Rehabilitation of Stroke Patients - Effects of Early Intervention of Physical Therapy on Functional Outcome

Abstract

Context: Early initiation of rehabilitation procedures in stroke patients can enable greater return of neurological functions and prevents complication, thereby improves long term outcome and quality of life. Functional Independence measure (FIM) score is one of the commonest scale used to measure outcome. Study design: Prospective type of study. Place of study: Dept. of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, BSMMU. Method: 48 acute onset first episode stroke patients were assessed Rehabilitation procedures started immediately after attending the Dept. According to a comprehensive rehabilitation plan physical therapy, speech therapy, occupational therapy was given and continued for 8 weeks, with proper education to the patient and the attendant. Result: Outcome was measured and the result showed significant improvements (p value <0.001) in early treatment group of patients. Key words: Stroke, FIM, Outcome. doi: 10.3329/bja.v7i1.3028 Bangladesh Journal of Anatomy January 2009, Vol. 7 No. 1 pp. 62-67

Profile of Patients Receiving Stroke Rehabilitation in A Tertiary Care Hospital

“…Stroke is one of the leading causes of death and disability worldwide and more so in underdeveloped countries like Bangladesh, where health support system including rehabilitation is not expectedly available 1 . Stroke is a disease of the brain where there is sudden onset of mostly focal lesion due to occlusion or rupture of a cerebral blood vessel and its symptomatology should last for more than twenty four hours.…”

Stroke Burden and Stroke Services in Bangladesh

“…The few other stroke care services are mostly based in Dhaka, with in-patient beds in government and private resources combined, such as the National Institute of Neurosciences & Hospital, BSMMU; Bangladesh Institute of Research and Rehabilitation for Diabetes, Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders (BIRDEM); Holy Family Medical Collage Hospital; DMC Hospital; and Bangladesh Medical College Hospital. Rehabilitation costs approximately USD 328 per month [ 16 ], and early rehabilitation is helpful in certain populations [ 17 ].…”

“…Another NGO, the Centre for the Rehabilitation of the Paralysed (CRP), provides physiotherapy, speech and language therapy, and occupational therapies to stroke patients, as well as educating the public on the symptoms of stroke [15]. The few other stroke care services are mostly based in Dhaka, with in-patient beds in government and private resources combined, such as the Na- [16], and early rehabilitation is helpful in certain populations [17].…”

The relationship between occupational performance and well-being of stroke survivors: A cross-sectional study

“…Some studies report that stroke recovery occurs faster in the early months. 20 Stroke patients are most well performed "Getting along with others" in occupational performance. That means after experiencing stroke, they haven't any problem to cope with and develop a relationship with others.…”