Functional Recovery of Patients After Stroke

Introduction: Rehabilitation of patients after the stroke is very demanding and complex process, because in addition to damage of motor functions, the patients suffer from the range of other dysfunctions and complications. Timely and early initiation of rehabilitation treatment can reduce the degree of disability; it can result in increased mobility, independent functioning and shorter period of hospitalization. Aim: of this study was to determine the outcome of early rehabilitation treatment of patients suffering from ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke, in relation to their age, sex, degree of disability, and activities of daily living. Subjects and methods: This was a prospective study, which included 50 patients suffering from ischemic stroke and 50 patients suffering from hemorrhagic stroke. All patients were tested on admission and discharge from the hospital. Age and sex of the patients was analyzed, in addition to Rankin scale, used for evaluation of functional disability, and Barthel index used for evaluation of activities of daily living. Results and discussion: The outcome of early rehabilitation treatment was negatively influenced by the older age of patients (p=0.03). Males showed significantly better functional recovery from females (p=0.03). The values of Rankin scale and Barthel index showed significant recovery in all patients on discharge ((p< 0.001), however, these values were statistically more significant in patients with hemorrhagic stroke (Rankin scale p=0.03; Barthel index p=0.04). Conclusion: Older age of patients negatively affects the outcome of early rehabilitation treatment. Male stroke patients showed better results of early rehabilitation treatment. The degree of disability is significantly reduced, while the degree of activity of daily living is significantly improved with the early rehabilitation treatment. However, this was more prominent in patients suffering from hemorrhagic stroke.