Article

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the longevity and cumulative impact of multiple
sessions of passive, cyclical stretching of the digits on hand function in
subacute stroke survivors. DESIGN: Before-after trial with intervention repeated
on 3 consecutive days. SETTING: Research laboratory. PARTICIPANTS: Individuals
(N=27) with moderate to severe hand impairment, 2 to 6 months (subacute, n=12)
and >7 months (chronic, n=15) poststroke. INTERVENTIONS: Subjects wore an
actuated glove orthosis that cyclically moved their fingers and thumb from a
relaxed/flexed posture into neutral extension for 30 minutes on 3 consecutive
days. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Three hand-specific tasks from the Graded Wolf Motor
Function Test, Box and Block Test (BBT), grip strength, and lateral pinch
strength. Recordings were taken before stretching and at 3 time points, each
separated by 30 minutes after completion of stretching on each day. RESULTS:
Significant improvement was observed immediately after the stretching for both
groups. Improvements in the subacute group were largely maintained up to 1 hour
poststretching, with significant carryover from day to day for some outcomes
measures such as the BBT (P=.006) and grip strength (P=.012). In contrast,
improvements after stretching for the chronic group were transient, with the
changes largely dissipating over time and no significant cumulative effect across
days. CONCLUSIONS: Cyclical stretching of the digits had a lasting and
reinforcing effect on improving hand motor control for subacute stroke survivors.
Incorporation of cyclical stretching before active hand therapy may prove to be a
beneficial treatment for stroke survivors, especially during the subacute phase
of recovery.
CI - Copyright (c) 2014 American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine. Published by
Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Langue : ANGLAIS