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The effect of differential training-based occupational therapy on hand and arm function in patients after stroke: Results of the pilot study
Affiliations- Institute of Sports, Faculty of Nursing, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Kaunas, Lithuania
- Department of Rehabilitation, Faculty of Nursing, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Kaunas, Lithuania
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Abstract
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of differential training-based occupational therapy on the recovery of arm function and to compare these data with the results obtained after conventional occupational therapy.
MethodsA total of 27 patients who had suffered a cerebral infarction in the left brain hemisphere were recruited for the study. There were 9 men (33.33%) and 18 women (66.67%). All the patients had paresis of the right arm. The patients were divided into 2 groups: the control group comprised 15 patients who were given conventional occupational therapy (5 times per week) and the study group consisted of 12 patients who underwent conventional occupational therapy (3 times per week) along with occupational therapy based on differential training (2 times per week).
ResultsIn the control group, the mean performance time of only 2 tasks, i.e., flip cards and fold towel, improved significantly (P<0.05), while significant deterioration in the mean performance time of the task “lift can” was observed (P<0.05). In the study group, the mean performance time of all the tasks except for forearm to box (side), hand to box (front), and lift paperclip improved significantly (P<0.05), and no deterioration in arm function was observed.
ConclusionBoth patients’ groups improved arm function after occupational therapy sessions, but the patients who underwent conventional occupational therapy along with differential training-based occupational therapy recovered their arm function more effectively than their counterparts after conventional occupational therapy.
Abstract
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of differential training-based occupational therapy on the recovery of arm function and to compare these data with the results obtained after conventional occupational therapy.
MethodsA total of 27 patients who had suffered a cerebral infarction in the left brain hemisphere were recruited for the study. There were 9 men (33.33%) and 18 women (66.67%). All the patients had paresis of the right arm. The patients were divided into 2 groups: the control group comprised 15 patients who were given conventional occupational therapy (5 times per week) and the study group consisted of 12 patients who underwent conventional occupational therapy (3 times per week) along with occupational therapy based on differential training (2 times per week).
ResultsIn the control group, the mean performance time of only 2 tasks, i.e., flip cards and fold towel, improved significantly (P<0.05), while significant deterioration in the mean performance time of the task “lift can” was observed (P<0.05). In the study group, the mean performance time of all the tasks except for forearm to box (side), hand to box (front), and lift paperclip improved significantly (P<0.05), and no deterioration in arm function was observed.
ConclusionBoth patients’ groups improved arm function after occupational therapy sessions, but the patients who underwent conventional occupational therapy along with differential training-based occupational therapy recovered their arm function more effectively than their counterparts after conventional occupational therapy.
Keywords
Stroke, Cerebral infarction, Occupational therapy, Arm function, Differential training
About this articleTitle
The effect of differential training-based occupational therapy on hand and arm function in patients after stroke: Results of the pilot study
Journal
Neurologia i Neurochirurgia Polska
Issue
Pages
150-155
Page views
788
Article views/downloads
1158
DOI
10.1016/j.pjnns.2015.04.001
Bibliographic record
Neurol Neurochir Pol 2015;49(3):150-155.
Keywords
Stroke
Cerebral infarction
Occupational therapy
Arm function
Differential training
Authors
Viktorija Repšaitė
Alfonsas Vainoras
Kristina Berškienė
Daiva Baltaduonienė
Algė Daunoravičienė
Ernesta Sendžikaitė
