[The effect of somatosensory stimulation on recovery of the integrity of the somatosensory pathway after brain damage].
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of a 3-week somatosensory stimulation program on the integrity of the somatosensory pathway of patients with brain damage.


METHODS
The sample consisted of two groups of patients with brain damage matched by Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) scores and age: 8 patients with a mean age of 56.75 years who were treated with somatosensory stimulation, and 8 patients with a mean age of 58.88 years, who were not treated with sensory intervention program. A repeated measures matched-control group design was used to assess functional recovery of the brain. The instrument used in this study was SSEP (somatosensory evoked potentials), a neurophysiological parameter, for the integrity of the somatosensory pathway.


RESULTS
The hypothesis that patients with brain damage who were treated with the somatosensory stimulation program will show higher SSEP wave form scores than the non-treatment group was supported (3rd week.: U=13.000, p=.014). Additional repeated measures analysis showed that there were no significant differences in recovery trends between the groups (F=1.945, p=.159).


CONCLUSIONS
This study demonstrates that a somatosensory stimulation program is effective in promoting recovery of the integrity of the somatosensory pathway of patients with brain damage.
Kim
Dae-Ran
DR
Department of Physiology, Yonsei University Wonju College of Medicine, Kangwon-do 220-701, Korea. mimichs@hanmail.net
D000328:Adult; D000344:Afferent Pathways; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005073:Evoked Potentials, Somatosensory; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013003:Somatosensory Cortex / Q000503:physiopathology*