Abstract Introduction The aim of this pilot study based on convenience sampling was to analyze the feasibility to quantitatively discriminate Trendelenburg sign (TS), a characteristic drop in pelvic position during gait in hip disfunctions, in patients with total hip arthroplasty (THA), by assessing gait variability and symmetry using inertial sensors. Methods Thirteen patients with right THA, divided into two groups with (GTS, n=4) and without TS (GnTS, n=9) assessed by experienced physician, were enrolled in the study. Harris Hip Score was applied for specific evaluation of THA. The protocol consisted in walking on a level treadmill during 3 minutes with two inertial sensors attached at anterior superior iliac spine of both sides. For each left and right step, features were extracted from the Y-axis gyroscope signals: peak value, mean absolute value, standard deviation and range. For each feature, a symmetry ratio was calculated as the ratio between left and right side. Results No significant differences were found in Harris Hip Score between groups. The variability assessed by standard deviation for left step, contralateral to the replaced side, was significantly larger for GTS group (p<0.001). Significant differences in the symmetry ratios were found between GTS and GnTS for all features extracted from gyroscopes Y-axis (W=144, p<0.001). The symmetry ratios for GnTS group were approximately equal one (except for range), whereas for the GTS group they exceed the 10% criterion. Conclusion The variability and symmetry ratios of gait features extracted from inertial sensors were successful to discriminate TS in THA patients.

Abstract Introduction: People carry backpacks of different weight in different positions every day. The effects of backpack wearing under different loads and positions were assessed according to the gait’s spatiotemporal parameters and their variability in young adults. Methods Twenty-one subjects performed trials of 4 min in the conditions: control condition with no backpack; bilateral back load consisting of 10% body weight (BW); bilateral back load of 20% BW (B20); unilateral load of 10% BW; unilateral load with 20% BW (U20); bilateral frontal load with 10% BW; bilateral frontal load with 20% BW. Results Step length (SL) and step frequency (SF) show that frontal conditions differed from others as seen in B20. Gait cycle phases showed an increase in the B20 condition for double stance phase and stance phase, swing phase presented reduction in the B20 condition. There were significant main effects in position for SL, SF, and walk ratio, in load only for stride width. The highest variability of spatiotemporal parameters occurred in the U20 condition. All load conditions with 20% BW showed a greater variability when compared to the 10% BW counterpart. Conclusion We concluded that young adults can cope with up to a 15% BW load under a bilateral back position, but in the frontal position not even a 10% BW load was proven to be a safe limit. 20% BW loads should be avoided in any position. These recommendations may assure increased gait stability, decreased trunk forward lean and decreased muscle activation and fatigue reducing back pain occurrence.

OBJETIVO: comparar a composição corporal de pacientes em hemodiálise com sujeitos saudáveis, por diferentes métodos de avaliação. MÉTODOS: estudo transversal realizado com sujeitos do sexo masculino com avaliações antropométricas, bioimpedância elétrica e análise vetorial. RESULTADOS: a prega cutânea tricipital e a circunferência de braço foram maiores (p<0,001) nos sujeitos saudáveis. As variáveis da bioimpedância, também, tiveram valores maiores e significativos nesse grupo. O intervalo de confiança da análise vetorial dos pacientes e sujeitos saudáveis mostrou diferença significativa (p<0,0001). Os intervalos de tolerância para hidratação revelaram que 55,20% dos pacientes estavam desidratados; 10,30% com edema aparente e 34,50% com hidratação normal. A bioimpedância e a análise vetorial determinaram que 52% dos pacientes tinham redução e 14% aumento da massa celular. CONCLUSÕES: as diferenças na composição corporal entre pacientes e sujeitos saudáveis foram demonstradas por meio da bioimpedância e análise vetorial, mas, não pelas medidas da circunferência e da área muscular de braço.

OBJECTIVE: to compare the body composition of patients undergoing hemodialysis with that of healthy individuals using different methods. METHOD: cross-sectional study assessing male individuals using anthropometric markers, electrical bioimpedance and vector analysis. RESULTS: the healthy individuals presented larger triceps skinfold and arm circumference (p<0.001). The bioimpedance variables also presented significant higher values in this group. Significant difference was found in the confidence interval of the vector analysis performed for both the patients and healthy individuals (p<0.0001). The tolerance intervals showed that 55.20% of the patients were dehydrated, 10.30% presented visible edema, and 34.50% were within normal levels of hydration. Bioimpedance and vector analysis revealed that 52% of the patients presented decreased cell mass while 14.00% presented increased cell mass. CONCLUSIONS: the differences in the body composition of patients and healthy individuals were revealed through bioimpedance and vector analysis but not through their measures of arm circumference and arm muscle area.

OBJETIVO: comparar la composición corporal de pacientes en hemodiálisis con sujetos sanos, por diferentes métodos de evaluación. MÉTODOS: estudio transversal realizado con sujetos del sexo masculino con evaluaciones antropométricas, impedancia bioeléctrica y análisis vectorial. RESULTADOS: el pliegue cutáneo tricipital y la circunferencia de brazo fueron mayores (p<0,001) en los sujetos sanos. Las variables de la impedancia bioeléctrica también mostraron valores mayores y significativos en este grupo. El intervalo de confianza del análisis vectorial de los pacientes y sujetos sanos mostró diferencia significativa (p<0,0001). Los intervalos de tolerancia para hidratación revelaron que el 55,20% de los pacientes estaba deshidratado; 10,30% con edema aparente y 34,50% hidratación normal. La impedancia bioeléctrica y el análisis vectorial determinaron que el 52% de los pacientes sufría de reducción y el 14,00% aumento de la masa celular. CONCLUSIONES: las diferencias en la composición corporal entre pacientes y sujetos sanos fueron demostradas a través de la impedancia bioeléctrica y análisis vectorial, pero no por las medidas de la circunferencia y del área muscular de brazo.

OBJECTIVE: to compare the body composition of patients undergoing hemodialysis with that of healthy individuals using different methods. METHOD: cross-sectional study assessing male individuals using anthropometric markers, electrical bioimpedance and vector analysis. RESULTS: the healthy individuals presented larger triceps skinfold and arm circumference (p<0.001). The bioimpedance variables also presented significant higher values in this group. Significant difference was found in the confidence interval of the vector analysis performed for both the patients and healthy individuals (p<0.0001). The tolerance intervals showed that 55.20% of the patients were dehydrated, 10.30% presented visible edema, and 34.50% were within normal levels of hydration. Bioimpedance and vector analysis revealed that 52% of the patients presented decreased cell mass while 14.00% presented increased cell mass. CONCLUSIONS: the differences in the body composition of patients and healthy individuals were revealed through bioimpedance and vector analysis but not through their measures of arm circumference and arm muscle area.

OBJETIVO: comparar la composición corporal de pacientes en hemodiálisis con sujetos sanos, por diferentes métodos de evaluación. MÉTODOS: estudio transversal realizado con sujetos del sexo masculino con evaluaciones antropométricas, impedancia bioeléctrica y análisis vectorial. RESULTADOS: el pliegue cutáneo tricipital y la circunferencia de brazo fueron mayores (p<0,001) en los sujetos sanos. Las variables de la impedancia bioeléctrica también mostraron valores mayores y significativos en este grupo. El intervalo de confianza del análisis vectorial de los pacientes y sujetos sanos mostró diferencia significativa (p<0,0001). Los intervalos de tolerancia para hidratación revelaron que el 55,20% de los pacientes estaba deshidratado; 10,30% con edema aparente y 34,50% hidratación normal. La impedancia bioeléctrica y el análisis vectorial determinaron que el 52% de los pacientes sufría de reducción y el 14,00% aumento de la masa celular. CONCLUSIONES: las diferencias en la composición corporal entre pacientes y sujetos sanos fueron demostradas a través de la impedancia bioeléctrica y análisis vectorial, pero no por las medidas de la circunferencia y del área muscular de brazo.

OBJETIVO: comparar a composição corporal de pacientes em hemodiálise com sujeitos saudáveis, por diferentes métodos de avaliação. MÉTODOS: estudo transversal realizado com sujeitos do sexo masculino com avaliações antropométricas, bioimpedância elétrica e análise vetorial. RESULTADOS: a prega cutânea tricipital e a circunferência de braço foram maiores (p<0,001) nos sujeitos saudáveis. As variáveis da bioimpedância, também, tiveram valores maiores e significativos nesse grupo. O intervalo de confiança da análise vetorial dos pacientes e sujeitos saudáveis mostrou diferença significativa (p<0,0001). Os intervalos de tolerância para hidratação revelaram que 55,20% dos pacientes estavam desidratados; 10,30% com edema aparente e 34,50% com hidratação normal. A bioimpedância e a análise vetorial determinaram que 52% dos pacientes tinham redução e 14% aumento da massa celular. CONCLUSÕES: as diferenças na composição corporal entre pacientes e sujeitos saudáveis foram demonstradas por meio da bioimpedância e análise vetorial, mas, não pelas medidas da circunferência e da área muscular de braço.

OBJETIVOS: Descrever o processo de inicialização da marcha de gestantes e comparar o comportamento do centro de pressão nos três trimestres gestacionais. MÉTODOS: Foram avaliadas 57 gestantes de baixo risco, com idades de 18 a 35 anos, em três trimestres gestacionais, selecionadas por conveniência. Foram dividas em três grupos por idade gestacional - 1º trimestre (4-12 semanas), 2º trimestre (13-28 semanas) e 3º trimestre (29-42 semanas) -, sendo 19 gestantes para cada trimestre. Cada gestante foi posicionada em posição ortostática, com um pé em cada plataforma de força AMTI, ficando assim até ouvir um sinal sonoro para iniciar a marcha em um percurso de quatro metros. Os dados obtidos foram submetidos à análise estatística com o programa SPSS. Para a comparação dos grupos utilizou-se os teste de Kolmogorov Smirnov, teste de Tukey e o coeficiente de correlação de Spearman. Em todas as análises considerou-se o nível de significância de 5%. RESULTADOS: Foram encontradas diferenças significativas quando comparados os grupos 1º trimestre (GPT) e 3º trimestre (GTT), para as variáveis amplitude de oscilação médio lateral GPT (0,4 cm) e GTT (0,2 cm) e velocidade de deslocamento médio-lateral - GPT (0,9 cm/s) e GTT (0,4 cm/s). Observou-se uma diminuição gradativa nas variáveis de amplitude de oscilação anteroposterior e médio-lateral, bem como, na velocidade de deslocamento do primeiro trimestre na plataforma 1 em relação à plataforma 2. Houve diferenças significativas nas variáveis de amplitude de oscilação médio-lateral e velocidade de deslocamento médio-lateral comparando GPT e GTT. CONCLUSÃO: As variáveis analisadas apresentaram pequenas diferenças e não constituem risco eminente para a estabilidade dinâmica da gestante.

PURPOSES: To describe the process of gait initiation of pregnant women and to compare the behavior of the pressure center in the three trimesters of pregnancy. METHODS: Fifty-seven low-risk pregnant women were evaluated, aged 18 to 35 years, selected for convenience location during the three trimesters of pregnancy. The women were divided into three groups of 19 subjects each, according to gestational age - 1st quarter (4-12 weeks), 2nd quarter (13-28 weeks), and 3rd quarter (29-42 weeks,). Each patient was positioned standing up with one foot on each AMTI force platform until she heard a beep indicating that she should start walking a distance of four meter. Data were analyzed using the SPSS software. The Kolmogorov Smirnov test, Tukey's test and Spearman correlation coefficient were used for group comparisons, with 5% significance level in all tests. RESULTS: Significant differences were found between the 1st quarter (GFT) and 3rd quarter (GTT) groups regarding mediolateral oscillation amplitude (GFT: 0.4 cm and GTT: 0.2 cm) and mediolateral displacement rate (GFT: 0.9 cm/s and GTT: 0.4 cm/s). There was a gradual decrease in anteroposterior and mediolateral oscillation rate, and in the speed of displacement from platform 1 to platform 2 in GFT. There was a significant difference in oscillation amplitude and mediolateral displacement speed between GFT and GTT. CONCLUSION: The variables analyzed showed minor differences and do not constitute an imminent risk for the stability dynamics of pregnant woman.