| Summary: | 碩士 === 慈濟大學 === 神經科學研究所 === 92 === Upper limb problem is often involved in strokes and its recovery is notoriously poor. A valid predictor for functional recovery and additional facilitative technique are benefit to the strategy of upper limb rehabilitation. Sensory stimulation has been deemed to an effectively facilitative tool in acute strokes, a systematic and quantitative evaluation of thermal stimulation, however, remains to be determined. On the other hand, somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs) are proposed to be associated with the prediction of functional sensory/motor recovery in strokes, but the exact relationship between SEPs and functional recovery remains largely unknown. Patients (n = 27) were randomly assigned into 2 groups and received regular rehabilitation. Thermal stimulation on the hand area was added to one group 5 times per week for 6 weeks. Sensory (Semmes-Weinstein Monofilaments) and motor (Goniometer, JAMAR, Brunnstorm’s stage, Modified Motor Assessment Score (MMAS)) assessments were evaluated weekly. Moreover, SEPs (n = 20) were recorded at the first and sixth weeks, and their values and changes were correlated with all evaluation tools. Significant facilitation of the functional recovery rate after 4th week was found in the group with additional thermal stimulation on several assessments (Brunnstorm’s stage, MMAS, wrist extension, and sensory function). SEPs (week 1) and all outcomes (week 6) displayed significant trends. In addition, SEPs (week 1) were also positively related to changes of most motor outcomes within 6 weeks, particularly for upper limb related part. Based on these results from acute strokes, SEPs can be an index about the functional recovery, and thermal stimulation may effectively speed up the functional recovery. Keywords: Thermal stimulation; stroke; upper limb function; facilitation; somatosensory evoked potential
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