Introduction: Previous studies have shown music therapy as a way to improve the clinical status of premature infants, improving vital signs and decreasing crying episodes. Objective: Compare the effects of music on vital signs of premature infants undergoing respiratory physiotherapy. Methods: We performed a randomized clinical trial consisting of 26 premature infants, divided into control group (N=12) and study group (N=14), carried out in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. All newborn infants undergone standard practice physiotherapy for 15 minutes: vibration and aspiration. On the study group they were exposed to classical music three minutes before the standard physiotherapy, and finished three minutes after the end of these procedures. A recorder was placed inside the incubator with an intensity of 25 decibels. Measurements of heart and respiratory rate and oxygen saturation were measured before, during and after each sessions of respiratory physiotherapy for two groups. Results: When comparing control and study groups regarding heart rate frequency and oxygen saturation, there was no statistically significant difference, but the inclusion of music determined clinically the variability of these data and 30% of the variation in respiratory rate was due to the inclusion of music during and after the physiotherapy, and the neonatal noninvasive ventilation showed less variation in their respiratory rate when compared to the neonatal on oxygen therapy. Conclusion: The results have showed a beneficial effect of music, showing lower respiratory rate in newborn infants during and after respiratory physiotherapy procedure.

[Purpose] To estimate the effect of Klapp method on idiopathic scoliosis in school students. [Subjects and Methods] A single-blind randomized clinical trial with 22 students randomly divided into intervention group (n=12) and inactive control group (n=10). Exercise protocol consisted of Klapp method, 20 sessions, three times a week for intervention group, and inactivity for control group. Dorsal muscle strength was measured by dynamometer; body asymmetries and gibbosity angles were measured by biophotogrammetry. Data were obtained by Generalized Estimated Equation, with 5% significance level. Clinical impact for dependent variables was estimated by “d” Cohen. [Results] There was no change in intragroup analysis and intergroup for all postural symmetry variables. However, it was detected intergroup difference in extensor muscle strength and intergroup difference with marginal significance of gibbosity angles. Regarding extensor muscle strength, intervention group produced average improvement of 7.0 kgf compared to control group. Gibbosity angles progressed less in intervention group, with 5.71° average delay compared to control group. [Conclusion] Klapp method was effective for gibbosity stabilization and it improves spine extensor muscle strength.

Objective To investigate somatosensory deficits in the ipsilesional wrist and hand in chronic stroke patients and correlate these deficits with contralesional sensorimotor dysfunctions, functional testing, laterality and handedness.Methods Fifty subjects (twenty-two healthy volunteers and twenty-eight stroke patients) underwent evaluation with Semmes-Weinstein monofilaments, the sensory and motor Fugl-Meyer Assessment, the Nottingham Sensory Assessment in both wrists and hands and functional tests.Results Twenty-five patients had sensory changes in the wrist and hand contralateral to the stroke, and eighteen patients (64%) had sensory deficits in the ipsilesional wrist and hand. The most significant ipsilesional sensory loss was observed in the left-handed patients. We found that the patients with brain damage in the right hemisphere had better scores for ipsilesional tactile sensation.Conclusions A reduction in ipsilesional conscious proprioception, tactile or thermal sensation was found in stroke subjects. Right hemisphere damage and right-handed subjects had better scores in ipsilesional tactile sensation.

Background: Idiopathic Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that has a prevalence of 18–328 per 100,000 in habitants in developing countries, with an estimated 3.3% of the Brazilian elderly population affected by PD throughout life. The classic symptoms include a resting tremor, muscular rigidity, bradykinesia and postural instability, which are all motor symptoms. The mobility of the subjects is compromised early, thus impairing their balance and limiting their ability to perform simple tasks. The restricted movement prevents dissociation between the head and trunk during walking, and freezing occurs as advanced disease reduces the progression of movements during walking. Objective: To analyze mobility and functionality profiles in subjects with Parkinson’s disease and compare them with healthy subjects. Method: A sample was consisted of 10 subjects with PD and 10 healthy elderly subjects. Assessment tools were used to quantify the severity of PD the scale Hoehn and Yah (HY), for mobility were used the Dynamic Parkinson’s Gait Scale (DYPAGS) and Modified Parkinson Activity Scale (PAS modified), for functionality were used the Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) and dual task (DT) performance. Results: The subjects with PD showed worse performance in mobility and DT as determined by the modified PAS (p=0.0001) and DYPAGS (p=0.0001). Correlations were found between the UPDRS, the Gait Freezing Questionnaire (FOG), the PAS modified score, left-hand grip strength and the HY values (p<0.05). There were no differences in prehensile muscle strength between PD and healthy subjects. Conclusions: Subjects with PD showed decreased mobility and functionality for activities related to ADLs, gait and DT compared to healthy elderly subjects. Disease severity, muscle strength and freezing were correlated with the mobility and DT performance in subjects with PD.

ObjetivoCorrelacionar o nível de independência funcional de pacientes pós-acidente vascular encefálico com a sobrecarga de seus cuidadores. MétodosTrata-se de um estudo observacional descritivo com cuidadores de ambos os sexos e faixa etária de 16 a 74 anos, avaliados em domicílio. Os cuidadores, após aceitarem participar do estudo e assinarem o termo de consentimento livre e esclarecido, foram avaliados por um questionário, que serviu como roteiro de entrevista, pela Escala de Sobrecarga do Cuidador (Caregiver Burden Scale) e pela Escala Medida de Independência Funcional.ResultadosAs 27 entrevistas realizadas permitiram traçar um perfil dos cuidadores, tendopredominância de filhos (37,03%) e cônjuges (37,03%) na realização do cuidado, seguidospor outros (25,9%). Neste estudo, observou-se que os cuidadores apresentaram maiorsobrecarga de cuidado nos domínios tensão geral (1.83) e isolamento (1.78), evidenciandoque não só os pacientes, mas também os cuidadores precisam de atenção e apoioprofissional. No entanto, neste estudo, não houve correlação significativa (r=-0,1551e p=0,4399) entre os domínios da Escola Medida de Independências Funcional e daEscala de Sobrecarga do Cuidador, podendo ser justificado com as novas estratégiasadquiridas pelo cuidador com o intuito de superar as crises na condição dos cuidados.ConclusãoConclui-se que este estudo possibilitou analisar o quadro funcional do paciente comsequela de acidente vascular encefálico e, especificamente, de seu cuidador, evidenciandoa necessidade de desenvolver um sistema de apoio formal e informal para os cuidadores.