[Motor intervention strategies on postural control in children and youth with autism spectrum disorder: A systematic review]

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has varied characteristics with an impact at the social, communicative and sensorimotor (SM) level. An SM feature is postural control (PC) problems. There are various motor intervention strategies (MIS), but the benefit over LC is something that has been analyzed less extensively. The objective was to describe the MIS and its results on the PC of children and adolescents with ASD. A search of PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science and Cochrane was performed. A total of eight articles met the eligibility criteria. All MIS showed beneficial results on the improvement of PC. The MIS were of a varied nature (dance practice, personalized physical activity, video games, Tai Chi Chuan, Taekwondo and virtual reality). It is necessary to improve the designs and consider the risks of bias, since they limit the scope of the results.

[Muscle activation times facing to a perturbation in patients with early-stage Parkinson's disease]

OBJECTIVES

Parkinson's disease (PD) generates a high incidence of falls, however, there is little evidence of instabilities in the initial stages. This investigation sought to compare the muscle activation times in patients with initial PD against a postural disturbance vs. a control group.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The electromyographic activity (EMG) of 10 patients with PD in early stages (61.3 ±3.8 years) and a control group of 10 adults (62.2 ±3.0 year) was evaluated. The participants were subjected to a surface disturbance, which generated a stabilization response. The test was performed under 2conditions: eyes open (OA) v/s eyes closed (OC). Trunk (spinal erector) and lower extremity (soleus, tibialis anterior, femoral biceps, femoral rectus, adductor magnus, gluteus medius) muscle activation time was analyzed using surface EMG.

RESULTS

The PD group showed faster response times compared to the control group in the soleus muscle in OC (P=.04). This same muscle showed differences when comparing OA vs. OC only in the PD group (P=.04), showing a shorter response time in the OC condition. When comparing the spinal erector muscle, the PD group showed slower response times in the OA (P=.02) and OC (P=.04) conditions compared to the control group.

CONCLUSIONS

Muscle activation times show that people with PD respond slower in the trunk muscles, while activation times decrease at the distal level. In the early stages, the slower responses at the trunk level could explain the onset of instability postural in these patients.

Balance performance analysis after the COVID-19 quarantine in children aged between 8 and 12 years old: Longitudinal study

BACKGROUND

Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has caused great changes in daily activities, especially in children. In Spain, to avoid infections, a home quarantine was declared, which caused a drastic reduction in daily or weekly physical activity in children.

OBJECTIVE

to analyse the balance performance after the COVID-19-induced quarantine on children's balance, through the use of balance tests, considering the type of sport practiced.

METHODS

an observational and longitudinal study was carried out with a sample size of 150 healthy children (69 boys and 81 girls) with a mean age of 10.02 ± 1.15 years. Postural control was evaluated under different equilibrium conditions before and after the quarantine period. Two data collections using the Gyko system were compared, with a difference of 8 months between them. In addition, the influence of foot type and physical activity was analysed.

RESULTS

After the quarantine, statistically significant differences were found in terms of balance results, which were worse than before (p < 0.05). Postural control was not influenced by the type of sport practiced (i.e., individual, collective and / or not practicing sport), nor by the surface which the test was performed (p > 0.05). Physically active children (i.e., individual and / or collective sport) presented worse results than physically inactive children. A statistically significant impairment in terms of balance was demonstrated in children who performed high and moderate physical activity (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

After the quarantine period, a significant reduction in balance performance was found in children. The findings suggest that regular physical activity benefits postural control. Loss of balance does not differ in postural stability by the type of sport practised. Postural stability is not influenced by the type of footprint after the period of physical inactivity. Postural control is influenced in children with a great level of physical activity.

[Short-term effect of neuromuscular bandaging on balance and gait in Parkinson's disease: Pilot study]

INTRODUCTION

Parkinson's disease is a progressive and irreversible neurodegenerative process characterized by tremor at rest, bradykinesia, stiffness, disorders in postural control, balance and gait. Kinesiology tape has a somatosensory stimulating effect, with benefits in postural control.

METHOD

A pilot study with a Physiotherapy Intervention Group and an Experimental Group (kinesiology tape was added) in gastrocnemius and lumbar spinal erectors. Outcome assessments were Berg scale, Tinetti scale (walking subscale), 10m test, TUG test, PDQ-39 and gastrocnemius electromyographic record. Three measurements were made: T0 (baseline), T1 (two days post-intervention) and T2 (one week post-intervention); PDQ-39 was administered at T0 and one month after the intervention.

RESULTS

Thirteen participants (stage III Hoehn and Yahr) were selected after applying the inclusion criteria (nine women and four men). N=7 Experimental Group and N=6 Physiotherapy Group. The intra-group contrast showed significant improvements in favor of the Experimental Group in Berg scale (T1 and T2), 10m test (T2) and in lower mean gastrocnemius muscle activity (T1). The inter-group contrast only evidenced differences in electromyographic recording of the muscle contraction of the right lower limb, after the application of kinesiology tape, in T1.

CONCLUSIONS

The application of kinesiology tape in the lumbar spinal erectors and gastrocnemius bilaterally could improve gait and balance, in subjects with Parkinson's disease in Hoehn and Yahr stage III, but its effect is not superior to conventional physiotherapy treatment.

Comparison of postural control between strabismic and non-strabismic children

OBJECTIVE

To compare the postural control of children with strabismus versus non-strabismus children.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Cross-sectional cohort study with a total of 171 children, including 73 children with esotropia, 24 with exotropia, and 74 controls. Postural control was determined using a dynamometric platform in a standing position in various conditions: eyes open and eyes closed, near and gaze fixation, and with and without foam pad. The studied variables were the area, the mean speed, and the lengths in the X and Y axis of the centre of pressure displacement.

RESULTS

Children with esotropia and exotropia had significantly higher mean values (speed, lengths of X and Y) compared to controls. In the open-eye, far distance fixation, and on foam pad, as well as under exam conditions; with eyes open, without foam pad, and far distance fixation, the exotropia values were higher than those of endotropia and controls. With eyes closed, there were no differences between the 3 groups under the described examination conditions, but their values were worse compared to their respective ones with eyes open.

CONCLUSIONS

The children with strabismus had a worse postural control than the non-strabismus ones. All of the them appeared to be more unstable with eyes closed than with eyes open, which demonstrates that vision plays an important relevant role in postural stability in both strabismus and non-strabismus children.

[Assessment of postural control and balance in persons with temporomandibular disorders: A systematic review]

The stomatognathic system is the anatomo-functional unit of the cranio-cervico-facial region. Some dysfunctions affect its motor control. The aim of this study was to analyse the clinical usefulness of the various scales and instruments used in the assessment of postural control in people with temporomandibular disorders. A systematic review was carried out by 2independent reviewers in the PubMed, Medline, Ebsco, Science Direct and PEDro databases, selecting observational studies published between January 2006 and March 2017. The risk of bias and methodological quality was analysed following Cochrane indications and the Downs and Black quality scale. Ten studies were included, of which 9used computerised platforms, one added photogrammetry and one used electromyography. Seven studies were classified as moderate quality and 3as low quality. Posturography was the most widely used assessment instrument. Methodological differences did not allow determination of their clinical implications or the relationship between balance and the presence of temporomandibular disorders.

Biobehavioural analysis of the vestibular system and posture control in patients with cervicogenic dizziness. A cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Cervicogenic dizziness is a musculoskeletal disorder mainly characterised by dizziness and disequilibrium associated with neck pain. The pathophysiology is unclear and the neurophysiological basis remains to be ascertained. The aim of this study is to compare the vestibulo-ocular reflex and postural control between patients with cervicogenic dizziness and asymptomatic subjects, and to assess the association between debilitating dizziness and other psychosocial variables.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 20 patients and 22 asymptomatic subjects were selected. Vestibulo-ocular reflex was assessed by performing the head impulse test. Computerised dynamic posturography was used to evaluate the postural control by means of the sensory organisation test. In addition, subjects self-reported their degree of disability due to dizziness, cervical disability, kinesiophobia, and state of anxiety and depression.

RESULTS

There were no differences in the vestibulo-ocular reflex (P>.05). However, we found differences with a medium-to-large effect size (d>0.60) in variables related to proprioception and visual information integration; the former variable set was related to disability due to dizziness. Disability due to dizziness presents strong-to-moderate associations with cervical disability, kinesiophobia, and anxiety.

CONCLUSION

Our data rule out changes in the vestibular system in cervicogenic dizziness, but they do point to proprioceptive impairment. According to our results, the association between dizziness-related disability and other psychosocial factors in cervicogenic dizziness is very relevant for clinical medicine and for future research projects.

Effects of microvascular decompression surgery on posture control: A case report in an elderly patient

AIMS OF THE STUDY

We report the case of an 84-year-old woman with neurovascular conflict of the left cochleovestibular nerve. Prior to surgery, the patient complained of positional vertigo and dizziness for the past two years, and marked instability. Hearing loss and tinnitus were reported on the left side. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of microvascular decompression of the cochleovestibular nerve on posture control.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Evaluation of cochleovestibular function and posture control was performed before and after surgery. Postural performance was analyzed in static and dynamic conditions, with and without vision, and with optokinetic stimulation. Perception of the static visual vertical (SVV) was recorded in darkness.

RESULTS

Positional vertigo and tinnitus disappeared immediately after the decompression. The SVV remained unchanged one week after the surgery. Speech intelligibility of the left ear was improved (30 dB), and the vestibular deficit on this side was also significantly reduced (54% versus 18%). However, the more spectacular result was the effect on postural control. This elderly patient improved her postural balance in both static and dynamic conditions, and became able to maintain her equilibrium in the more challenging dynamic conditions, with and without vision, as early as one week after the surgery, a postural performance that she had been unable to do preoperatively.

CONCLUSION

This work is the first to show that the postural deficits resulting from neurovascular conflict of the cochleovestibular nerve are strongly improved after microvascular decompression.

Effect of ankle-foot orthosis on postural control after stroke: a systematic review

INTRODUCTION

Stroke is currently the main cause of permanent disability in adults. The impairments are a combination of sensory, motor, cognitive and emotional changes that result in restrictions on the ability to perform basic activities of daily living (BADL). Postural control is affected and causes problems with static and dynamic balance, thus increasing the risk of falls and secondary injuries. The purpose of this review was to compile the literature to date, and assess the impact of ankle-foot orthosis (AFO) on postural control and gait in individuals who have suffered a stroke.

DEVELOPMENT

The review included randomised and controlled trials that examined the effects of AFO in stroke patients between 18 and 80 years old, with acute or chronic evolution. No search limits on the date of the studies were included, and the search lasted until April 2011. The following databases were used: Pubmed, Trip Database, Cochrane library, Embase, ISI Web Knowledge, CINHAL and PEDro. Intervention succeeded in improving some gait parameters, such as speed and cadence. However it is not clear if there was improvement in the symmetry, postural sway or balance.

CONCLUSIONS

Because of the limitations of this systematic review, due to the clinical diversity of the studies and the methodological limitations, 0these results should be considered with caution.