Functional Recovery In Post-stroke Patients Research Articles

Stroke Telerehabilitation in Calabria: A Health Technology Assessment.

Introduction: Telerehabilitation (TR) is defined as a model of home service for motor and cognitive rehabilitation, ensuring continuity of care over time. TR can replace the traditional face-to-face approach as an alternative method of delivering conventional rehabilitation and applies to situations where the patient is unable to reach rehabilitation facilities or for low-income countries where outcomes are particularly poor. For this reason, in this study, we sought to demonstrate the feasibility and utility of a well-known TR intervention on post-stroke patients living in one of the poorest indebted regions of Italy, where the delivery of rehabilitation services is inconsistent and not uniform.Materials and Methods: Nineteen patients (13 male/6 female; mean age: 61.1 ± 8.3 years) with a diagnosis of first-ever ischemic (n = 14) or hemorrhagic stroke (n = 5), who had been admitted to the intensive rehabilitation unit (IRU) of the Institute S. Anna (Crotone, Italy), were consecutively enrolled to participate in this study. After the discharge, they continued the motor treatment remotely by means of a home-rehabilitation system. The entire TR intervention was performed (online and offline) using the Virtual Reality Rehabilitation System (VRRS) (Khymeia, Italy). All patients received intensive TR five times a week for 12 consecutive weeks (60 sessions, each session lasting about 1h).Results: We found a significant motor recovery after TR protocol as measured by the Barthel Index (BI); Fugl-Meyer motor score (FM) and Motricity Index (MI) of the hemiplegic upper limbs.Conclusions: This was the first demonstration that a well-defined virtual reality TR tool promotes motor and functional recovery in post-stroke patients living in a low-income Italian region, such as Calabria, characterized by a paucity of specialist rehabilitation services.

Functional recovery in post-stroke patients on hemodialysis during the convalescent phase: a comparison with those not undergoing hemodialysis

BackgroundLow physical fitness is often found in patients undergoing hemodialysis. It may be possible that the recovery of impaired motor function with rehabilitative training might be affected when the patient is on hemodialysis. So far, however, no researcher has clinically investigated this issue in post-stroke patients. The purpose of this study is to clarify the difference of functional recovery during the convalescent phase between post-stroke patients with and without hemodialysis.MethodsA cohort of 82 post-stroke hemiparetic patients who were admitted to our rehabilitation hospital, were subjected. On the day of admission and discharge, some clinical parameters including Functional Independence Measure (FIM) and Functional Ambulation Category (FAC) were evaluated for each patient. The changes during the hospitalization and the values at the discharge in these parameters were statistically compared between the patients with and without hemodialysis.ResultsThe FIM motor score at the discharge was significantly lower in hemodialysis patients than non-hemodialysis patients (64.7 ± 21.2 points in hemodialysis patients and 81.8 ± 28.0 points in non-hemodialysis patients, p < 0.05). In addition, the frequency of FAC at the discharge of ≥ 3 was significantly lower in hemodialysis patients than non-hemodialysis patients (40.0% in hemodialysis patients and 72.2% in non-hemodialysis patients, p < 0.05).ConclusionIn patients undergoing hemodialysis seem to experience a worse functional recovery during the convalescent phase compared to those not undergoing hemodialysis. We might have to modify the rehabilitative program during the convalescent phase after stroke if the patient was on hemodialysis.

Risk factors for incomplete functional recovery in post-stroke patients undergoing treatment in a comprehensive stroke unit

Objective — to identify factors that are associated with incomplete functional recovery (disability) after stroke in patients who were admitted to the comprehensive stroke unit (CSU). Methods and subjects. The study included stroke in‑patients, who were admitted to our Stroke Center in 2010 to 2018, operated on the principles of the CSU. All patients were examined by a Neurologist upon admission, and their workup and treatment were in line with the recommendations of the clinical guidelines. Patient data were prospectively included in the database and retrospectively analyzed using one‑factor and multivariate analysis. Functional recovery was evaluated using the modified Rankin scale (mRS). Results. The study enrolled 764 patients (42 % of women) aged 20 to 95 years (mean age 66 years, interquartile interval [IQI] 57 — 75 years). 80 % of the patients had an ischemic stroke, and 20 % had a hemorrhagic stroke. The total baseline NIHSS score ranged from 0 to 39 points (median — 10 points, IQI 6 — 17 points). 18 % of patients were admitted to the CSU during the first 24 hours, another 19 % — on Day 2nd to 7‑th days, 7 % on Day 8‑th to 14, 15 % on Day 15‑th to 30‑th, 10 % from Day 31st to 60‑th, 13 % from Day 61st to 180‑th, and 18 % — later 180 days from stroke onset. According to the results of a single‑factor analysis, the risk of incomplete functional recovery (scores for mSR ³ 2 at discharge) is associated with numerous factors: hemorrhagic stroke (odds ratio [OR] 1.7), atherosclerotic (OR 3.6) and cardioembolic (OR 3.1) subtypes of ischemic stroke, age of the patient (OR 1.02 per each additional year), delay from the stroke onset to admission to the CSU, initial stroke severity (OR 1.3 per each additional NIHSS point), initial level of daily activities (OR 0.96 per each Bartel Index point) and disability (OR 3.5 per each additional mRS point), as well as elevated ESR, CRP and glycosylated hemoglobin levels. In the multivariant analysis, three independent predictors were identified: initial stroke severity (baseline total NIHSS score), the degree of disability at admission (mRS score), and the time from the stroke onset to the CSU admission. The area under the operational curve is AUC = 0.92 (95 % CI 0.89 — 0.94), which proves excellent quality of the prediction model and the strong link between this set of three factors and the risk of incomplete functional recovery at discharge. Conclusions. Single‑factor analysis showed that the disability after the CSU treatment is associated with many initial factors, such as patient age, admission delay, stroke type and subtype, severity and certain types of neurological deficit, disability, and laboratory tests results. In multivariate analysis, three main factors were found to be significant independent predictors of incomplete functional recovery: initial stroke severity, disability level at admission and the time from the onset of the hospitalization. The latter factor emphasizes the importance of reducing CSU admission delay.

Increase in Blood Levels of Growth Factors Involved in the Neuroplasticity Process by Using an Extremely Low Frequency Electromagnetic Field in Post-stroke Patients.

Background: Neuroplasticity ensures the improvement of functional status in patients after stroke. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of extremely low-frequency electromagnetic field therapy (ELF-EMF) on brain plasticity in the rehabilitation of patients after stroke.Methods: Forty-eight patients were divided into two groups underwent the same rehabilitation program, but in the study group, the patients additionally were exposed to a standard series of 10 ELF-EMF treatments. To determine the level of neuroplasticity, we measured the plasma level of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), the vascular-endothelial growth factor, as well as BDNF mRNA expression. Additionally, we determined the molecule levels for hepatocyte growth factor, stem cell factor, stromal cell-derived factor 1α, nerve growth factor β, and leukemia inhibitory factor, using 5plex cytokine panel in plasma. After 4 weeks, during which patients had undergone neurorehabilitation and neurological examinations, we assessed functional recovery using the Barthel Index, Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Geriatric Depression Scale, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), and the modified Rankin Scale (mRS).Results: We observed that ELF-EMF significantly increased growth factors and cytokine levels involved in neuroplasticity, as well as promoted an enhancement of functional recovery in post-stroke patients. Additionally, we presented evidence that these effects could be related to the increase of gene expression on the mRNA level. Moreover, a change of BDNF plasma level was positively correlated with the Barthel Index, MMSE, and negatively correlated with GDS.Conclusion: Extremely low-frequency electromagnetic field therapy improves the effectiveness of rehabilitation of post-stroke patients by improving neuroplasticity processes.

Safety of carotid artery stent in repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation-The histopathological proof from swine carotid artery.

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), including theta burst stimulation (TBS), is considered helpful for functional recovery in post-stroke patients. However, the safety is a common concern forusingr TMS for neuro-rehabilitation and research in patients with stents. Prolonged continuous theta burst stimulation (cTBS) with 1200 pulses at 50% of maximum output of Magstim Super Rapid2 was delivered in three different angles to a carotid stent placed in an isolated fresh swine carotid artery or on a table at a distance of 5cm. The possible migration and temperature change of the stent caused by cTBS was monitored by video recording and a digital thermometer, respectively. Histopathological study with hematoxylin and eosin stain were done on the vessel wall to identify possible micro thermal injury. Stents in vessels did not cause any significant morphology change, such as thermal damage, after cTBS was given at three different angles. Neither visible migration nor significant temperature elevation was induced by cTBS. There was no temperature change, thermal injury or migration after prolonged TBS at a high intensity, suggesting TBS is safe for clinical neuro-rehabilitation and physiological assessments in stroke patients with vascular stents.

Patient-specific prediction of functional recovery after stroke.

Background and aims Clinical predictive models for stroke recovery could offer the opportunity of targeted early intervention and more specific information for patients and carers. In this study, we developed and validated a patient-specific prognostic model for monitoring recovery after stroke and assessed its clinical utility. Methods Four hundred and ninety-five patients from the population-based South London Stroke Register were included in a substudy between 2002 and 2004. Activities of daily living were assessed using Barthel Index) at one, two, three, four, six, eight, 12, 26, and 52 weeks after stroke. Penalized linear mixed models were developed to predict patients' functional recovery trajectories. An external validation cohort included 1049 newly registered stroke patients between 2005 and 2011. Prediction errors on discrimination and calibration were assessed. The potential clinical utility was evaluated using prognostic accuracy measurements and decision curve analysis. Results Predictive recovery curves showed good accuracy, with root mean squared deviation of 3 Barthel Index points and a R2 of 83% up to one year after stroke in the external cohort. The negative predictive values of the risk of poor recovery (Barthel Index <8) at three and 12 months were also excellent, 96% (95% CI [93.6-97.4]) and 93% [90.8-95.3], respectively, with a potential clinical utility measured by likelihood ratios (LR+:17 [10.8-26.8] at three months and LR+:11 [6.5-17.2] at 12 months). Decision curve analysis showed an increased clinical benefit, particularly at threshold probabilities of above 5% for predictive risk of poor outcomes. Conclusions A recovery curves tool seems to accurately predict progression of functional recovery in poststroke patients.

A Cross-sectional Survey and Cross-sectional Clinical Trial to Determine the Prevalence and Management of Eye Movement Disorders and Vestibular Dysfunction in Post-Stroke Patients in the Sub-Acute Phase: Protocol.

Visual impairment, specifically eye movement disorders and vestibular dysfunction may have a negative influence on the functional recovery in post-stroke patients. This type of sensory dysfunction may further be associated with poor functional outcome in patients' post-stroke. In phase 1, a cross-sectional survey (n = 100) will be conducted to determine the prevalence of eye movement disorders and vestibular dysfunction in patients who sustained a stroke. A cross-sectional clinical trial (n = 60) will be conducted during phase 2 of the study to determine the effect of the combination of vestibular rehabilitation therapy (VRT) and visual scanning exercises (VSE) (experimental group) integrated with task-specific activities compared with the effect of task-specific activities as an intervention (control group) on patients who present with eye movement impairment and central vestibular dysfunction post-stroke. An audiologist will assess (a) visual acuity (static and dynamic), (b) nystagmus, (c) saccadic eye movements, (d) smooth pursuit eye movements, (e) vestibulo-ocular reflex, and (f) saccular, utricular, and vestibular nerve function. An independent physiotherapist will assess (1) cognitive function, (2) residual oculomotor visual performance, (3) visual-perceptual system, (4) functional balance, (5) gait, (6) functional ability, (7) presence of anxiety and/or depression, and (8) level of participation in physical activity. Ethics approval has been obtained from the Ethics Committee of the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Pretoria (UP) (374/2015). The study will be submitted as fulfillment for the PhD degree at UP. Dissemination will include submission to peer-reviewed professional journals and presentation at congresses. Training of rehabilitation team members on the integration of VSE and VRT into task-specific activities in rehabilitation will be done if the outcome of the experimental group's functional performance is clinically and statistically significantly better than the control group on the Barthel Index. Pan African Clinical Trials Registry (PACTR201509001223262).

Impact of Co-occurring Dysarthria and Aphasia on Functional Recovery in Post-stroke Patients.

ObjectiveTo elucidate the impact of co-occurring dysarthria and aphasia on functional recovery in post-stroke patients.MethodsThe medical records, including results of primary screening tests and secondary definite examinations for language problems, of 130 patients admitted to our institute's Department of Rehabilitation Medicine were retrospectively reviewed. Functional outcomes were assessed longitudinally using the Functional Ambulation Category (FAC), Mini-Mental State Examination-Korean version (MMSE-K), European Quality of Life-5 Dimensions 3-Level version (EQ-5D-3L), the Korean version of the Modified Barthel index (K-MBI), and Motricity Index (MI) of the hemiplegic side.ResultsPatients were classified into four groups regarding language function: aphasia only (group A, n=9), dysarthria only (group D, n=12), aphasia and dysarthria (group AD, n=46), and none (group N, n=55). The initial functional outcome scores in the group AD were significantly poor compared to those of the groups N and A. Within groups, there were significant improvements in all outcome measurements in the groups AD and N. A between-group analysis revealed significant improvements in K-MBI for the group AD after adjusting for the initial severity and patient's age compared to other groups.ConclusionPost-stroke patients suffering from aphasia with dysarthria showed significantly lower initial functional level and relatively wide range of recovery potential in activities of daily living compared to patients without language problems.

The mirror neuron system in post-stroke rehabilitation

Different treatments for stroke patients have been proposed; among them the mirror therapy and motion imagery lead to functional recovery by providing a cortical reorganization. Up today the basic concepts of the current literature on mirror neurons and the major findings regarding the use of mirror therapy and motor imagery as potential tools to promote reorganization and functional recovery in post-stroke patients. Bibliographic research was conducted based on publications over the past thirteen years written in English in the databases Scielo, Pubmed/MEDLINE, ISI Web of Knowledge. The studies showed how the interaction among vision, proprioception and motor commands promotes the recruitment of mirror neurons, thus providing cortical reorganization and functional recovery of post-stroke patients. We conclude that the experimental advances on Mirror Neurons will bring new rational therapeutic approaches to post-stroke rehabilitation.

Efficacy of relaxin on functional recovery of post stroke patients.

Relaxin is a peptide hormone that exerts specific effects on cardiovascular system and human brain, leading to the hypothesis that this hormone may play a protective role against CVD and integration and modulation of behavioral activation. We aimed to demonstrate the efficacy of Relaxin on functional recovery of post-stroke patients. Patients admitted within a Rehabilitation Unit suffering from stroke have been evaluated. Patients have been randomized to RLX (40 mcg/d) plus rehabilitation vs a control group that underwent only rehabilitation. A preliminary analysis of 36 patients at 20 and 40 days was made using the mRS for global function, the Functional Independent Measure (FIM) for daily activity and Trail Making Test (TMT) for cognitive function. Eighteen patients (age 72 (64-79), M 56%) randomized to RLX plus rehabilitation were compared to 18 patients (age 68 (64-78), M 50%) that underwent only rehabilitation. There was no difference between the two groups in terms of risk factors, stroke syndromes and etiology. At admission the two groups showed the same characteristics in terms of functional aspects (mRS, FIM; p ns) and cognitive function (TMT; p ns). After 20 days (T1) the treatment group (RLX+rehabilitation) showed no differences between the two groups (FIM 78 vs 69; p ns), while after 40 days (T2) patients treated with RLX+R showed an excellent recovery (FIM 96 vs 75; p0.001). In terms of cognitive function patients RLX+R revealed a better performance at T1 (TMT 3.5 vs 2; p 0.002) and still better at T2 (TMT 4 vs 2; p 0.001). These results have been confirmed in terms of global function both at T1 (mRS 2.5 vs 3; p0.001) and T2 (mRS 2 vs 3; p < 0.001). Relaxin showed in this analysis a positive effects on stroke patient's recovery, thus offering the broad therapeutic potential role of RLX as new drug in post-stroke patients.

Design and Evaluation of NEUROBike: A Neurorehabilitative Platform for Bedridden Post-Stroke Patients

Over the past decades, a large number of robotic platforms have been developed which provide rehabilitative treatments aimed at recovering walking abilities in post-stroke patients. Unfortunately, they do not significantly influence patients' performance after three months from the accident. One of the main reasons underlying this result seems to be related to the time of intervention. Specifically, although experimental evidences suggest that early (i.e., first days after the injury) and intense neuro-rehabilitative treatments can significantly favor the functional recovery of post-stroke patients, robots require patients to be verticalized. Consequently, this does not allow them to be treated immediately after the trauma. This paper introduces a new robotic platform, named NEUROBike, designed to provide neuro-rehabilitative treatments to bedridden patients. It was designed to provide an early and well-addressed rehabilitation therapy, in terms of kinesiology, efforts, and fatigue, accounting for exercises functionally related to daily motor tasks. For this purpose, kinematic models of leg-joint angular excursions during both walking and sit-to-stand were developed and implemented in control algorithms leading both passive and active exercises. Finally, a set of pilot tests was carried out to evaluate the performance of the robotic platform on healthy subjects.

Functional recovery of post stroke patients with hemiparesis after stroke of different aetiology

Medical rehabilitation focuses on improvement of functional recovery in post stroke patients. The aim of the work was to analyze functional recovery in a cohort of post stroke patients with hemiparesis three months after stroke. A prospective, cohort study included 30 patients from the city of Nis aged 40 to 69. The study was conducted at the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation in Nis. from March 1 to June 30, 2009. The aetiology of stroke was determined by the nuclear magnetic resonance. The average values, standard deviation, and t-test were calculated. Of the total sample of 30 patients, 23 (77%, 16 men and 7 women) had left hemiparesis and 7 (23%, 4 men and 3 women) had right hemiparesis. The average age of the patients was 58.93 +/- 6.86. Fourteen (47%) patients were not able to move, 10 (33%) patients could move when they were assisted by someone and only 6 (20%) patients could move independently. Twenty-six (88%) patients were not able to take care of themselves without assistance and 4 (13%) patients could take care of themselves. The average Barthel Index score on admission to the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation was 57 and 3 months after discharge it was 79; the determined difference was statistically significant (p < 0.01). At the end of the study, 57% of all the patients could walk without assistance. These results suggest that disabled post stroke patients may attain significant functional improvements in response to early rehabilitation as well as to prolonged rehabilitation therapy.

Factors influencing outcomes in patients with stroke

Outcomes of stroke result in long-term disability in most of the patients. It has been confirmed by scientific studies that rehabilitation can improve functional status and quality of life of poststroke patients. The effectiveness of rehabilitation and the outcomes often differ among patients. For effective utilization of the rehabilitation resources, it is important to prognosticate the possible outcomes of the disorder. Recently, studies are performed with the aim to determine and evaluate factors possibly influencing functional recovery in poststroke patients and helping to distinguish patients with good outcome from those with poor outcome. Age, gender, initial severity of the stroke, functional status at admission to hospital, urinary incontinence, impairment in cognitive function, unilateral neglect syndrome are most often analyzed in scientific studies as factors determining the outcomes of the disorder.

Robotic-Assisted Rehabilitation of the Upper Limb After Acute Stroke

Masiero S, Celia A, Rosati G, Armani M. Robotic-assisted rehabilitation of the upper limb after acute stroke. Objective To investigate whether early therapy with a novel robotic device can reduce motor impairment and enhance functional recovery of poststroke patients with hemiparetic and hemiplegic upper limb. Design A single-blind randomized controlled trial, with an 8-month follow-up. Setting Neurologic department and rehabilitation hospital. Participants Thirty-five patients with acute (≤1wk of onset), unilateral, ischemic embolic, or thrombotic stroke. Interventions Patients of both groups received the same dose and length per day of standard poststroke multidisciplinary rehabilitation. Patients were randomly assigned to 2 groups. The experimental group (n=17) received additional early sensorimotor robotic training, 4 hours a week for 5 weeks; the control group (n=18) was exposed to the robotic device, 30 minutes a week, twice a week, but the exercises were performed with the unimpaired upper limb. Training by robot consisted of peripheral manipulation of the shoulder and elbow of the impaired limb, correlated with visual stimuli. Main Outcome Measures The Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA) of upper-extremity function (shoulder/elbow and coordination and wrist/hand subsections) to measure each trained limb segment; the Medical Research Council (MRC) score to measure the strength of muscle force during 3 actions: shoulder abduction (MRC deltoid), elbow flexion (MRC biceps), and wrist flexion (MRC wrist flexors); the FIM instrument and its motor component; and the Trunk Control Test (TCT) and Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS). Results Compared with the patients in the control group, the experimental group showed significant gains in motor impairment and functional recovery of the upper limb after robot therapy, as measured by the MRC deltoid ( P≤.05) and biceps ( P<.05) scores, the FMA for the proximal upper arm ( P<.05), the FIM instrument ( P<.05), and the FIM motor score ( P<.01); these gains were also sustained at the 3- and 8-month follow-up. The FMA and MRC wrist flexor test findings did not differ statistically either at the end of training or at the follow-up sessions. We found no significant differences in MAS and TCT in either group in any of the evaluations. No adverse effects occurred and the robotic approach was very well accepted. Conclusions Patients who received robotic therapy in addition to conventional therapy showed greater reductions in motor impairment and improvements in functional abilities. Robotic therapy may therefore effectively complement standard rehabilitation from the start, by providing therapeutic support for patients with poststroke plegic and paretic upper limb.

The effects of atrial fibrillation on functional recovery in post-stroke patients

Purpose : This study evaluates the negative effects of atrial fibrillation (AF) on after stroke recovery and its relationship with age and other concomitant diseases. Method : One hundred and ninety-nine consecutive inpatients, after their first stroke, were enrolled and entered a rehabilitation program lasting 60 days. The mean interval since the stroke was 19 days. The disability, both at admission and at discharge, was assessed by Functional Independence Measure (FIM). Atrial fibrillation was diagnosed at admission on the basis of electrocardiographic recordings. Gender, age, blood pressure and blood sugar level were also taken into account. Results : Stroke patients suffering from AF, when compared to those lacking AF, have higher disability at admission as well as at discharge and had a lesser gain in functional recovery. No statistical difference of the AF occurrence was found between male and female patients. The negative correlation between age and functional gain was found only in AF patients. There was also a significant association between AF and hypertension, but not between AF and diabetes. At the beginning and at the end of the study, the median FIM scores of all the patients with AF were quite similar irrespective of manifesting hypertension, diabetes or neither of these two. Conclusions : The presence of AF has a negative prognostic value on post stroke outcome, particularly in the elderly patients. The pattern of recovery of stroke subjects having AF is not influenced by concomitant diseases like hypertension or diabetes.