Comparison of Motor Function between Old and Young Age Group after the Rehabilitation Management in Stroke Patients

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to make a comparison of motor function according to the age group after the rehabilitation management in poststroke hemiplegic patients. METHOD: We examined 23 cases of young age stroke with hemiplegia aged or =70 years. Motor power of affected side was measured by Motricity Index (MI) and Trunk Control Test (TCT). Level of ambulation was determined by Massachusetts General Hospital Functional Ambulation Classification (MGHFAC). Scores of each scale at admission and reassessment were obtained after rehabilitation management to compare the level of motor function in each age group and according to the age group. RESULTS: Scores of MI, TCT and MGHFAC scale were significantly increased after rehabilitation management in each group. Although both groups differed regarding to those of MGHFAC, there was no difference for the increment of MI and TCT according to the age group after rehabilitation. CONCLUSION: Both age group showed significant improvement of the motor function and ambulation level after rehabilitation management. Ambulation level improvement of younger patient was greater than that of older patients. However, there was no difference in the extent of motor function improvement of affected side according to the age groups.