Facilitation of sensory and motor recovery by thermal intervention for the hemiplegic upper limb in acute stroke patients: a single-blind randomized clinical trial.
OBJECTIVE
Thermal stimulation (TS) is commonly used in orthopedic rehabilitation, but the role of TS in the facilitation of sensorimotor recovery in hemiplegic patients remains unknown. This study addressed the issue of TS intervention in the facilitation of functional outcomes.


METHODS
Forty-six stroke survivors were randomly assigned to standard rehabilitation treatment and standard treatment plus TS (30 minutes daily for 6 weeks). Twenty-nine patients completed the experiment. Six measures, including Brunnstrom stage, modified motor assessment scale, grasping strength, angles of wrist extension and flexion, sensation by monofilament, and muscle tone by modified Ashworth scale, were performed weekly to evaluate sensory and motor functional outcomes.


RESULTS
The performance of Brunnstrom stage and wrist extension and sensation were improved significantly after TS intervention. Recovery rates of 6 measures after TS were significantly higher than those of the control, except for grasping. Similar muscle tones were found in both groups.


CONCLUSIONS
TS on the paretic hand significantly enhances the recovery of several aspects of sensory and motor functions in hemiplegic stroke patients.
Chen
Jia-Ching
JC
Institute of Neuroscience, Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan.
Liang
Chung-Chao
CC
Shaw
Fu-Zen
FZ
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D005260:Female; D006225:Hand / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006429:Hemiplegia / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009129:Muscle Tonus; D010812:Physical Stimulation; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012677:Sensation; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014955:Wrist Joint / Q000503:physiopathology