Percorrer por autor "Parolini, Franciele"
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- Beyond low back pain! The influence of physical activity on mental health, reflected in the functionality of people with low back painPublication . Parolini, Franciele; Becker, Klaus; Goethel, Márcio; Fernandes, Ricardo J.; Fonseca, Hélder; Ervilha, Ulysses F.; Vilas-Boas, João Paulo; Santos, RubimPsychological factors play a crucial role in the experience of acute low back pain and may influence functional outcomes. However, the interplay between these factors and levels of physical activity remains poorly understood. This cross-sectional observational study examined the relationship between psychological variables and functional disability in individuals with acute low back pain, considering different levels of physical activity. Data were collected from 1021 participants through an online platform between 8 June 2022 and 8 April 2023. Standardized instruments were used to assess functional limitations, emotional distress (depression, anxiety, and stress), daily pain catastrophizing, and physical activity levels. A canonical correlation analysis was conducted to explore the multivariate associations between psychological and functional variables. There was a statistically significant association between higher levels of emotional distress and greater functional impairment related to low back pain. This association was observed in both the light-physical-activity group (canonical coefficient = 0.266; p = 0.017), the moderate-physical-activity group (0.237; p = 0.092), and the vigorous-physical-activity group (0.177; p = 0.013). Participants engaging in vigorous physical activity exhibited more favorable psychological profiles and lower functional disability compared to those with lower levels of activity. Regular and vigorous physical activity appears to be a protective factor for mental health and may help reduce functional disability in individuals with acute low back pain. These findings underscore the importance of considering physical activity levels when addressing psychological and functional outcomes in this population.
- Breaking barriers: Artificial intelligence interpreting the interplay between mental illness and pain as defined by the International Association for the Study of PainPublication . Parolini, Franciele; Goethel, Márcio; Becker, Klaus; Fernandes, Cristofthe; Fernandes, Ricardo J.; Ervilha, Ulysses F.; Santos, Rubim; Vilas-Boas, João PauloLow back pain is one of the main causes of motor disabilities and psychological stress, with the painful process encompassing sensory and affective components. Noxious stimuli originate on the periphery; however, the stimuli are recombined in the brain and therefore processed differently due to the emotional environment. To better understand this process, our objective was to develop a mathematical representation of the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) model of pain, covering the multidimensional representation of this phenomenon. Data from the Oswestry disability index; the short form of the depression, anxiety, and stress scale; and pain catastrophizing daily questionnaires were collected through online completion, available from 8 June 2022, to 8 April 2023 (1021 cases). Using the information collected, an artificial neural network structure was trained (based on anomaly detection methods) to identify the patterns that emerge from the relationship between the variables. The developed model proved to be robust and able to show the patterns and the relationship between the variables, and it allowed for differentiating the groups with altered patterns in the context of low back pain. The distinct groups all behave according to the main finding that psychological and pain events are directly associated. We conclude that our proposal is effective as it is able to test and confirm the definition of the IASP for the study of pain. Here we show that the fiscal and mental dimensions of pain are directly associated, meaning that mental illness can be an enhancer of pain episodes and functionality.
- Disrupted corticomuscular coherence and force steadiness during acute low back painPublication . Parolini, Franciele; Becker, Klaus; Ervilha, Ulysses F.; Santos, Rubim; Vilas-Boas, João Paulo; Goethel, Márcio Fagundes; Rubim Silva Santos, Manuel; Carvalho Santos Parolini, FrancieleAcute low back pain can impair motor control, yet its effects on force steadiness and cortical activity remain unclear. Thirty-three healthy adults (25 men, 8 women) performed a sustained spinal extension task at 20% of their maximum voluntary contraction under pre- and during-pain conditions induced by a hypertonic saline injection, as well as pre- and post-isotonic injection. Electromyography was recorded from the right and left longissimus muscles, and electroencephalography was collected from motor cortical areas. Spectral power in the alpha, beta, and gamma bands, along with corticomuscular and cortico-cortical coherence, was analyzed. Acute pain reduced force steadiness and altered cortical activity, with increased beta and gamma band power in the prefrontal cortex and decreased alpha power in the motor cortex. Localized changes in corticomuscular coherence were observed in the Cz region (beta and gamma bands) during pain, suggesting nociceptive modulation of corticomuscular coupling. Experimentally induced acute low back pain disrupts motor control by reducing force steadiness and modifying cortical activation patterns, highlighting the interplay between pain and neuromuscular regulation.
- Precision and reliability of a dynamometer for trunk extension strength and steadiness assessmentPublication . Parolini, Franciele; Goethel, Márcio; Robalino, Johan; Becker, Klaus; Sousa, Manoela; Pulcineli, Barbara C.; Ervilha, Ulysses F.; Vilas-Boas, João Paulo; Santos, Rubim; Rubim Silva Santos, Manuel; Carvalho Santos Parolini, FrancieleLow back pain is a major cause of disability worldwide, often associated with deficits in trunk extensor strength control. Accurate assessment of trunk extension strength control is crucial for diagnosing impairments and monitoring interventions. This study evaluated the reliability of a dynamometry-based protocol for isometric trunk extension strength control assessment. Twenty-eight healthy volunteers (9 females, 19 males) completed two sessions, seven days apart. A single-point load cell system, encapsulated within a 3D-printed structure and connected to a Delsys system® at a sampling frequency of 2000 Hz, was used for data acquisition. Participants performed maximal voluntary contractions (MVC) and submaximal isometric contractions (SMVC) guided by trapezoidal visual feedback. Key outcome variables included peak force, mean force, and force steadiness. Calibration demonstrated high accuracy (R2 = 1) with a low root mean square error (0.55 N). Test–retest analysis showed excellent reliability for peak force (ICC = 0.81, SEM = 0.50, MDC = 1.39), mean force (ICC = 0.93, SEM = 0.17, MDC = 1.08), and steadiness (ICC = 0.87, SEM = 0.85, MDC = 2.36), with no significant intersession differences (p > 0.05). This study demonstrates the high reliability of using dynamometry to assess trunk extension strength during MVC and SMVC, endorsing the dynamometer as a tool for functional assessment and the development of personalized rehabilitation and training strategies.
- The face of low back pain: A preliminary method for quantifying pain-related facial expressionsPublication . Parolini, Franciele; Pires, Ricardo; Santos, Sara Dereste dos; Goethel, Márcio F.; Becker, Klaus; Vilas-Boas, João Paulo; Santos, Rubim; Ervilha, Ulysses F.; Rubim Silva Santos, Manuel; Carvalho Santos Parolini, FrancieleFacial expressions of pain are essential for pain assessment, yet subjective pain reports often vary between sexes. Traditional self-report measures are prone to bias, and objective methods are needed for more reliable pain evaluation. To develop and validate a subjectivity-free automated tool to assess acute low back pain using facial expressions recorded during a functional spinal extension task. Thirty healthy adults, aged 18–40 years. Methods: Participants received intramuscular injections of hypertonic (pain) and isotonic (placebo) saline in the lumbar region during separate sessions. Facial expressions were video-recorded during a submaximal lumbar extension task and analyzed using a custom software based on Haar Cascade and Local Binary Pattern Histogram algorithms, which are techniques that do not require neither training data nor subjective labeling, contrary to what happens in deep learning solutions. The tool successfully detected significant differences in facial expressions between pain, placebo, and pain-free conditions (p < 0.001). Test–retest reliability was good (ICC = 0.85). While both sexes showed similar facial expression patterns during pain, males reported higher pain scores on the numeric rating scale (p < 0.01). Pain significantly reduced steadiness of force in both sexes. The automated tool objectively quantified facial expressions associated with acute low back pain and revealed sex-related differences in subjective pain perception. This multimodal approach integrating expression analysis, physical performance, and self-report may enhance the accuracy of pain assessment in physiotherapy settings.
- Unlocking the potential: Increasing muscle strength in lower limbs of youth soccer players over five weeks through mat pilates training—A pilot studyPublication . Parolini, Franciele; Bertolini, Gladson; Santos, Rubim; Abreu, Manoela; Nogueira, Ana Laura; Bertoncello, DernivalThe interest in soccer generally starts during childhood, with children and young people often looking for opportunities in sports. New exercise techniques can be effective in improving training. The aim of this study was to compare the effects on the strength and physical posture of a group practicing Pilates with another not practicing Pilates, both undergoing continuous football training. In this controlled randomized clinical trial, the participants were 15 soccer club members, who had a training frequency of least three times weekly. The sample was divided into a control group (n = 7) of players who did not undergo any therapeutic intervention (only the usual training) and a Pilates group (n = 8) of players who participated in the mat Pilates program. The intervention consisted of fifteen sessions. Postural evaluations were performed using biophotogrammetry and force analysis. Significant improvements were obtained in terms of increased muscle strength (p = 0.001) for the Pilates group, but there were no significant postural alterations when comparing the two groups. Five weeks of mat Pilates was sufficient to increase lower limb muscle strength in young football players. This pilot study indicates that Mat Pilates as a method that could be planned to be included in training.
- Visualizing low back pain: analysis of facial expressions for objective measurement through image processingPublication . Parolini, Franciele; Becker, Klaus; Goethel, Márcio; Pires, Ricardo; Dereste, Sara; Ervilha, Ulysses; Vilas-Boas, João Paulo; Santos, Rubim; Rubim Silva Santos, Manuel; Carvalho Santos Parolini, FrancieleDetailed coding of facial activity provides a mechanism for understanding the biological, behavioral, cognitive and social processes of pain that self-report measures do not address[1]. Facial activity appears to be the most consistent expression of pain, mediated by specific neurological circuits[2]. Studies have shown that facial expressions of pain are consistent and universal across different cultures, reflecting automatic responses to nociceptive stimuli[3, 4]. Thus, the proposed objective was to develop software to objectively measure experimentally induced acute low back pain during a submaximal strength test, using facial activity coding to capture biological and behavioral processes that complement traditional self-reporting methods.