RESUMO
INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) can enhance muscle function in healthy individuals. However, it is unknown if tDCS associated with pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) can improve pelvic floor muscle function (PFMF) in healthy women. The aim of this study was to investigate the acute effect of a single session of tDCS in PFMF compared with sham-tDCS in healthy women. METHODS: A double-blind, cross-over, randomized clinical trial was conducted with healthy, nulliparous and sexually active women. PFMF was assessed by bidigital palpation (PERFECT scale) and intravaginal pressure by a manometer (Peritron™). Participants randomly underwent two tDCS sessions (active and sham) 7 days apart. The electrode was positioned equal for both protocols, the anode electrode in the supplementary motor area (M1) and the cathode electrode in the right supraorbital frontal cortex (Fp2). The current was applied for 20 min at 2 mA in active stimulation and for 30 s in sham-tDCS. The tDCS applications were associated with verbal instructions to PFMT in a seated position. After each tDCS session PFMF was reevaluated. RESULTS: Twenty young healthy women (aged 23.4 ± 1.7 years; body mass index 21.7 ± 2.2 kg/m2) were included. No difference was observed in power, endurance, and intravaginal pressure of PFMF (p > 0.05). The number of sustained contractions improved from 3.0 (2.0-3.5) to 4.0 (3.0-5.0) after active-tDCS (p = 0.0004) and was superior to sham-tDCS (p = 0.01). CONCLUSION: The number of sustained contractions of PFM improved immediately after a single active-tDCS session, with a difference compared with the post-intervention result of sham-tDCS in healthy young women.
Assuntos
Estudos Cross-Over , Diafragma da Pelve , Estimulação Transcraniana por Corrente Contínua , Humanos , Feminino , Diafragma da Pelve/fisiologia , Método Duplo-Cego , Adulto Jovem , Estimulação Transcraniana por Corrente Contínua/métodos , Adulto , Voluntários Saudáveis , Contração Muscular/fisiologiaRESUMO
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to assess the test-retest reliability of different balance task outcomes, based on center of pressure (COP) measures in individuals with Parkinson's disease. METHOD: In this cross-sectional study, 19 older individuals with idiopathic Parkinson's disease (seven females, 71 ± 7.8 years) performed a set of seven balance tasks on two occasions (a week apart) on an electronic force platform. Each set consisted of: 1) Bipedal; 2) Romberg with open eyes (OE); 3) Romberg with closed eyes (CE); 4) Tandem with OE; 5) Tandem with CE; 6) Tandem with OE using a dual task (DT) condition (simple mathematic operations concomitant with testing); and 7) One-leg stance, with the leg of preference over the force platform, with OE. The test-retest reliability of COP measures was tested using intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and Bland-Altman plots. RESULTS: The ICC results for the different tasks showed that the most reliable para- meters were derived from a 95% confidence ellipse around the COP and mean velocity, with the most reliable task being the Romberg with CE. Conclusions: We confirmed that balance based on COP measures was reliable in individuals with Parkinson's disease, especially during the Romberg condition with closed eyes.