Israel, Vera Lúcia (Physical Therapy Course/ Pontifical Catholic University of Paraná and Post-Graduate Program in Special Educatrion - Doctoral Program at CECH, Federal University of São Carlos,SP, Brazil)
Pardo, Maria Benedita Lima (Post- Graduate Program in Special Education at the Federal University of São Carlos, SP, Brazil)
Abstract
The aim of this study was to assess the applicability of prior planning to the treatment of patients with non-sensorial physical handicaps resulting from sequels due to medullar lesions. The program helps those patients develop their motor skills in the water, while facilitating their recovery and increasing the chance of providing them with some degree of independence at na earlier stage. The characteristics and needs of patients with medullar lesions must be more cleraly understood in Special Education so that some actions can be taken to improve their level of social integration. Rehabilitation processes play a role in this respect because they provide these patients with the independence and security required to ensure improved educational, professional and social adaptation. Physical therapy deserves special mention among the modes of therapy used in the recovery of patients witrh medullar lesions, and hydrotherapy, one of its branches, is one of the means available to improve the development of residual motor skills of those patients. To this end a specific training program was designed and applied to a group of six patients during 15 30-minute sessions at a heated swimming-pool (33 to 34 º C) in Curitiba, PR, Brazil. The conclusion was that the prior planning of all activities, taking into account specific objectives and respective assessment criteria required to meet the paraplegic or tetraplegic patient's needs, leads to a better control of observable results and to ensuring the patient with a chance of gaining physical independence at na earlier stage, wich will certainly have a positive impact on his/her social adaptation in general.
Vera Lúcia Israel
e-mail:
israel@rla01.pucpr.br
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