title: Functional recovery in young stroke patients.
abstract: Thirty young stroke patients were retrospectively assessed for levels of activities of daily living and of basic functional movements. Scores upon admission, discharge, and follow-up were compared in order to evaluate course of rehabilitation and functional outcome. Mean length of stay in the rehabilitation ward was 87 +/- 17 days, and duration of follow-up was 31 +/- 8 months. Multivariate analysis of covariance confirmed significant improvements during hospitalization, in transfer, standing, sitting and walking abilities (F = 3.5, p less than 0.02), as well as in activities of daily living (F = 4.7, p less than 0.01). Further improvement during the follow-up period was observed for standing and walking abilities (F = 10.2, p less than 0.001) only. No fatalities occurred among the patients during the study period. Eighty-one percent of the patients resumed their previous or other jobs six months after discharge. We conclude that for young stroke patients admitted to a rehabilitation ward shortly after the event, prognosis in terms of survival and functional outcome is favorable, and independent of precipitating factor, age, sex, or side of weakness.
authors.affiliation: Department of Geriatric Rehabilitation, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Adunsky
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hershkowitz
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rabbi
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Asher-Sivron
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ohry
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D015984:Causality; D002561:Cerebrovascular Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D009048:Motor Skills; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010343:Patient Admission; D010351:Patient Discharge; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016019:Survival Analysis