Abstract
Background. Repetitive facilitative exercise (RFE), a combination of high repetition rate and neurofacilitation, is a recently developed approach to the rehabilitation of stroke-related limb impairment. Preliminary investigations have been encouraging, but a randomized controlled evaluation has yet to be performed. Objectives. To compare the efficacy of RFE with that of conventional rehabilitation in adults with subacute stroke. Methods. A total of 52 adults with stroke-related upper-limb impairment (Brunnstrom stage ≥III) of 3 to 13 weeks' duration participated in this randomized, controlled, observer-blinded trial. Participants were randomized into 2 groups and received treatment on a 4-week, 40 min/d, 5 d/wk schedule. Those assigned to RFE received 100 standardized movements of at least 5 joints of their affected upper extremity, whereas those in the control group participated in a conventional upper-extremity rehabilitation program. Primary and secondary outcomes (improvement in group Action Research Arm Test [ARAT] and Fugl-Meyer Arm [FMA] scores, respectively) were assessed at the end of training. Results. In all, 49 participants (26 receiving RFE) completed the trial. ARAT and FMA scores at baseline were 19 ± 21 and 39 ± 21 (mean ± standard deviation). Evaluation at the trial's completion revealed significantly larger improvements in the RFE group than in the control group in both ARAT (F = 7.52; P =.009) and FMA (F = 5.98; P =.019) scores. Conclusions. These findings suggest that RFE may be more effective than conventional rehabilitation in lessening impairment and improving upper-limb motor function during the subacute phase of stroke.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 296-305 |
Number of pages | 10 |
Journal | Neurorehabilitation and Neural Repair |
Volume | 27 |
Issue number | 4 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - May 2013 |
Keywords
- Action Research Arm Test
- Fugl-Meyer Arm
- exercise
- rehabilitation
- stroke
- upper extremity
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Rehabilitation
- Neurology
- Clinical Neurology