Ludic Table: a comparative study between playful rehabilitation and kinesiotherapy in restricting upper limb movements in individuals with stroke

Med Biol Eng Comput. 2022 Apr;60(4):1187-1198. doi: 10.1007/s11517-022-02532-0. Epub 2022 Mar 4.

Abstract

Stroke is a neurological syndrome resulting from the sudden interruption of blood flow. Among the symptoms/consequences of the stroke are muscle weakness in the lower and/or upper limbs, decreased sensitivity, altered fine motor skills, proprioception, and reflections. The treatment for the motor consequences is orthopedic management, in which the physiotherapist assists the individual in repetitive range of motion exercises, which can be demotivating during the treatment. The Ludic Table (LT), on the other hand, incorporates playfulness into therapy, making it a motivating tool. This research describes the comparative study between kinesiotherapy techniques and exercises using the LT, applied to the development of upper limb movements. For this, fourteen volunteers were divided into groups, submitted to interventions according to the techniques, and evaluated using systems such as goniometry, HAQ-DI, GMFM-88, and neurofunctional assessment. In general, it can be stated that regardless of the intervention, the individuals obtained gain in movements (minimum average of 7 degrees) and that the use of the LT allows the development of the angular amplitude and the reduction of the effects of spasticity. The individuals submitted to the intervention through the LT obtained the development of a greater number of articular movements of the shoulder and elbow.

Keywords: Kinesiotherapy; Ludic Table; Stroke.

MeSH terms

  • Humans
  • Movement
  • Range of Motion, Articular / physiology
  • Stroke Rehabilitation* / methods
  • Stroke* / therapy
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Upper Extremity