title: Functional abilities after stroke: measurement, natural history and prognosis.
abstract: Actual functional performance of 976 acute stroke patients was assessed using the Barthel index: the data were analysed to determine the frequency of disability after stroke, the validity of the Barthel index, and the recovery seen. At 6 months, over 45% of survivors were functionally independent. Validity of the Barthel index was confirmed: it related as expected with motor loss and factor analysis showed a single major factor. The items of the Barthel index form an hierarchical scale. There was some recovery between 3 weeks and 6 months in almost all patients: the major prognostic factors were urinary incontinence, functional ability, sitting balance and age.
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D002561:Cerebrovascular Disorders / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D006801:Humans; D011379:Prognosis