Virtual Rehabilitation and PNF in the Recovery of the Motor Function Post Stroke

Effectiveness of Virtual Rehabilitation and Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation in the Recovery of the Motor Function Post Stroke: A Randomized Clinical Trial

The purpose of this study is to determine the effects of use the Nintendo Wii® (NW) and therapeutic exercises by the method Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF) in the recovery of the motor function of poststroke hemiparesis patients.

Randomised clinical trial (RCT) will be held in following the recommendations of the CONSORT (Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials). This RCT have longitudinal and prospective feature, held at the Neurosciences Clinic located at the Clinic Professor Francisco Magalhães Neto the HUPES Complex / Federal University of Bahia from June 2015 until June 2016.

In the initial evaluation were obtained by a trained examiner and blinded to the allocation of participants, all personal data of all patients, as well as evaluations of balance and quality of life through specific validated scales:

1. Fugl Meyer scale (FMS);

The investigators employ an experimental program of therapeutic exercises for the PNF method and virtual rehabilitation with NW, for a period of two months, with sessions two times a week for 50 minutes (a total of 16 sessions).

Inclusion Criteria:

• age between 18 and 80 years, of both sexes; neurological clinical diagnosis of stroke;
• owning grade 2-4 spasticity according to the Ashworth scale;
• hemiparetic patients after 6 months of onset of stroke;
• deficit moderate gait according to Functional Ambulation Classification (values ≥ 2).

Exclusion Criteria:

• score <24 on the Mini Mental State Examination;
• other associated neurological diseases, as well as orthopedic and no visual or hearing impairment;
• participation in other rehabilitation programs.