Abstract
Objective. The aim of this study was to compare the evolution of daily life activities of patients suffering from sequels of strokes who were submitted to hydrotherapy, conventional kinesiotherapy and those with no physiotherapeutic intervention. Method. A total of 152 patients of both genders were selected according to their arrival in the service and were submitted to hydrotherapy in isolation or together with classical kinesiotherapy, over six months. The 45-minute hydrotherapy and classical kinesiotherapy sessions were performed at least three times weekly. Functional activity was evaluated every three months to identify: the dependence, semi-dependence or independence on routine activities. Analysis of the functional activity was assessed by means of the Barthel index. Results. Of the 152 patients, 118 satisfied inclusion criteria. The participants were divided into three groups: 72 (61%) underwent conventional kinesiotherapy, 32 (27.1%) hydrotherapy followed by conventional kinesiotherapy and 14 (11.9%) had no physiotherapeutic interventions. The conventional kinesiotherapy with hydrotherapy group improved in relation to both the degree of independence and lighter motor sequels (p=0.001). The neurological deficit remained greater in the non-treatment group than in the others (p=0.01). Conclusion. The hydrotherapy may be considered a good coadjuvant procedure for patients with sequels due to stroke.
Highlights
Patients after stroke have a great number of physical, psychological and social problems1
This study aimed at evaluating the evolution of functional motor capacity of patients with sequels caused by strokes using kinesiotherapy alone and hydrotherapy followed by kinesiotherapy as therapeutic options
The participants were subdivided in three groups: a group was submitted to kinesitherapy alone, a group to hydrotherapy followed by kinesitherapy and the third group, the control group, did not receive any type of physical therapeutic treatment
Summary
Patients after stroke have a great number of physical, psychological and social problems. The National Stroke Association estimates about 730,000 new or repeated cases annually. The incidence increases rapidly with age: two thirds of the cases affect over 65-year-olds; after the age of 55 years old, the risk doubles every 10 years. In the United States, the proportion of stokes is greater in men than in women and higher in Black people than in Caucasians. Thrombotic or embolic strokes account for 80% of the cases and hemorrhagic stroke for 20%4. Stroke impair the descending neural pathways due to lesions of the upper motoneurons. If a stroke occurs in the medium cerebral artery, the most common location for this type of lesion, cortico-brainstem-spinal tract and corticocerebellar connections will be affected
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