Abstract
Background: Rehabilitation-oriented therapy after a stroke must continue in various forms as a life-long effort. Aim: The study investigated the impact of spa rehabilitation on the quality of life and functional efficiency in patients after an ischemic stroke at a chronic stage of recovery. Methods: The assessment was carried out in a spa resort in southeastern Poland. It involved 32 patients with strokes who participated in a three-week rehabilitation program. Three examinations were performed: upon admission, on the day of discharge and at a two-month follow-up. The quality of life and functional efficiency were assessed with the WHOQOL-BREF and Barthel Index. Results: The quality of life was significantly higher in Exam II compared with Exam I (p < 0.001), and improvement was retained at the follow-up. The Barthel scores were higher in Exam II compared with Exam I (79.84 vs. 68.59), while the differences between the scores in Exams II and III were small (p = 0.039). Conclusions: Three-week spa rehabilitation seems to favorably affect the functional efficiency and quality of life after a stroke. The effects appear to be long-term. The gender, age and time from stroke onset do not seem to impact short-term effects. However, long-term effects are related to the time from stroke onset.
Highlights
IntroductionRehabilitation-oriented therapy after a stroke should be initiated as soon as possible and continue as a life-long effort, because in most individuals, a stroke leads to disability
Seventy-two subjects were examined, and subsequently, 40 individuals had to be discarded in the analyses
The current findings suggest that the quality of life and functional efficiency may be improved in patients at a chronic stage of recovery post-stroke if they receive spa rehabilitation
Summary
Rehabilitation-oriented therapy after a stroke should be initiated as soon as possible and continue as a life-long effort, because in most individuals, a stroke leads to disability. The purpose of physiotherapy applied poststroke is to improve the patient’s functional efficiency and restore their self-sufficiency and psychophysical balance as much as possible [2,3]. Specialist rehabilitation centers, referred to as “spa facilities”, located in areas with favorable environmental conditions and natural therapeutic resources, provide excellent conditions for recovery. Such facilities may continue comprehensive treatments Please carefully check the accuracy of names and affiliations. Specially designed for patients who have lost their functional capacities [4,5] Changes will not be possible after proofreading. specially designed for patients who have lost their functional capacities [4,5]
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