[Functional recovery of post stroke patients with hemiparesis after stroke of different aetiology].

BACKGROUND

Medical rehabilitation focuses on improvement of functional recovery in post stroke patients. The aim of the work was to analyze functional recovery in a cohort of post stroke patients with hemiparesis three months after stroke.

METHODS

A prospective, cohort study included 30 patients from the city of Nis aged 40 to 69. The study was conducted at the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation in Nis. from March 1 to June 30, 2009. The aetiology of stroke was determined by the nuclear magnetic resonance. The average values, standard deviation, and t-test were calculated.

RESULTS

Of the total sample of 30 patients, 23 (77%, 16 men and 7 women) had left hemiparesis and 7 (23%, 4 men and 3 women) had right hemiparesis. The average age of the patients was 58.93 +/- 6.86. Fourteen (47%) patients were not able to move, 10 (33%) patients could move when they were assisted by someone and only 6 (20%) patients could move independently. Twenty-six (88%) patients were not able to take care of themselves without assistance and 4 (13%) patients could take care of themselves. The average Barthel Index score on admission to the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation was 57 and 3 months after discharge it was 79; the determined difference was statistically significant (p < 0.01). At the end of the study, 57% of all the patients could walk without assistance.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that disabled post stroke patients may attain significant functional improvements in response to early rehabilitation as well as to prolonged rehabilitation therapy.