Effects of eccentric strengthening in the correlation between muscle volume and torque of the knee extensors and flexors in chronic hemiparesis

• Grant number: 12/05585-4
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Effective date (Start): May 01, 2012
• Effective date (End): December 31, 2013
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy
• Principal researcher: Tania de Fatima Salvini
• Grantee: Carolina Akemi Maeda
• Home Institution: Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde (CCBS). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). São Carlos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Stroke is one of the major causes of neurological disability. Among the clinical changes, muscle weakness is a limiting functional factor in hemiparesis, thus strength training is one of the alternatives used in rehabilitation. However, there are no reports in the literature regarding paretic muscle hypertrophic capacity and its relationship with strength gains. Thus, the objective of this study is to investigate the effects of an eccentric strengthening program on the knee extensors and flexors muscle volume and performance in chronic hemiparesis, compared to a control group. Thirteen chronic hemiparesis and 13 healthy subjects will take part in the study. The eccentric exercise protocol will be applied 3 times per week for 12 weeks. The muscle volume will be obtained by magnetic resonance images (MRI) and the torque will be obtained by isokinetic dynamometry, before and after the 12 weeks of training. Data analysis will be performed in both groups and between groups (paretic versus non-paretic; paretic versus control, non-paretic versus control) and by the correlation between the variables. Statistical tests of normality (Shapiro Wilk's) and homogeneity (Levene test)will be applied. If the variables will have a distribution considered normal and homogeneous, parametric tests will be applied (ANOVA two-way and Pearson Correlation). Otherwise, non-parametric statistics will be applied Kruskal-Wallis test and Spearman). A significance level of 0.05 will be considered, with a 95% confidence interval (CI) for all statistical tests. (AU)