TY - JOUR
T1 - Benefits of a repetitive facilitative exercise program for the upper paretic extremity after subacute stroke
T2 - A randomized controlled trial
AU - Shimodozono, Megumi
AU - Noma, Tomokazu
AU - Nomoto, Yoshiko
AU - Hisamatsu, Noriaki
AU - Kamada, Katsuya
AU - Miyata, Ryuji
AU - Matsumoto, Shuji
AU - Ogata, Atsuko
AU - Etoh, Seiji
AU - Basford, Jeffrey R.
AU - Kawahira, Kazumi
PY - 2013/5
Y1 - 2013/5
N2 - 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.
AB - 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.
KW - Action Research Arm Test
KW - Fugl-Meyer Arm
KW - exercise
KW - rehabilitation
KW - stroke
KW - upper extremity
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U2 - 10.1177/1545968312465896
DO - 10.1177/1545968312465896
M3 - Article
C2 - 23213077
AN - SCOPUS:84875527420
SN - 1545-9683
VL - 27
SP - 296
EP - 305
JO - Neurorehabilitation and Neural Repair
JF - Neurorehabilitation and Neural Repair
IS - 4
ER -