Chikungunya fever is characterized by intense polyarthralgia, which affects large and small joints symmetrically, and lasts for long periods. Faced with this it is believed that physiotherapy plays an indispensable role in improving this condition. The objective of the study is to evaluate the effects of a physical therapy program on quality of life, palmar grip strength and pain in a patient with polyarthralgia after Chikungunya virus infection. The number of pain sites and the pain intensity was evaluated by the Visual Analogue Scale, palmar grip strength by manual dynamometry and quality of life were evaluated by the SF-36 questionnaire. The treatment consisted of 9 sessions, twice a week, lasting one hour. The protocol involved electrotherapy, manual therapy and kinesiotherapy. Male patient with clinical diagnosis of Chikungunya fever and back and neck pain prior to infection. The pain sites were initially numbered 11, and the pain classified as intense (VAS=9). After the intervention there was reduction to 4 painful sites, of which half were pre-existing viral infection, and the pain was classified as moderate (VAS=7). Palmar grip strength increased from 6.04 Kgf to 24.64 Kgf on the right hand and from 24.79 Kgf to 29.63 Kgf on the left. The SF-36 mean increased from 17.43 to 54.68. The proposed physiotherapeutic treatment reduced the number of pain sites, improved palmar grip strength and patient quality of life.
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