The effects of community-based rehabilitation on stroke patients in China: a single-blind, randomized controlled multicentre trial.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effects of community-based rehabilitation therapy on neurological function deficit in stroke patients.


METHODS
Prospective, single-blind, randomized controlled multicentre trial.


METHODS
At home, in Shanghai, China.


METHODS
A total of 737 stroke patients in the community.


METHODS
The rehabilitation group received additional standardized community-based rehabilitation therapy at home for five months.


METHODS
Patients were evaluated using the Clinical Neurological Function Deficit Scale before intervention and at the end of two and five months.


RESULTS
Although both the rehabilitation group and the control group improved over time, the rehabilitation group showed a greater improvement in Clinical Neurological Function Deficit Scale scores. The differences between the groups were significant. After five months, the Clinical Neurological Function Deficit Scale scores of the cerebral infarction rehabilitation group improved by 6.77; the haemorrhage rehabilitation group by 7.99; the total rehabilitation group by 7.03. In comparison, the Clinical Neurological Function Deficit Scale scores of the cerebral infarction control group improved by 1.57; the haemorrhage control group by 5.34; the total control group by 2.43. This implies a difference in improvement of 5.2 in the cerebral infarction group, 2.65 in the haemorrhage group, and 4.6 in the total group in favour of the rehabilitation group between groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Standardized community-based rehabilitation therapy may help stroke patients to improve their neurological function.
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Hua Shan Hospital, Fudan University.
Jianjun Yu
Yongshan Hu
Yi
Y
Wu
Wenhua Chen
Yulian Zhu
Xiao Cui
Weibo Lu
Qi Qi
Peiyu Qu
Xiaohua Shen
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002681:China; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010243:Paralysis / Q000534:rehabilitation; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D016896:Treatment Outcome