Progressive resistance exercise for improving lower limb motor function in hemiplegic stroke patients / 中华物理医学与康复杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the efficacy of progressive resistance exercise for improving the lower limb motor function of hemiplegic stroke patients. Methods Eighty-nine hemiplegic patients were randomly divided into a treatment group (n =46) and a control group ( n = 43 ) . Both groups received routine rehabilitation training, while the treatment group also undertook progressive resistance training. The control group received extra quadriceps femoris training. Before and after the treatment, motor function was evaluated with the Fugl-Meyer lower limb assessment, functional ambulation category (FAC) classification and the modified Barthel index (MBI). Results Before intervention, there were no significant differences between the two groups in any of the assessments. Four weeks later, all the assessment scores obtained with the Fugl-Meyer lower limb assessment, FCA classification and MBI in the treatment group were significantly better than those in the control group. Conclusion Progressive resistance training combined with routine rehabilitation treatment can improve motor function in the lower limbs, ambulation and ability in the activities of daily living of hemiplegic patients after stroke.