title: Mobility and muscle strength contralateral to hemiplegia from stroke: benefit from self-training with family support.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether patient exercise with the support of family members maximizes mobility and improves muscle strength in the nonparetic lower limb after stroke.
  
  
  METHODS
  Comparison of improvement at 2 wk between conventional exercise sessions and a program also including the participation of family members. Subjects were 60 patients rendered nonambulatory by severe hemiparesis from their first stroke. Of these, 42 had family members participating in their therapy. Lower limb strength was measured on the nonparetic side using an isokinetic machine. Mobility status was assessed using the Rivermead Mobility Index. Patients were evaluated at the first inpatient gym session and again at 1 and 2 wk.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At the first evaluation, lower limb strength and the Rivermead Mobility Index score did not differ between the two groups. Reevaluations were conducted at 1 and 2 wk after the first evaluation. Patients' strength and mobility improved more when family members participated.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Family participation is an important contributor to stroke rehabilitation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Wakayama Medical University, Wakayama, Japan.
authors.forename: Shinichiro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Maeshima
authors.forename: Akitaka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ueyoshi
authors.forename: Aiko
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Osawa
authors.forename: Kazuya
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ishida
authors.forename: Ken
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kunimoto
authors.forename: Yukiko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shimamoto
authors.forename: Tomoko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Matsumoto
authors.forename: Munehito
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yoshida
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006429:Hemiplegia / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D035002:Lower Extremity / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology*; D012944:Social Support; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D019415:Torque