Therapeutic effects of virtual reality video gaming on functional mobility, balance, and gait speed in individuals with tropical spastic paraparesis: A randomized crossover clinical trial

Abstract INTRODUCTION: Individuals with human T-cell lymphotropic virus 1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP) experience sensorimotor alterations, which can affect functional performance. Virtual reality (VR) videogaming is a therapeutic option, though there is scarce evidence for its use in this population. We aimed to investigate the therapeutic effects of a VR video game on functional mobility, balance, and gait speed in individuals with HAM/TSP. METHODS: We conducted a blinded, crossover clinical trial comprising 29 individuals with HAM/TSP and randomized them into two groups: (1) early therapy: rehabilitative protocol started immediately after the initial evaluation and (2) late therapy: rehabilitative protocol started 10 weeks later. We assessed all participants for balance using the Berg Balance Scale (BBS) scores, functional mobility using the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test, and gait speed using video camera and CvMob software. Differences were considered significant if p<0.05. RESULTS: The early therapy group individuals presented with higher BBS scores (p=0.415), less TUG times (p=0.290), and greater gait speed (p=0.296) than the late therapy group individuals. CONCLUSIONS: VR videogaming is a useful option for rehabilitative therapy in individuals with HAM/TSP; it positively affects balance, functional mobility, and gait speed.

Alterações sensoriais em indivíduos com HTLV-1: revisão sistemática / Sensorial changes in individuals with HTLV-1: systematic review

Introdução: A função sensorial é reconhecida como precursora da recuperação do movimento, sendo assim, os sintomas apresentados por pessoas com HTLV-1 podem trazer prejuízo na realização de atividades funcionais Objetivo: Sistematizar o conhecimento sobre alterações sensoriais em pacientes com HTLV-1. Metodologia: Trata-se de uma revisão sistemática, com a busca primária dos artigos realizada nas bases de dados Medline, via biblioteca virtual Pubmed, sendo incluídos estudos observacionais que abordaram a alteração sensorial em indivíduos com HTLV-1. A estratégia de busca foi conduzida de forma independente por dois pesquisadores e as divergências resolvidas por consenso. Resultados: Foram encontrados 44 estudos na busca primária, e destes foram incluídos quatro estudos que abordaram a alteração sensorial em indivíduos com HTLV-1, com um total de 240 participantes. Todos os artigos foram classificados como baixo risco de viés no que diz respeito à descrição da questão do estudo, resultados e discussão. Conclusão: identificou-se uma alta prevalência de dor e alteração na sensibilidade vibratória em relação às outras disfunções sensoriais, no entanto, a escassez de trabalhos publicados acerca deste tema sugere que novas abordagens sejam feitas mostrando uma grande lacuna de conhecimento a ser explorada. [AU]

Background: Sensory function is recognized as a precursor of the movement recovery. Therefore, the symptoms presented by people with HTLV-1 can result in impairment in the performance of functional activities. Aim: To systematize knowledge about sensory alterations in patients with HTLV-1. Methods: This is a systematic review, with the primary search of the articles carried out in the Medline databases, via the Pubmed virtual library, including observational studies that addressed the sensory alteration in individuals with HTLV-1. The search strategy was conducted independently by two researchers and the divergences resolved by consensus. Results: A total of 44 studies were found in the primary search, including four studies addressing sensory impairment in individuals with HTLV-1, with a total of 240 participants. All articles were classified as low risk of bias regarding the description of the study question, results and discussion. Conclusion: We identified a high prevalence of pain and altered vibratory sensitivity in relation to other sensory disorders, however, shortage of published works on this topic suggests new approaches are made showing a large knowledge gap to be explored. [AU]

Balance, functional mobility, and fall occurrence in patients with human T-cell lymphotropic virus type-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis: a cross-sectional study

Abstract INTRODUCTION: Human T-cell lymphotropic virus type-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP) may lead to reduced functional mobility and balance. It is important to establish specific parameters that identify these changes and predict the risk of falls in these patients. The aim was to compare balance, functional mobility, and occurrence of falls among patients with and without HAM/TSP and to suggest values to predict the risk of falls in these patients. METHODS: A cross-sectional study in patients with and without HAM/TSP involved balance assessments based on the berg balance scale (BBS) and functional mobility evaluation based on the timed up and go (TUG) test. From reports of falls, the sensitivity, specificity, and best cutoff points for the risk of falls assessed by these instruments were established using the receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve; 5% alpha was considered. RESULTS: We selected 42 participants: 29 with HAM/TSP and 13 without HAM/TSP. There was a statistically significant difference in the occurrence of falls, balance, and functional mobility between the groups (p<0.05). Good accuracy was determined for the BBS (77%) and TUG test (70%) and the cutoff points for the risk of falls were defined as 50 points for the BBS and 12.28 seconds for the TUG test. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with HAM/TSP present reduced functional mobility and balance in relation to those without HAM/TSP. The risk of falls increased for these patients can be evaluated by the values ​​of 50 points using the BBS and 12.28 seconds using the TUG test.