Assessment of cephalometric characteristics in the elderly

Analysis of Plantar Tactile Sensitivity in Older Women after Conventional Proprioceptive Training and Exergame

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate and compare the effects of conventional proprioceptive training and games with motion monitoring on plantar tactile sensitivity in older women.

METHODS

A randomized controlled clinical trial, with 50 older women randomized into three groups: conventional proprioception (n = 17), games with motion monitoring (n = 16), and the control (n = 17). They underwent 24 intervention sessions, three times a week, for eight weeks. The conventional proprioception group performed exercises involving gait, balance, and proprioception. The games performed by the motion monitoring group included exercises using the Xbox Kinect One video game from Microsoft^®. The evaluation of tactile pressure sensitivity was performed using Semmes-Weinstein monofilaments. Intragroup comparisons between the two paired samples were performed using paired Student's t-test or Wilcoxon test. Intergroup comparisons between the three independent samples were performed using the Kruskal-Wallis test and Dunn's post hoc test, with p ≤ 0.05.

RESULTS

The older women submitted to conventional games with motion monitoring training and showed improvement in plantar tactile sensitivity in the right and left feet. When comparing the intergroup results, the two training modalities obtained an improvement in the plantar tactile sensitivity of the older women when compared to the control group.

CONCLUSIONS

We conclude that both training modalities may favor the improvement of plantar tactile sensitivity in older women, with no significant differences between conventional and virtual training.

Temporomandibular Disorder Signs, Occlusal Support, and Craniofacial Structure Changes Among the Elderly Vietnamese

Objective

The aim of study was to determine the association between signs of temporomandibular disorders (TMD), occlusal support, and alterations in the craniofacial structure of elderly Vietnamese by using cephalometric analysis.

Methods

The cross-sectional study consisted of 244 participants aged 65-74 years. Participants were examined for signs of TMD, including limited mouth opening, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) crepitus, TMJ tenderness, and muscle tenderness. Dentition was divided into four occlusal support zones based on occluding pairs of posterior teeth by using Eichner's classification: Class A = 4 support zones; Class B = 1-3 support zones or only contact in anterior teeth; Class C = 0 support zones. Fifteen angular and seven linear parameters were used for sagittal craniofacial skeleton analysis.

Results

10.3% of participants had limited mouth opening, 49.6% TMJ crepitus, 16.3% TMJ tenderness, and 24.2% muscle tenderness; 45.5% had Class A occlusal support, 38.5% Class B, and 16.0% Class C. Those with Class C had significantly smaller ramus inclination, articular angle, and angles formed by the mandibular plane and shorter facial height compared to Class A and Class B (P < .001). TMD signs were significantly associated with: angles formed by mandibular plane, gonial angle, cranial base angle, effective mandibular length, and anterior facial height (P < .05).

Conclusions

The alteration of craniofacial structures was significantly associated with TMD signs among elderly Vietnamese. The higher number of lost occlusal support zones, the more significant the changes to craniofacial structures.

Efeito de um protocolo de Facilitação Neuromuscular Proprioceptiva (FNP) no equilíbrio postural de idosas

RESUMO Envelhecimento é um processo no qual existem alterações morfológicas, funcionais e bioquímicas. Os pés são estruturas acometidas nesse processo, afetando o equilíbrio corporal e aumentando o risco de quedas. Para minimizar esses efeitos, a Facilitação Neuromuscular Proprioceptiva (FNP) pode ser utilizada, pois melhora a perfusão, a força e a coordenação dos membros inferiores. Teve objetivo avaliar os efeitos da FNP no equilíbrio de idosos. Trata-se de estudo longitudinal e quantitativo, realizado em um hospital público em Teresina (PI). Participaram 20 idosas com idade entre 65 e 85 anos, submetidas a um protocolo de FNP. Foram coletados dados baropodométricos (áreas total, do antepé e do retropé) de forma estática (sem perturbação) e dinâmica (com perturbação), além do teste Timed Up and Go (TUG) e do teste de alcance funcional. Não houve diferença nas áreas plantares antes e após a intervenção, apesar da diminuição da área após os exercícios na avaliação estática (retropé antes: 150,85cm² e depois: 147,40cm²; p=0,0593) e na avaliação dinâmica (retropé antes: 154,30cm² e depois: 151,40cm²; p=0,0783). Foi observada diminuição do tempo do TUG de 10,75s para 8,23s (p<0,0001) um aumento da área de deslocamento, de 21,07cm para 31,10cm (p<0,0001) no teste de alcance funcional. As idosas apresentaram maior ativação dos músculos plantares, com diminuição da área de apoio após o protocolo de FNP. Houve melhora significativa no tempo de marcha e no alcance funcional nas idosas, o que está associado a um menor risco de quedas após os exercícios.