RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To analyse the effect of the manual ischemic compression (IC) on the upper limb motor performance (MP) in patients with LTrPs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A quasiexperimental study was performed in twenty subjects allocated to either patients group with LTrPs (PG, n=10) or healthy group with no symptoms (HG, n=10). Subjective pain and linear MP (movement time and Fitts' Law) were assessed before and after a linear tapping task. Data were analysed with mixed factorial ANOVA for intergroup linear motor performance differences and dependent t-student test for intragroup pain differences. RESULTS: PG had a linear MP lower than the HG before treatment (p < 0.05). After IC, the PG showed a significant decrease of pain (4.07 ± 1.91 p < 0.001). Furthermore, the movement time (15.70 ± 2.05 p < 0.001) and the Fitts' Law coefficient (0.80 ± 0.53 p < 0.001) were significantly reduced. However, one IC session did not allow the PG to get the same MP than the HG (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The results suggest the IC effectiveness on pain and MP impairment in subjects with LTrPs. However, the MP of these patients is only partially improved after the IC application.
RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: The purposes of this study were to systematically review and apply regression analysis to randomised controlled trials [RCTs] that evaluated the effectiveness of Pilates exercise in improving persistent, non-specific low back pain and functional disability. METHODS: Electronic databases were searched from January 1950 to March 2011. Articles were eligible for inclusion if they were RCTs comparing Pilates exercise with a placebo treatment [PT], minimal intervention [MI] or another physiotherapeutic treatment [APT]. RESULTS: Nine trials were included. Pilates was moderately superior to APT (pooled Effect Size [ES] weighted = -0.55, 95% confidence interval [CI] = -0.08 to -1.03) in reducing disability but not for pain relief. Pilates provided moderate to superior pain relief compared to MI (pooled ES weighted = -0.44, 95% CI = -0.09 to -0.80) and a similar decrease in disability. The statistical model used did not detect any predictor variable. CONCLUSIONS: Due to the presence of co-interventions and the low methodological quality of some studies, these conclusions should be interpreted with caution.
Assuntos
Avaliação da Deficiência , Técnicas de Exercício e de Movimento/métodos , Dor Lombar/diagnóstico , Dor Lombar/reabilitação , Adolescente , Adulto , Fatores Etários , Idoso , Doença Crônica , Intervalos de Confiança , Feminino , Seguimentos , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Medição da Dor , Ensaios Clínicos Controlados Aleatórios como Assunto , Análise de Regressão , Medição de Risco , Índice de Gravidade de Doença , Fatores Sexuais , Resultado do Tratamento , Adulto JovemRESUMO
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this systematic review was to determine how Pilates exercises have impacted body composition (BC) on selected populations. METHODS: A comprehensive literature search was performed using the keywords 'Pilates, body composition, systematic review, literature review, overweight, obesity, healthy weight, underweight' and their combination. RESULTS: Seven studies met the inclusion criteria and after further quality analyses it was determined that there is currently poor empirical quantitative evidence indicating a positive effect of Pilates exercises on BC. Several methodological flaws were observed in the studies analyzed, including few full-text published studies looking into the effects of Pilates exercises on BC, a lack of true experimental research designs, limited standardization in measurement techniques, insufficient or no control of the nutritional status, and inconsistent instructor qualifications. CONCLUSION: Well-designed research is needed to determine how Pilates exercises impact BC on selected populations.