Fisioterapia y danza española en la reeducación de las alteraciones de la marcha en esclerosis múltiple: a propósito de un caso

Abstract

Background

Gait disturbance is one of the most common impairments in multiple sclerosis (MS). Combined with conventional physiotherapy (CP), dance as a therapeutic intervention has shown its functional benefits in other neurological diseases, such as Parkinson disease.

Goals

To determine gait dysfunction in a patient, to implement and carry out a physiotherapy and dance intervention programme and assess the results with a gait analysis platform.

Subject and methods

Evaluation pre and post intervention of the following variables: range of motion (goniometry), muscle strength (Daniel's scale), spasticity (Modified Ashworth scale), balance (Berg balance scale (BBS)) and spatio-temporal gait patterns (GaitRite®); intervention of 15 one-hour sessions (3 weeks) combining CP and Spanish Dance (SD) in a 49-year-old woman with a relapsing-remitting MS diagnosis.

Goals

To determine gait dysfunctions in this patient, to implement and carry out a physiotherapy and dance intervention programme and assess the results with a gait analysis platform.

Results

The spasticity decreased and the strength of the ankle in flexors and extensors increased. The balance and impaired spatio-temporal parameters of gait improved significantly (an increase of gait velocity, step length and monopodal support phase and increase of 25 points on the BBS).

Conclusion

Gait disturbance consistent with data from previous research was found and significant improvements have been achieved thanks to the intervention performed. SD has proved to have the necessary tools to achieve the benefits obtained with other dance modalities in neurodegenerative diseases and it may be compatible with CP treatment.