Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 18, 2026
Author Spotlight: Rehabilitation of Stroke Patients With a Digital Occupational Training System
Published on: December 29, 2023
Six-month functional recovery of stroke patients: a multi-time-point study
Kyoung Bo Lee1, Seong Hoon Lim, Kyung Hoon Kim
1aDepartment of Physical Therapy bDepartment of Rehabilitation Medicine, St. Vincent Hospital, Suwon cDepartment of Physical Therapy, Sahmyook University dDepartment of Physical Therapy, Sam Hospital, Anyang eDepartment of Physical Therapy, Severance Rehabilitation Hospital, Yonsei University, Seoul fDepartment of Physical Therapy, Ilsan Paik Hospital, Inje University, Ilsan gHuman movement research center, Daejeon hDepartment of Physical Therapy, Yongin University, Yongin, Republic of Korea.
Abstract:
The aim of this study is to compare the time-course changes in neurologic impairments (trunk control, motor function, sensory, and cognition) and recovery in functional impairments (activity of daily livings and gait) simultaneously from initiating rehabilitation to 6 months after stroke. Consecutive stroke patients were recruited from the department of nervous surgery, and transferred into the department of rehabilitation medicine and continued on treatment during the acute stage. Outcome measures were examined at the initial rehabilitation baseline, 1, 2, and 4 weeks after rehabilitation treatment, and 3, 4, 5, and 6 months after stroke. Patients were assessed using the Trunk Impairment Scale, the Fugl-Meyer Motor and Sensory Assessments for the upper and lower limbs, Mini-Mental State Examination, Functional Ambulation Category, and Modified Barthel Index. Twenty consecutive patients were analyzed in the study with complete assessments. The recovery was relatively rapid during the 4 weeks after treatment (P value ranges from <0.001 to <0.007) and then to a lesser extent decelerated between 3 and 6 months after stroke (P value between <0.001 and 0.080). Statistical comparison by repeated measures analysis showed a significant interaction between time points and measures of all recovery variables (P<0.001). Significant differences in level of impairments and functional recovery were found at the different time points. In comparison with the lower leg and trunk control, the upper arm showed less recovery, with a significant difference. All variables except for leg motor function improved continuously over 6 months after stroke. Nevertheless, this study confirms the importance of the period within 3 months for recovery after stroke, during which most of the recovery occurred, ranging from 48 to 91%. Therefore, intensive treatment targeting motor and sensory functions early after stroke may be beneficial for recovery of impairments and functional performance.
