Efficacy of Aquatic Physiotherapy in Children With Microcephaly by Zika Virus Congenital Syndrome

Summary

Microcephaly associated with Congenital Syndrome of the Zika virus (SCVZ) was highlighted due to atypical structural and behavioral changes of the central nervous system. Such changes contribute to the appearance of functional impairments and difficulties of adaptation of the child to the necessary therapeutic follow-up. In this context, the search for adjuvant therapies that allow better management of these alterations has grown and, given its advantages, aquatic physiotherapy may be an auxiliary resource in the care of this population. The aquatic environment is capable of promoting a state of relaxation that, when associated with a kinesiotherapy protocol, is believed to have this potentiated effect. Thus, our objective will be to evaluate the efficacy of aquatic physiotherapy on the level of stress and muscle tone in children with microcephaly associated with SCVZ. A crossover, randomized, controlled and blind study will be carried out with children between 3 and 24 months of age, who will undergo two interventions: aquatic physiotherapy and water immersion. The evaluation of muscle tone will be performed through the Tardieu scale before and after the intervention; the physiological parameters (heart and respiratory rate, oxygen saturation and temperature) and the stress level will be evaluated before, immediately after and 30 minutes after the intervention. In addition, questionnaires will assess the child's behavioral state, level of irritation and sleep characteristics. For data normalization the Shapiro Wilk Test will be applied; the percentage values and relative frequency will be used for the descriptive analysis and for the numerical variables the values of mean and standard deviation or median and interquartile range. The paired T and ANOVA tests for repeated samples will be applied, which will analyze the intra-group time factor for the dependent variables of each individual. And for intergroup analysis, the variables may be submitted to the T-Test for independent or Mann-Whitney samples.

Conditions

• Zika Virus Infection
• Microcephaly

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

aquatic physicotherapy

Aquatic physiotherapy will be performed in a bathtub with water heated to a temperature around 37º C and environment with adequate temperature and luminosity. Kinesiotherapy will begin with smooth sliding movements in the aquatic environment, still in flexor restraint, allowing the child to adapt to the temperature of the new environment; joint mobilizations will be initiated on the shoulders and hips followed by stretching of the accessory muscles of the breath, spine erector, flexor and extensors of shoulder, elbow, hip, knee and ankle. The sessions will last 10 minutes and may be interrupted if the child shows signs of discomfort such as cyanosis, increased respiratory rate, bronchoaspiration or does not adapt to the environment, ie, remain crying for more than 5 minutes.

BEHAVIORAL

immersion

The immersion will be performed in a bathtub with water heated to a temperature around 37º C and environment with adequate temperature and luminosity. The therapy will begin with smooth sliding movements in the aquatic environment, still in flexor restraint, allowing the child to adapt to the temperature of the new environment. The sessions will last 10 minutes and may be interrupted if the child shows signs of discomfort such as cyanosis, increased respiratory rate, bronchoaspiration or does not adapt to the environment, ie, remain crying for more than 5 minutes.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Universidade Federal de Pernambuco

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Karla Mônica Ferraz Lambertz · Universidade Federal de Pernambuco

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

TRIPLE

Model

CROSSOVER

Eligibility

Min Age

3 Months

Max Age

24 Months

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2017-06-01

Primary Completion

2018-02-18

Completion

2018-10-30

Countries

• Brazil

Study Locations