MUSCLE STRENGTHENING IN PATIENTS WITH HTLV-I AND ITS INFLUENCE ON FUNCTIONAL PERFORMANCE: A PILOT STUDY

Abstract

Introduction: The virus Human T-lymphotropic type I (HTLV-I) is a retrovirus that can lead to major complications in functional performance and may develop tropical spastic paraparesis / myelopathy (HAM / TSP) associated with HTLV-I, demyelinating disease chronic and progressive changes leading to major motor lead to conditions of independence and disability. Objective: To evaluate the impact of a program of muscle strengthening in therapeutic activities in the functional performance of patients with HAM / TSP. Methods: This interventional and analytical, using the application of a treatment protocol with muscle strengthening toward functional activities, and participants were assessed before and after treatment using the Functional Independence Measure (FIM), Time Up and Go (TUG), timed walk test (TMC) Make and test. The exercises were performed 3 times a week for 8 consecutive weeks. To analyze the results obtained before and after treatment used the paired Student t test (p <0.05). Results: The study enrolled 10 subjects with HAM / TSP with a mean age of 45.4 years, the majority of women (70%), with 30% of patients using assistive device to walk. There was significant improvement in all measures of assessment, except to make test performed for the right knee bending. Conclusion: Muscle strengthening in therapeutic activities showed an improvement in functional performance improvement of this population after 8 weeks of treatment.