperatively (M1), the day of discharge (M2) and hospital discharge (M3). Participants received physiotherapy pre and postoperatively during the days of hospitalization during the morning and afternoon. Results: Twenty-two patients were evaluated. The values of peripheral muscle strength of knee extensors preoperative found were about 50% lower than those predicted for the healthy population. When comparing muscle strength prior (M1), with the remaining evaluation, found himself in a fall of 29% for the movement of knee extension and 25% for knee flexion in M2 and a decrease of 10% movement for knee extension and 13% for knee flexion in M3 when comparing with M1. Conclusion: The values of peripheral muscle strength prior of the study patients were lower than predicted for the healthy population of the same age. After the surgical event this reduction is even more remarkable, being reestablished until the time of discharge, to values close to baseline.