OBJECTIVE: To compare balance between older adults with and without chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in tasks involving proprioceptive changes and respiratory muscle load, and to investigate the association between balance, functional capacity, and peripheral and respiratory muscle strength. METHODS: Fourteen older adults with COPD undergoing pulmonary rehabilitation and nine older adults without pulmonary disease were evaluated for static balance on a force platform under four conditions: eyes open, eyes closed, eyes closed on foam, and eyes open with respiratory overload. Differences between groups, among conditions and group/condition interactions, were tested using two-way ANOVA. Associations were explored using Pearson’s correlation coefficient. RESULTS: No differences in the posturographic variables were found in the group/condition interactions (p ≥ 0.23). The COPD group exhibited greater total displacement (F = 8.79, p = 0.003), mediolateral sway (F = 4.01, p = 0.04) and anteroposterior velocity (F = 4.28, p = 0.04) in the group effect analysis. Significant differences were found between eyes closed on foam and other conditions for all posturographic variables: anteroposterior sway (F = 13.39), mediolateral sway (F = 28.58), total displacement (F = 59.4), area (F = 37.68), anteroposterior velocity (F = 26.42), and mediolateral velocity (F = 33.29), in the condition effect analysis (p < 0.001, post-hoc). In the COPD group, significant correlations were found between the Glittre-ADL test, anteroposterior sway (r = 0.68, p = 0.01), and anteroposterior velocity (r = 0.67, p = 0.009); the 6MWT was also correlated with anteroposterior velocity (r = 0.59, p = 0.03). CONCLUSION: Older adults with COPD present balance deficits compared to healthy individuals. The unstable surface caused greater postural instability compared to other conditions in both groups. Impaired balance was associated with reduced physical function and exercise capacity.

Balance disorders have been poorly investigated and somewhat neglected in people infected with the human immunodeficiency virus, especially in children, whose have intrinsic and extrinsic risk factors that may compromise the balance. To evaluate the foot plantar pressures and the balance in children with acquired immunodeficiency. We recruited 53 children aged between 6 and 15 years: 33 healthy children, and 20 children with positive serology for the human immunodeficiency virus. A physical examination included anthropometric, reflexes, tactile sensitivity of the foot and orthopedic evaluation. We also collected data of them using Pediatric Equilibrium Scale, baropodometry, and stabilometry. We considered significance level of 0.05 for statistics. Both groups were aged-, sex-matched and similar body mass index and scores of the Pediatric Equilibrium Scale. Three infected children had altered tactile sensitivity, and none had orthopedic or reflex alteration. Infected children had higher mean plantar pressure in the hindfoot than of the control group (p = 0.02). There was higher maximum plantar pressure in the hindfoot of the infected children than of the controls (p = 0.04). Controls had lower maximum plantar pressure in the forefoot than the infected children (p = 0.04). Infected children had larger displacement of the center of pressure (p = 0.006), larger mean velocity of displacement (p = 0.006), and longer duration between successive peaks of displacement than the controls (p = 0.02). Children living with the human immunodeficiency virus discharges great plantar pressures in the hindfoot and to present balance disturbances in the absence of neurological symptomatology.

A lesão de Ligamento Cruzado Anterior (LCA) é uma das lesões ligamentares mais comuns na prática desportiva, principalmente no futebol, devido à mecânica do esporte que acaba favorecendo casos de entorse, e também através de trauma, onde o contato é intenso entre os participantes. Ao fim do período de reabilitação o lesionado de LCA é submetido a exames para avaliar se está apto para o retorno à prática esportiva, dentre eles o principal é o Dinamômetro Isocinético, porém, devido seu alto custo, muitas vezes acabam por utilizar outros testes mais viáveis para a realidade de muitos locais de reabilitação, como o hop test. Objetivo: analisar na literatura a utilização do hop test como um dos métodos utilizados para alta de lesionados de Ligamento Cruzado Anterior, sua incidência e eficácia como meio avaliativo, frente aos demais métodos utilizados devido sua baixa demanda de tempo e recursos para a aplicação.Métodos: revisão na literatura em bases gratuitas sobre o hop test sendo utilizado em lesionados de Ligamento Cruzado Anterior (LCA) comparando com outros testes utilizados neste grupo, nos idiomas português e inglês. Resultados: foram encontrados somente 3 estudos abrangendo os requisitos do estudo. Conclusão: o hop test se mostra mais confiável comparado a uma análise subjetiva, e bom comparado ao dinamômetro isocinético, porém se faz necessário a realização de mais estudos sobre o tema.