Abordagem fisioterapêutica da ataxia espinocerebelar: uma revisão sistemática

A ataxia espinocerebelar (SCA) é uma afecção hereditária que cursa com a degeneração progressiva do cerebelo e suas vias, causando alterações do equilíbrio e de outras funções. O efeito das abordagens da fisioterapia no tratamento da SCA e a qualidade metodológica desses estudos foram analisados. Foi investigado ainda se os benefícios alcançados com o tratamento são retidos. As intervenções encontradas incluem treino do equilíbrio, marcha e coordenação; fortalecimento; caneleiras nos membros durante exercícios e aplicação de estimulação magnética transcraniana. A retenção das melhoras obtidas com o tratamento foi relacionada ao grau de evolução da SCA e à continuidade da prática de exercícios. Porém, novos estudos com maior rigor científico são necessários para eleger as abordagens mais adequadas para o tratamento de portadores de SCA.The spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA) is an inherited disorder that leads to progressive degeneration of the cerebellum and its pathways with impairments of balance and other functions. Physical therapy studies for SCA treatment and their methodological quality were examined. We also investigated if the benefits achieved with treatment can be retained. The interventions identified included balance, gait and coordination training; strengthening; weights around the limbs during exercise and transcranial magnetic stimulation. The long-term improvements were related to the degree of SCA evolution and the continuity of exercise practice. Nevertheless, further studies with higher scientific accuracy are necessary to elect the best physical therapy approaches for SCA patients.La ataxia espinocerebelosa (SCA) es una afección hereditaria que cursa con la degeneración progresiva del cerebelo y de sus vías, lo que causa alteraciones del equilibrio y de otras funciones. El resultado de los abordajes de la fisioterapia en el tratamiento de la SCA y la cualidad metodológica de estos estudios fueron analizados. Se investigó si los beneficios alcanzados con el tratamiento fueron retenidos. Las intervenciones encontradas incluyen entrenamiento del equilibrio, marcha y coordinación; fortalecimiento; canilleras en los miembros durante ejercicios y aplicación de la estimulación magnética transcraneana. La retención de las mejorías obtenidas con el tratamiento fue relacionada al grado de evolución de la SCA y a la continuidad de la práctica de ejercicios. Aunque nuevos estudios con mayor carácter científico son necesarios para elegir los abordajes más adecuados para el tratamiento de los portadores de la SCA

Partial Body Weight-Supported Treadmill Training in Spinocerebellar Ataxia

Background and Purpose. The motor impairments related to gait and balance have a huge impact on the life of individuals with spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA). Here, the aim was to assess the possibility of retraining gait, improving cardiopulmonary capacity, and challenging balance during gait in SCA using a partial body weight support (BWS) and a treadmill. Also, the effects of this training over functionality and quality of life were investigated. Methods. Eight SCA patients were engaged in the first stage of the study that focused on gait training and cardiovascular conditioning. From those, five took part in a second stage of the study centered on dynamic balance training during gait. The first and second stages lasted 8 and 10 weeks, respectively, both comprising sessions of 50 min (2 times per week). Results. The results showed that gait training using partial BWS significantly increased gait performance, treadmill inclination, duration of exercise, and cardiopulmonary capacity in individuals with SCA. After the second stage, balance improvements were also found. Conclusion. Combining gait training and challenging tasks to the postural control system in SCA individuals is viable, well tolerated by patients with SCA, and resulted in changes in capacity for walking and balance

Evaluación de la distribución del peso corporal en individuos hemiparéticos: medidas posturográficas versus instrumento de Evaluación de Simetría y Transferencia de Peso

A assimetria na distribuição do peso corporal (DPC) é um achado comum após um acidente vascular cerebral. Embora a posturografia seja considerada o padrão-ouro para a detecção da assimetria da DPC, exige equipamentos e conhecimentos específicos, limitando seu uso na prática clínica. Por outro lado, a Escala de Avaliação da Simetria e Transferência de Peso (ASTP) é um método simples para identificar a assimetria na DPC. Entretanto, não foi testado se seus resultados estão relacionados às medidas posturográficas. Assim, o objetivo desse estudo foi avaliar a validade concorrente por meio da identificação do grau de associação entre a ASTP e as medidas posturográficas da DPC em indivíduos com hemiparesia. Sessenta indivíduos, com hemiparesia [mediana (min-max)] 58 (33-86) anos e 24 (6-29) meses desde o primeiro AVC, foram avaliados. zA DPC foi avaliada por meio da ASTP e da posturografia (percentual da DPC sobre o membro não parético). A mediana do escore ASTP foi 23 (14-27), “capacidade parcialmente boa de simetria e transferência de peso”. A posturografia revelou 59% de apoio do peso corporal (50-97) sobre o lado não parético. Além disso, identificou uma proporção maior de indivíduos assimétricos do que a ASTP (29 vs. 8; p=0,003). Não houve correlação significativa entre ASTP e %DPC (rho=0,001, p=0,992). Concluiu-se que a ASTP não está relacionada à assimetria na DPC estimada pela posturografia, sugerindo a necessidade de uma reavaliação de sua utilidade clínica.La asimetría en la distribución del peso corporal (DPC) es un hallazgo común tras el accidente cerebrovascular. Aunque se considera la posturografía el patrón de oro para la detección de asimetrías en la DPC, se requiere equipos y conocimientos específicos, lo que limita su uso en la práctica clínica. Por otro lado, la Escala de Evaluación de Simetría y Transferencia de Peso (ASTP) es un método sencillo para identificar la asimetría en la DPC. Sin embargo, no se ha comprobado si sus resultados están relacionados con las mediciones posturográficas. Así este estudio tuvo como objetivo evaluar la validez concurrente identificando el grado de asociación entre la ASTP y las mediciones posturográficas de la DPC en los individuos con hemiparesia. Se evaluaron a 60 individuos con hemiparesia [mediana (mín-máx)] 58 (33-86) años y 24 (6-29) meses desde el primer accidente cerebrovascular. La DPC se evaluó por medio de la ASTP y la posturografía (porcentaje de DPC en el miembro no parético). La puntuación media de la ASTP fue de 23 (14-27), “capacidad parcialmente buena de simetría y transferencia de peso”. La posturografía reveló un 59% de apoyo del peso corporal (50-97) en el lado no parético. Además, identificó una mayor proporción de individuos asimétricos que la ASTP (29 vs. 8; p=0,003). No hubo una correlación significativa entre el ASTP y el %DPC (rho=0,001, p=0,992). Se concluyó que la ASTP no está relacionada con la asimetría en la DPC estimada por la posturografía, lo que sugiere la necesidad de reevaluar su utilidad clínica.Asymmetry in body weight distribution (BWD) is a common post-stroke finding. Although posturography is considered the gold standard for detection of BWD asymmetry, it requires specific equipment and knowledge, which limits its use in clinical practice. The Assessment of Symmetry and Weight-Transfer (ASWT) scale is a simpler method to identify asymmetry in body weight distribution. However, it has not been tested whether its scores are related to posturographic measures. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate concurrent validity by the association between ASWT and the posturographic measures of BWD in individuals with hemiparesis. Sixty hemiparetic patients [median (min-max)] 58 (33-86) years-old and with 24 (6-29) months after the first stroke were evaluated. The BWD was assessed through ASWT and BWD percentage over the non-paretic limb by posturography. The median ASWT score was 23 (14-27), “partially good capacity of symmetry and weight transfer”. The posturography revealed 59% BWD (50-97), a significant asymmetry to the non-paretic side. Posturography identifies a higher proportion of asymmetric individuals than the ASWT (29 vs. 8, respectively; p=0.003). There was no significant correlation between ASWT and %BWD (ρ=0.001, p=0.992). We concluded that ASWT is not related to asymmetry in the BWD estimated by posturography, suggesting the need of a reassessment of its clinical utility

Partial Body Weight-Supported Treadmill Training in Spinocerebellar Ataxia

Background and Purpose. The motor impairments related to gait and balance have a huge impact on the life of individuals with spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA). Here, the aim was to assess the possibility of retraining gait, improving cardiopulmonary capacity, and challenging balance during gait in SCA using a partial body weight support (BWS) and a treadmill. Also, the effects of this training over functionality and quality of life were investigated. Methods. Eight SCA patients were engaged in the first stage of the study that focused on gait training and cardiovascular conditioning. From those, five took part in a second stage of the study centered on dynamic balance training during gait. The first and second stages lasted 8 and 10 weeks, respectively, both comprising sessions of 50 min (2 times per week). Results. The results showed that gait training using partial BWS significantly increased gait performance, treadmill inclination, duration of exercise, and cardiopulmonary capacity in individuals with SCA. After the second stage, balance improvements were also found. Conclusion. Combining gait training and challenging tasks to the postural control system in SCA individuals is viable, well tolerated by patients with SCA, and resulted in changes in capacity for walking and balance