[Ambulatory rehabilitation exercises for stroke patients at home. Preliminary results of scope, methods and effectiveness].
OBJECTIVE
This study was intended to examine extent, content, and effectiveness of outpatient physiotherapy in stroke patients.


METHODS
Seventy-four first-time stroke survivors were included who had a mean Barthel index (BI) of 55.6 when discharged home. A questionnaire asked about the extent, content, and satisfaction with their outpatient physiotherapy over the previous 6 months and scored the items of the BI and the gross functions of the Rivermead Motor Assessment Score (RMS).


RESULTS
Fifty of 54 patients had received ongoing physiotherapy, mean intensity was 90.2 min/week (SD 60.9) with a mean of 2.9 (range 1 to 5) sessions/week. Eighty-four per cent of the patients were content and rated the therapist as their most important social contact out of family. The BI and RMS remained stable. Therapy intensity did not correlate with their individual course.


CONCLUSIONS
The moderately affected stroke patients received a great amount of therapy. They were content and had maintained their activity level. However, the individually varying therapy intensity did not correlate with any individual activity changes. Further studies are needed that take modern therapy concepts into account.
Hesse
S
S
Abt. Neurologische Rehabilitation, Freie Universität Berlin.
Staats
M
M
Werner
C
C
Bestmann
A
A
Lingnau
M L
ML
D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000145:classification; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005260:Female; D006699:Home Care Services; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation