ANALYSIS OF THE UPPER LIMB FUNCTIONAL MOVEMENT DURING THE WATER DRINKING ACTIVITY ACCORDING TO THE HEMIPARESIS SIDE IN PATIENTS AFTER STROKE.
Stroke, rehabilitation, kinematics, upper extremity.
Introduction: Stroke causes several neurological disorders that compromise the functionality of patients. Objective: To carry out an analysis of the functional movement of the upper limb in the activity of drinking water, in order to identify motor changes according to the side of the hemiparesis. Methods: The sample consisted of 12 stroke patients, 6 with right hemiparesis (RP) and 6 with left hemiparesis (LP), and 12 healthy individuals, of whom 6 performed the activity with the right hand (RH) and 6 with the left hand (LH). Participants were submitted to a kinematic assessment of the activity of drinking water by the Qualisys System, which included reaching and picking up the glass, bringing it to the mouth, returning the glass to the table and returning the hand to the starting position. Shoulder and elbow angles were calculated along the frames (time fractions). For data analysis, the t-Student test and Pearson's correlation test were used. Results: There was a significant difference between RP and LP in the shoulder angles in frames 9 to 14 (p<0.05), corresponding to the initial phase of reaching the cup, and in frame 91, at the end of the return of the cup to the cup. table (p=0.039), with the LP group presenting lower angulation. There was no difference between the RP and LP groups in the elbow angles (p>0.05) and in the shoulder angles between RH and LH (p>0.05). A significant difference was observed in elbow angles between RH and LH in frames 22 to 31 (p<0.05), with the SD group presenting greater angle in the cup reaching phase. Different patterns of correlation were observed between the shoulder and elbow angles of RP and LP patients, which demonstrates impairment of motor control and motor coordination in specific phases of the activity of drinking water. Conclusion: The analysis of functional movement of the upper limb should take into account the motor changes according to the affected hemibody, suggesting the need for adequate planning of neurorehabilitation.