POSTURAL PROFILE OF PATIENTS WITH HAM/TSP: COMPUTERIZED AND BAROPODOMETRIC ASSESSMENT

Background: The HTLV-1 was the first retrovirus-associated with disease in human, being mainly associated with adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATLL) and tropical spastic paraparesis /HTLV-1–associated myelopathy (TSP/HAM). In the predominant clinical condition of HAM/TSP, biomechanical, sensory and functional alterations are observed. Objective: To describe and correlate postural deviations and the type of predominant weight load. Methods: This is a cross-sectional descriptive study, conducted with patients at the Center for HTLV, Salvador – Bahia. Data collection was performed in two steps, first evaluating postural orthostatic through digital photos of the individual, following the protocol SAPO ® to mark anatomical points, the second step was the Baropodometric evaluation. For correlation of weight load and postural changes we used Pearson or Spearman correlation tests (a<0.05). Results: We studied 31 individuals, predominantly female (54.8%), african descent (58.1%), with a mean age of 52.8 (+ 9.89) years. Analysis showed a predominance by an anteriorized position of the head (80.6%), trunk displaced posteriorly (64.5%), anteriorized body (96,8%), hip extension (77.4%), pelvic retroversion (61.3%), flexed knee (51.6%) with genu valgus (right 64.5%, left 74.2%) right hindfoot valgus (64.5%) and left varus (71.0%), and a reduction in the ankle angle (100%), discharge weight of the right foot and bilateral forefoot. It was observed a significant correlation between changes in anteriorized body, flexed knee and reduction in the ankle angle to the weight load of bilateral forefoot, and pelvic retroversion with the weight load of his right foot. Conclusion: Patients with tropical spastic paraparesis have significant postural changes that alter their weight discharge.