Full text
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| Author(s): |
Renata Laurenti dos Santos
Total Authors: 1
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| Document type: | Master's Dissertation |
| Press: | São Paulo. |
| Institution: | Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Faculdade de Medicina (FM/SBD) |
| Defense date: | 2010-04-30 |
| Examining board members: |
Adriana Bastos Conforto;
Paulo Euripedes Marchiori;
Clarissa Barros de Oliveira
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| Advisor: | Adriana Bastos Conforto |
| Abstract | |
Somatosensory stimulation in the form of peripheral nerve stimulation is a promising strategy to improve motor function of the upper limb in chronic stroke patients and is usually administered in research laboratories. The usual difficulty in commutting to and from the hospital in a regular basis at short intervals of time is an obstacle for implementation of this therapeutic approach in our country. Home-based rehabilitation may be an interesting alternative, in addition to being less expensive than hospital-based rehabilitation. The current study aims to evaluate the improvement in performance of the paretic upper extremity after an experimental intervention consisting of somatosensory stimulation associated with motor training, performed at home. This study is a randomized, double-blind clinical trial, with two different types of interventions: active or control. Patients in the active group were instructed to use a device of electrical stimulation of the median nerve, for two hours. Patients in the control group were also instructed to use the device for two hours, and sham stimulation was administered. Immediately after the use of the device, all patients were instructed to train tasks that are part of the Jebsen-Taylor test. Treatment was performed daily, for one month. The primary outcome was improvement in performance of the paretic hand, evaluated by the Jebsen-Taylor test. Secondary outcomes were: 1) improvement in the Functional Independence Measure (FIM); 2) compliance with the proposed interventions, assessed through a daily written log, and oral reports of the patients; 3) possible adverse events from these interventions. Performance in the Jebsen-Taylor test and FIM scores were assessed before the interventions (D0), immediately after its end (D30) and four months after its end (D150). Analysis was performed with repeated- measures ANOVA (ANOVARM) with factors GROUP (active and control) and TIME (D30 and D150). Regarding Jebsen-Taylor test improvement, there was a significant effect of GROUP (F=5.02; p=0.038) in the absence of significant effects of TIME or interaction GROUP*TIME (p>0.05). There were no significant differences in FIM scores in either group after treatment. Compliance with treatment was greater in the active than in the control group, but conclusions about this finding are limited because data were collected solely based on information provided by patients. No relevant adverse events were observed. This study pioneered home-based somatosensory stimulation combined with motor training, without direct supervision of a therapist. We suggest changes to be made in the protocol in future studies, as well as investigation of effects of somatosensory stimulation combined with other neurostimulation techniques (AU) | |