USP recruiting patients to test therapies with videogames in stroke cases

The Department of Speech, Physical and Occupational Therapy (Fofito), Faculty of Medicine, USP (USP) is recruiting patients suffering from cerebrovascular accident (CVA - new acronym for stroke) for research on the therapeutic potential of videogames.

Results of previous studies show that for the healthy elderly, the use of games provides excellent results in controlling the gait (walking speed and skills) and is potentially beneficial for preventing the two major public health problems in this population: cognitive decline associated age, and balance problems, which increase the frequency of falls, directly linked to morbidity in this age group.

In the current study were selected from among the games that used the whole body, those who also had potential for cognitive stimulation, involving aspects such as memory, attention and decision making. After all, to cross a street is not enough motor skill (take steps), but you also need to decide what speed will the march if it is the right time to make the crossing, how to deal with unexpected - a dog that comes up, a car advancing etc.. It is, therefore, a marriage between motor and cognitive skills.

Studies in healthy elderly involved two groups: the control was conventional exercises, while the experimental group, in addition, it also led the training with the Nintendo Wii. Tests showed that elderly people who did the training with the game improved their balance, cognition and functionality compared to that made only conventional physiotherapy.

One explanation for this result, according to Professor Maria Elisa Pimentel Piemonte, guiding the work, is that these people had a good level for the skills required - but when the complexity of the training was increased, the members of the experimental group demonstrated a potential that was latent.

For healthy older adults, therefore, from the point of view of health policy, the potentially beneficial impact is much greater, the researcher believes, because they can buy the game and operate it at home without the need for assistance from a physiotherapist.

For patients with Parkinson's disease, there are also advantages in linking the games to conventional physiotherapy, but you need to take several precautions: not all games serve all purposes, and it is also necessary to have the presence of a professional to assist. It's not magic, does not apply to everyone. There are recommendations for use and you must choose the right games, says professor

Who can participate <b> </ b>

For ongoing research with stroke patients in the Laboratory of Sensory-Motor Learning the Fofito were selected games that force symmetry. The reason is that these people live an asymmetry: one side moves more than the other, in a relation called over the contralateral cerebral hemisphere was achieved if the right hemisphere, the side of the body affected will be the left, and vice versa .

After adaptation and initial assessment, patients will undergo a training session with fourteen games over seven weeks. At the end, the study hopes to determine when learning occurs and if the balance skills developed will have effect on the day to day activities. Three research master's and a doctorate will be based on these clinical trials.

Patients interested must have had a stroke at least six months and must be able to stand up to get to play. Information on the Fofito office, by phone (11) 3091-7451, with Rose.

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