Whole-body vibration contributed little to improve the functional levels of stroke patients.

Background/aim Motor function impairment is a frequent problem in stroke patients and many questions remain about the application of vibration therapy for neurological patients. This study aims to verify the effects of vibration training on lower limb function in patients affected by stroke. Methods This was a clinical, prospective study. The study's subjects were selected via a convenience sample from Samuel Libanio Hospital's Physical Therapy and Neurology Out-patient clinics in Pouso Alegre, Brazil. The sample comprised of 27 individuals presenting with spastic hemiparesis due to stroke. Participants received whole body vibration training at a frequency of 50 Hz and 2 mm amplitude, for 8 weeks. In the first 4 weeks, participants underwent a series of four 60-second periods of vibration in the following positions: in orthostatic posture, first with the knees semi-flexed at 30°, then with the knees semi-flexed at 90°, and then with the affected knee semi-flexed at 30°, and finally in orthostatic posture again with the knees semi-flexed at 30°. In the last 4 weeks, we doubled the number of series of vibration, but used the same positions. The six minute walking test (6MWT), the stair climbing test (SCT) and the timed get up and go test (TUG) were applied to evaluate the lower members' motor function. The tests were applied before and after the intervention, as well as after a follow-up, which was performed 1 month later. Results This study found statistical differences in the 6MWT (P=0.00), SCT (P=0.00), and TUG (P=0.00), indicating improvement in the participants' lower limbs motor function. Conclusion Vibration therapy can contribute to the improvement of the lower limbs' motor function in patients affected by stroke.

Objetivo. O objetivo deste estudo foi relatar o caso de um pacien­te com doença de Machado-Joseph submetido à Terapia-Espelho (TE) em membros inferiores. Método. Trata-se de um relato de caso de um paciente do gênero masculino, 56 anos, com diagnós­tico de Doença Machado-Joseph. Os instrumentos utilizados para avaliação foram a Escala de equilíbrio Berg (EEB), teste de cami­nhada de 5 metros (C5M), teste de subir e descer escadas (TSE) e (TDE), teste de Time up-and-Go (TT) e eletromiografia de su­perfície durante a contração isométrica voluntária (CIV) bilateral­mente e simultaneamente dos músculos retofemural (RF) e tibial anterior (TA). Para a intervenção aplicou-se a TE associada a exer­cícios nos membros inferiores. Resultados. Houve aumento na EEB (p=0,05), redução do tempo para os testes C5M, TES, TED, TT e aumento da atividade eletromiográfica para os músculos RF e TA. Conclusão. Conclui-se que a TE pode contribuir para melho­ra funcional e aumento na atividade eletromiográfica neste paciente.