Mobility and muscle strength contralateral to hemiplegia from stroke: benefit from self-training with family support.
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.
Maeshima
Shinichiro
S
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Wakayama Medical University, Wakayama, Japan.
Ueyoshi
Akitaka
A
Osawa
Aiko
A
Ishida
Kazuya
K
Kunimoto
Ken
K
Shimamoto
Yukiko
Y
Matsumoto
Tomoko
T
Yoshida
Munehito
M
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