title: The effects of physical therapy on exaggerated muscle tonicity, balance and quality of life on hemiparetic patients due to stroke.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the effects of physical therapy on balance, exaggerated muscle tonicity and quality of life on patients with hemiparesis.
  
  
  METHODS
  This quasi-experimental study was conducted in 2011 among male hemiparetic patients secondary to stroke, at a physiotherapy centre in Neyshabur, Iran. Twenty-four patients were randomly assigned to two equal groups representing the cases and the controls.The cases were assigned to do the practical protocol for 4 weeks.To collect the data, Berg Balance Scaling, Modified Ashworth Scale, Barthel Activities of Daily Living Index and demographic questionnaires were used. Paired and un-paired t-tests were used to analyse data. All analyses were done on SPSS 16.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The two groups were similar before intervention. Post-test analysis showed that the average balance and quality of life significantly improved (p<0.001) among the cases, and the quadriceps muscle tonicity decreased (p<0.001). Among the controls, there was no significant change between pre-test and post-test readings.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Physical therapy can enhance balance and quality of life of hemiparetic patients and reduces their exaggerated muscle tonicity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Education, Islamic Azad University, Kalaleh Branch, Kalaleh, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad Reza
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Hoseinabadi
authors.forename: Hamid Reza
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Taheri
authors.forename: Fahimeh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Keavanloo
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Seyedahmadi
authors.forename: Mehdi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mohamadinia
authors.forename: Akbar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pejhan
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007492:Iran / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009129:Muscle Tonus / Q000502:physiology*; D010291:Paresis / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology*; D011788:Quality of Life; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000502:physiology; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome