BackgroundIn the 10 most populated countries in the world, Parkinson's disease (PD) affects more than 5 million individuals. Despite optimal treatment options already developed for the disease, concomitant involvement of other areas of health care plays an important role in complementing the treatment. From this perspective, dancing can be viewed as a non-drug alternative that can reduce falls by improving some motor skills, such as mobility, balance, gait, and posture, and can also improve the overall quality of life. Brazilian samba promotes improvement in motor and non-motor symptoms in individuals with PD, providing a new treatment option for this population.ObjectiveThe main objective of this quasi-experimental study is to provide a 12-week samba protocol (2x/week) for individuals with PD and to compare its effects with the group without intervention. The hypothesis is that the Brazilian samba protocol will promote improvement in primary (motor) and secondary (non-motor) outcomes in individuals with PD.MethodsThe sample will be selected at random from individuals diagnosed with PD in the city of Florianopolis (SC, Brazil). Sample size calculation was performed with the G*Power 3.1.9.2 software, with 0.447 effect size, at 5% significance level, power of 0.9, and test and sample loss of 20%. This yielded 60 individuals divided between the intervention and control groups. The questionnaires will be filled out before and after the dance intervention. The data collection for the control group will be held simultaneously to the intervention group. The classes will last for 1 hour, twice a week in the evening for 12 weeks, and all classes will be divided into warm-up, main part, and relaxation. Two-way analysis of variance with repeated measures and Sidak post-hoc comparison test will be used for a comparative analysis of the final results of the control group with the experimental group and of the within-group changes between pre- and postintervention period.ResultsWe expect to complete follow-up in September 2017.ConclusionsThe major inspiration for this study was to encourage the creation of new rehabilitation programs that do not emphasize doctor involvement. This is a unique protocol for PD and we believe it can be an important tool to alleviate the motor and non-motor symptoms of individuals with PD. Dance is a simple activity depending on little equipment and few financial resources, facilitating its implementation and improving the cost-benefit relationship. In addition, activities that have a cultural aspect for the population in question, and which are pleasant, enable the participants to commit long term. This can enhance patient’s compliance with the therapy, which is often a problem for many rehabilitation programs.

Introduction: People with Parkinson's disease constantly have low levels of physical activity. Dancing has become increasingly important for treating the disease and can help improve non-motor symptoms. Objective: To analyze the influence of Brazilian samba on the non-motor symptoms of PD according to TD and PGID subtypes. Methods: A 12-week, non-randomized clinical trial, through comparison with a control group. The 23 individuals who agreed to participate in the activities formed the experimental group (EG) and the 24 individuals who opted not to participate in the Brazilian samba classes comprised the control group (CG). A questionnaire was applied, composed of validated instruments. Mini Mental State Examination – MMSE; HY – Disability Scale; Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale – UPDRS 1 and total values; Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire – PDQ-39, Parkinson's Disease Sleep Scale – PDSS; Beck Depression Inventory – BDI; Fatigue Severity Scale – FSS and Magnitude of Perceived Changes. Results: After the twelve weeks of intervention, it was observed that the EG showed improvement in the scores of all the tests. The comparison between groups, however, indicated a significant difference in the post-UPDRS1 period in which the EG presented improvement in cognitive impairment, while the CG presented a deficit in these values. The results of the division between disease subtypes show a greater change in the values between individuals of the TD group, when comparing the EG with the CG. For the EG, the greatest difference between pre- and post- intervention was fatigue. Conclusion: There was a positive trend in all the variables studied after the application of the protocol. This demonstrates that interventions such as dance may have greater effects on non-motor symptoms, depending on the expected progression of the disease. The scarcity of studies that use this approach in their analyses may explain the lack of evidence in this symptomatology related to dance. Level of evidence II; Therapeutic studies – Investigating the results of treatment.

Background: New protocols applied in the rehabilitation of Parkinson's disease enable different action strategies for health professionals, as well as a new range of activities for these individuals. However, no valid samba protocol with activity prescription for this population was found in the literature. Objective: To investigate the feasibility of a Brazilian samba protocol in individuals with Parkinson's disease. Methods: Twenty participants, mean age of 66.4±10.7 years, diagnosed with idiopathic Parkinson 's disease, divided into: experimental group that received the intervention of Brazilian samba dance classes (10 individuals); and control group that maintained their routine activities (10 individuals). For data collection, a divided questionnaire was used: General Information; Disability stages scale; Balance and Quality of Life. Results: During class implementation, there were no falls, as all dance activities adhered to the details of the protocol steps without any changes. On average, patients completed 82.7% of activities. After 12 weeks, the experimental group had improvements in the UPDRS global score, in daily activities, and on motor examination. There was also improvement in balance scores and in the mobility domain of the quality of life in the experimental group. Conclusion: The samba protocol seems to be feasible and safe for patients with PD. Moreover, it has pleasant characteristics and offers sufficient physical benefits for combination with drug treatment. There were also benefits in social relationships and as a possible rehabilitation tool in individuals with Parkinson's disease.

ObjetivoO presente estudo teve como objetivo analisar a aptidão física relacionada à idade de idosas praticantes de ginástica funcional.MétodosEstudo ex post facto que analisou 115 idosas com idade superior a 60 anos, integrantes de um programa de atividade física e divididas em diferentes grupos etários. Foram analisadas flexibilidade, agilidade, capacidade aeróbica, força e resistência, por meio do protocolo de testes desenvolvido por Rikli e Jones em três avaliações: avaliação 1 (março de 2010), avaliação 2 (dezembro de 2010) e avaliação 3 (março de 2011). Para análise, após verificação da normalidade dos dados, por meio do teste de Kolmogorov-Smirnov, utilizaram-se a estatística inferencial com teste t de Student não-pareado com post hoc de Scheffé para verificar diferenças intergrupos e o teste de Análise de Variância OneWay, com post hoc de Bonferroni para verificar diferenças entre grupamentos etários.ResultadosForam encontradas diferenças estatisticamente significativas entre os grupos etários nos componentes agilidade e capacidade aeróbica em todas as avaliações (p=0,002; p=0,010, p<0,001/p<0,001; p<0,001; p<0,001; respectivamente), com queda de desempenho no grupo mais idoso. Nas demais variáveis, não se obteve significância, entretanto observou-se queda do desempenho em função da idade.ConclusãoPara efeitos de manutenção da aptidão física de idosos, ressalta-se a importância da prática regular da atividade física, com a implantação de programas de exercícios apropriados e de medidas preventivas.Palavras-chave: Aptidão física. Atividade motora. Envelhecimento.

Introduction: attention has been focused on investigating the prevalence of physical activity (PA) in different populations. Objective: to analyze factors associated with the usual practice of PA in women from areas of Santa Catarina, Brazil. Methods: the cross-sectional study enrolled a sample of 2750 women with a mean age of 32.97±10.9 years. PA was assessed by the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). The sample was divided into six groups: (Southern Region; Itajaí Valley; Northern Region; Western Region; Highlands Region and the Greater Florianópolis Region, SC, Brazil). Statistical analysis was descriptive and inferential.Results: approximately 68.3% of women were considered sufficiently active (active + very active), in particular the Greater Florianópolis Region, SC, Brazil. In the practice of moderate and moderate + vigorous activity, the women of Western Region presented the highest averages (65±64 min/d; 105±102 min/d), respectively, and those in the range of 20-32 years old showed 61% chance of being considered active compared with women in the range of 46-59 years old. As for the body mass index (BMI), women with normal weight of the South Region and Itajaí Valley regions had 2.24 (95% CI;1.15-4.35) and 1.76 (95% CI; 1.14-2.73) times more chances to be active when compared to the overweight women. Conclusion: women in the regions of Santa Catarina were considered sufficiently active. Moderate + vigorous PA was the most prevalent in the six regions studied.