Portal de Periódicos da CAPES

Scale of perceived exertion in the flexibility (PERFLEX): a dimensionless tool to evaluate the intensity?

2008; Volume: 7; Issue: 5 Linguagem: Inglês

10.3900/fpj.7.5.289.e

1676-5133

Estélio Henrique Martin Dantas,

Occupational health in dentistry

Introduction: The diffi culty of counting with evaluation tools capable to evaluate the labor physical stress, due to the accomplishing of movements arches of maximum amplitude in the activities of professional groups, mainly in the health area (nurses, physiotherapists and physicians, especially) was the preponderant motivator factor for the research execution. The objective of this study is to search the correlation by chance existent between the intensity and the amplitude of articular movement arches (evaluated through the Scale of Perceived Effort in the Flexibility - PERFLEX) - with an objective method of evaluation of the fl exibility. Materials and Methods: The sample was composed by a group of 42 voluntary students, of both sexes, of the Superior School of Physical Education of Muzambinho (Escola Superior de Educacao Fisica de Muzambinho), Minas Gerais, non-athletes, varying between 19 and 27 years. PERFLEX possesses fi ve intensities levels, varying from 0 to 110, classifi ed in fi ve verbal descriptors, so that the evaluator can discern it, through the description of its perception, which the sensation corresponding to the amplitude of accomplished movement: from 0 to 30 - “Normality”; from 31 to 60 - “Forcing”; from 61 to 80 - “Discomfort”; from 81 to 90 - “Bearable Pain”; and from 91 to 110 - “Strong Pain.” Parallel to the evaluation of the subjective effort perception, during the accomplishing of the movement along the whole articular arch, was measured the angle of the same (through a goniometer) and the applied force to get the quoted arch (through a dynamometer). The goniometry was made, following the LABIFIE protocol. Results: The results of the statistically signifi cant correlations (for p<0.05) between angular average (of the goniometry) and the applied tension in the body segment (dynamometry), for the levels of PERFLEX were: in the “Mobility” category, (indexes from 31 to 60) correlation was observed in the movements of Horizontal Shoulder Extension (r=0.62; p=0.029) and of Inferior Limbs Abduction (r=0.63; p=0.025); in the “Stretching” category, (indexes from 61 to 80) the correlation can be observed, also in the Horizontal Shoulder Extension (r=0.76; p=0.004). Discussion: The study indicates that PERFLEX can come to turn in a valid instrument, of evaluation of the intensity level demanded for the accomplishing of a movement of maximum angular amplitude.