title: Effects of ULEM apparatus on motor function of patients with stroke. m.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effects of upper limbs' encircling motion (ULEM) apparatus on motor function of patients with stroke.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study adopted a single-blind, prospective, randomized control design. From July 2003 to September 2005, 44 inpatients suffering from stroke in Jiangsu Province Hospital were enrolled in this study. All the subjects were randomized into two groups.
  
  
  METHODS
  Group A received ULEM therapy and conventional physical therapy (PT) aand group B received PT only. Blood pressure, pulse, Brunnstrom stage and Barthel Index were tested before and after 20 days' treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In group A, according to Brunnstrom stage, the effective rates of hand, upper extremities and lower extremities were 20.0%, 80.0% and 100.0%, respectively, and the total effective rate improved significantly compared to that of group B (p < 0.05), especially lower extremities (p < 0.05). There was no statistical difference in Barthel Indexes between two groups (p > 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  ULEM apparatus can significantly improve integrative motor function of extremities of patients with stroke. It is a safe and effective treatment.
authors: First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, China. wangtong60621@yahoo.com.cn
authors: Tong
authors: T
authors: Wang
authors: Xiang
authors: X
authors: Wang
authors: Hongxing
authors: H
authors: Wang
authors: Xiaoyuan
authors: X
authors: He
authors: Jianxin
authors: J
authors: Su
authors: Yi
authors: Y
authors: Zhu
authors: Yan
authors: Y
authors: Dong
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D001676:Biofeedback, Psychology / Q000379:methods; D001794:Blood Pressure; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic; D009068:Movement; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities / Q000295:instrumentation*; D011187:Posture; D011446:Prospective Studies; D020127:Recovery of Function; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D020521:Stroke / Q000503:physiopathology; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D034941:Upper Extremity / Q000503:physiopathology*