title: Effectiveness of thermal stimulation for the moderately to severely paretic leg after stroke: serial changes at one-year follow-up.
abstract: Liang C-C, Hsieh T-C, Lin C-H, Wei Y-C, Hsiao J, Chen J-C. Effectiveness of thermal stimulation for the moderately to severely paretic leg after stroke: serial changes at one-year follow-up.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the serial changes of long-term effects of thermal stimulation (TS) on acute stroke patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective study with follow-up at 3, 6, and 12 months after TS to assess motor and balance function of the paretic leg of acute stroke patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  A general hospital rehabilitation department.
  
  
  METHODS
  Poststroke patients (N=30) with moderate to severe impairment of leg function.
  
  
  METHODS
  In addition to receiving standard rehabilitation, eligible patients were randomly assigned to a TS group (5 thermal stimulations per week for 6wk) or a control group (3 consultations per week for 6wk).
  
  
  METHODS
  Fugl-Meyer lower extremity score, Medical Research Council Scale for the Lower Extremity, Berg Balance Scale, Modified Motor Assessment Scale, Functional Ambulation Classification, and Barthel Index were administered at baseline, after 4 and 6 weeks of treatment, and at the 3-, 6-, and 12-month follow-up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No significant differences were found between the 2 groups at baseline. After TS, the Fugl-Meyer lower extremity score, Medical Research Council Scale for the Lower Extremity, Modified Motor Assessment Scale, and Functional Ambulation Classification were significantly better in the TS group, and the effects persisted for 3 months (P<.05). Significant differences were found between the 2 groups for the Berg Balance Scale and Barthel Index only at the 3-month follow-up (P<.05). However, all the effects except for the Fugl-Meyer lower extremity score had disappeared at the 6-month follow-up (P>.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The long-term benefits of TS for patients with acute stroke may be sustained for 3 months but disappear by the 6-month and 1-year follow-up.
authors: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Tzu Chi Buddhist General Hospital, Hualien, Taiwan.
authors: Chung-Chao
authors: CC
authors: Liang
authors: Tsung-Cheng
authors: TC
authors: Hsieh
authors: Chun-Hsiang
authors: CH
authors: Lin
authors: Yu-Chun
authors: YC
authors: Wei
authors: Jung
authors: J
authors: Hsiao
authors: Jia-Ching
authors: JC
authors: Chen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006769:Hospitals, General; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg; D008875:Middle Aged; D010291:Paresis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D011446:Prospective Studies; D020127:Recovery of Function; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications*; D013997:Time Factors