The Effect of Motor Relearning Program on Functional Mobility in Stroke Rehabilitation.

The Effect of Motor Relearning Program on Functional Mobility in Stroke Rehabilitation

1. To find out the effectiveness of conventional physiotherapy on improving functional mobility of lower extremity among chronic hemiplegic subjects.
2. To find out the effcctiveness of motor relearning program along with conventional physical therapy treatment on improving functional mobility of lower extremity among chronic hemiplegic subjects.
3. To find out the effectiveness of motor relearning program along with conventional physical therapy treatment over conventional physical therapy on improving functional mobility of lower extremity among chronic hemiplegic subjects.

After a careful monitor of inclusion and exclusion criteria and obtaining the institutional review board approval, the study was conducted by convenience sampling to select the suitable subjects, explaining the procedure to them, and got the written & oral informed consent. The study included two groups, each with 16 participants, which were allocated randomly to the control and experimental groups by lottery method. CPT was administered to the control group three times per week for six weeks (45 minutes per session). CPT treatments such as mat activities, assisted movements, weight-bearing strategies, and gymnasium training were given to the control group. At the same time, the experimental group received the previously mentioned CPT treatment as well as MRP for sitting to standing for six weeks, for a total duration of 45 minutes per session (30 minutes of CPT treatment followed by 15 minutes MRP), three sessions per week.

MRP of sitting and standing activities: The physical therapist was standing in front of the participant, who was sitting in an armrest-equipped chair. Participants were initially taught to keep their feet back, followed by forward trunk positioning. The physical therapist then aided the activity by holding the involved side of the hand and shoulder, where the subject had informed to execute anterior trunk bending more quickly, if the participant did not do it well or performed it in an abnormal manner. Finally, participants were instructed to press down through the affected foot, stand up as quickly as possible, and bring their hips anterior. The physical therapist suggested pressing down through the participant's knee along the shaft of the leg while moving it anteriorly through the affected foot.

MRP of standing to sitting: The participant was on his feet. The physiotherapist assisted the participant with anterior shoulder movement and knee bending at the start of the stand-to-sit movement. The physiotherapist then assisted the participant in keeping his weight on the affected leg while sitting. The subject progressed by standing and sitting with different seat heights, stopping in different parts of the range of motion, and varying speed. These variations in time and space were directed by the physical therapist. The number of reps and intensity of the exercise were classified according to the subject's capacity level and gradually increased as they improved. Subjects were given verbal feedback on weight distribution, performance speed, and encouragement.

Inclusion criteria: The following subjects were included:

• Right or left-sided chronic hemiplegic subjects.
• More than six months after the onset of stroke.
• Age group between 45-65 years of both genders.
• Scored minimally 24/30 on the Mini-Mental State Exam (MMSE).
• Motor assessment scale of sitting to standing section.
• Having normal visual perception.
• Able to follow verbal commands.

Exclusion criteria: The following subjects were excluded:

• Less than six months after the onset of stroke.
• Unable to follow visual and oral commands.
• The age group is below 45 years and more than 65 years.
• Unilateral neglect.
• Cognitive impairments (MMSE scores less than 24/30), or language deficits.
• Any other neurological disorders and recent surgeries.
• Previous exposure to MRP.