Author/Authors :
Loi, Marianna Department of Neurorehabilitation of Pavia via Boezio Institute - Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS, Italy , Zaliani, Alberto Department of Neurorehabilitation of Pavia via Boezio Institute - Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS, Italy , Abbamonte, Marta Department of Neurorehabilitation - Casa di Cura Figlie di San Camillo, Cremona, Italy , P. Ferrari, Elena Department of Neurorehabilitation - IRCCS Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi, Milano, Italy , Maestri, Roberto Biomedical Engineering Unit of Montescano Institute - Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS, Montescano, Italy , Trojano, Luigi Department of Psychology - University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Caserta, Italy , Balbi, Pietro Department of Neurorehabilitation of Telese Terme Institute - Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS, Telese Terme, Italy
Abstract :
Background. Progressive increase of an aging population in Western countries will result in a growth of stroke prevalence. As many
stroke survivors chronically show severe disability, increase in economic, social, and medical burden could be expected in the
future. Objective and subjective measures of poststroke recovery are necessary to obtain predictive information, to improve the
treatments, and to better allocate resources. Aim. To explore a measure of the temporal dimension of poststroke recovery, to
search for predictive association with multiple clinical variables, and to improve tailoring of poststroke treatments. Method. In
this observational monocentric cohort study, 176 poststroke inpatients at their first cerebrovascular event were consecutively
enrolled. A novel measure based on the time needed to reach the main milestones of motor recovery was proposed. Moreover,
two commonly used outcome measures, a measure of global functioning (Functional Independence Measure (FIM™)) and a
measure of neurological poststroke deficit (Fugl-Meyer scale), were collected for the investigations of possible predictors. Results.
The patients showed a substantial increase in Fugl-Meyer and FIM scores during the rehabilitative treatment. The acquisition of
three milestones was significantly associated with female sex (autonomous standing), length of stay and Fugl-Meyer initial score
(autonomous walking), and Fugl-Meyer initial score (functional arm). These findings provided quantitative data on motor
milestone reacquisition in a sample of poststroke patients. It also demonstrated the value of the Fugl-Meyer score in predicting
the acquisition of two motor milestones, relevant for daily life activities. Conclusion. Systematic recording of the timescale of
poststroke recovery showed that motor milestone reacquisition happens, on average and when attainable, in less than 30 days in
our sample of patients. The present study underscores the importance of the Fugl-Meyer score as a possible predictor for better
improvement in reacquisition times of milestone functional recovery
