Relationships between cognitive impairment and physical function in acute stroke patients without communication deficits.

This study investigated the relationship between cognitive impairment and physical function in acute stroke patients without communication disorders. Sixteen stroke patients were assessed for cognitive status, sitting balance and gait ability on admission to an acute hospital. Eleven were subsequently assessed at discharge from the acute facility and at six weeks post-stroke. Cognitive status as measured at admission was not correlated with physical function at admission, discharge or at six weeks post-stroke. Nevertheless, cognitive status at admission was positively correlated with cognition at discharge (rho= 0.76) and 6 weeks post-stroke (rho=0.69). Cognition was not found to be related to sitting balance or gait performance at any of the tests. Sitting balance at 48 hours post-stroke was correlated with sitting balance at discharge (rho=0.68). Moreover gait performance at admission (on average 48 hours post-stroke) was correlated with gait at discharge and 6 weeks post-stroke. Although cognition, sitting balance and gait performance all improved during the first six weeks post-stroke, no relationships were found between cognitive impairment and either balance or gait at 48 hours post-stroke, hospital discharge or at 6 weeks post-stroke. Thus, in this small sample, no evidence was provided that poor cognition was associated with poor physical recovery.