Changes of motor recovery in chronic stroke patients

• Main Authors: Rodríguez-Lázaro, Álvaro Enrique, Ortiz-Corredor, Fernando
• Format: Article
• Language: Spanish
• Published: Universidad de Antioquia 2016-04-01
• Series: Iatreia
• Subjects: Motor Skills; Recovery of Function; Rehabilitation; Scales; Stroke
• Online Access: http://www.iatreia.udea.edu.co/index.php/iatreia/article/view/21881/20779378

Introduction: Few studies have evaluated changes in motor recovery during the chronic phase of stroke. Objective: To determine changes in motor function in chronic stroke survivors. Materials and methods: A retrospective-descriptive analysis was done of the records of 47 patients with motor sequelae of stroke with clinical evolution longer than 6 months (average: 8 months). Functional changes obtained between two consecutive records (average time between assessments: 6 months) in scores of Fugl-Meyer Motor Scale (FM), Box and Block Test, PASS, Modified Rankin Scale (MRS), Barthel Index, Composite Functional Index, Modified Ashworth Scale were analyzed. Results: The whole group had significant changes toward functional motor recovery in all scales (p < 0.01), except for the FM in the lower limb. However, the sizes of the effect were small. In patients with evolution longer than 12 months, both the size of effects and statistical significance diminished. Conclusion: After six months of evolution, patients with motor sequelae of CVA show small changes toward functional motor recovery, which are statistically significant until twelve months.