Postural Assessment After Stroke by Digital Photogrammetry

Abstract

Stroke is clinically defined as an acute neurologic dysfunction of vascular origin with sudden or at least rapid occurrence of symptoms and signs corresponding to the involvement of focal areas in the brain. Most literature concerning motor rehabilitation after stroke focuses on the upper and lower extremity and almost neglects the trunk recovery in hemiparetic patients. Besides scales, computerized photogrammetry is an alternative for postural assessment, which can be combined with software of review and images interpretations like Postural Assessment Software (PAS). However there are few works in the literature using PAS as a postural assessment instrument in post stroke patients, because PAS is a relatively new tool. The objective of this study is to advance the knowledge about postural alteration in post stroke patients. To investigate if the digital photogrammetry using PAS can be an appropriate tool to detect trunk motor alteration. And to group postural dysfunctions in typical groups to different kinds of motor dysfunctions. Will participate of the current study hemiparetic stroke patients no interest its etiology and that are being treaty in "Centro de Reabilitação do Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto". The anatomic points that will be marked in the subject to assessment post digital photo, will be from PAS protocol points. To perform the digital photo, a Sony digital photographic camera will be used. The camera will be positioned to three meters away from the subject and to match equivalent a half of weight of the subject, and for it a tripod will be use. The photos will be performed in right and left sagittal plane and in anterior and posterior frontal plane. The images will be transferred to a microcomputer (IBM-PC) and will be assessed by PAS. Postural alterations found will be submitted to specific statiscal analysis.