Impact of Processing Speed on Motor, Balance, Gait, and Quality of Life in Stroke"

The Effect of Information Processing Speed on Motor Function, Balance, Gait, and Quality of Life in Patients With Ischemic Stroke

Stroke rehabilitation programs are traditionally designed based on the evaluation of motor and sensory impairments starting from the acute phase. Although studies in diseases such as multiple sclerosis and Parkinson's disease have shown that information processing speed may affect motor function and balance, no such study has been conducted in stroke patients.

This study aims to investigate the effect of information processing speed on motor function, balance, gait, and quality of life in patients with ischemic stroke.

A review of the literature reveals that in stroke patients, motor and sensory impairments are evaluated beginning in the acute phase, and rehabilitation programs are structured accordingly. While research has demonstrated that information processing speed can influence motor function and balance in other neurological conditions such as multiple sclerosis and Parkinson's disease, no similar studies exist for stroke populations.

The investigators hypothesize that early evaluation of motor, sensory, and cognitive deficits in patients with ischemic stroke, and incorporating these findings into rehabilitation programs, may positively impact prognosis.

This study will recruit patients admitted for treatment at the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Unit of Istanbul Aydın University VM Medical Park Florya Hospital. Inclusion criteria are: age ≥ 40 years, first-ever ischemic stroke, hemodynamic stability, literacy, and absence of pre-stroke psychiatric, neurological, visual, auditory, or orthopedic conditions that may affect mobilization. Additionally, patients must score full points in the vision and speech domains of the NIHSS after stroke.

Eligible participants' demographic and clinical data will be recorded. Information processing speed will be assessed using the Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT). Motor function will be evaluated with the Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA), balance with the Berg Balance Scale (BBS) and the Sense4Motion Euleria Health device, gait with the Timed Up and Go Test (TUG), and quality of life with the Stroke-Specific Quality of Life Scale (SS-QOL).

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age 40 years or older
• First-ever ischemic stroke
• Hemodynamically stable
• Able to read and write (literate)
• No history of psychiatric, neurological, visual, auditory, or orthopedic conditions prior to stroke that could affect mobilization
• After stroke, full scores in the vision and speech domains according to the NIH Stroke Scale (NIHSS)

Exclusion Criteria:

• Recurrent stroke
• Post-stroke visual or hearing impairment
• Neglect
• Aphasia
• Conditions causing impaired consciousness such as dementia, confusion, or delirium
• Presence of cardiovascular or orthopedic conditions after stroke that prevent mobilization
• Age 75 years or older