Antero-cervical thermophysiological characterization of obstructive sleep apnea patients

Effects of whole-body vibration exercise on sleep disorders, body composition and clinical parameters in down syndrome children: A study protocol for a randomized cross-over trial

Down-syndrome (DS) the most common genetic disorder worldwide. Whole-body-vibration-exercise (WBVE) has been recommended for individuals with DS. To verify the efficacy of WBVE on sleep disorders, body-composition (BC) and clinical parameters of children with DS. It is a randomized cross-over-trial. Children with DS, 5-12 years, both-genders will be selected. The sleep disorders will be evaluated by the "Infant sleep questionnaire Reimão and Lefevre" and by the "Sleep disturbance scale in children". The BC will be measure by bioimpedance and the skin temperature using infrared-thermography. WBVE will be performed seating in an ancillary-chair or sitting on the base of the vibrating platform, with 2.5 mm, 5Hz. Each session (5 series, 30-seconds on vibration, 1-minute of rest). It is expected improvement responses on sleep, BC and some clinical parameters. It is expected that this WBVE protocol will bring important clinical contributions for children with DS.

Effects of the Whole-Body Vibration Exercise on Sleep Disorders, Body Temperature, Body Composition, Tone, and Clinical Parameters in a Child with Down Syndrome Who Underwent Total Atrioventricular Septal Defect Surgery: A Case-Report

BACKGROUND

The health and developmental issues of people with Down syndrome (DS) are complex and are associated with many medical, psychological, and social problems from childhood through into adulthood. DS children have an increased risk of multiorgan comorbidities, including congenital heart disease. Atrioventricular septal defect (AVSD) is a congenital heart malformation that often occurs in DS people.

AIM

Physical activity and exercise are recommended for patients with cardiovascular disease and are considered to be the gold standard of cardiac rehabilitation. Whole-body vibration exercise (WBVE) is considered a form of exercises. The aim of this case report is to show the effects of WBVE on sleep disturbances, body temperature, body composition, tone, and clinical parameters in a child with DS with corrected total AVSD. The subject is a 10-year-old girl, with free-type DS, who underwent surgery to correct a total AVSD at 6 months. She underwent periodic cardiological monitoring and was released to perform any type of physical exercise, including WBVE. WBVE improved sleep quality and body composition.

CONCLUSION

WBVE leads to physiological effects that benefit the DS child.

Effect of Vocal Therapy Associated With TENS in Women With Behavioral Dysphonia

PURPOSE

This study aimed to investigate the effect of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) associated with vocal therapy in women with behavioral dysphonia.

METHOD

Seventeen women with behavioral dysphonia were divided into an experimental group (n = 8) and a placebo group (n = 9). All were submitted to six sessions of vocal therapy, according to the Comprehensive Voice Rehabilitation Program. In the experimental group, therapy was associated with TENS (30 minutes) and in the placebo group, the electrodes were placed and the equipment remained off. The vocal handicap, the voice through the acoustic and auditory perception evaluation, the electrical activity, and the superficial temperature of the suprahyoid and infrahyoid muscles were evaluated. Pre and post data were compared by parametric and nonparametric tests.

RESULTS

There was a decreased in vocal handicap of the placebo group (P = 0.002) and a decreased in the percentage of electrical activity of the right (P = 0.036) and left (P = 0.017) infrahyoid muscles of the experimental group in vowel emission and sequential speech (P = 0.036). There was an increase in temperature in the right infrahyoid region in vowel emission (P = 0.027) and the temperature difference decreased quantitatively between the supra and infrahyoid regions in the experimental group.

CONCLUSION

TENS associated with vocal therapy reduced the electrical activity of the infrahyoid muscles and balance the temperature between the supra- and infrahyoid regions in women with behavioral dysphonia.

Relation between oro-facial thermographic findings and myofunctional characteristics in patients with obstructive sleep apnoea

AIM

To evaluate the thermographic characteristics of oro-facial structures and submental triangle of participants with obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA), as well as to investigate its correlation with the anatomy, posture and functions of the oro-facial structures.

METHOD

Eighteen patients diagnosed with OSA by polysomnography (OSA group; 57.4 ± 15.8 years) and 13 healthy participants screened for OSA (control group; 57.8 ± 18.1 years) were included. All participants answered to questionnaires for OSA and excessive daytime sleepiness, and were submitted to infrared image thermography analysis of facial regions of interest (ROIs), oro-facial myofunctional evaluation (OMES-E protocol) and masticatory performance. Statistical analysis included one-way ANOVA and Pearson/Spearman correlation test.

RESULTS

Obstructive sleep apnoea group showed lower thermographic measures in many ROIs in the frontal and lateral views of the face, including the submental triangle region, and lower scores of aspect/posture and performance of oro-facial structures, as well lower total score of OMES-E evaluation (P < .05). Scores of aspect/posture and mobility were correlated with the temperature of some ROIs in the frontal and lateral views.

CONCLUSION

Lower facial skin and submental triangle region temperatures, measured by infrared thermography, and a worse oro-facial myofunctional condition were identified in the group of individuals with OSA. The higher temperatures of the ROIs were correlated with the better status of aspect/posture and performance of the oro-facial myofunctional structures.