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 & Neural Repair; May2013, Vol. 27 Issue 4, p296-305, 10p
- 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. Objectives. To compare the efficacy of RFE with that of conventional rehabilitation in adults with subacute stroke. 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. 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. 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. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 15459683
- Volume :
- 27
- Issue :
- 4
- Database :
- Complementary Index
- Journal :
- Neurorehabilitation & Neural Repair
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 86919832
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1177/1545968312465896