Background: Aquatic physiotherapy has been shown to be effective in developing balance, strength, and functional reach over time. When dealing with immediate effects, the literature has concentrated more on the body’s physiological response to the physical and mechanical properties of water during passive immersion. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of a single 45-min active aquatic physiotherapy session on standing balance and strength, and its relationship with functional reach in persons 55 years and older with upper limb dysfunction. Methods: The intervention group (n = 12) was assessed before and after a single aquatic physiotherapy session, while the control group (n = 10) was evaluated before and after 45 min of sitting rest. Functional assessment was made using the visual analogue pain scale (points), step test (repetitions), functional reach test (cm), and global balance-standing test on a force platform (% time). A two-way repeated-measures ANOVA was applied (p < 0.05). Results: The intervention group showed non-significant improvements between measurement before and after the intervention: Pain: 6.2 ± 1.9 vs. 5.2 ± 2.3 cm, steps: 7.0 ± 2.0 vs. 7.4 ± 1.8 repetitions, reach: 9.1 ± 2.8 vs. 10.4 ± 3.8 cm, and balance: 61.7 ± 5.9 vs. 71.3 ± 18.2% time in balance on the platform. The control group showed fewer changes but had better baseline values. A comparison between groups with time showed no significant differences in these changes. Conclusions: No significant immediate effects were found for one session of aquatic physiotherapy applied to patients older than 55 years with upper limb dysfunction.

Introduction: The mitigation measures during the COVID-19 pandemic contributed to very limited activity of rehabilitation services for adults with cognitive decline and dementia. This study aimed to characterize the barriers, facilitators, and impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the rehabilitation process of people with dementia or cognitive impairment. Material and methods: An online survey directed to physiotherapists working in mental health collected data on the professional and training experience of the physiotherapists, as well as data on the population with dementia or cognitive impairment, and on the barriers and facilitators in accessing/obtaining results in physiotherapy in the pandemic period. Results: Sixty-three physiotherapists participated in this study. Three main barriers hindering these people in accessing or obtaining good results in the rehabilitation process were: (i) interruption of rehabilitation processes/restricted access to specialized monitoring in situations of prophylactic isolation; (ii) break in the routine of the person with dementia and caregiver; (iii) disruption to social interaction (isolation, distancing from their social networks). Regarding facilitators, the most important were: (i) greater proximity between people with dementia and their caregiver/family; (ii) intervention in the natural context of the person with dementia; (iii) greater proximity of professionals to the caregiver and the person with dementia. Conclusions: Barriers and facilitators identified in this study are crucial for physiotherapy interventions in different critical contexts (e.g., social restriction/seasonal variations), and have an impact on the healthy lifestyle of people with dementia, including in physical activity promotion.

A redução do risco de quedas nas pessoas maiores de 65 anos com fragilidade surge como uma prioridade da OMS pelas lesões mais comuns relacionadas com as quedas, sendo uma das principais causas de dor, incapacidade, perda de independência e morte prematura. Há duas décadas que a OMS estuda e caracteriza a severidade das quedas na população com mais de 65 anos de idade, assim como as medidas de envelhecimento ativo, os determinantes de saúde relacionados e os desafios na implementação de boas práticas a nível mundial.

A redução do risco de quedas nas pessoas maiores de 65 anos com fragilidade surge como uma prioridade da OMS pelas lesões mais comuns relacionadas com as quedas, sendo uma das principais causas de dor, incapacidade, perda de independência e morte prematura. Há duas décadas que a OMS estuda e caracteriza a severidade das quedas na população com mais de 65 anos de idade, assim como as medidas de envelhecimento ativo, os determinantes de saúde relacionados e os desafios na implementação de boas práticas a nível mundial.

Pain is one of the main reasons for care seeking and is considered a public health issue due to the suffering and disability associated with it. When it becomes chronic, it has a negative impact on the quality of life and can lead to depression. People are not adequately prepared for pain management, making it essential to empower them by increasing their ability to control their health, engage in care, and make informed choices. The interaction between the individual and the healthcare professional is crucial in this process. Objective: To map the scientific evidence on the empowerment of individuals with secondary chronic pain in an outpatient context. Materials and Methods: Scoping review, to be carried out according to the guidelines proposed by the Joanna Briggs Institute, defining the protocol according to the established criteria and suitability for the selected databases (MEDLINE, CINHAL, COCHRANE, SciELO, Scopus, Mediclatina) and grey literature (RCAAP, DART-Europe). Studies will be included, with no time limit, with adults with secondary chronic non-cancer pain, which relate to the concept of empowerment, in an outpatient setting. Two independent researchers will analyse the relevance of the articles and extract and summarise the data. Presentation and interpretation of results: The data will be extracted into an evidence table aligned with the objective, followed by a subsequent narrative content analysis. Conclusion: We hope to identify relevant studies on the empowerment of individuals with secondary chronic pain, recognizing the need for a systematic review or primary investigation in case there are knowledge gaps.