Virtual Rehabilitation through Nintendo Wii in Poststroke Patients: Follow-Up.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate in the follow-up the sensory-motor recovery and quality of life patients 2 months after completion of the Nintendo Wii console intervention and determine whether learning retention was obtained through the technique. METHODS: Five hemiplegics patients participated in the study, of whom 3 were male with an average age of 54.8 years (SD = 4.6). Everyone practiced Nintendo Wii therapy for 2 months (50 minutes/day, 2 times/week, during 16 sessions). Each session lasting 60 minutes, under a protocol in which only the games played were changed, plus 10 minutes of stretching. In the first session, tennis and hula hoop games were used; in the second session, football (soccer) and boxing were used. For the evaluation, the Fulg-Meyer and Short Form Health Survey 36 (SF-36) scales were utilized. The patients were immediately evaluated upon the conclusion of the intervention and 2 months after the second evaluation (follow-up). RESULTS: Values for the upper limb motor function sub-items and total score in the Fugl-Meyer scale evaluation and functional capacity in the SF-36 questionnaire were sustained, indicating a possible maintenance of the therapeutic effects. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that after Nintendo Wii therapy, patients had motor learning retention, achieving a sustained benefit through the technique.

Evaluation of body representation in children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy: toward the development of a neuropsychological test battery

Clinical observations indicate that many children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy (HCP) exhibit a lack of use or disregard of the affected upper limb. The aim of the present study was to develop, adapt, and verify the psychometric properties of a neuropsychological battery to assess body perception and representation disturbances in children with HCP. Three groups of children participated in this study, who took part in different phases of the validation process: one group of typically developing children (TD; n = 30; aged 4-6 years) and two groups of HCP children (HCP1: n = 12, aged 5-10 years; HCP2: n = 49, aged 5-13 years). Because no cognitive-neuropsychological model of body representation has been specifically developed for children, the tasks were designed based on a cognitive-neuropsychological model developed for adults. The chosen model comprises three levels of body representation: body schema, body structural description, and body image. The following steps were adopted in developing the instrument: development and choice of the tasks, selection and preparation of stimuli, adequacy and improvement of the instrument, semantic analysis of items, internal consistency, and feasibility and acceptability of application for TD and HCP children. The final set of tasks and items was chosen to balance the levels of difficulty and internal consistency. We concluded that the final battery was adequate and can be used to assess body representation disturbances in children with HCP...

Evaluation of body representation in children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy: toward the development of a neuropsychological test battery

Clinical observations indicate that many children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy (HCP) exhibit a lack of use or disregard of the affected upper limb. The aim of the present study was to develop, adapt, and verify the psychometric properties of a neuropsychological battery to assess body perception and representation disturbances in children with HCP. Three groups of children participated in this study, who took part in different phases of the validation process: one group of typically developing children (TD; n = 30; aged 4-6 years) and two groups of HCP children (HCP1: n = 12, aged 5-10 years; HCP2: n = 49, aged 5-13 years). Because no cognitive-neuropsychological model of body representation has been specifically developed for children, the tasks were designed based on a cognitive-neuropsychological model developed for adults. The chosen model comprises three levels of body representation: body schema, body structural description, and body image. The following steps were adopted in developing the instrument: development and choice of the tasks, selection and preparation of stimuli, adequacy and improvement of the instrument, semantic analysis of items, internal consistency, and feasibility and acceptability of application for TD and HCP children. The final set of tasks and items was chosen to balance the levels of difficulty and internal consistency. We concluded that the final battery was adequate and can be used to assess body representation disturbances in children with HCP.(AU)

Grado de discapacidad en pacientes hemipléjicos del Policlínico Docente Universitario del Cerro / Evaluation of disability in hemiplegic patients from Cerro university teaching polyclinic

Introducción: la hemiplejía como consecuencia de un ictus constituye una importante causa de discapacidad. La continuidad y calidad en el proceso rehabilitador supone mejores perspectivas en el pronóstico de los pacientes. Objetivo: evaluar el grado de discapacidad en los pacientes hemipléjicos del área de salud del Policlínico Docente Universitario del Cerro. Métodos: estudio descriptivo, transversal en los pacientes que acudieron consecutivamente al área de rehabilitación del citado policlínico, desde septiembre de 2009 hasta julio de 2011. La muestra estuvo constituida por 124 hemipléjicos por enfermedad cerebrovascular mayores de 15 años, los cuales fueron evaluados con la Escala de Discapacidad de Rosetón. Se excluyeron los enfermos con afasia sensorial o mixta y aquellos que se negaron a participar. Resultados: en 84 (67,8 porciento) pacientes se encontró independencia para la orientación y predominó la semidependencia para el desplazamiento y las necesidades físicas. Para la higiene personal, 48 (38,7 porciento) pacientes resultaron ser dependientes. La falta de motivación para ocupar el tiempo libre se encontró en 92 (74,2 porciento) pacientes, casi siempre por dificultades en la convivencia y en las relaciones familiares. Conclusiones: el grado de discapacidad de los pacientes hemipléjicos evaluados viene dado por la semidependencia en el desplazamiento y las necesidades físicas y la dependencia para el autocuidado. Las dificultades en la convivencia y las relaciones familiares interfieren en la motivación del paciente para ocupar el tiempo libre(AU)

Introduction: hemiplegia is an important cause of disability as a result of a stroke. The persistence and quality of the rehabilitative process lead to better results in the patient prognosis. Objective: to evaluate the extent of disability in hemiplegic patients from the health area under Cerro university teaching polyclinics. Methods: a cross-sectional and descriptive study was conducted in hemiplegic patients who regularly went to the rehabilitation service of Cerro polyclinics from September 2009 to July 2011. The sample consisted of one hundred and twenty four over 15 years-old hemiplegic patients due to cerebrovascular disease, who were evaluated according to the Rosseton's disability scale. Those patients with mixed or sensory aphasia and those who refused to participate were excluded. Results: of the participants, 84 (67.8 percent) patients were independent for orientation whereas semi-dependence for movement and physical needs prevailed. For personal hygiene, 48 (38.7 percent) patients were dependent. Ninety two (74.2percent) patients did not feel motivated to spend their leisure time in doing any activity, basically because of difficulties in living together with their relatives. Conclusions: the extent of disability of evaluated hemiplegic patients is caused by their partial dependence in terms of movement, and physical needs and by their dependence for self-care. Difficulties in coexistence and family relationships interfere with the motivation of the patients to spend their leisure time(AU)

Grado de discapacidad en pacientes hemipléjicos del Policlínico Docente Universitario del Cerro / Evaluation of disability in hemiplegic patients from Cerro university teaching polyclinic

Introducción: la hemiplejía como consecuencia de un ictus constituye una importante causa de discapacidad. La continuidad y calidad en el proceso rehabilitador supone mejores perspectivas en el pronóstico de los pacientes. Objetivo: evaluar el grado de discapacidad en los pacientes hemipléjicos del área de salud del Policlínico Docente Universitario del Cerro. Métodos: estudio descriptivo, transversal en los pacientes que acudieron consecutivamente al área de rehabilitación del citado policlínico, desde septiembre de 2009 hasta julio de 2011. La muestra estuvo constituida por 124 hemipléjicos por enfermedad cerebrovascular mayores de 15 años, los cuales fueron evaluados con la Escala de Discapacidad de Rosetón. Se excluyeron los enfermos con afasia sensorial o mixta y aquellos que se negaron a participar. Resultados: en 84 (67,8 porciento) pacientes se encontró independencia para la orientación y predominó la semidependencia para el desplazamiento y las necesidades físicas. Para la higiene personal, 48 (38,7 porciento) pacientes resultaron ser dependientes. La falta de motivación para ocupar el tiempo libre se encontró en 92 (74,2 porciento) pacientes, casi siempre por dificultades en la convivencia y en las relaciones familiares. Conclusiones: el grado de discapacidad de los pacientes hemipléjicos evaluados viene dado por la semidependencia en el desplazamiento y las necesidades físicas y la dependencia para el autocuidado. Las dificultades en la convivencia y las relaciones familiares interfieren en la motivación del paciente para ocupar el tiempo libre

Introduction: hemiplegia is an important cause of disability as a result of a stroke. The persistence and quality of the rehabilitative process lead to better results in the patient prognosis. Objective: to evaluate the extent of disability in hemiplegic patients from the health area under Cerro university teaching polyclinics. Methods: a cross-sectional and descriptive study was conducted in hemiplegic patients who regularly went to the rehabilitation service of Cerro polyclinics from September 2009 to July 2011. The sample consisted of one hundred and twenty four over 15 years-old hemiplegic patients due to cerebrovascular disease, who were evaluated according to the Rosseton's disability scale. Those patients with mixed or sensory aphasia and those who refused to participate were excluded. Results: of the participants, 84 (67.8 percent) patients were independent for orientation whereas semi-dependence for movement and physical needs prevailed. For personal hygiene, 48 (38.7 percent) patients were dependent. Ninety two (74.2percent) patients did not feel motivated to spend their leisure time in doing any activity, basically because of difficulties in living together with their relatives. Conclusions: the extent of disability of evaluated hemiplegic patients is caused by their partial dependence in terms of movement, and physical needs and by their dependence for self-care. Difficulties in coexistence and family relationships interfere with the motivation of the patients to spend their leisure time

[Perception of patients with chronic hemiplegia regarding the use of assistive walking devices]. / Percepção de hemiplégicos crônicos sobre o uso de dispositivos auxiliares na marcha.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the perception of patients with chronic hemiplegia regarding the use of assistive walking devices (AWD). METHODS: Twenty-three individuals who met the inclusion criteria and used AWD were recruited from a database of 360 stroke survivors. Their mean age was 58.4 years, mean time since stroke was 80.8 months, and mean time using AWD was 67.6 months. To assess the participants' perception, was used a standardized questionnaire covering the impact of AWDs on five aspects: weight-bearing on the paretic limb; ability to move the paretic limb; confidence; safety; and walking style. Possible answers were "improved," "unchanged," or "decreased." RESULTS: Fourteen individuals used canes and nine used elbow crutches; 21 (91.3%) used AWDs on public roads and only two (8.7%) used AWDs at home. The perception regarding the use of AWDs were positive in the first four questions (6.87 < χ2 < 29.83; 0.0001 < P < 0.03), with reports of improvement in weight-bearing (82.6%), ability to move the paretic limb (39.1%), confidence (82.6%), and safety (86.9%). No significant differences were found in terms of walking style (χ2 = 1.09; P = 0.30). CONCLUSIONS: The perception of chronic hemiplegic subjects regarding the use of AWD were positive, suggesting that these devices can improve mobility and independence in activities of daily living.

Percepção de hemiplégicos crônicos sobre o uso de dispositivos auxiliares na marcha / Perception of patients with chronic hemiplegia regarding the use of assistive walking devices

OBJETIVO: Avaliar a percepção de hemiplégicos crônicos sobre o uso de dispositivos auxiliares (DA) na marcha. MÉTODOS: A partir de um banco de dados de 360 hemiplégicos, foram recrutados 23 indivíduos que utilizavam DA e preenchiam os critérios de inclusão. A média de idade foi de 58,4 anos, tempo pós-acidente vascular encefálico de 80,8 meses e tempo de uso do DA de 67,6 meses. Para avaliar a percepção dos participantes, utilizou-se um questionário padronizado, composto por cinco questões: impacto do DA na habilidade para descarregar peso no membro parético; impacto na habilidade para movimentar o membro parético; impacto na confiança; impacto na segurança; e impacto no jeito de caminhar. As respostas possíveis eram "melhorou", "não alterou" ou "piorou". RESULTADOS: Quatorze indivíduos utilizavam bengalas e nove utilizavam muletas canadenses; 21 (91,3 por cento) utilizavam DA somente em vias públicas e dois (8,7 por cento) utilizavam DA também em ambiente domiciliar. A percepção em relação ao uso do DA foi positiva nas quatro primeiras questões (6,87 < χ2< 29,83; 0,0001 < P < 0,03), com relatos de melhora na descarga de peso (82,6 por cento), na habilidade de movimentar o membro parético (39,1 por cento), na confiança para caminhar (82,6 por cento) e na segurança (86,9 por cento). Não foram observadas diferenças significativas para o item jeito de caminhar (χ2= 1,09; P = 0,30). CONCLUSÕES: A percepção dos indivíduos hemiplégicos crônicos foi positiva em relação ao uso de DA para deambulação, sugerindo que esses dispositivos podem melhorar a mobilidade e a independência durante as atividades de vida diária.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the perception of patients with chronic hemiplegia regarding the use of assistive walking devices (AWD). METHODS: Twenty-three individuals who met the inclusion criteria and used AWD were recruited from a database of 360 stroke survivors. Their mean age was 58.4 years, mean time since stroke was 80.8 months, and mean time using AWD was 67.6 months. To assess the participants' perception, was used a standardized questionnaire covering the impact of AWDs on five aspects: weight-bearing on the paretic limb; ability to move the paretic limb; confidence; safety; and walking style. Possible answers were "improved," "unchanged," or "decreased." RESULTS: Fourteen individuals used canes and nine used elbow crutches; 21 (91.3 percent) used AWDs on public roads and only two (8.7 percent) used AWDs at home. The perception regarding the use of AWDs were positive in the first four questions (6.87 < χ2 < 29.83; 0.0001 < P < 0.03), with reports of improvement in weight-bearing (82.6 percent), ability to move the paretic limb (39.1 percent), confidence (82.6 percent), and safety (86.9 percent). No significant differences were found in terms of walking style (χ2 = 1.09; P = 0.30). CONCLUSIONS: The perception of chronic hemiplegic subjects regarding the use of AWD were positive, suggesting that these devices can improve mobility and independence in activities of daily living.

Somatoparafrenia: presentación de 3 casos / Somatoparaphrenia: report of three cases

Se presentan 3 casos de somatoparafrenia reunidos en el curso de 30 años. Se trata de adultos con lesiones vasculares extensas del hemisferio derecho, con hemiplejia, heminanestesia y heminanopsia. Todos tuvieron la convicción delirante de que su brazo paralizado pertenecía a un familiar próximo. Se señala la variabilidad de los síntomas (somatoparafrenia, personificación, misoplejia), la relación de estos con la anosodiaforia más que con la anosognosia y con lesiones del hemisferio derecho. Se concluye que, a semejanza de los problemas en el reconocimiento de rostros o del entorno, es necesario distinguir entre el nivel de la percepción y el nivel de la interpretación como propio o como familiar.

Manual skill, hand skill asymmetry, and neuropsychological test performance in schoolchildren with spastic cerebral palsy.

Bilateral hand skill assessment with a computerised version of the Peg Moving Task, and neuropsychological testing, were performed in 30 children aged 7 to 8 years with spastic cerebral palsy (CP) and without mental retardation, diplegia (n = 10), right hemiplegia (n = 10), or left hemiplegia (n = 10), and in 30 controls. Compared to controls: (i) 30% of the hemiplegic children showed impairment of the unaffected hand and 70% of the diplegic children showed impairment in both hands; (ii) children with CP were impaired only in oral repetition and in visual-motor tasks. Results of neuropsychological testing were not significantly different between the three groups of children with CP. Right minus left asymmetry in hand skill was not related to neuropsychological testing; however, degree of impairment of the right hand was associated with phonological and metaphonological skills, and of the left hand with visuospatial and counting performance. Hand skill was related to the ability to perform many daily living manual activities. It is concluded that impairment of hand function, rather than the side of the more affected hand, is related to neuropsychological deficits in children with cerebral palsy.

[Adaptation of the Nottingham Health Profile: a simple measure to assess quality of life]. / Adaptação do Perfil de Saúde de Nottingham: um instrumento simples de avaliação da qualidade de vida.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Brazilian version of the Nottingham Health Profile (NHP), a generic instrument for quality of life assessment. This NHP was translated to Portuguese, following recommended methodology, and applied to 215 subjects, being 170 community elderly (66.3 +/- 8.5 years), 30 chronic stroke survivors (56.4 +/- 10.9 years), and 15 parkinsonians (59.6 +/- 10.2 years). The data was analysed by Rasch analysis. Out of the 38 items of NHP, only two items (5%) did not fit the statistical model, indicating that the items collaborated to measure a unidimensional construct. However, some items of NHP were very easy for the elderly, stroke survivors and Parkinsonians, characterizing a ceiling effect, which could limit the use of the scale for individuals with higher levels of ability. The results, in spite of indicating that the instrument fits the Rasch statistical model for this sample, indicate a need for revision of the items, in order to make the questionnaire more clinically useful.

Anosognosia en enfermedades cerebrales / Anosognosia in brain disorders

Se analiza la falta de noción de enfermedad y las confabulaciones en pacientes neurológicos con distintos defectos: hemiplejia, defectos visuales, defectos de la memoria, del lenguaje, traumatismo encefalocraneanos y demencia. Se discute la posible importancia de transtornos emocionales, de defectos focales y del deterioro cognitivo general como factores del desconocimiento de la enfermedad. Se concluye que existe una relación psicopatológica entre tener un defecto, ser anosognósico, y confabular suponiendo un rendimiento normal. Además se plantea que existiría un sistema funcional de darse cuenta, constituido por diversas áreas cerebrales importantes para el monitoreo de diferentes funciones y por las áreas prefrontales

Avaliaçäo das funçöes corticais superiores em pessoas acometidas por lesäo cerebral / Evaluation of the cortical superior functions in persons with brain injury

O artigo aborda a importância de se considerar as pessoas com acometimentos mórbidos cerebrais que podem apresentar hemiplegia como seqüela incapacitante, que pode afetar os atos motores voluntários no hemicorpo contralateral, problemas nas funções corticais superiores, distúrbios nas esferas emocional e comportamental. O paciente ao ser inserido no processo de reabilitação na Divisão de Medicina de Reabilitação do Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo é avaliado na Assistência Psicológica, a fim de se averiguar a dinâmica afetivo-emocional, o desempenho intelecto-cognitivo, os déficits das funções neuropsicológicas e a dinâmica familiar. O entrelaçamento dos dados permite traçar um perfil do paciente e possibilita delimitar a intervenção psicológica pertinente, bem como traduzir suas dificuldades e eficiências para a equipe e familiares.

Bella indiferencia en la histeria de conversión / Belle indiference in conversion hysteria

La bella indiferencia es un término introducido por Pierre Janet para caracterizar la falta de preocupación exibida por los pacientes histéricos frente a profunda disfunción corporal. Una vez que se ha resuelto el conflicto y que se ha aliviado la angustia por medio de la conversión de los impulsos y deseos reprimidos en un sistema funcional, aparece una calma exterior, aun cuando el síntoma producido sea tan invalidante que en otras personas provocaría probablemente una gran preocupación.El objetivo del presente trabajo es determinar si la bella indiferencia tiene valor clínico, diagnóstico y pronóstico en la evolución de los pacientes histéricos. Se analiza una casuística de 347 pacientes, 116 hombres y 231 mujeres examinados en el Servicio de Neurología del Hospital del Salvador y en la Consulta Privada en el período comprendido entre 1962 y 1995. Comprobamos que la bella indiferencia se presenta en 20,7 por ciento de los pacientes y predomina en el sexo femenino. Se presenta con mayor frecuencia en jóvenes de 20-25 años y especialmente en fenómenos conversivos de tipo motor y sensorial y no se presentó en trastornos sensitivos, esfinterianos, ni tróficos.Creemos que la bella indiferencia tiene escaso valor diagnóstico y pronóstico, ya que en la evolución de la mayor parte de los pacientes no hubo recaídas ni se presentó nuevamente, de tal forma que es un síntoma que desaparece y se transforma en un síntoma de preocupación por su enfermedad más que indiferencia

[Space perception in cerebral hemisphere damage. Neuropsychological study]. / Exploración del espacio en lesiones de un hemisferio cerebral. Estudio neuropsicológico.

The present study was aimed at using both semiotic and symbolic spaces as an exploratory method of the simultaneous synthesis, and interhemispherical transfers among hemiplegic patients. Thirty-six hemiplegic patients with an established neurological deficit were selected, then split into two groups: 19 patients with their dominant hemispheres affected, 17 patients with their subordinate hemispheres affected. The following types of patients have been excluded from this study: Patients with cerebral degenerative and/or progressive alterations, patients with sensory aphasias, and damage to the counterlateral side opposite the hemiplegic side. Age range was 67.2 (with 45-year-old as a minimum, and 70-year-old as a maximum). Subjects were 11 females and 25 males. Both the semiotic, and the symbolic spaces have been explored as well as the existence of a parietal, sensitive syndrome, and damage topography by means of a scanner device. A major damage of the symbolic space in patients with their dominant hemispheres affected was observed. Conversely, semiotic space, in its figurative trait, was most affected in patients with their subordinate hemispheres affected.