Orientador: Onivaldo Bretan / Banca: Paulo Villas Boas / Banca: Marco Aurélio Bottino / Resumo: A avaliação do equilíbrio do idoso morador da comunidade pode ser realizada usando testes práticos do equilíbrio e da sensibilidade cutânea plantar. Verificar a ocorrência de desequilíbrio e perda da sensibilidade táctil plantar, observar se ocorre associação entre estas alterações e se a realização conjunta dos testes de equilíbrio e da sensibilidade plantar aumenta a precisão da avaliação. Serie de casos compreendendo 45 idosos testados através da escala de equilíbrio de Berg e do teste da sensibilidade cutânea plantar com monofilamentos de nylon. Foram utilizados os testes do qui quadrado, e exato de Fisher e elaboradas curvas ROC para estudo da sensibilidade e especificidade do teste de Berg. Idosos com alteração do equilíbrio e da sensibilidade plantar foram em número de 2 e de 4, respectivamente. Houve associação significante entre queixa de desequilíbrio e sensibilidade (p = 0,047) e houve concordância razoável (Kappa = 0,6457) entre a escala de Berg e o teste da sensibilidade, assim como verificou-se associação significativa entre 6 das 14 tarefas da escala e o teste da sensibilidade plantar. Idosos com vida independente na comunidade, em sua grande maioria, apresentam equilíbrio e sensibilidade cutânea plantar normais, havendo indícios de que as alterações destas funções estão associadas. A realização de testes práticos do equilíbrio e da sensibilidade cutânea plantar aumenta a precisão da avaliação do estado do equilíbrio do idoso. / Abstract: Balance assessment in community-dwelling elderly can be performed by using clinical balance and plantar cutaneous sensation tests. To evaluate the occurrence of inbalance and loss of plantar tactile sensitivity as well as to observe the occurence of association between such alterations and whether the consoint performing of these tests increase the accuracy of the evaluation. A series of cases comprising 45 elderly individuals tested by the Berg balance scale and the plantar cutaneous sensation test with nylon monofilaments. Chi-square and Fisher's Exact tests were used and ROC curves were designed to study the sensitivity and specificity of the Berg test. Two and 4 individuals showed alteration in balance and plantar sensation, respectively. There was a significant association between inbalance complaints and sensitivity (p = 0.047), and there was reasonable agreement (Kappa = 0.6457) between the Berg scale and the sensitivity test. A significant association was also found among 6 of the 14 tasks in the Berg scale and the plantar sensitivity test. Most of the elderly individuals leading an independent life in the community showed normal balance and plantar cutaneous sensation, and there was evidence that alterations in these functions are associated. The performance of practical balance and plantar cutaneous sensations tests increases accuracy in the evaluation of elderly individuals' balance conditions. / Mestre

Two types of solder samples, pins and through-holes were tested by SERA™ (Sequential Electrochemical Reduction Analysis) and Wetting Balance after various length of steamaging treatment. It was shown that after steam-aging, both types of specimen gave a similar electrochemical reduction curve, and solderabilty predictions made from SERA™ test agree with results obtained from Wetting Balance test on a qualitative base. Wetting balance test of pin samples after SERA™ test confirmed that SERA™ is a non-destructive testing method -- it even restored solderability. Comparison of electrochemical reduction behavior of samples under different treatment indicates that steam-aging can not reproduce exactly the effect of naturally atmospheric aging, and may not be the best artificial accelerating environment adopted.

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PURPOSE/BACKGROUND: Muscle fatigue is related to a decline in force output and proprioception. These can ultimately have an adverse effect on neuromuscular control and functional performance. Local muscle fatigue has been shown to have adverse consequences on dynamic standing balance; however, much less is known regarding the relationship between distant fatigue and dynamic standing. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of upper body fatigue on dynamic standing balance. It was hypothesized that distant fatigue in upper body musculature would show a significant decrease in dynamic standing balance as assessed by the Lower Quarter Y-Balance Test (YBT-LQ). METHODS: TWENTY HEALTHY INDIVIDUALS (AGE: 25.0 ± 3.42 years, height: 172.72 ± 13.11 cm, mass: 71.36 ± 13.50 kg) participated in this study. A kayak ergometer was used to implement a fatigue protocol for the upper body. The protocol consisted of a graded intensity session ranging from 50% to 90% of maximum effort lasting ten minutes in duration (2 minutes each at 50% 60%, 70%, 80%, and 90%). The anterior (ANT), posteromedial (PM), and posterolateral (PL) reach directions were normalized to leg length and measured on the YBT-LQ before and after the fatigue protocol for each participant. A fourth value termed overall balance was calculated as the sum of the furthest reach distance of the three directions. Blood lactate analysis taken before and immediately after the fatigue protocol was used to quantify fatigue. Multiple paired t-tests were performed for pre-fatigue and post-fatigue balance assessment. A Bonferroni correction was applied to set the significance value ≤0.0125 a priori. Effect size was calculated using the effect size index. RESULTS: Blood lactate values immediately following the fatigue protocol had an average concentration of 6.15 millimoles (pre: 2.3, post: 8.4). The ANT reach direction (ρ = 0.004) and the calculated overall balance (ρ = 0.011) significantly decreased post-fatigue in the dominant lower extremity. No significant differences were found for the PM (ρ = 0.017) or PL (ρ = 0.021) directions. The ANT reach direction (0.64) and overall balance (0.44) also showed a moderate effect size based on the effect size index. CONCLUSIONS: ANT and overall dynamic standing balance were negatively affected after completing the upper body fatigue protocol. The findings of this research demonstrate that upper body fatigue has adverse effects on dynamic standing balance, as measured by performance on the YBT-LQ. Significant and clinically relevant differences were noted in ANT and overall dynamic standing balance. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Physical therapists should be aware of the adverse influence distant fatigue may exhibit on neuromuscular control in muscles not actively involved in the fatiguing exercise. The balance deficits noted may indicate an increased risk of injury with muscle fatigue in muscles not directly contributing to standing balance. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 3b, Case-control study.

Background: Basketball is one of the most popular physical activities in the world and lower limb joints are constantly exposed to physical stress. Girls have been shown to perform athletic movement with an adverse biomechanical profile with high risk for injury. We need more knowledge about how we can introduce motion control training in their regular training program in a simple and uncomplicated way. This study aims to examine the effect and experience of a preventive biomechanics program for female adolescent basketball players. Method: Twelve female basketball players, 12-13 years old, participated in this uncontrolled pilot intervention study. The seven weeks intervention included a 12 minutes preventive biomechanics program twice a week and a daily 2 minutes homes exercise. Performance on the Y-Balance test (YBT), a motor control test battery (MCTB) and hip abductor strength (HAS) was assessed before and after the intervention. Their experience was evaluated using a questionnaire after the intervention. Result: The participants improved significantly in all three outcome measures, YBT, MCTB and HAS after completed intervention. All participants indicated in the questionnaire that they were positive about the intervention and that they would choose to participate again. Conclusion: A seven week preventive biomechanics program twice a week showed positive effects on both motor control exercises and subjective experience among female adolescent basketball players. These results indicate that the training intervention was well accepted and had positive effects on balance, trunk motor control and hip muscle strength. This may in turn have positive effect on injury prevention. However, that needs to be investigated in future RCT with longer follow up time.

Background: Balance is important for performing activities and sports in daily life. Although it is widely accepted, that warming up can increase readiness for exercise, the effect of warming up on balance is unclear as results vary between studies. As warm-up can potentially affect the Star Excursion Balance Test (SEBT) results and physiotherapists use tests to evaluate the effects of interventions, it is important to perform tests in a standardised way. Aim: To investigate the effect of warm-up on dynamic control among injury-free 20–30 year old individuals. Design: Randomised cross-over study. Method: 18 participants performed test A and B, where test A included a warm-up programme and SEBT, and B included only SEBT. The test each participant started with was randomised. Normalised and composite SEBT scores were used to analyse the data. Result: There was no statistically significant difference in SEBT scores for either the dominant or non-dominant leg when compared with and without warm-up. When analysing the difference in mean (SEBT composite %) between with and without warm-up for dominant versus non-dominant legs, a small but significant difference was seen, in the form of a positive effect of warm-up for the non-dominant leg. Conclusion: The results showed that warm-up had no statistically significant effect on either the dominant or non-dominant leg. The difference between the effect of warm-up on the dominant and non-dominant leg was statistically significant as the non-dominant leg was not affected in the same way. Further research is needed to confirm these results. / Bakgrund: Balans är viktigt för att kunna genomföra aktiviteter och idrott i det dagliga livet. Även om det är allmänt accepterat att uppvärmning kan öka beredskap för träningen, är effekten av uppvärmning på balansen oklar då resultaten varierar mellan olika studier. Då uppvärmning kan potentiellt påverka testresultatet vad gäller Star Excursion Balance Test (SEBT) och fysioterapeuter använder tester för att kunna utvärdera effekter av interventioner, är det viktigt att utföra tester på ett standardiserande sätt. Syfte: Att undersöka vilken effekt uppvärmning har på dynamisk kontroll hos skadefria 20–30 år gamla individer. Design: Randomiserad cross-overstudie. Metod: 18 deltagare utförde test A och B, där test A inkluderade ett uppvärmningsprogram och SEBT, och B inkluderade bara SEBT. Testet varje deltagare började med slumpades ut. Normaliserade och sammansatta SEBT-poäng användes för att analysera data.   Resultat: Det förelåg ingen statistiskt signifikant skillnad i SEBT-poäng för vare sig det dominanta eller icke-dominanta benet vid jämförelse med respektive utan uppvärmning. Vid analys av skillnad i medelvärde (SEBT sammansatt %) mellan uppvärmning och inte för dominanta jämfört med icke-dominanta ben sågs en liten, men signifikant skillnad, i form av positiv effekt på uppvärmning för det icke-dominanta benet.  Konklusion: Resultaten visade att uppvärmning inte hade någon statistiskt säkerställd effekt på varken det dominanta och icke-dominanta benet. Skillnaden mellan hur uppvärmningen påverkat det dominanta och icke-dominanta benet var statistiskt signifikant då det ickedominanta benet påverkades inte på samma sätt. Ytterligare forskning behövs för att bekräfta dessa resultat.

Bakgrund: Knäskador är vanligt förekommande bland yngre fysiskt aktiva personer. Ofta skadas flera strukturer samtidigt vilket medför att den mekaniska stabiliteten i knäleden försämras samt att den neuromuskulära funktionen i benet försämras, vilket påverkar den posturala kontrollen samt stabiliteten på knät. För att upptäcka instabilitet behövs mer utmanande och specifika test som Star Excursion Balance Test (SEBT). I dagsläget saknas studier gjorda med SEBT på en svensk population. Fysioterapeuter är beroende av tillförlitliga instrument för att kunna göra en korrekt bedömning. Syfte: Syftet med studien var att undersöka test-retest reliabiliteten för SEBT samt att undersöka samtidig validitet mellan SEBT och Unilateral Stance test (UST) för personer med knäproblematik.Syftet var dessutom att undersöka hur den posturala kontrollen var för personer i åldrarna 20-30 år med knäproblematik mätt med SEBT och UST. Metod: Studien var gjord med en icke experimentell design som var både deskriptiv och korrelerande. Alla tester gjordes vid ett tillfälle med 5 minuters vila mellan testerna. I studien ingick 30 personer med diagnostiserad alternativt självupplevd knäproblematik i åldern 20-30 år som studerade på Biomedicinskt centrum vid Uppsala Universitet. Resultat: Den posturala kontrollen för testpersonerna (n=30) var uppmätt till god både mätt med både SEBT och UST. Validiteten mellan SEBT och UST var låg r=0,3 (p=0,12). Test-retest reliabiliteten för SEBT var god r=0,74 (p=0.00013). Konklusion: SEBT har en god interbedömarreliabilitet. Korrelationen mellan UST och SEBT var låg. SEBT är ett test som är ett väldigt specifikt test där man behöver både material och tid för utförandet. Det behövs mer studier för att få fram om testet går att användas effektivt på allmänna kliniker som ett utvärderingsinstrument för postural kontroll. Keywords: Postural balance, Dynamic balance, Reliability, Validity, Star excursion balance test (SEBT), Unilateral stance test (UST), knee injury.

The purpose of this study is to research how much women interact with each other on screen and what type of interactions occur. The Bechdel Test criticises the lack of female interactions and the content of those discussions. This thesis asks how much women interact with women in film compared to how much men interact with men. It’s an aspect of female representation in film that has previously not been researched.  The study also takes a closer look at female interactions and asks in what context women are placed when they interact with each other. The study explores the global top 20 box office films and focuses on investigating same-sex interactions in order to see the prevalence of female-to-female interactions (FI) compared to male-to-male interactions (MI). This study applies a quantitative research method on the 20 highest grossing films at the worldwide box office of all time. Findings of the study show that film portrays men interacting with men to a substantially higher extent than women interacting with women. Women are often presented in family situations and rarely are they seen interacting with female work colleagues. The paper proposes a gender equality test, the (im)balance test to understand the relationship between FI and MI, and encourages the test to be applied to films in order to measure their gender balance.

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