title: Effects of intensive gait-oriented physiotherapy during early acute phase of stroke.
abstract: We assessed the effects and strenuousness of intensive gait-oriented inpatient rehabilitation initiated very early after stroke. Therapy content and interrater reliability of the assessments were also analyzed. Of 22 patients, 19 (average 8.0 d poststroke) completed the study. Before rehabilitation, 13 patients were unable to walk or needed two assistants to walk and 6 patients needed one assistant. Patients spent a daily maximum of 1 h therapy time to obtain 20 min of walking. Additional physiotherapy was also provided during the 3 wk therapy period. Seven structured motor tests were recorded before and after rehabilitation and at 6 months postrehabilitation, and perceived exertion was followed during physiotherapy. After rehabilitation, 16 patients could walk unassisted and 3 needed one assistant to walk. Mean +/- standard deviation exercise walking distance was 10,784 +/- 4,446 m and exercise was ranked as slightly strenuous. After 3 wk, the patients' 10 m walking time, ankle spasticity, lower-limb muscle force, and motor scale scores improved (p < 0.05). The early intensive rehabilitation was well tolerated and only three patients dropped out. Improved motor abilities were seen in all stroke patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland. sinikka.peurala@sport.jyu.fi
authors.forename: Sinikka H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Peurala
authors.forename: Olavi
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Airaksinen
authors.forename: Pekka
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Jäkälä
authors.forename: Ina M
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Tarkka
authors.forename: Juhani
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sivenius
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005684:Gait / Q000502:physiology*; D020233:Gait Disorders, Neurologic / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology