Prise en charge kinésithérapique et expériences de somatognosie chez les hémiplégiques : cas des patients du centre national de réhabilitation des personnes handicapées cardinal Paul Emile LEGER de Yaoundé

Abstract

The paramedical care of people living with a handicap and of physical disabilities linked to a neurological condition in particular, seems quite demanding, due to the complexity of the said care. This is the case for hemiplegics who, because their disability is acquired and generally at an advanced age, suffer from numerous somatognosia disorders that have a huge impact on their personal experience and their relationship with others. As a result, paramedical support for these patients requires not only a high level of technical expertise, but above all a meticulous clinical approach, in order to be able to better elucidate the experiences undergone. This is still not common in the Cameroonian context. Indeed, the rehabilitation of hemiplegics is an arduous and lengthy activity and must be initiated as soon as possible when cerebral shock occurs, and most often requires the intervention of a multidisciplinary team of professionals. However, a good physiotherapeutic follow-up of hemiplegics alone, undertaken in a timely manner, highlights a set of relevant experiences likely to resolve the disorders they suffer from and to ensure good empowerment. In doing so, the involvement of the family base must be taken into account. In this perspective, we conducted a two-month study at the National Centre for the Rehabilitation of Disabled Persons, Cardinal Paul Emile LEGER of Yaoundé, on physiotherapy and somatognosia experiences in hemiplegics. The observation focused on the physiotherapy rehabilitation of seventeen (17) hemiplegic patients, made up of five (05) men and twelve (12) women whose ages varied between 18 and 66 years. All the rehabilitation practices recognized in the discipline, namely massage, and mobilization; the practice of adapted physical activities, as well as psycho-affective maintenance were applied. The results showed that almost all the patients recovered a good number of motor and functional capacities and some had already resumed certain activities. On the physical level, the release of hemiplegics from bed rest, improvement in muscle strength and tone with the resumption of walking, endurance, a more beautiful body, the resumption of activities of daily living, etc. psychologically, less stress, fear, irritability or anxiety, and on the contrary, more self-confidence, self-esteem, self-love, self-regard; improved memory, etc.; and socially, good inclusion and participation in group activities