BACKGROUND: Distal ulnar nerve injury leads to impairment of hand function due to motor and sensorial changes. Stimulus electrodiagnosis (SE) is a method of assessing and monitoring the development of this type of injury. OBJECTIVE: To identify the most sensitive electrodiagnostic parameters to evaluate ulnar nerve recovery and to correlate these parameters (Rheobase, Chronaxie, and Accommodation) with motor function evaluations. METHOD: A prospective cohort study of ten patients submitted to ulnar neurorrhaphy and evaluated using electrodiagnosis and motor assessment at two moments of neural recovery. A functional evaluation using the DASH questionnaire (Disability of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand) was conducted at the end to establish the functional status of the upper limb. RESULTS: There was significant reduction only in the Chronaxie values in relation to time of injury and side (with and without lesion), as well as significant correlation of Chronaxie with the motor domain score. CONCLUSION: Chronaxie was the most sensitive SE parameter for detecting differences in neuromuscular responses during the ulnar nerve recovery process and it was the only parameter correlated with the motor assessment.

The objectives of this study were 1) to compare the extent of cross-transfer of high- versus low-load unilateral resistance training performed with external pacing of the movement (URTEP) and 2) to compare the time course of the two approaches. Fifty subjects were randomized to one of the following three groups: G80 [two sets at 80% and two sets at 40% of one maximum repetition (1RM), 1 concentric second and 3 eccentric seconds controlled by a metronome]; G40 (four sets at 40% of 1 RM, 1s and 3s controlled by a metronome); or CG (control group). At week 1, the G80 increased the elbow flexion 1RM (P<0.05) in contralateral arm. At week 4, both G80 and G40 increased the elbow flexion 1RM (P<0.05) in contralateral arm. However, a greater 1RM gain was observed in the G80 than in the G40 (P< .05). Thus, although higher-load URTEP seems to enhance the cross-education effect when compared to lower-load URTEP, the cross-education of dynamic strength can be achieved in the two approaches after four weeks. Many patients would benefit from cross-education of muscle strength through URPEP, even who are unable to exercise with high loads and in short periods of immobilization. Novelty bullets: (1) Unilateral resistance training promotes cross-education of dynamic muscle strength. (2) However, higher-load resistance training enhances the effects of cross-education of muscle strength.

Objective: This study aimed to verify which of the different cutoff points of low muscle mass (LMM) based on appendicular lean mass (ALM) is associated with osteoporosis in postmenopausal women (PMW). Methods: Cross-sectional study. PMW (n = 355) were classified for the presence of osteoporosis (score <−2.5 standard deviations) at the femoral neck and lumbar spine and LMM (three cutoff points: ALM < 15 kg; ALM/height2 [ALM index] <5.67 kg/m2 and ratio between ALM and body mass index [ALMBMI] <0.512). Results: After adjustments for confounding factors, binary logistic regression showed that ALM and ALM index were associated with osteoporosis at the lumbar spine (odds ratio [OR] = 5.3 [95% CI: 2.3-12.5] and OR = 2.5 [95% CI: 1.0-6.2], respectively) and only ALM was associated with osteoporosis at the femoral neck (OR = 16.1 [95% CI: 4.1-62.5]). When women were classified as having osteoporosis in at least one site, only ALM was associated with osteoporosis (OR = 7.7 [95% CI: 3.3-15.6]). There was no association between ALMBMI and osteoporosis. The predictive value of ALM for osteoporosis decreased after BMI or height were included as a covariate in the model. Conclusion: Absolute ALM (<15 kg) seems to be the most suitable for predicting osteoporosis based on LMM in PMW.

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Functional tests have been performed to predict cognitive decline in postmenopausal women and may be an important tool to identify early reductions in cognitive performance in this population. However, it is still unclear which functional test is more sensitive for detecting cognitive decline in the investigated sample. The aim of this study was to verify the association between functional performance and cognitive function in postmenopausal women and to analyze whether the gait speed of 400 meters (400wt) and Timed Up and Go (TUG) tests are predictors of cognitive function in this sample. One hundred and twenty eight postmenopausal women (60.8 ± 7.9 years) participated in this cross-sectional study. Body composition was assessed using Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA), functional performance by the TUG and 400wt tests, cognitive performance by the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) test and muscle strength by maximum voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) in lower limbs. An association between functional performance and cognitive function was observed in middle-aged postmenopausal women. The TUG test was associated with the MoCA test (B = -0.79; SE = 0.29; p = 0.008). However, no association was observed between 400wt with the MoCA test (B = 3.03; SE = 1.92; p = 0.117). These results show that the TUG test is a good predictor of cognitive decline in postmenopausal middle-aged women.