Evaluation of a Home-Based Physical Therapy Program in Ischemic Stroke Patients

The rehabilitation therapy should begin in the acute-care hospital as soon as possible after the stroke and continued after discharging patients from the hospital to their home environment. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of a home-based physical therapy program in the improvement of motor function, balance and activities of daily living. Material and methods. Fourteen ischemic first stroke patients (8 women and 6 men), aged from 49 to 84 (mean 69) were recruited from the Neurology Department of the Emergency County Hospital Timi oara. After hospital discharge, they were assigned to a 12-week home physical therapy program in order to improve motor function, balance and activities of daily living (ADL). All patients were assessed before and after the training program with the following tests: (1) Barthel index; (2) Berg Balance Scale; (3) Motricity index; (4) Functional Independence Measure. Results. After 12 weeks of physical therapy, the motricity index showed a significant improvement in the study group which means a better motor outcome (p= 0,08). The mean score of the Barthel index was significantly increased (p=0.02), showing improvement in ADL ability. There was a benefit in reducing disability suggesting a better functional capacity and a higher level of independence (p= 0.03). Finally, our results showed that hemiplegic patients presented a better balance function after completing the rehabilitation program (p= 0,05).Conclusions.The intervention of a 12-week home physical therapy program in stroke survivors provided significantly better outcomes in motor function, balance function and activities of daily living.