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BACKGROUND: The co-contraction of the core muscles has been reported as the key mechanism towards spinal stability. Classic Pilates exercises aimed at these muscles are known to improve the stability and strength of the trunk without damaging the deep structures of the spine. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the co-contraction of the mobilizing (rectus abdominis; longissimus) and stabilizing (multifidus; internal oblique) trunk muscles during Pilates exercises - going up front, mountain climber, and swan. METHODS: Sixteen women, all Pilates practitioners, participated in the study. The stabilizing and mobilizing muscles of the trunk (right side) were submitted to electromyography to calculate the percentage of co-contraction during the exercises. One-way repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to verify the difference in %COCON between stabilizers and mobilizers among the three exercises. The post-hoc Bonferroni test (P< 0.01) was applied when necessary. The paired t-test (P< 0.01) was used to verify the difference in %COCON between stabilizers and mobilizers separately for each exercise. RESULTS: The co-contraction values of the stabilizers were higher than those of the mobilizers for all exercises. The going up front (stabilizers) and the swan (mobilizers) exercises showed the highest %COCON values. CONCLUSIONS: The Pilates method is effective for either rehabilitating pathologies or training the trunk muscles in healthy individuals and athletes.

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A principal finalidade do método Pilates é desenvolver uma automação dos músculos do core. Sendo assim, o objetivo deste estudo foi analisar a razão eletromiográfica dos músculos Oblíquo Interno (OI) e Reto do Abdômen (RA) localizados na parte anterior do tronco, a razão eletromiográfica dos músculos Multífido (MU) e Longuíssimo do Tórax (LO) localizados na parte posterior do tronco, e também a razão ântero-posterior (A/P=RA+IO/LO+MU) desses músculos durante o exercício swan do método Pilates, realizado sobre a Wunda Chair. Na comparação entre as três razões, foram encontradas diferenças estatísticas (p = 0,0103), apenas entre as razões ântero-posterior (A/P), e entre a razão dos músculos localizados na parte posterior do tronco (MU/LO). Os resultados demonstraram que houve um predomínio na atividade eletromiográfica dos músculos da região posterior em relação aos músculos da região anterior do tronco e que os músculos estabilizadores apresentaram maior atividade eletromiográfica em comparação com os músculos globais ou mobilizadores. O exercício swan pode ser utilizado como forma de treinamento para a musculatura do tronco, e como consequência gerar maior estabilidade a coluna vertebral, pois o exercício prioriza a diminuição da carga sobre a coluna vertebral. (AU)

The main purpose of the Pilates method is to develop an automation of core muscles. Thus, the aim of this study was to analyze the electromyographic ratio of the Internal Oblique (IO) and Rectus Abdominis (RA) muscles located in the anterior part of the trunk, the electromyographic ratio of the Multifidus (MU) and Longissimus Thoracis (LO) muscles, located in the posterior part of the trunk, and also the ratio antero- posterior (A/P=RA+IO/LO+MU) of these muscles during the swan exercise of the Pilates, performed on the Wunda Chair. In the comparison between the three ratios, statistical differences (p = 0.0013) were found only between the antero-posterior (A/P) ratios and the ratio of the muscles located in the posterior part of the trunk (MU/LO). The results showed a predominance of the electromyographic activity in the muscles of the posterior region in relation to the muscles of the anterior region of the trunk. The stabilizing muscles presented greater electromyographic activity in comparison to the global or mobilizing muscles. The swan can be used as training for the trunk muscles, and therefore generates greater stability of the spine, since exercise prioritizes the decrease of the load on the spine. (AU)

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Aim: To compare the effects of different physical activities on laterality and asymmetry values through the side bridge test. Methods: the assessments were carried out in 45 subjects between 18 and 30 years old, 15 Crossfit-trained individuals, 15 weight trained and 15 sedentary. The subjects performed the side bridge test on both sides. After checking the normality and homogeneity of the data, we selected the appropriate statistical analysis for the comparison of the variables, adopting a significance level of α <0.05. Results: there was no statistical difference in the balance ratio; however, significant difference was found in the side bridge test endurance time, in which the Crossfit group obtained longer times on both sides than the other two groups. The side bridge test is a test of simple execution and that in this study the Crossfit group presented better results in the endurance time in the side bridge test. Conclusion: the results of the ratio asymmetry and endurance time are not sufficient to evaluate the resistance of the core muscles but could be an evaluation tool, the side bridge test can be introduced in postural training programs.(AU)

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Background. Changes in proprioception may contribute to postural instability in individuals with neurological disorders. Objectives. Evaluate proprioception in the lower limbs of patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) and the association between proprioception and cognitive ability, motor symptoms, postural instability, and disease severity. Methods. This is a cross-sectional, controlled study that evaluated proprioception in PD patients and healthy age- and sex-matched individuals. Kinetic postural proprioception of the knee was evaluated using an isokinetic dynamometer (Biodex® Multi-Joint System 4 Pro). Participants were evaluated using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), the Hoehn and Yahr rating scale and postural instability (pull test and stabilometric analysis), and motor function (UPDRS-III) tests. Results. A total of 40 individuals were enrolled in the study: 20 PD patients and 20 healthy controls (CG). The PD patients had higher angular errors on the proprioceptive ratings than the CG participants (p = 0.002). Oscillations of the center of pressure (p = 0.002) were higher in individuals with PD than in the controls. Proprioceptive errors in the PD patients were associated with the presence of tremors as the dominant symptom and more impaired motor performance. Conclusion. These findings show that individuals with PD have proprioceptive deficits, which are related to decreased cognitive ability and impaired motor symptoms.

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Hippotherapy is often carried out for the rehabilitation of children with Cerebral Palsy (CP), with the horse riding at a walking pace. This study aimed to explore the immediate effects of a hippotherapy protocol using a walk-trot pace on spatio-temporal gait parameters and muscle tone in children with Bilateral Spastic CP (BS-CP). Ten children diagnosed with BS-CP and 10 healthy aged-matched children (reference group) took part in this study. The children with BS-CP underwent two sessions of hippotherapy for one week of washout between them. Two protocols (lasting 30min) were applied on separate days: Protocol 1: the horse's pace was a walking pace; and Protocol 2: the horse's pace was a walk-trot pace. Children from the reference group were not subjected to treatment. A wireless inertial measurement unit measured gait spatio-temporal parameters before and after each session. The Modified Ashworth Scale was applied for muscle tone measurement of hip adductors. The participants underwent the gait assessment on a path with surface irregularities (ecological context). The comparisons between BS-CP and the reference group found differences in all spatio-temporal parameters, except for gait velocity. Within-group analysis of children with BS-CP showed that the swing phase did not change after the walk pace and after the walk-trot pace. The percentage of rolling phase and double support improved after the walk-trot. The spasticity of the hip adductors was significantly reduced as an immediate result of both protocols, but this decrease was more evident after the walk-trot. The walk-trot protocol is feasible and is able to induce an immediate effect that improves the gait spatio-temporal parameters and the hip adductors spasticity.

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O basquete em cadeira de rodas (BCR) segue praticamente as mesmas regras do basquete convencional (BC). Objetivo: Avaliar a ativação eletromiográfica dos músculos peitoral maior (PM), deltóide anterior (DA) e tríceps braquial (TB) durante o arremesso em atletas de BC e BCR. Método: Estudo transversal, no qual onze sujeitos foram submetidos a uma avaliação eletromiográfica dos músculos PM, DA, TB no membro que realiza o arremesso. Foi utilizado um eletromiógrafo de 4 canais (Miotec/Brasil) (2000Hz/canal). Resultados: Na comparação entre os músculos, o grupo BC mostrou diferença significativa, sendo observada maior ativação do músculo DA em relação aos demais, já no grupo BCR, não houve diferença. Na comparação entre os grupos, o músculo PM mostrou maior ativação no grupo BCR, enquanto o músculo DA estava mais ativo no grupo BC. O músculo TB não apresentou diferença significativa entre os grupos. Conclusão: A partir dos resultados do presente estudo os atletas dos grupos BC e BCR apresentaram diferenças na ativação elétrica durante o movimento do arremesso. Entretanto ambos os grupos ativaram mais o DA, seguido do TB e o músculo menos ativado foi o PM, sendo estas diferenças mais visíveis no grupo BC.

Wheelchair Basketball (WB) follows almost the same rules as Conventional Basketball (CB). Objective: Evaluate the electromyographic (EMG) activation of the pectoralis major (PM), anterior deltoid (AD), and triceps brachii (TB) muscles during shooting in CB and WB athletes and to verify whether there is any difference in muscle activation between the categories. Method: Comparing two groups in a transversal study, CB and WB, in which eleven individuals submitted to an electromyographic examination, of muscles PM, AD, TB on the extremity that was doing the shooting. We used a 4-channel EMG (Miotec/Brazil) (2000Hz/channel). Results: Comparing the muscles, the CB group showed a significant difference: greater AD muscle activation compared to the others; however in the WB group, no differences were found. When comparing between the groups, the PM muscle showed greater activation in the WB group, while the AD muscle was more active in the CB group. The TB muscle showed no difference between groups. Conclusion: From these results, the athletes from the CB and WB groups showed differences in muscle activation during shooting. However, both groups activated the AD the most, followed by the TB. The least active muscle was the PM, and these differences were more visible in the CB group.

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A Universidade Aberta à Terceira Idade (UNATI) é um programa amplamente implantado nas instituições de ensino superior. O objetivo deste trabalho foi descrever o panorama dos programas que têm como foco a inserção do idoso. Foi enviado um questionário para 368 Instituições de Ensino Superior. Foram 51 instituições que responderam ao questionário, sendo que 26 destas possuíam algum programa. A partir das respostas, pôde-se concluir que as UNATIs são programas destinados a alguns segmentos das pessoas idosas e contribuem significativamente no processo de envelhecimento de seus participantes.(AU)

The University open to seniors (UNATI) is a program widely deployed in institutions of higher education. The objective was to describe the actual overview of the programs that have focused on the inclusion of the elderly. A questionnaire was sent for 368 Higher Education Institutions. 51 institutions that responded to questionnaire and of these, 26 had a program like UNATI. Starting from questionnaire responses can be concluded that UNATIs are programs that significantly contribute in the aging process.(AU)

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A Universidade Aberta à Terceira Idade (UNATI) é um programa amplamente implantado nas instituições de ensino superior. O objetivo deste trabalho foi descrever o panorama dos programas que têm como foco a inserção do idoso. Foi enviado um questionário para 368 Instituições de Ensino Superior. Foram 51 instituições que responderam ao questionário, sendo que 26 destas possuíam algum programa. A partir das respostas, pôde-se concluir que as UNATIs são programas destinados a alguns segmentos das pessoas idosas e contribuem significativamente no processo de envelhecimento de seus participantes.

The University open to seniors (UNATI) is a program widely deployed in institutions of higher education. The objective was to describe the actual overview of the programs that have focused on the inclusion of the elderly. A questionnaire was sent for 368 Higher Education Institutions. 51 institutions that responded to questionnaire and of these, 26 had a program like UNATI. Starting from questionnaire responses can be concluded that UNATIs are programs that significantly contribute in the aging process.

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