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- Comfort and functionality of pregnant women's feet study of kinetic parameters with silicon insolesPublication . Marques, Alda; Gonçalves, Pedro; Santos, Rubim; Vilas Boas, JoãoAs gestantes, fruto das suas alterações fisiológicas e biomecânicas, constituem uma população de risco relativamente a dores ou lesões do sistema músculo-esquelético, nomeadamente, nos membros inferiores e coluna. Os objectivos deste estudo consistiram em avaliar: (i) a dor e o conforto dos pés durante a marcha: sem o uso de qualquer palmilha nas gestantes e no grupo de controlo; com a aplicação de uma palmilha de retropé e com a aplicação de uma palmilha completa (nas gestantes); (ii) a distribuição das pressões plantares e, (iii) as forças de reacção do solo nas mesmas condições experimentais. Avaliámos ainda a duração das diferentes fases do ciclo de marcha nas gestantes, com e sem palmilhas, e no grupo de controlo, sem o uso de palmilha. Os nossos resultados mostraram que: (i) as gestantes demoram mais tempo a completar a fase de apoio da marcha, (ii) têm um aumento significativo de dores nos pés, face ao grupo de controlo, (iii) as gestantes sentem menos dor e mais conforto quando realizam marcha, com palmilhas, especialmente com a palmilha completa, (iv) a palmilha completa redistribui as forças, diminui os valores de pressão e aumenta a área de contacto do pé com o solo. Os nossos resultados sugerem que, o uso da palmilha completa de silicone, durante a marcha, pode ser eficaz na melhoria da sintomatologia dolorosa e no aumento do conforto da grávida.
- Comparative analysis of the ground reaction forces, during the support phase, in a group of pregnant women on their 3rd trimester of pregnancy and in a group of not pregnant womenPublication . Santos, Rubim; Gil, Belandina; Marques, Alda; Vilas Boas, João; Silva, JoséTo analyze and compare the Ground Reaction Forces (GRF), during the stance phase of walking in pregnant women in the 3rd trimester of pregnancy, and non pregnant women. 20 women, 10 pregnant and 10 non pregnant, voluntarily took part in this study. GRF were measured (1000 Hz) using a force platform (BERTEC 4060-15), an amplifier (BERTEC AM 6300) and an analogical-digital converter of 16 Bits (Biopac). The study showed that there were significant differences among the two groups concerning absolute values of time of the stance phase. In what concerns to the normalized values the most significant differences were verified in the maximums values of vertical force (Fz3, Fz1) and in the impulse of the antero-posterior force (Fy2), taxes of growth of the vertical force, and in the period of time for the antero-posterior force (Fy) be null. It is easier for the pregnant to continue forward movement (push-off phase). O smaller growth rates in what concerns to the maximum of the vertical force (Fz1) for the pregnant, can be associated with a slower speed of gait, as an adaptation strategy to maintain the balance, to compensate the alterations in the position of her center of gravity due to the load increase. The data related to the antero-posterior component of the force (Fy), shows that there is a significant difference between the pregnant woman’s left foot and right foot, which accuses a different functional behavior in each one of the feet, during the propulsion phase (TS).
- Prevalência de dor cervical e incapacidade funcional na Escola Superior de Tecnologia da Saúde do PortoPublication . Marques, André; Mesquita, CristinaA dor cervical é cada vez mais um problema comum e incapacitante nos países industrializados. O objectivo do estudo foi determinar a prevalência de dor cervical nos últimos seis meses, intensidade da dor e incapacidade funcional em indivíduos com dor cervical. O estudo do tipo observacional, descritivo e transversal. Amostra constituída por alunos, docentes, administrativos e auxiliares da ESTSP (n=285). Os instrumentos utilizados foram: questionário de caracterização da amostra, escala visual analógica e Neck Disability Index. A prevalência de dor cervical foi elevada e a dor classificada como moderada. A incapacidade funcional variou entre ligeira e moderada.
- Influence of an unstable shoe on compensatory postural adjustments: an experimental evaluationPublication . Pinheiro De Sousa, Andreia Sofia; Macedo, Rui; Santos, Rubim; Tavares, João ManuelThis study attempted to evaluate the influence of using an unstable shoe in muscle re-cruitment strategies and center of pressure (CoP) displacement after the application of an external perturba-tion. Fourteen healthy female subjects participated in this study. The electromyographic activity of medial ga-strocnemius, tibialis anterior, rectus femoris, biceps femoris, rectus abdominis and erector spinae muscles and the kinetic values to calculate the CoP were collected and analyzed after the application of an external pertur-bation with the subject in standing position, with no shoes and using unstable footwear. The results showed increased in medial gastrocnemius activity during the first compensatory postural adjustments and late com-pensatory postural adjustments when using an unstable shoe. There were no differences in standard deviation and maximum peak of anteroposterior displacement of CoP between measurements. From the experimental findings, one can conclude that the use of an unstable shoe leads to an increase in gastrocnemius activity with no increase in CoP displacement following an unexpected external perturbation.
- Potenciais evocados auditivos de média latência em adultos com epilepsiaPublication . Tomé, David; Jesus, Emiliana; Esteves, ManuelIntrodução Os potenciais evocados auditivos de média latência (PEAML) reflectem actividade neuronal mesencefáfica, mais precisamente da região tálamo-cortical, dos colículos inferiores e da formação reticular. A epilepsia é caracterizada por variadas manifestações anormais do comportamento cerebral, sendo descrita como uma perturbação da função cerebral, tendo origem numa descarga anómala de um conjunto ou da totalidade dos neurónios do córtice cerebral. Está documentado, que as descargas eléctricas provocadas pelas crises de epilepsia podem levar a perdas neuronais, pelo que poderão existir alterações nos PEAML. Objectivos A escassa existência de literatura sobre o tema e a não investigação na população portuguesa, originou a execução deste estudo, que teve como objectivo investigar e documentar a existência de alterações ou achados nos componentes neuronais de média latência (PEAML), numa amostra de portugueses com epilepsia. Metodologia Foram realizados PEAML a um grupo de controlo (GC) composto por 16 participantes e a um grupo clínico (GCL) de 8 participantes com epilepsia, sendo analisados os componentes Na, Pa e Na-Pa quanto à sua morfologia, latência e amplitude. Resultados A morfologia das ondas e a presença de epilepsia não estão associados, no entanto, contrariamente ao GC que evidenciou latências e amplitudes de Na, Pa e Na-Pa dentro dos padrões de normalidade, a alteração ou ausência de respostas por parte do GCL é significativa na totalidade das medidas investigadas. Conclusão Em epilepsias generalizadas e focais do lobo temporal os PEAML evidenciam alterações, tal achado poderá ser eventualmente justificado pela propagação ascendente e descendente da informação auditiva se encontrar comprometida, devido a sequelas deixadas pelas crises epilépticas nas vias auditivas mesencefálicas. As alterações verificadas foram uma morfologia anómala das ondas ou ausência das mesmas.
- The influence of differente speeds on backpacker's gait kinecticsPublication . Castro, Marcelo Peduzzi; Abreu, Sofia; Sousa, Helena; Figueiredo, Cristina; Machado, Leandro; Santos, Rubim; Vilas Boas, JoãoThis study analyzed the influence of different speeds on ground reaction force’s (GRF), impulses and mean vertical force during gait of people submitted to occasional overload (backpack). A force plate was used to record the GRF data of 60 young adult subjects walking in two different cadences: 69 steps/min (slow gait) and 120 steps/min (fast gait). During the slow gait, the impact and propulsive impulses of vertical GRF, propulsive impulse of anterior-posterior GRF, impulse of medial-lateral GRF and duration of stance phase were larger than during the fast gait; the mean vertical force was the only variable that showed larger values during fast gait. Therefore, slow gait may present a larger possibility of blister development and gait unbalance, while the fast gait, even presenting a small impulse, seems to be more harmful to the musculoskeletal system.
- Spatio-temporal alignment of pedobarographic image sequencesPublication . Oliveira, Francisco; Sousa, Andreia S. P.; Santos, Rubim; Tavares, João ManuelThis paper presents a methodology to align plantar pressure image sequences simultaneously in time and space. The spatial position and orientation of a foot in a sequence are changed to match the foot represented in a second sequence. Simultaneously with the spatial alignment, the temporal scale of the first sequence is transformed with the aim of synchronizing the two input footsteps. Consequently, the spatial correspondence of the foot regions along the sequences as well as the temporal synchronizing is automatically attained, making the study easier and more straightforward. In terms of spatial alignment, the methodology can use one of four possible geometric transformation models: rigid, similarity, affine or projective. In the temporal alignment, a polynomial transformation up to the 4th degree can be adopted in order to model linear and curved time behaviors. Suitable geometric and temporal transformations are found by minimizing the mean squared error (MSE) between the input sequences. The methodology was tested on a set of real image sequences acquired from a common pedobarographic device. When used in experimental cases generated by applying geometric and temporal control transformations, the methodology revealed high accuracy. Additionally, the intra-subject alignment tests from real plantar pressure image sequences showed that the curved temporal models produced better MSE results (p<0.001) than the linear temporal model. This paper represents an important step forward in the alignment of pedobarographic image data, since previous methods can only be applied on static images.
- Influence of wearing an unstable shoe on thigh and leg muscle activity and venous response in upright standingPublication . Pinheiro De Sousa, Andreia Sofia; Tavares, João Manuel; Macedo, Rui; Rodrigues, Albano; Santos, RubimPurpose: To quantify the effect of unstable shoe wearing on muscle activity and haemodynamic response during standing. Methods: Thirty volunteers were divided into 2 groups: the experimental group wore an unstable shoe for 8 weeks, while the control group used a conventional shoe for the same period. Muscle activity of the medial gastrocnemius, tibialis anterior, rectus femoris and biceps femoris and venous circulation were assessed in quiet standing with the unstable shoe and barefoot. Results: In the first measurement there was an increase in medial gastrocnemius activity in all volunteers while wearing the unstable shoe. On the other hand, after wearing the unstable shoe for eight weeks these differences were not verified. Venous return increased in subjects wearing the unstable shoe before and after training. Conclusions: The unstable shoe produced changes in electromyographic characteristics which were advantageous for venous circulation even after training accommodation by the neuromuscular system.
- Towards an efficient and robust foot classification from pedobarographic imagesPublication . Oliveira, Francisco; Sousa, Andreia S. P.; Santos, Rubim; Tavares, João ManuelThis paper presents a new computational framework for automatic foot classification from digital plantar pressure images. It classifies the foot as left or right and simultaneously calculates two well-known footprint indices: the Cavanagh's arch index and the modified arch index. The accuracy of the framework was evaluated using a set of plantar pressure images from two common pedobarographic devices. The results were outstanding, since all feet under analysis were correctly classified as left or right and no significant differences were observed between the footprint indices calculated using the computational solution and the traditional manual method. The robustness of the proposed framework to arbitrary foot orientations and to the acquisition device was also tested and confirmed.
- Ankle dynamic in stroke patients: agonist vs. antagonist muscle relationsPublication . Silva, Augusta; Sousa, Andreia S. P.; Tavares, João Manuel; Tinoco, Ana; Santos, Rubim; Sousa, FilipaAtypical ankle patterns of muscle activity during gait are commonly reported in patients with stroke. These findings can be due to changes between tibialis anterior (TA) and soleus (SOL) coactivation mechanisms. To compare the electromyographic activity (EMGa) of SOL and TA muscles and antagonist coactivation (C) level in the contralateral (CONTRA) and ipsilateral (IPSI) limbs to the side of the stroke lesion during stance phase of the gait cycle. Twelve subjects with a stroke episode participated in this study. The electromyographic signal of TA and SOL and ground reaction forces were acquired while subjects walked at their self-selected speed. Values of ground reaction forces were used to divide the stance phase of gait into initial contact, midstance and terminal stance. In each subphase the magnitude of TA and SOL was calculated as well as the level of the antagonist C. Although no statistical differences were found, mean values of SOL EMGa were lower in the IPSI in all stance phases in relation to the CONTRA limb, and the opposite was observed in the TA EMGa. Moreover, higher mean levels of antagonist C were only found during initial contact sub-phase in CONTRA limb and in the other sub-phases in the IPSI limb. Besides, statistical differences were observed only during midstance. Conclusion: In stroke subjects the antagonist C level during midstance of gait my reflected the dysfunction of the neuronal system over the IPSI limb.