Effects of different rehabilitation programs on the functional outcomes in patients with stroke

Objective To study effect of early systemic rehabilitation treatment and different rehabilitation programs on the functional outcomes in patients with stroke. Methods Forty five cases of acute stroke were divided into rehabilitation group ( n =23) and control group ( n =22). The rehabilitation group was further divided into two subgroups: subgroup A ( n =11) in which the patients received intensive rehabilitation intervention for 12 weeks, and subgroup B ( n =12), in which the patients got intensive rehabilitation for 4 weeks, followed by home rehabilitation training for another 8 weeks. Fugl Meyer scale and Barthel index were used to assess motor function and ADL at pre therapy and 4 and 12 weeks post therapy, respectively. Results The scores of Fugl Meyer and Barthel index in both rehabilitation and control groups were similar at pre therapy stage ( P 0.05), but the patients in the rehabilitation group demonstrated much higher scores in Fugl Meyer and Barthel index than those in the control group at the end of 4 and 12 weeks after rehabilitation therapy( P 0.01); both rehabilitation subgroups showed the similar scores pre and 4 weeks post therapy; the scores of Fugl Meyer in the rehabilitation subgroup A were obviously superior to that in the subgroup B, but the integral Barthel scores in both rehabilitation subgroups had no significant difference ( P 0.05) 12 weeks after the therapy. Conclusion Early intensive rehabilitation therapy can effectively improve the motor function and ADL of stroke patients; the continuing home rehabilitation program for at least 8 weeks is helpful for improving the patient's functional independence, increasing the cost effectiveness, and shortening the length of stay of stroke patients.