Internet-based handicraft training can improve the sensory functioning, mental status and life quality of stroke survivors / 中华物理医学与康复杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To explore the effect of handicraft training administered over the Internet on sensation disorders and on the mental status and life quality of stroke survivors.Methods:A total of 75 stroke survivors in the sequelae stage and with sensory disturbance were randomly divided into a general training group of 26 (group A), a handicraft training group of 26 (group B), and a handicraft training group of 23 using Internet instruction (group C). In addition to 40 minutes of routine physical and sensory training rehabilitation every morning, groups A and B were given traditional training and handicraft training, while group C was given handicraft training delivered over the Internet for 40 minutes every afternoon, five days a week for 4 weeks. The traditional training involved inserting wooden boards, plate grinding, as well as sorting beans. The handicraft training involved digital painting, making non-woven flowers, silk screening flowers and paper-rolling. Before and after the 4 weeks of treatment, all of the subjects were assessed using the Fugl-Meyer sensory assessment (FMA-S), the Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA), the Modified Barthel Index (MBI), and the physical component summary scale (PCS) and mental component summary scale (MCS) of the 36-item short-form health survey.Results:After the treatment, significant improvement was observed in their average scores of all three groups in all of the assessments. Groups B and C showed significantly greater improvement in the average FMA-S, HAMA and MBI scores than group A. And the average HAMA and MCS scores of group C were significantly better than those of group B.Conclusion:Handicraft training delivered over the Internet can improve the sensory functioning, mental status and life quality of stroke survivors in the sequelae stage with sensory disturbance.