Motor relearning program along with electrical stimulation for improving upper limb function in stroke patients: A...

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Physical Therapy

Background:

• Stroke is a leading cause of long-term disability, often resulting in impaired upper limb function.
• Sub-acute stroke patients (3-9 months post-stroke) represent a critical window for therapeutic intervention.
• Restoring upper limb function is crucial for independence and quality of life after stroke.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of a motor relearning program combined with electrical stimulation.
• To improve upper limb function in individuals experiencing sub-acute stroke.

Main Methods:

• A quasi-experimental study involving 44 sub-acute stroke patients.
• Intervention: 6 weeks of daily electrical stimulation (15 mins) and motor relearning program (1 hour), 5 days/week.
• Data collection: Upper limb subscales of the Motor Assessment Scale (MAS) for pre- and post-treatment assessment.

Main Results:

• Significant improvements were observed in upper arm function, hand movement, and advanced hand activities post-treatment (P<0.05).
• Pre-treatment scores for upper arm function, hand movement, and advanced hand activities were 1.36±0.49, 1.18±0.39, and 1.04±0.21, respectively.
• Post-treatment scores increased to 5.18±0.96, 4.77±1.02, and 3.95±1.21, respectively, indicating substantial functional gains.

Conclusions:

• The combined approach of motor relearning program and electrical stimulation is effective.
• This therapeutic strategy significantly enhances upper limb function in sub-acute stroke survivors.
• The findings support the integration of these methods into stroke rehabilitation protocols.