S-2-04-05
FUNCIONAL (Disabilities and Handicaps) EVOLUTION IN HEMIPLEGICS: a long term follow-up
Lains J., Oliveira R., Lopes S., Padrao P., Guedes A., Keating J. (Coimbra University Hospital -Portugal)
The authors studied hemiplegics, victims of stroke, at 1st, 4th, 6th, 12th, 24th and 5-7 years after stroke.
Methodology: for functional evaluation used: Disability - FIM and Barthel; handicap - PULSES and Environment Status Scale (E.S.S.).
Results: Barthel and FIM total showed a positive evolution until the 12th month, with stabilization in the 24th month. In the chronic evolution there's a significative worsening. The FIM items Self-care, Sphincter control and Social Cognition are those that worse in the chronic evaluation. The items Transfer, Locomotion and Communication, maintain the same score in the chronic evaluation.
On the contrary, the PULSES and E.S.S. showed a continuous positive evolution, even after the 24th month.
Conclusions:
1 - The worsening in disabilities is related, probably, with aging ( in this old population) and with lack of chronic rehabilitation treatment.
2 - The handicap, caused by impairments and disabilities, is still possible to minimize, even in a chronic situation.
S-2-05-01
THE PARALYMPIC MOVEMENT - A CHAMPIONSHIP FUTURE
Robert D. Steadward (University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada)
Seventy-three years ago, the first international disability specific sports event took place. Three quarters of a century later, we stand on the threshold of a magnanimous achievement as our athletes prepare to demonstrate to the world, athletic excellences of the highest order and to receive full Olympic medal recognition. To those pioneer spirits, athletes, and to everyone who has persevered to bring us to such an important point in history, I would like to pay tribute. Who would have believed that the early efforts of a few determined volunteers and courageous athletes would bring us to where we are today. The evolution of the International Paralympic movement has been parallelled by the evolution of athletic excellence.
Dramatic improvements in performance of Paralympic athletes are a function of improvements in knowledge of volunteers, coaches and athletes; in the technologies associated with performance (prosthetics and wheelchair design); and increased interest on the part of the scientific community and media. However, success and excellence are not achieved without challenge. As the disability sport movement has grown so to have the issues facing disability sport organizations and the movement. The rise of the International Paralympic movement; the inauguration and development of the International Paralympic Committee; the remarkable achievements of athletes with disabilities are symbolic of a fundamental challenge to historical assumptions regarding the nature of disability and the capabilities of persons with disabilities. This marks the end of an era of medical dogma and patriarchal stance regarding the treatment of persons with disabilities. Such assumptions have been decimated by athletic performances and athletic excellence which bear testimony to the strength of the human will and spirit.
