ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Brachial plexus injuries (BPI) affect not only body structure and function, but also several aspects of individual's well-being. Considering the crescent need for assessing such patients through a biopsychosocial perspective, linking meaningful concepts of BPI instruments to the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) provides a useful overview of how the ICF components are contemplated on the current measurements available. PURPOSE: To identify patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) specifically designed for BPI assessment and link the content with the ICF. STUDY DESIGN: Content Analysis through ICF linking. METHODS: The study was conducted in two steps: the first one encompassed a literature review to identify questionnaires specifically designed for assessing patients with BPI, where two PROMs were eligible: the Brachial Assessment Tool (BrAT) and the Impact of Brachial Plexus Injury Questionnaire (IBPIQ); in the second phase, the items of such instruments were linked to the ICF by two independent reviewers, in accordance to the methodology proposed by Cieza et al. RESULTS: 54 different significant concepts were identified from the 74 questionnaire items and linked to 49 distinct ICF categories. The categories were mostly related to the activities and participation component (56.9%, n = 29), followed by body functions (27.45%, n = 14), body structures (9.8%, n = 5) and environmental factors component (1.96%, n = 1). CONCLUSION: The questionnaires developed for adults with BPI were BrAT and IBPIQ. Although both instruments presented with a diverse coverage of ICF components, their content had a major focus on activities and participation domain and poorly or did not addressed environmental factors. Thus, other instruments could be considered in a complementary way for clinical assessment.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Traumatic upper plexus injury affects daily living activities performance and participation of individuals. Physical therapy treatment has a fundamental role on functional recovery, but it is still an unexplored and challenging field. AIM: To develop a protocol to evaluate the efficacy of Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF) compared to conventional physiotherapy (CPT group) on functionality and quality of life. METHODS: A committee was formed by four physical therapists to develop the treatment protocol. A Delphi study was carried out in order to quantify the level of agreement. A protocol for a randomized controlled trial was proposed to evaluate the effectiveness of the protocol in improving functionality and quality of life, according Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials. Participants will be randomly assigned (1:1) to PNF or CPT group and two weekly sessions will be carried out for 12 months postsurgery, with a three-month follow-up. The main outcome measurements are: upper limb functionality, quality of life, range of motion, muscle strength, tactile sensitivity, and pain, which will be assessed at baseline, on the 6th, 9th, and 12th months postsurgery. RESULT: A PNF protocol was developed for traumatic upper brachial plexus injury, consisting of 11 illustrated exercises, three for immediate postoperative and eight for postoperative. Biomechanical objectives, observations, positions of patients and therapists and PNF principles, procedures and techniques have been described. An 80% agreement on all items in the first round of the Delphi study was achieved. CONCLUSION: A protocol based on the PNF-concept was developed with the aim of improving the functionality and quality of life of individuals undergoing nerve transfer after traumatic injury to the upper plexus. The detailed description of a physical therapy treatment protocol through an appropriate method will allow its use in clinical practice and in future studies with this population.
Subject(s)
Brachial Plexus , Muscle Stretching Exercises , Adult , Humans , Physical Therapy Modalities , Quality of Life , Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
Abstract Introduction: the identification of Zika virus (ZikV) in the amniotic fluid, in the placenta and in newborns' brains suggests a neurotropism of this agent in the brain development, resulting in neuro-psycho-motor alterations. Thus, this present study reports the assessment of children diagnosed by a congenital infection, presumably by ZikV, followed-up at the Rehabilitation Center Prof. Ruy Neves Baptist at the Instituto de Medicina Integral Prof. Fernando Figueira (IMIP). Description: as proposed by the Ministry of Health, the following instruments were used to evaluate the neuro-motor functions of four children with microcephaly aged between three and four months: The Test of Infant Motor Performance (TIMP); the functional vision assessment; the manual function scale development; and the clinical evaluation protocol on pediatric dysphagia (PAD-PED). Discussion: the children evaluated presented atypical motor performance, muscle tone and spontaneous motricity which encompass the symmetry and the motion range of the upper and lower limbs proven to be altered. The functional vision showed alterations which can cause limitations in the performance of functional activities and the learning process. Regarding to the speech articulator's functions observed that the maturation and coordination of sucking, swallowing and breathing did not yet encounter the appropriate age maturity level.
Resumo Introdução: a identificação do Zika vírus (ZikaV) no fluido amniótico, na placenta e no cérebro de recém nascidos, sugere um neurotropismo desse agente pelo cérebro em desenvolvimento, resultando em alterações neuropsicomotoras. Dessa forma, o presente estudo relata a avaliação de crianças com diagnóstico de infecção congênita, presumivelmente, pelo ZikaV, acompanhadas no Centro de Reabilitação Prof. Ruy Neves Baptista, no Instituto de Medicina Integral Prof. Fernando Figueira (IMIP). Descrição: foram utilizados os seguintes intrumentos, propostos pelo Ministério da Saúde, para avaliar as funções neuromotora de quatro crianças com microcefalia com idade entre três e quatro meses: o Test of Infant Motor Performance (TIMP); a avaliação da visão funcional; a escala de desenvolvimento da função manual; e o protocolo de avaliação clínica da disfagia pediátrica (PAD-PED). Discussão: as crianças avaliadas apresentaram desempenho motor atípico, o tônus muscular e a motricidade espontânea, que engloba a simetria e a amplitude de movimentos dos membros superiores e inferiores, revelaram-se alterados. A visão funcional mostrou-se alterada, o que pode provocar limitações no desempenho de atividades funcionais e no processo de aprendizagem. Em relação às funções fonoarticulatórias observou-se que a maturação e coordenação das funções de sucção, deglutição e respiração, ainda não se encontram em grau de maturidade adequadas para a idade.
