Objective: Despite the high prevalence of rheumatic heart disease in Brazil, the occurrence of functional impairment in children and adolescents with rheumatic heart disease is not clear. The aim of this study was to evaluate exercise tolerance, respiratory muscle strength, lung function, and quality of life of children and adolescents with rheumatic heart disease. Methods: Cross-sectional study, conducted from August to December 2014 with children and adolescents with rheumatic heart disease aged 8 to 16 years. The participants, after completing the socioeconomic, clinical, and quality of life questionnaires were tested by spirometry, manovacuometry and in a 6-minute walk test. The variables and their reference values were compared using the paired Student’s t-test. Comparisons between predicted and observed walking distance were done also by Student’s t-test, consdiering the categorization of the participants. Correlations between these differences and quantitative variables were assessed by Pearson’s coefficient, being significant p<0.05. Results: All 56 participants had a walked distance lower than predicted (p<0.001). The differences between predicted and observed distances were positively correlated with the baseline heart rate (r=0.3545; p=0.007). Expiratory muscle strength was also lower than the predicted values (p<0,001). Regarding quality of life assessment, the mean scores were 70, 77 and 67% for general, physical, and psychosocial aspects, respectively. Conclusions: Children and adolescents with rheumatic heart disease have reduced exercise tolerance, which is related to their higher baseline heart rate; they also show impaired expiratory strength and quality of life.

Introduction Pain represents a frequent phenomenon among the general population with great socio-economic impact. TENS is one of the most common forms of electroanalgesia. However, totally effective stimulation parameters remain uncertain. Thus, this study aims to assess the effects of 4 Hz, 10 Hz and 100 Hz TENS applied to the LU7 (Lieque) acupoint on cold-induced pain in young healthy subjects. Methods 100 volunteers, divided into five groups (three TENS groups, one electrode group and one placebo group), completed six experimental cycles. Each cycle comprised three phases: pretreatment, treatment and post-treatment. In each cycle, pain was induced by immersion of the hand into ice water and the pain threshold latency was measured. For the analysis of results, we used the one-way ANOVA test, followed by the Student-Newman-Keuls post hoc test. The level of significance was p < 0.05. Results The 4 Hz TENS group the pain showed elevation of the pain threshold during the treatment phase, when compared to pretreatment (p < 0.05). This elevation was maintained in the post-treatment phase. The other groups showed no changes in the pain threshold. Conclusion 4 Hz TENS applied with 1x1 cm electrodes to LU7 acupoint increases hypothermia-induced pain threshold latency in young healthy subjects.