Post-Chikungunya chronic arthralgia effects on pain, balance, strength, and gait: do middle-aged differ from older
Laura Oliveira Campos1, Mayra Evelise Cunha Dos Santos1, Arthur Ferreira Esquirio1
1Department of Physical Therapy, Musculoskeletal Research Group - NIME, Federal University of Juiz de Fora, Av. Moacir Paleta 1167, São Pedro, Governador Valadares-MG, Brazil.
Introduction:
Post-Chikungunya virus chronic arthritis (PCCA) is a debilitating, persistent and recurrent polyarthralgia. Older adults are the most physically affected population, but no previous study biomechanically described the PCCA impairments on middle-aged people.
Method:
The study aims to assess subjective pain scores, handgrip strength, balance and temporospatial gait parameters on middle-aged people compared to older adults, both with PCCA. Participants were split in 2 groups with PCCA: middle-aged adults (n = 47) and older adults (n = 30). The grip strength, gait and balance parameters, and pain perception were assessed.
Results:
No between-group differences were found for balance variables, nor for handgrip strength or pain perception. Almost all temporospatial gait parameters showed differences across both groups.
Conclusions:
The findings suggest that middle-aged adults have the same levels of constraints than older adults on their balance, strength, and pain. However, they were consistently better at all gait parameters compared to the older adults' group.
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