Abstract
Cerebral disorders are often associated with disturbance of consciousness. Since the latter could alter the prognosis of physical function, early improvement of consciousness level is important. The present study tested the hypothesis that sitting position improves disturbances of consciousness in patients with cerebral disorders. The subjects were 17 patients with cerebral disorders and disturbances of consciousness. The consciousness level was evaluated in supine position and following a change to sitting position. The consciousness level was evaluated by the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS). The total, eye opening, and motor GCS scores were significantly higher in the sitting position compared with the supine position. In conclusions, changing from supine to sitting position improves consciousness level in patients with cerebral disorders.
Highlights
The major clinical features of cerebral disorders are disturbance of consciousness, hemiplegia, sensory disturbance and higher cerebral dysfunction [1]
The reticular activating system (RAS) is a group of neurons that transcends through the brainstem and thalamus, and connects the cerebral cortex with the spinal cord
The results of the present study suggest that gravitation stress induced by sitting position stimulated the RAS, resulting in improvement of the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score
Summary
The major clinical features of cerebral disorders (e.g., cerebrovascular accident, brain injury, brain tumor and hypoxic encephalopathy) are disturbance of consciousness, hemiplegia, sensory disturbance and higher cerebral dysfunction [1]. Disturbance of consciousness can indirectly affect prognosis of physical dysfunction. It is important to improve as soon as possible the consciousness level of patients with cerebral disorders. Intense multisensory stimulation in patients with disturbances of consciousness should stimulate the RAS and improve arousability. Clinical evidence indicates that sensory stimulation (e.g., intermittent bright lights directed into the patient’s eyes), sound (clapping two blocks of wood together periodically next to the patient’s ear), and sensory stimulation (touching extremities with ice cubes) improve the consciousness level [3]
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