Background Stroke necessitates interventions to rehabilitate individuals with disabilities, and the application of functional electrical stimulation therapy (FEST) has demonstrated potential in this regard. Methods We performed a systematic review according to the recommendations of the PRISMA checklist, searching MEDLINE, Cochrane, EMBASE, LILACS, and PEDro databases by July 2022, without any date or language limitations. Studies were selected using the following terms: stroke, electrical stimulation therapy, cycling, and clinical trials. Randomized or quasi-randomized clinical trials were included that investigated the effect and effectiveness of FEST combined with exercise programs and FEST alone for motor function and activity in subacute post-stroke individuals. The quality of included trials was assessed using the PEDro scores. Outcome data were extracted from eligible studies and combined in random-effects meta-analyses. The quality of evidence was determined according to the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation system. Results Five randomized clinical trials involving 187 participants were included. Moderate-quality evidence indicates that FEST combined with exercise programs promotes relevant benefits in trunk control (MD 9 points, 95% CI 0.36 to 17.64) and walking distance (MD 94.84 meters, 95% CI 39.63 to 150.05, I = 0%), the other outcomes had similar benefits. FEST compared with exercise programs promotes similar benefits in motor function and activity. Conclusion This systematic review provides low to moderate-quality evidence that FEST combined with exercise programs provides similar or superior benefits in motor function and activity in early subacute post-stroke individuals. Review registration: PROSPERO (CRD42022345282)

Background: Stroke is a neurological disease that causes sudden loss of brain functions. One of the most important symptoms is hemiparesis, which due to the weakness of the trunk promotes a decrease in diaphragmatic power and impairs pulmonary function. In addition to the respiratory system, stroke can lead to impairment of the cardiovascular system. This occurs when the Autonomic Nervous System is affected, increasing the risk of the development of Heart Rate Variability due to sympathetic hyperactivity, this condition may predict an unfavorable prognosis after stroke. Case presentation: The aim of this study was to evaluate the variability of heart rate and respiratory muscle strength in a 61-year-old female patient diagnosed with a stroke three months prior to the study submitted to Neurofeedback training. That’s the first report of this kind in the literature. Cardiopulmonary evaluation was performed with a focus on heart rate and respiratory muscle strength before and after an intervention with five brain training sessions using the Neurofeedback BrainLink LITE. Conclusion: After therapy, significant alterations in the Delta wave increase and reduction of the Alpha wave were observed, also changes in the Autonomic Nervous System parameters were observed, with reduction of the sympathetic activity and increase of the parasympathetic activity, along with that, a reduction in the stress index was observed. The intervention was still positive in the improvement of respiratory parameters, with an increase in the overall inspiratory muscle strength index (S-Index) and peak inspiratory flow (PIF). It is suggested that Neurofeedback is efficient in recovering functions related to Autonomic Nervous System and respiratory system.

Introdução: A doença de Parkinson (DP) é representada principalmente por sintomas motores como tremor, bradicinesia, rigidez e instabilidade postural. Sendo a estimulação magnética transcraniana repetitiva (EMTr), uma técnica indolor e não invasiva que modula a excitabilidade do cérebro, pode-se através dela ser possível obter resultados terapêuticos positivos na reabilitação dessas disfunções. Objetivos: Analisar, mediante revisão sistemática, a utilização da estimulação magnética transcraniana repetitiva no tratamento dos sintomas motores de indivíduos com doença de Parkinson. Metodologia: Revisão sistemática realizada nas bases de dados PEDro, SCIELO e nos portais PubMed e BVS durante junho e julho de 2018, combinando os descritores “Estimulação Magnética Transcraniana”, “Doença de Parkinson” e “Terapêutica” em inglês e português. Foram incluídos ensaios clínicos randomizados publicados entre 2009 e 2018 que abordavam a técnica EMTr no tratamento dos sintomas motores na DP. Foram encontrados 1011 artigos e excluídos aqueles que eram duplicados, não respeitaram aos critérios de elegibilidade, não se adequaram a temática pesquisada ou não apresentaram texto completo disponível. Resultados: Foram analisados 14 estudos com pontuação 8,21±1,48 na escala Pedro. Neles, 467 indivíduos classificados com Hoehn Yahr de 2, 3 e 4 foram avaliados quanto à função motora e em seguida submetidos a EMTr com frequências variadas, sendo as utilizadas: 1Hz, 5Hz, 10Hz, 25Hz e 50 Hz. Conclusão: Altas frequências da EMTr têm importância sob os sintomas motores, entre eles: fala, expressão facial, tremor, rigidez, destreza, agilidade, postura, marcha e estabilidade postural. Recomenda-se realizar mais estudos utilizando a EMTr na reabilitação do freezing e da capacidade funcional.