In:
Neurorehabilitation and Neural Repair, SAGE Publications, Vol. 27, No. 4 ( 2013-05), p. 296-305
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.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
1545-9683
,
1552-6844
DOI:
10.1177/1545968312465896
Language:
English
Publisher:
SAGE Publications
Publication Date:
2013
detail.hit.zdb_id:
2100545-X
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