Assessment of compliance with prescribed activity by hemiplegic stroke patients after an exercise programme and physical activity education.
Although post-stroke exercise training programmes improve aerobic capacity and functional capacities in the short-term, the impact on exercise performance at home has not been established. The objective of this study was to assess compliance with prescribed physical activity by hemiplegic stroke patients. To compare the patients’ stated activity with their actual activity. This was a [...]
Jill Bolte Taylor’s stroke of insight
Jill Bolte Taylor got a research opportunity few brain scientists would wish for: She had a massive stroke, and watched as her brain functions — motion, speech, self-awareness — shut down one by one. An astonishing story.
Psychometric Comparisons of 3 Functional Ambulation Measures for Patients With Stroke.
This stud compared the test-retest reliability, validity, and responsiveness of the Dynamic Gait Index, the 4-item Dynamic Gait Index, and the Functional Gait Assessment for assessment of walking in patients with stroke. Forty-five outpatients participating in the validity and responsiveness study were tested using the 3 walking measures as well as the 10-m walk test, [...]
The effectiveness of functional electrical stimulation for the treatment of shoulder subluxation and shoulder pain in hemiplegic patients: A randomized controlled trial.
The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of functional electrical stimulation (FES) for the treatment of shoulder subluxation and shoulder pain in hemiplegic patients. A total of 50 hemiplegic patients with shoulder subluxation and shoulder pain were included in the study. The patients were randomly divided into the study and control groups. [...]
Does low-dose botulinum toxin help the recovery of arm function when given early after stroke? A phase II randomized controlled pilot study to estimate effect size.
Spasticity after stroke may be associated with worse functional outcome. This study aim is to establish whether a low dose of botulinum toxin, given early post stroke before clinically evident spasticity warrants treatment, will improve recovery of arm function. Thirty subjects were recruited, and 21 completed all assessments. Arm function scores improved in all three [...]
Robot-Assisted Therapy for Long-Term Upper-Limb Impairment after Stroke
Effective rehabilitative therapies are needed for patients with long-term deficits after stroke. In this multicenter, randomized, controlled trial involving 127 patients with moderate-to-severe upper-limb impairment 6 months or more after a stroke, we randomly assigned 49 patients to receive intensive robot-assisted therapy, 50 to receive intensive comparison therapy, and 28 to receive usual care. Therapy [...]
Acupuncture in poststroke rehabilitation: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized trials.
Acupuncture is a low-risk treatment with purported claims of effectiveness for poststroke rehabilitation. To comprehensively assess the efficacy of acupuncture in poststroke rehabilitation, this study conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of all randomized clinical trials of acupuncture for poststroke rehabilitation. Thirty-five articles written in Chinese and 21 articles written in English were included. The [...]
New Treatments for Stroke
Kathy Brady, PT, discusses new technologies to help stroke victims recover and regain their motion.
Balance ability, not muscle strength and exercise endurance, determines the performance of hemiparetic subjects on the timed-sit-to-stand test.
The objective of this study was to examine the contribution of balance ability, muscle strength, and exercise endurance to performance in the timed-sit-to-stand test among chronic hemiparetic subjects. By using Pearson correlation coefficient, the five-times-sit-to-stand (FTSTS) test scores showed the highest negative correlation with Berg Balance Scale scores (r = −0.837, P < 0.001), and [...]
Effects of an intensive, task-specific rehabilitation program for individuals with chronic stroke: a case series.
The purpose of this case series was to determine feasibility and evaluate changes in activity and participation outcomes in persons with chronic stroke after an intensive, task-specific rehabilitation program incorporating whole-body and client-centred interventions. Participants with chronic stroke (N = 12) who were ambulatory and had at least minimal arm/hand function were recruited. The program [...]
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