Back to Search
Start Over
Benefits of a repetitive facilitative exercise program for the upper paretic extremity after subacute stroke: a randomized controlled trial.
- Source :
-
Neurorehabilitation and neural repair [Neurorehabil Neural Repair] 2013 May; Vol. 27 (4), pp. 296-305. Date of Electronic Publication: 2012 Dec 03. - Publication Year :
- 2013
-
Abstract
- Background: Repetitive facilitative exercise (RFE), a combination of high repetition rate and neurofacilitation, is a recently developed approach to the rehabilitation of stroke-related limb impairment. Preliminary investigations have been encouraging, but a randomized controlled evaluation has yet to be performed.<br />Objectives: To compare the efficacy of RFE with that of conventional rehabilitation in adults with subacute stroke.<br />Methods: A total of 52 adults with stroke-related upper-limb impairment (Brunnstrom stage ≥III) of 3 to 13 weeks' duration participated in this randomized, controlled, observer-blinded trial. Participants were randomized into 2 groups and received treatment on a 4-week, 40 min/d, 5 d/wk schedule. Those assigned to RFE received 100 standardized movements of at least 5 joints of their affected upper extremity, whereas those in the control group participated in a conventional upper-extremity rehabilitation program. Primary and secondary outcomes (improvement in group action research arm test [ARAT] and Fugl-Meyer Arm [FMA] scores, respectively) were assessed at the end of training.<br />Results: In all, 49 participants (26 receiving RFE) completed the trial. ARAT and FMA scores at baseline were 19 ± 21 and 39 ± 21 (mean ± standard deviation). Evaluation at the trial's completion revealed significantly larger improvements in the RFE group than in the control group in both ARAT (F = 7.52; P = .009) and FMA (F = 5.98; P = .019) scores.<br />Conclusions: These findings suggest that RFE may be more effective than conventional rehabilitation in lessening impairment and improving upper-limb motor function during the subacute phase of stroke.
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1552-6844
- Volume :
- 27
- Issue :
- 4
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Neurorehabilitation and neural repair
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 23213077
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1177/1545968312465896