Balance ability at rehabilitative admission in stroke patients: Does it predict the rehabilitative outcome?

Objective: To assess the relationship between balance at rehabilitation admission and ADL function at discharge in stroke patients.Method:Thirty-seven stroke patients were tested for maintaining posture and changing posture (using the maintaining a posture and changing posture items of the postural assessment scale for stroke patients,PASS-MP and PASS-CP) and total balance (using the Berg balance scale) at admission and ADL function (using the Barthel index) in all patients at discharge were evaluated. The data were tested using Pearson′s correlation(r) to determine the relationships between ADL function at discharge and the following variables: age, admission PASS-MP score?admission PASS-CP score and total balance. Stepwise regression analysis was used to examine the relationship between these variables and ADL function at discharge.Result: PASS-MP score?PASS-CP score and BBS at rehabilitation admission were significantly positive related to ADL function at discharge in stroke patients(r=0.682-0.758,P0.001). The PASS-TC score had slightly more power in predicting ADL function at discharge(R2=0.574,P0.001).Conclusion:Impairments in balance appear to have a significant impact on functional outcome.The results imply that early assessment and management of changing posture after stroke should be emphasized.Author′s address Department of Rehabilitation Medicine,The General Hospital of PLA,Beijing,100853