Article

The purpose of this study was to test the effects of a conventional exercise
program designed for correcting postural and coordination abnormalities in
patients with mild-to-moderate traumatic brain injury (TBI). Using principles of
motor learning applied to functional exercise training, exercises were performed
while lying, sitting, standing and walking, with the goal of improving intra- and
inter-limb coordination in the upper and lower extremities, postural stability
and gait pattern. Twenty-two participants with TBI-related deficits received
therapy in a supervised outpatient clinic. Therapy included 20 sessions, each
approximately 55 to 60 min in duration, scheduled four to five times a week over
four consecutive weeks. Each participant was evaluated with a battery of clinical
tests at baseline and immediately after therapy. Upon completion of the therapy,
participants improved static and dynamic postural stability and gait, evaluated
with the Berg Balance Scale (from 45.2 +/- 5.9 to 49.2 +/- 4.2 points) and the
Functional Gait Assessment (from 22.8 +/- 4.1 to 26.9 +/- 3.4 points). They also
reduced truncal, upper and lower extremity ataxia, evaluated with the Ataxia
Scale (from 7.3 +/- 4.5 to 5.9 +/- 4.2 points). Results will be used to refine
the current version of the exercise therapy, which focused on whole body
coordination and balance, and to design a large-scale clinical trial establishing
effectiveness of this intervention and for comparison with other forms of
therapy.

Langue : ANGLAIS