A 70-year-old man diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, who has visual difficulties, depressive mood and also has difficulty performing household and personal care tasks. The clinical case was one of the examples discussed this Thursday (29) in the lecture “Performance of Neurofunctional Physiotherapy in Specialized Rehabilitation Centers: What is the importance of interprofessional evaluation”, given by the multiprofessional preceptor and coordinator of the Multiprofessional Residency in Health Care for People with Disabilities at the Santos Dumont Institute (ISD), Lorenna Santiago, at the II Virtual Training of the Brazilian Association of Neurofunctional Physiotherapy. 

The experience in interdisciplinary care carried out at the Parkinson's Clinic of the Specialized Center for Physical, Auditory and Intellectual Rehabilitation (CER III), which makes up Anita/ISD, was used to highlight the importance of integration between multiple areas of knowledge in health to strengthen person-centered care. 

“How should I successfully address the patient’s health condition? What should I assess? Who should I refer the patient to? How can I promote and maintain coordination between healthcare networks and other professionals? These are some essential considerations to ensure comprehensive care centered on the person and their priorities,” said Lorenna. 

EXPANDED VISION

According to the physiotherapist representing Rio Grande do Norte at the event, through interdisciplinary analysis it is possible to obtain a broader view of the patient's health situation, understanding what is urgent for them and considering interventions in conjunction with other specialties according to their needs. 

“Even though I am a physiotherapist, a specialist in Parkinson's Disease, at some point my assessment will be limited, because the signs and symptoms that this user presents permeate other areas of activity that, if involved, can guarantee full care”, explains the preceptor. 

CLINICS 

In 2016, the Ministry of Health accredited the Anita Garibaldi Center for Education and Research in Health as a Specialized Center for Auditory, Physical and Intellectual Rehabilitation (CER-III). The CER managed by ISD is the first in the Northeast region to care for the health of people with disabilities integrated into a research and innovation system, through work developed together with the Edmond and Lily Safra International Institute of Neuroscience (IIN-ELS).

CER III actions are offered to users in Macaíba, Natal, Parnamirim, Extremoz and São Gonçalo do Amarante, and are organized into eight clinics – Epilepsy, Parkinson's, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Spinal Cord Injury, Microcephaly, Hearing Impairment, Prematurity and Neurogenic Bladder.

PARKINSON

Around 50 patients per month are treated at the Parkinson's clinic at ISD, in Macaíba (RN), exclusively through the SUS. The disease is also the focus of research carried out at the Institution's units, Center for Health Education and Research Anita Garibaldi (Anita) and the International Institute of Neurosciences Edmond and Lily Safra.

Parkinson's disease is considered the second most common progressive neurodegenerative disease in the world, second only to Alzheimer's, according to the Ministry of Health. 

It affects body movements and can include, for example, slow movements, tremors, muscle stiffness, imbalance and speech changes. The disease can also cause decreased sense of smell, constipation, neurogenic bladder, cognitive changes and depression. According to the World Health Organization, 11% of the population over 65 years of age has the disease and the onset of motor symptoms usually occurs around the age of 60. 

ABOUT THE EVENT 

The 2nd Virtual Training of the Brazilian Association of Neurofunctional Physiotherapy is a Training Program aimed at physiotherapists and undergraduate students of the Physiotherapy course focused on teaching Neurofunctional Physiotherapy. In this edition, specialists in the field from all over Brazil participate in lectures made available virtually to those registered for the event. 

During the event, which continues with registrations open, professionals, students, clinicians and academics discuss together topics such as well-being and interventions in communities, neurofunctional physiotherapy in children and adolescents and current approaches in treatments related to chronic pain and facial paralysis.