Therapy after stroke: amounts, determinants and effects

This report investigates the amounts of physiotherapy and occupational therapy given to acute stroke patients over the first 6 months, the factors that determine how much therapy a patient receives, and the effects of therapy upon outcome. The study is based on 162 acute stroke patients referred to a stroke rehabilitation unit. In this group the average daily rate of treatment during active rehabilitation, for both therapies combined, was 46 minutes, with a maximum of 42 minutes a day for physiotherapy and 48 minutes a day for occupational therapy. The major factors associated with the amount of therapy given related to the severity of the stroke: more therapy was given to those with lower initial functional ability, worse sitting balance, or greater loss of use of arm or leg. This association with severity probably accounts for the association between therapy and shoulder disease. A minor factor governing the amount of therapy given was the patient's degree of recovery: those who recovered less well received more therapy. It was not possible to demonstrate a specific beneficial effect of therapy.