Functional Capacity Evaluation Research Articles

Comparative Analysis of Lung Perfusion Scan and SPECT/CT for the Evaluation of Functional Lung Capacity.

This study aimed to compare lung perfusion scan with single photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography (SPECT/CT) for the evaluation of lung function and to elucidate the most appropriate modality for the prediction of postoperative lung function in patients with lung cancer. A total of 181 patients underwent Tc-99m macroaggregated albumin lung perfusion scan and SPECT/CT to examine the ratio of diseased lung and diseased lobe. Forty-one patients with lung cancer underwent both preoperative and postoperative pulmonary function tests within 1 month to predict postoperative pulmonary function. Predicted postoperative forced expiratory volume in 1 s (ppoFEV1) was calculated by the % radioactivity of lung perfusion scan and SPECT, and the % volume of the residual lung, assessed on CT. The ratios of diseased lung as seen on lung perfusion scan and SPECT showed significant correlation, but neither modality correlated with CT. The ratios of the diseased lung and diseased lobe based on CT were higher than the ratios based on either perfusion scan or SPECT, because CT overestimated the function of the diseased area. The lobar ratio of both upper lobes was lower based on the perfusion scan than on SPECT but was higher for both lower lobes. Actual postoperative FEV1 showed significant correlation with ppoFEV1 based on lung perfusion SPECT and perfusion scan. We suggest SPECT/CT as the primary modality of choice for the assessment of the ratio of diseased lung area. Both perfusion scan and SPECT/CT can be used for the prediction of postoperative lung function.

Time-frequency EMG features comparison of biceps brachii and erector spinae in evaluating work level categories of RTW patients

Electromyography (EMG) is one of the special tool in assessing human muscle performance. The muscle performance can be evaluated when there exist changes on both the amplitude and frequency simultaneously. However, various time-frequency EMG signal features from literature do not provide easy and direct interpretation of the muscle condition specifically for non-researchers in rehabilitation centers. This study investigates EMG behavior of biceps brachii and erector spinae based on new time-frequency EMG features during functional capacity evaluation (FCE)’s core-lifting task in evaluating work level categories of return to work patients. Surface EMG signals are filtered using band pass filter with cut-off frequency at 5-500 Hz and auto-segmented using spectrogram, while S-transform is used for the features extraction. Result shows that the differences of the proposed EMG features values are significant in indexing muscle performance and are good indicators for the determination of work level categories.

Systematic review of the measurement properties of performance-based functional tests in patients with neck disorders

ObjectivesThe purpose of this systematic review is to identify and synthesise studies evaluating performance-based functional outcome measures designed to evaluate the functional abilities of patients with neck pain.DesignSystematic review.Data sourcesA...

Functional Capacity Evaluation for Work-Related Injuries to the Foot and Ankle is Associated with Low Return to Work Rate

Category:Hindfoot, Ankle, Midfoot/Forefoot, Injury and RehabilitationIntroduction/Purpose:The functional capacity evaluation (FCE) is used to determine a worker’s physical ability after treatment of a work-related injury. This evaluation is a critical determinant in the administration of benefits and the decision to return to work (RTW). The purpose of this study is to characterize FCE results and ability to RTW among patients treated for work- related orthopaedic injuries to the foot or ankle.Methods:A retrospective medical record review from the practices of four orthopaedic foot and ankle surgeons was conducted. Inclusion criteria were (1) treatment of a work-related injury to the foot or ankle, (2) at least 2 years of follow-up from the injury, and (3) documentation of an associated FCE. The FCE report and clinic notes were used to determine the patient’s pre-injury job requirement (Department of Labor Office category: light, medium, or heavy), post-injury FCE-determined work ability (light, medium, or heavy), specific FCE- or physician-imposed work restrictions, and clearance for RTW. Patients were considered cleared to RTW if their FCE-determined work ability met or exceeded their pre-injury job requirement and if there were no additional restrictions imposed by the FCE or physician that would prevent them from functioning in their pre-injury role.Results:A total of 188 patients met inclusion criteria. Missteps/rotational injuries (44.1%), falls from height (22.3%), and crush injuries (20.7%) were the most common mechanisms. 74.4% of patients had FCE-determined work abilities at or above their pre- injury job requirements, and 63.3% of patients were eventually cleared for RTW. The median time from injury to clearance for RTW was 2.0 ± 1.3 years. Reasons for not being cleared to RTW included failure to meet the pre-injury job requirement (67.2%), specific FCE-imposed limitations (28.3%), or specific physician-imposed limitations (4.5%). Less strenuous pre-injury job requirement was positively associated with both FCE-determined work ability meeting pre-injury job requirement and clearance for RTW (p<0.001 and p=0.034, respectively; Table 1).Conclusion:Approximately two-thirds of patients undergoing FCE after a work-related foot or ankle injury are cleared to RTW. However, it takes a median of two years to achieve this clearance. Patients with jobs that are more physically strenuous are less likely to be able to return to those jobs after injury to the foot or ankle.

Is there association between left atrial function and functional capacity in patients with uncomplicated type 2 diabetes?

We sought to investigate the relationship between phasic left atrial function (LA) and functional capacity in the patients with type 2 diabetes (DM). This cross-sectional investigation included 72 controls and 64 uncomplicated DM subjects. All participants underwent echocardiographic examination and cardiopulmonary exercise testing. Total and passive LA emptying fractions (EF), demonstrating LA reservoir and conduit function, were significantly lower in DM patients than in controls. Active LA EF, the parameter of LA booster pump function, was similar between DM and controls. Total and positive LA strains, corresponding with reservoir and conduit function, were also significantly reduced in DM subjects comparing with controls. However, negative LA strain-parameter of LA booster pump function, was significantly increased in DM patients in comparison with controls. Peak oxygen consumption was significantly reduced and ventilation/carbon dioxide slope was elevated in DM patients. In the whole study population LA global longitudinal strain was associated with heart rate recovery in the first minute, peak oxygen consumption and ventilation/carbon dioxide slope independently of other clinical parameters and LV hypertrophy and LV diastolic function. In conclusion, LA phasic function and functional capacity were significantly impaired in the patients with DM. LA longitudinal strain, but not LA volume index, was independently related with functional capacity in the whole study population. Our results suggest that evaluation of LA function and functional capacity could detect subclinical target organ damage and prevent development of further complications in uncomplicated DM patients.

Functional Capacity Evaluation for Injuries to the Foot and Ankle.

The functional capacity evaluation (FCE) is used to determine physical ability after treatment of a workplace-related injury. This evaluation is a determinant in the administration of benefits and the decision to return to work (RTW). The purpose of this study was to characterize FCE results and ability to RTW after treatment for workplace-related orthopedic injuries to the foot or ankle. A retrospective medical record review from the practices of 4 orthopedic foot and ankle surgeons was conducted. Inclusion criteria were a workplace-related injury to the foot or ankle, at least 2 years of follow-up, and an associated FCE. The FCE report and clinic notes were used to determine the patient's preinjury job requirement, postinjury FCE-determined ability, specific FCE- or physician-imposed work restrictions, and clearance to RTW. A total of 188 patients met inclusion criteria. In total, 74.4% of patients had FCE-determined work abilities at or above their preinjury job requirements, and 63.3% of patients were cleared to RTW. The mean time from injury to FCE was 1.9 ± 1.5 years, and the mean time to clearance for RTW was 2.0 ± 1.3 years. A less strenuous preinjury job requirement was positively associated with both the FCE-determined ability meeting the preinjury job requirement (P < .001) and clearance to RTW (P = .034). Two in 3 patients were cleared to RTW following workplace-related injuries to the foot or ankle culminating in an FCE. However, it took a mean of 2 years to achieve this clearance. Patients with more strenuous jobs were less likely to be able to RTW after injury. Level III, retrospective comparative study.

Medical data mining: The search for knowledge in workers' compensation claims.

Workers' compensation claims data are an underutilized source of research data. Data mining is a step in the process of knowledge discovery. This report is an inquiry into the question of whether data mining can be used to expand the research potential of workplace injury claims. A descriptive data-mining method is used to avoid the hazards of predictive data mining. A key decision in descriptive data mining is the selection of the descriptive variables to be included. A major purpose of claims processing is documentation of benefit decisions. This documentation is used in selecting the case records embedded in a claim history. This novel process is called beneficiation not only because of the obvious reference to benefit but also because it is a mining term that describes a process that further refines metallic ores. Claim beneficiation identified four data forms that contain descriptive information about workplace injury claim data. They are the first report of injury, the activity prescription form, a functional capacity evaluation, and a physical capability estimate. When the data variables from these forms are combined they become a workplace injury case registry history which is a new frontier for research in injury epidemiology.

A Robot with an Augmented-Reality Display for Functional Capacity Evaluation and Rehabilitation of Injured Workers.

Occupational rehabilitation is an integral part of the recovery process for workers who have sustained injuries at the workplace. It often requires the injured worker to engage in functional tasks that simulate the workplace environment to help regain their functional capabilities and allow for a return to employment. We present a system comprised of a robotic arm for recreating the physical dynamics of functional tasks and a 3D Augmented Reality (AR) display for immersive visualization of the tasks. While this system can be used to simulate a multitude of occupational tasks, we focus on one specific functional task. Participants perform a virtual version of the task using the robot-AR system, and a physical version of the same task without the system. This study shows the results for two able-bodied users to determine if the robot-AR system produces upper-limb movements similar to the real-life equivalent task. The similarity between relative joint positions, i.e., hand-to-elbow (H2E) and elbow-to-shoulder (E2S) displacements, is evaluated within clusters based on the spatial position of the user's hand. The H2E displacements for approximately 50% of hand position clusters were consistent between the robot-AR and real-world conditions and approximately 30% for E2S displacements. The similar clusters are distributed across the entire task space however, indicating the robot-AR system has the potential to properly simulate real-world equivalent tasks.

ESTADO NUTRICIONAL E CAPACIDADE FUNCIONAL DE PACIENTES COM O VÍRUS DA IMUNODEFICIÊNCIA ADQUIRIDA HOSPITALIZADOS

Objetivo: este trabalho avaliou o estado nutricional e a capacidade funcional de pacientes com síndrome da imunodeficiência adquirida hospitalizados. Metodologia: Estudo transversal e descritivo realizado nas enfermarias de Infectologia, com pacientes HIV (Vírus da Imunodeficiência Humana), com idade igual ou superior a19 anos (n = 87). As variáveis analisadas foram: sexo, idade, desfecho, tempo de internamento, diagnóstico secundário, presença de comorbidade, peso, estatura, índice de massa corpórea (IMC), circunferência do braço, circunferência muscular do braço, área muscular do braço, dobra cutânea triciptal, força de preensão manual e espessura do músculo adutor do polegar. Resultados: No estudo, 64,4% dos pacientes eram do sexo masculino, com idade média de 39,24±10,45 anos. O risco nutricional foi observado em 64,4% dos casos. Houve prevalência de desnutrição, segundo o IMC, em 25,3% dos pacientes, mas essa prevalência alcançou 78,2%, pela dobra cutânea triciptal, e 62,2% pela circunferência muscular do braço. O tempo de internamento foi maior nos pacientes com risco nutricional (77,1%), que permaneceram internados por mais de 21 dias (p=0,041). A força de preensão manual e a espessura do músculo adutor do polegar foram menores nos pacientes com menor IMC. Conclusão: Houve alta prevalência de risco nutricional, desnutrição e baixo desempenho dos métodos funcionais nos pacientes hospitalizados com HIV. A espessura do músculo adutor do polegar e a força de preensão manual tiveram associação estatisticamente significativa como IMC, demonstrando ser bastante úteis na avaliação da capacidade funcional de pacientes com síndrome da imunodeficiência adquirida.DOI: 10.12957/demetra.2019.34792

Spirometry, cardiopulmonary exercise testing and the six-minute walk test results in sarcoidosis patients.

The 6-minute walking test, cardiopulmonary exercise testing, and spirometry are useful tools for evaluation of respiratory impairment and functional capacity in patients with lung disease. Sarcoidosis is a multisystem granulomatous disease of unknown etiology. Since the pulmonary involvement can affect the quality of life in sarcoidosis patients, this study is aimed to evaluate the tests mentioned above in order to examine the functional capacity of sarcoidosis patients in different stages as well as the cause of exercise intolerance. This cross-sectional study was carried out on 50 Iranian patients with sarcoidosis. Patients were classified into three groups based on the findings of the chest radiography as well as the pulmonary CT scan, reported by an expert radiologist. Pulmonary, cardiac, and activity function have been evaluated in the patients, using cardiopulmonary exercise testing, the 6-minutes walking test, and spirometry. In cardiopulmonary exercise testing, percent-predicted peak VO2 (57.75±15.49, p=0.015) and percent-predicted O2 pulse (70.54±17.37, p=0.013) were significantly lower in the third group, in comparison with the others. Also, VE/CO2 (AT) (34.99±5.67, p=0.000) was significantly higher in the third group, in comparison with the other ones. Percent-predicted VO2 showed a strong positive correlation with age (r=0.377, p=0.009), TSH (r= 0.404, p=0.007), and percent-predicted FVC (r=0.443, p=0.002). In addition, O2 pulse had a positive correlation with BMI (r=0.324, p=0.026), percent-predicted FVC (r=0.557, p= 0.000), and percent-predicted FEV1 (r=0.316, p=0.032). According to this study, ventilatory limitation, pulmonary involvement, and deconditioning are the main causes of activity limitations in sarcoidosis patients.

Clinimetric Evaluation of Functional Capacity and Quality of Life of Stroke Patients — Study Review

Stroke is the second most common cause of death in the world after ischemic heart disease and is often associated with various long-term physical and neuropsychological consequences. Because stroke is one of the most common causes of disability, interest from researchers arCNSd the world is focused on assessing the functional capacity and quality of life among these patients. Many assessment tools, covering various functional areas, are available to clinicians and researchers working with people who have had a stroke. The presented analysis of research results of various authors indicates that stroke significantly affects physical and mental performance. The change in functional abilities, mood disorders, cognitive impairment and reduced social interactions are often observed in these patients. In stroke patients, the simultaneous use of several different scales for assessing patients’ conditions creates the possibility of correct qualification for rehabilitation, long-term forecasting, estimation of needs for possible care and an objective, more detailed analysis of the obtained results and changes occurring during the treatment process. (JNNN 2019;8(2):86–90)

Impact of Functional Capacity Evaluation on Patient-Reported Functional Ability: An Exploratory Diagnostic Before-After Study.

Introduction Work capacity in patients with orthopedic trauma and long-lasting inactivity is significantly reduced. Functional capacity evaluation (FCE) is a diagnostic approach for developing recommendations for a return to work and further occupational rehabilitation when the ability to carry out previous job demands is uncertain. However, FCE may also have direct effects on the patients' appraisal of their functional ability. Our study therefore evaluated the change in patient-reported functional ability after the performance of an FCE. Methods We performed a diagnostic before-after study in 161 consecutively recruited patients with trauma who were referred for FCE at the end of an interdisciplinary inpatient rehabilitation program in Austria. Patients completed the Spinal Function Sort to assess patient-reported functional ability both prior to the FCE and after completing it. Results Patient-reported functional ability (0-200 points) improved by 14.8 points (95% CI 11.3-18.2). The number of participants who rated their functional ability below their functional capacity as observed by the FCE decreased from 82.6 to 64.6% by about 18 percentage points. Conclusions The performance of the FCE in patients with trauma was associated with an improvement of patient-reported functional ability. The performance of an FCE in trauma rehabilitation may possibly have a direct therapeutic effect on the patient by allowing a more realistic appraisal of the ability to perform relevant work activities.

Calling on the Client's Perceptions About the Contributions of Physiotherapists Working in Occupational Health Services.

Background:Clients are the recipients of occupational health care. To date, little is known about the perceptions of clients about the contribution of physiotherapists working in occupational health services. Gathering this information is imperative to understanding and responding to clients’ needs.Methods:An interpretative qualitative study was undertaken and face-to-face interviews were conducted with clients from 2 occupational health services situated within the National Health Service in the United Kingdom. Data were tape-recorded and transcribed verbatim in full. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis.Results:There were 9 clients interviewed, predominantly comprising secretaries, staff nurses, and care assistants. Thematic analysis revealed 2 main themes: vocational rehabilitation and health promotion. Clients revealed distinct subcomponents of the contribution of physiotherapists in occupational health services such as functional capacity evaluations, job demand analysis, and work-specific rehabilitation. Promoting staff health was another pertinent issue reported by clients.Conclusions:Clients clearly felt that physiotherapists made a contribution to occupational health services. This information lays the groundwork for the development of physiotherapists within occupational health services, which in turn will help clients achieve better care and health outcomes.

Content validity of the WorkHab functional capacity evaluation.

Validity is a dynamic process and as part of a continual process of evaluation of tools, this study aimed to evaluate content validity of the WorkHab functional capacity evaluation, a tool used in occupational rehabilitation. A cross sectional survey of health professionals who conduct FCEs investigated their ratings of item relevance and item difficulty across different categories of work and injuries. The survey also explored the relationship of the WorkHab FCE items with the physical demand items of the Dictionary of Occupational Titles (DOT). The majority of items of the WorkHab FCE were rated as relevant for manual work and vocational retraining with over 90% agreement between the 106 respondents. Therapists identified the WorkHab items of climbing, crawling and balance as less relevant for sedentary work. Lifting items were perceived as the most difficult for those with a lower back injury, or an upper limb injury. Sixteen of the 18 WorkHab FCE items had 100% agreement with the equivalent items on the DOT. The WorkHab FCE items that had poor agreement with the DOT were mainly sensory items such as see, feel, talk andhear. The findings of this study support the content validity for the WorkHab FCE specifically in relation to manual work and for vocational retraining purposes.

Associação entre o estresse oxidativo e estado inflamatório com variáveis extrapulmonares em tabagistas

Objetivo: Avaliar o estresse oxidativo e estado inflamatório de tabagistas e não tabagistas e analisar a associação com variáveis extrapulmonares. Métodos: Estudo transversal e descritivo, onde a amostra foi composta por 10 tabagistas (GT) e 10 não tabagistas. Após a espirometria, foram submetidos à análise do Hemograma, da Proteína C-Reativa us e TBARS e avaliação da força muscular respiratória, capacidade funcional e da qualidade de vida. A homogeneidade das variáveis foi testada pelo teste Levene, as diferenças entre os grupos foram analisadas pelo teste t de Student ou teste U de Mann-Whitney. Associações entre as variáveis foram avaliadas pelo teste de correlação de Pearson ou Spearman. Resultados: GT apresentou carga tabágica de 29,49±33,66 anos/maço e consumo diário de cigarros de 13,5±8,5. Foi encontrada diferença entre os grupos no nível de leucócitos 9750±2269 X 7320±1692 (p=0,028) entre os grupos. Houve associação entre PCR-us e carga tabágica (r= 0,806; p=0,007) e entre TBARS e PEmáx (r= 0,818; p= 0,006). Conclusão: houve presença de leucocitose no GT, bem como associação entre PCR-us e carga tabágica e entre PEmáx e TBARS. Não foram encontradas associações das demais variáveis com os níveis de TBARS e PCR-us.

Palliative care: epidemiological profile with a biopsychosocial look on oncological patients

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Palliative care is a set of practices that encompasses patients with life-threatening diseases which approach is no longer curative, but comforting, including care for the family. The objective of this study was to verify the epidemiological profile of cancer patients in palliative care. METHODS: We interviewed 100 cancer patients in palliative care, as well as the sociodemographic and biopsychosocial variables, using the Karnofsky index, Palliative Performance Scale and Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale. RESULTS: The prevalent age group was between 51-60 years (34%), more than half female (77%), incomplete elementary school (40%) and resident in the interior of Maranhao (73%). Concerning the use of pain drugs, 52% reported not forgetting to take their pain drug, while 56% took drug on their own. As to the diagnosis, only 13% of the interviewees were aware of a palliative diagnosis, and more than half of them were aware of primary or oncological diagnosis (65%). Regarding the evaluation of functional capacity, 52% had the Karnofskys index between 70 and 90%; Palliative Performance Scale, 62% between 80 and 90%, and Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale the following most significant variables in tiredness, (60%); sadness, (84%); anxiety, (73%); lack of appetite, (51%) and absence of well-being (79%). CONCLUSION: Knowing the profile of patients is key to identify the obstacles to the effective implementation of palliative care, making it possible to implement targeted measures.

Frailty syndrome in the elderly in elderly with chronic diseases in Primary Care.

To evaluate the frailty syndrome in the elderly nursing diagnosis in elderly with chronic diseases of a health district of the Federal District. A quantitative, descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted with elderly patients served at the Basic Health Units, who presented arterial hypertension and/or diabetes mellitus. The following were used: a sociodemographic questionnaire, the Mini-Mental State Examination, anthropometric data, evaluation of sarcopenia (measured by body composition), muscle strength and functional capacity, and the identification of NANDA-I nursing diagnosis. A statistical software was used for data analysis. Participation of 78 elderly people, of which 93.6% of had Impaired memory, 93.6% had Impaired physical mobility, 82.1% had Fatigue, 76.9% had Impaired ambulation, 53.8% had Dressing self-care deficit, 43.6% had Activity Intolerance, 35.9% had Social Isolation, 30.8% had Hopelessness, 29.5% had Feeding self-care deficit, 29.5% had Bathing self-care deficit, 12.8% had Toileting self-care deficit, and 10.3% had Decreased cardiac output. The nursing diagnosis Frailty Syndrome in the Elderly allows a multidimensional view of the elderly. Since one factor can cause health problems in several health fields, nurses must intervene early, plan and implement actions in the short and long term.

Effects of exercises on pain and functional capacity in hospitalized cancer patients

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: There are few studies evaluating the effects of physiotherapy with multidimensional instruments on cancer pain. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of physiotherapy on pain and functional capacity in hospitalized cancer patients. METHODS: This is a quasi-experimental study including 40 participants with a mean age of 51±18 years assessed before and after physiotherapy interventions, using the verbal numerical rating scale, the McGill Pain Questionnaire - Short Form, the International Physical Activity Questionnaire, the Sit-to-Stand test, and the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group questionnaire for functional capacity evaluation. The participants were classified according to the number of performed sessions: group 1≤ 5 sessions (n=25) and group 2 ≥ 6 sessions (n=15). RESULTS: There was a reduction in cancer pain measured by sensory (p=0.02) and mixed descriptors (p=0.05) of the McGill questionnaire as well as by the numerical visual scale (p=0.03) in patients who performed at least six physiotherapy sessions. There was a significant correlation (r=0.81; p<0.001) between the reduction in pain measured by the numerical visual scale and the reduction in pain measured by the Total McGill questionnaire. There were no significant differences in the Sit-to-Stand test and the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group functional capacity questionnaire. CONCLUSION: At least six sessions of physiotherapy with emphasis on kinesiotherapy were needed to promote a reduction of cancer pain in hospitalized patients. We recommend the use of multidimensional instruments in the evaluation of cancer pain in hospitalized patients submitted to physiotherapy.

Correlation among the Tests of Functional Capacity Evaluation of Elderly Participants of a Social Inclusion Project in the City of Teresina – Piauí

O envelhecimento é um processo progressivo, no qual ocorrem alterações biológicas, psicológicas e funcionais, voltadas a sua autonomia nas atividades da vida diária. Entretanto, não existe um consenso mundial sobre qual o melhor instrumento para realizar esta avaliação e nem se existe uma correlação significativa entre os métodos. O objetivo é correlacionar os resultados de testes de avaliação da capacidade funcional de idosos participantes de um projeto de inclusão social em Teresina, Piauí. A pesquisa foi realizada com 36 idosos, pertencentes a um projeto de Inclusão Social da Pessoa Idosa. Como instrumento foi aplicado um questionário para caracterização dos idosos e para avaliação da capacidade funcional dos idosos se utilizaram os seguintes índices: o Índice de Katz, o Índice de Lawton-Brody, o Índice de Barthel e o Índice de Pfeffer. De acordo com a caracterização dos idosos no estudo, apresenta-se que 94,4% eram do sexo feminino, idade predominante na faixa etária de 71 a 80 anos (55,6%), com 38,9% possuindo Ensino Médio e 33,4% classificados como casados e viúvos respectivamente. De acordo com os testes de avaliação da capacidade funcional, 100% dos idosos foram considerados independentes pelo Índice de Pfeffer, 72,2% classificados como Moderadamente Dependente pelo Índice de Lawton-Brody, 58,3% classificados como independentes pelo Índice de Barthel e 91,7% dos idosos considerados como independentes, de acordo com o Índice de Katz. As evidências apresentadas no estudo sugerem distinção entre os instrumentos de avaliação da capacidade funcional dos idosos e não houve correlação significativa entre os instrumentos.Palavras-chave: Envelhecimento. Saúde do Idoso. Qualidade de Vida.AbstractAging is a progressive process in which biological, psychological and functional changes occur, focused on their autonomy in the daily living activities. However, there is no global consensus as to the best tool to perform this evaluation and whether there is a significant correlation among the methods. The goal was to correlate the results of functional capacity assessment tests of elderly participants of a social inclusion project in Teresina City, Piauí. The research was carried out with 36 elderly people, belonging to a project of Social Inclusion of the Elderly Person. As instruments a questionnaire was applied to characterize the elderly and to assess the elderly’s functional capacity the Katz Index, the Lawton-Brody Index, the Barthel Index and the Pfeffer Index were used. According to the characterization of the elderly in the study, 94.4% were female, the predominant age was 71-80 age group (55.6%), with 38.9% having high school and 33 , 4% classified as married and widowed respectively. According to the functional capacity evaluation tests 100% of the elderly were considered independent by the Pfeffer Index, 72.2% classified as Moderately Dependent on the Lawton-Brody Index, 58.3% classified as independent by the Barthel Index and 91.7% of the elderly considered as independent according to the Katz Index. The evidence presented in the study suggests a distinction among the instruments for assessing the elderly’s functional capacity and there was no significant correlation among the instruments.Keywords: Aging. The Elderly’s Health. Quality of Life.

Special Aspects of Heart rate Variability in Track and Field Athletes and Players

The article was considered the features of autonomic regulation of heart rate in athletes. Modern level of sporting achievements puts forward the necessary conditions for study and evaluation of functional states and adaptive capacity of all body systems in interconnection, taking into account the autonomic regulation of the heart, the problem is actual enough. In the study were surveyed sportsmen playing sports and track and field athletes, using a method of HRV. It was studied the basic of time, spectral and HRV parameters (in R. Baevskyi) and established the predominant type of of vegetative regulation of cardiac activity. Athletes of team sport were characterized by a decrease in indexes of time than heart rate. he analysis of of spectral indexes has shown increasing values in track and field athletes. It was established predominant type of sympathetic autonomic regulation of the heart in sportsmen playing sports, and the track and field athletes found predominant type of parasympathetic autonomic regulation. Obtained results are confirm lowering mechanisms of self-regulation and activation energy centers metabolic for sportsmen playing sports. In track and field athletes were established a higher level of physical fitness and note the decrease in activity of the central control loop.