Circuit training focused on postural control on a patient with inferior-lateral left pons stroke: case report

Abstract

Introduction: The number of strokes has increased in recent years. As a result, postural control may be affected leading to gait disturbance. Circuit training is one of the therapeutic possibilities in which there are multiple stations, allowing multiple repetitions within the same session. This study aimed to describe the gait evolution following the application of a circuit training centered on the postural control in a post pons stroke patient. Material and methods: A male 50-year-old patient suffered a left infero-lateral pons stroke. Initially the patient was assessed using various scales, such as: Stroke Rehabilitation Assessment of Movement (STREAM), Berg Balance Scale, Timed-up-go (TUG) and 10-meter walking test. The patient was submitted to a circuit training for one hour per day with four exercise stations, five times a week for four weeks and was reevaluated at the end of the treatment. Results: There were reported improvements of 24 points in STREAM scale, 17 points in Berg Balance Scale, 0,4 m/s in 10-meter walk test and a decrease of 7,22 seconds in TUG. Conclusion: The application of a circuit training therapy targeted on postural control resulted in gait and balance improvements in this patient.