The effect of intensive training on lower extremity motor function and post-stroke depression of stroke survivors / 中华物理医学与康复杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To observe the effect of intensive training on lower extremity motor function and depression after stroke.Methods Thirty patients with post-stroke depression were randomly divided into an intensive training group and a control group,each of 15.Both groups received conventional anti-stroke and antidepressant drug therapy,and rehabilitation training.The intensive training group,however,was additionally provided with lower extremity motor function training each day.Hamilton Depression Rating Scale,the Fugl-Meyer assessment (FMA),10-meter maximum walking speed test (10MWT) and the Holden functional ambulation categories (FAC) were conducted before treatment,and 2 and 4 weeks after the treatment.The level of human β-endophin (β-EP) and brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the serum were also detected.Results After 4 weeks of treatment,the FAM,10MWT,BDNF and β-EP were significantly improved in both groups compared to those before the treatment (P＜ 0.05).No significant differences,however,were found between the 2 groups in the above measurements after 2 weeks of treatment (P＞0.05).After 4 weeks of treatment,the FAM (20.67±6.79),10MWT [(0.48±0.22)m/s],BDNF [(10.81±2.33)μg/L] and β-EP [(164.02±42.15)ng/L] of the intensive training group were significantly improved compared to those of the control group (P＜0.05).Both after 2 weeks and 4 weeks treatment,the HAMD scores of the intensive training group (16.33±6.74 and 12.13±5.44) were significantly better than those of the control group (P＜ 0.05).However,there was no significant difference in terms of FAC between the two groups either after 2 weeks or 4 weeks of treatment (P＞0.05).Conclusion The intensive training can improve motor function and relieve poststroke depression of stroke survivors.It is worth promoting and applying in clinical practice.