Ensayo clínico sobre el efecto de la terapia Vojta en personas con esclerosis multiple. Un estudio piloto

Abstract

IntroductionDifficulty in walking, balance and the presence of fatigue are the main causes that generate greater disability in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), requiring a treatment model aimed at improvement. ObjectiveThis study investigated the effects of Vojta therapy on walking, balance and fatigue in people with MS and to determine if it is a technique of choice in this type of users. Material and methodsExperimental study, in the form of a prospective and controlled clinical study. The sample used after the inclusion and exclusion criteria is 14 users (n = 14), selected from the population currently available for treatment by the Multiple Sclerosis Association of Extremadura (EMEX). The control group received physiotherapy twice a week and the intervention group, in addition to the agreed physiotherapy, received 2 sessions of Vojta therapy per week for 6 weeks and the results was evaluated at the end of these weeks and at the end of the month of no intervention. The variables studied were gait, balance and fatigue. ResultsWhen comparing the physiotherapy intervention on physiotherapy plus the use of Vojta therapy, the results are statistically significant with improvements in both gait (p = 0.018) and balance (p = 0.026), establishing how the use of Vojta therapy improves gait and balance in the representation sample. After the month of non-intervention with Vojta therapy, the improvements in the intervention group remain statistically significant (p = 0.05 in gait and p = 0.021 in balance). ConclusiónIn the sample studied, the use of Vojta therapy achieves an improvement in both walking speed and balance in patients with MS. Further research is necessary on which techniques are most effective within the treatment of balance, gait and fatigue in MS, with randomised clinical trial models and more numerous representative samples.