Reavaliação da Efetividade da Terapia do uso Forçado em um Paciente Portador de Acidente Vascular Encefálico

Contextualization: The forced-used therapy is the immobilization and use restriction in the upper limb not paretic in stroke. This therapy aims to stimulate the larger use of paretic upper limb and minimize the dysfunction. Objectives: This study evaluated de functional acquisition permanence in stroke ten months after the forced-used therapy. We verified if this permanence was total or partial and the necessity of monitoring and new interventions to this acquisition maintenance. Methods: The study was a case relate with quali-quantitative features. It was assessed an individual with left hemiparesis, secondary to a stroke, submitted to forced-used therapy six hours a day, during two weeks. The volunteer participated of three assessments, an initial, other after the two weeks of forcedused therapy, and another ten months after this intervention. The assessment protocol included Brunnstrom Function Scale, Ashworth Modified Scale, Oxford Scale, active movement goniometry and movement time execution. Results: The movement time execution and the manual function were better if compared with the initial assessment, the muscle tone enhanced and the muscle strength and the movement extent were better. Conclusion: The results were significant when compared with those before the therapy. The forced-used therapy application was efficient in the functionality of the paretic upper limb after ten months. However, to obtain better results it is necessary continuous intervention during this period.