Equilíbrio em Pacientes com Traumatismos Encefálicos que Praticam Natação e Realidade Virtual Equilibrium In Patients of Brain Injury who Practice Swimming and Virtual Reality

Introduction. The objective of the study was to evaluate the balance through the application of Berg Balance Scale in individuals with head injury sequels that practice swimming associated with virtual reality. Method. Three individuals that presented neurological sequel after head injury participated in the study. They performed a program that consisted of 30 minutes of virtual reality followed by 50 minutes of swimming classes, with a twice a week frequency. The individu als were evaluated through the Berg Balance Scale before starting the swimming classes and virtual reality, and they were reevaluated after 6 sessions. Results. All the individuals have presented an improvement in balance after the swimming program associated with virtual reality. Conclusion. Currently this new option of physical therapy can contribute to the improvement of balance in neurological patients , a way to encourage the individual to treatment adherence.