Article

The aim of this study was to assess whether the combination of Adapted
Physical Activity (APA) and Therapeutic Patient Education (TPE) improves function
and quality of life in survivors of strokes.
METHODS: This nonrandomized
controlled study enrolled patients with mild to moderate hemiparesis referred to
2 physical medicine and rehabilitation units in Emilia-Romagna, Italy, 3 to 18
months after a single unilateral mild to moderate stroke. The experimental group
(n = 126) received 16 APA sessions and 3 sessions of TPE, and the control group
(n = 103) received usual care; 86.9% completed treatment. The main outcome
measure was a 4-month change in gait endurance (that corresponds to 2 months
after intervention in the experimental group), and secondary outcomes included
the Short Physical Performance Battery, Berg Balance Scale, Barthel Index,
Geriatric Depression Scale, 12-item Short-Form Health Survey, and Caregiver
Strain Index. Changes in scores at 4 months were compared between groups using
analysis of variance and controlling for group imbalance by means of the
propensity score. RESULTS: Gait endurance, physical performance, balance, and the
physical component of the quality of life score increased significantly at 4
months in the APA group and remained stable in the control group. The
propensity-adjusted between-group change was significant for these scores at P <
.01. CONCLUSIONS: Our results confirm that it is feasible and potentially
effective to implement APA programs for elderly patients with complex clinical
conditions as early as 3 months after a stroke and suggest that, when combined
with TPE, the effects of a postrehabilitation APA program are relatively
enduring.
CI - (c) The Author(s) 2014.

Langue : ANGLAIS