Functional profile of ALS patients over 14 months of physical therapy

Introduction: Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a degenerative and fatal disease that changes the individuals’ functionality. Physical therapy plays an important role in ALS by using assessment tools to evaluate functional performance. Objective: To investigate functional changes caused by ALS through 14 months in individuals with and without physical therapy. Method: A cohort study conducted between 2010 and 2013 in the city of Natal-RN. The study included patients in various stages of ALS, with no associated pathologies and those who were being monitored by the Reference Center since 2010. Functional characteristics were categorized by applying the motor items of Functional Independence Measure (FIM), Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS) and ALS-Functional Rating Scale (ALSFRS). Participants were divided into two groups, those who performed physical therapy (FA) and those who didn’t (CG). They were longwise evaluated in 3 different moments (1st day of assessment, four months after the first assessment and 10 months after the second evaluation). Nonparametric Friedman test was performed, considering p <0.05. Results: It was observed a significant functional decline in the control group (p