Cardiovascular and Metabolic Effects of Treadmill Gait Training Associated With Functional Electrical Stimulation in Individuals Post-brain Vascular Accident

Description

Ethical parameters: This study will be an analysis based on archived data (under the responsibility of researcher Drª Maria Tereza A. P. Dantas) of the project "Functional electrical stimulation during gait training in people after stroke" approved by the research ethics committee with CAAE number: 52079115.4.0000.5515. Such analyzes have not been performed previously and these will enable the discussion of other important points for the scientific community and health professionals.

Type, location and study population: A longitudinal study of an experimental character, in which 26 adults and elderly with hemiparesis by stroke, of both sexes, who attended rehabilitation centers in Presidente Prudente/SP, participated. For the research, individuals were divided into Group A and Group B, randomized, matched by sex, age and according to the side of the body affected by the stroke.

Research design: Two treadmill gait training protocols were performed, which differ in the order of use of electrical stimulation in the groups. Each protocol will consist of two training phases, consisting of 6 sessions each, twice a week for 30 minutes. Subjects were assessed before starting the study (Initial Assessment), between phases (Intermediate Assessment) and at the end (Final Assessment).

To determine the speed/intensity to be programmed on the treadmill for the sessions, the value of the time required to perform the 10-meter test and the formula: speed equal to the ratio of meters divided by seconds were used, with 40% of this result being selected for speed programming. In order to establish a safety margin in training, risk stratification and training heart rate were used, making it possible to designate minimum and maximum limits.

Before and after training, participants rested (10 minutes) to collect cardiorespiratory parameters and HRV. During training, heart rate was monitored to prevent it from exceeding the maximum value, Modified Borg Scale (checks subjective sensation of effort) and HRV.

HRV analysis: For HRV analysis, 1000 consecutive RR intervals of the most stable segment of the tachogram will be performed. Only series with an error of less than 5% will be considered suitable for analysis. Data were filtered using Polar Precision Performance software (Polar Electro, Finland) in moderate mode, followed by a visual inspection.

HRV will be analyzed by linear methods (time and frequency domains and quantitative analysis of the Poincaré Plot) using the software Kubios® (v. 2.2, Kuopio, Finland). The non-linear HRV characteristics will be calculated through the Poincaré graph, Detrended Fluctuation Analysis (DFA), Recurrence Graph (RP) and Symbolic Analysis (SA).

The DFA exponents α1 and α2 will be considered using the software. The recurrence plot will be studied using Visual Recurrence Analysis software (v.4.9) and the configured parameters will be dimension = 10, delay = 1, radio = 70 and line = 2.

Data analysis: The data will be analyzed and if the assumptions of normality are not violated, the intergroup and intragroup data will be analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) for repeated measures, Tukey's posthoc will be used and to identify differences, if any. In case of violation of normality assumptions, non-parametric tests such as Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis will be used. A significance level of p<0.05 will be considered.

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