Introduction: To facilitate the command to the learner, therapist can use verbal cues for guidance: internal focus (own body) and external focus (consequence of movement in the environment). Objective: To examine the effects of different attentional focus on upper limb motor performance in post-stroke. Methods: Randomized controlled trial with 2 groups. Study realized at Integrated Clinic of the Faculty of Health Science at Trairi (Santa Cruz, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil). Twelve participants allocated into 2 groups. Two motor tasks were used: task 1, reach-point; task 2, reach-grasp-fit, with the paretic extremity, using verbal commands directed by a trained therapist. In the first phase, Group 1 received commands with internal focus, while Group 2 was instructed with commands with external focus. After 1 week, the command type was changed between groups. The variables collected was movement time, velocity and number of peaks velocity Results: Both attentional focus promoted significant differences in movement time and velocity, however, only Internal Focus provided significant results in both tasks of the same variables. Discussion: The benefits of 1 attentional focus on the other are not fully confirmed. However, not receiving any kind of attention guidance compromises motor performance. The results support the hypothesis that the benefits of the External Focus are accentuated when preceded by the Internal Focus. Clinical Trial Registration: Research Ethics Committee of the Faculty of Helth Science at Trairi (Facisa - UFRN)- Number CAAE 2.625.609, approved on April 13, 2018; Brazilian Registry of Clinical Trials - RBR-4995cr approved on July 4, 2019 retrospectively registered ( http://www.ensaiosclinicos.gov.br/rg/RBR-4995cr/ ).

Background: Reach-grasp movements are motor components commonly affected after stroke and directly related to the independence of these individuals. Evaluations of these activities can be performed using clinical instruments and assessed by detailed and costly kinematic analyses. The aim of this study was to develop an analysis of reach-grasp movements in post-stroke patients using a simple, inexpensive, and manageable instrument. Results:A Mann-Whitney test was used to compare paretic and non-paretic limb motor performance. A statistically significant difference was found between the variables of total time (p = 0.02) and speed to reach target 3 (p = 0.04) for task 1, while in task 2 significance was found only in the aspect of speed to reach target 2 (p = 0.04). The correlation between clinical tests and variables of tasks was then performed using Spearman's rank correlation coefficient. At task 1, when compared with the REACH instrument, the close target sub-item; there was a high positive correlation between the parameters of total time (p = 0.028), target velocity 3 (p = 0.028), and target acceleration 3 (p = 0.028). Another instrument that showed a high positive correlation with the target time 3 (p = 0.01) and target acceleration 3 (p = 0.028) variables was the Box and Block Test. When correlated, the data between the task 2 variables and clinical instruments did not present statistically significant data. Conclusion:Our instrument-the Temporal Data Acquisition Instrument-TDAIfulfilled the expected objectives and can be used as an option to evaluate the movements of reach and grasp of upper limb post-stroke, using an easy and fast application, without the need for calibration. retrospectively registered (http:// www.ensai oscli nicos .gov.br/rg/RBR-4995c r/)

Introduction: The Brazilian Council of Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy regulated the use of teleconsultation during the COVID-19 pandemic, creating uncertainty about its use in Brazil. Objective: To describe the experience of teleconsultations during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: Four patients participated in the study with the following diagnoses: Parkinson’s disease, stroke, peripheral facial paralysis, and tibial plateau fracture. Patients underwent up to 10 physiotherapy sessions via digital tools.  The 5-A self-management tool (Assess, Advise, Agree, Assist, Arrange) guided the sessions. Results: The teleconsultation type varied between synchronous (n = 1; 25%); asynchronous (n = 2; 50%) and synchronous/asynchronous (n = 1; 25%). There was 75% (n = 3) adherence and one withdrawal (25%). As the benefits of teleconsultations, the patients pointed out the convenience, maintenance of the exercises, and contact with the professional. The reported limitations were the lack of the use of physiotherapeutic devices. Conclusion: Teleconsultations contribute to the continuity of physiotherapy treatment during social isolation. Adherence to treatment was facilitated by access to the technology and by offering patients the choice of teleconsultation type.

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Background: This study aimed to describe the effects of a 90-minute group-based constraint-induced movement therapy protocol (CIMT) on upper extremity (UE) rehabilitation in poststroke patients. Method: The study was a case series clinical study with 6 patients with chronic stroke admitted to the institutional integrated clinic. Ten 90-minute CIMT sessions were administered, based on the principles of the original therapy. On completion of the protocol, participants underwent group care once a week, for 1 hour a day. For comparison purposes, the Wolf Motor Function Test (WMFT), Motor Activity Log (MAL), and Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM) were applied on admission, shortly after completing the protocol, and 3 months after completion. In addition, the MAL and shaping tasks were applied daily. Results: There was a statistically significant difference only in the MAL Amount of Use Scale applied daily between the 2nd (3.56) and 9th (3.31) and 2nd and 10th days (4.49) (P = .004), with a moderate effect size (d’ = 0.46), and in the average value of shaping repetitions between the 1st (16.10) and 2nd (6.00) and 1st and 10th tasks (7.00) (P = .014), with a moderate effect size (d’ = 0.35). Conclusion: The 90-minute CIMT protocol resulted in significant improvements in use of the more affected arm in activities of daily living during the 2-week protocol. Additional research with a larger sample and a control group is needed to confirm its effectiveness.

INTRODUÇÃO: A realização de duas tarefas de forma simultânea exige a capacidade de concentrar atenção e executar duas tarefas ao mesmo tempo. Em indivíduos com Doença de Parkinson as interferências podem ser ainda maiores, visto que esses indivíduos necessitam de um grau maior de atenção apenas para executar uma tarefa única, como no caso, a marcha. OBJETIVO: Analisar a interferência da dupla tarefa na marcha de pacientes com DP. MATERIAIS E MÉTODOS: Estudo observacional de caráter transversal, de natureza quantitativa. Cinco indivíduos com Doença de Parkinson, de ambos os sexos, participaram do grupo experimental; e cinco indivíduos saudáveis fizeram parte do grupo controle. Os participantes tiveram a marcha avaliada com e sem interferência cognitiva, utilizando: Escala de Equilíbrio de Berg; Índice Dinâmico da Marcha; teste de mobilidade funcional (Time Up and Go Test), Esteira Ergométrica e o Stroop Test adaptado para analfabetos. RESULTADOS: Quando comparados Grupo Experimental e Grupo Controle foram encontradas diferenças estatisticamente significantes nas condições de marcha com interferência de dupla tarefa (Dupla Tarefa Número e Dupla Tarefa Cor) nas variáveis de quantidade de acertos e amplitude de movimento. CONCLUSÃO: A dupla tarefa em pacientes com DP, interfere principalmente na função cognitiva, enquanto a função motora da marcha permanece parcialmente preservada.

Background: Motor and functional recovery in post-stroke individuals is a process of interference from non-motor aspects such as pain and fatigue.The prevalence of these symptoms and their impact on the rehabilitation process need to bebetter understood and studied, mainly in the strategies for the construction of therapeutic approaches. Objectives: To analyze the prevalence of pain and fatigue in individual’s post-stroke. Design and setting: Cross-sectional study that followed the STROBE recommendations. An outpatient clinic at UFRN / FACISA in Santa Cruz-RN institution. Approved by the Research Ethics Committee (Opinion No. 2,622,853). Methods: One sample perconvenience, had 29 post-stroke individuals. The individuals were evaluated using the following clinical instruments: the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE),Functional Independence (FI), Fulg-Meyer Scale (FMS), Sensory Assessment of Nottingham (SAN), McGill Pain Question (MOQ) and the Severity of Fatigue (SSF). The data were analyzed descriptively. Results: Participants presented the following characteristics clinical: MMSE, 19 (median), (0(1ºQ)/24 (3ºQ)); FI, 80 (0/121); FMS, 36 (36/88); SAN, 108 (0/108); SSF, 9 (0/27). Thus, the prevalence of pain was 28% (8) and the fatigue was present in 76% (22) of the individuals. Conclusions: We found a high prevalence of fatigue in patients with chronic stroke, however we did not find relationship with pain. Further studies are needed to understand these conditions and identify which factors contribute to the prevalence of such symptoms.