Perda funcional da marcha e do equilíbrio em pacientes pós-Acidente Vascular Cerebral: implicações para a Fisioterapia

Vollständiger Abstract

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Stroke is one of the leading causes of death and disability in adults, and gait and balance impairments are among its most frequent and limiting sequelae. This study aimed to analyze the main functional gait and balance impairments in post-stroke patients reported in the scientific literature, highlighting their repercussions on mobility, functional independence, fall risk, and physical therapy practice. This narrative literature review used a structured search of PubMed/MEDLINE, PEDro, SciELO, Cochrane Library (via Crossref), and Google Scholar, with MeSH/DeCS terms and the Boolean operators AND/OR, prioritizing publications from 2016 to 2026 and including records identified through August 9, 2026. Title and abstract screening was followed by full-text review and application of the eligibility criteria; the findings were organized descriptively and qualitatively in tables and graphs based on the extracted data. Twenty-three studies were included, comprising 1,514 post-stroke participants. The most frequent findings were reduced gait speed (11 studies), increased fall risk (8 studies), and impaired dynamic balance (7 studies), in addition to gait asymmetry, shorter step length, longer double-support time, and greater gait variability. The Berg Balance Scale, Timed Up and Go, and 10-Meter Walk Test were the most frequently used instruments. The findings indicate that gait and balance impairments after stroke are multifactorial and may persist even in mild cases, and that early, multidimensional physical therapy assessment is essential to guide intervention, prevent falls, and promote functional independence and social participation.