A Osawa1, S Maeshima. 1. Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Saitama International Medical Center, Saitama Medical University, Hidaka, Japan.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Unilateral spatial neglect (USN) is one of the major behavioral disturbances in patients with cerebral lesions and often impairs the patients' independence in activities of daily living (ADL). Although many studies have addressed the mechanism and assessment of USN, there have been only few reports on rehabilitation strategies for patients with USN. The present study examined whether family participation can contribute to an improvement in USN following an acute stroke. DESIGN: This study compared the improvement at 3 weeks among patients treated with conventional exercise sessions and a program including the participation of family members. The study followed 34 stroke patients with hemiparesis and USN. Twenty had family participation in their therapy. The severity of USN was measured using the Behavioral Inattention Test (BIT) and a laterality index (LI). Mobility was assessed using the Rivermead Mobility Index (RMI), and ADL were assessed using the Barthel index. RESULTS: The results showed a relationship between BIT score improvement and family participation, and the BIT score improvement reflected the LI improvement. The RMI and BIT scores showed that ADL improved more with than without family participation. CONCLUSION: Family participation improved not only the mobility but also USN, suggesting that it can make important contributions to acute stroke rehabilitation. Copyright 2010 S. Karger AG, Basel.
OBJECTIVE: Unilateral spatial neglect (USN) is one of the major behavioral disturbances in patients with cerebral lesions and often impairs the patients' independence in activities of daily living (ADL). Although many studies have addressed the mechanism and assessment of USN, there have been only few reports on rehabilitation strategies for patients with USN. The present study examined whether family participation can contribute to an improvement in USN following an acute stroke. DESIGN: This study compared the improvement at 3 weeks among patients treated with conventional exercise sessions and a program including the participation of family members. The study followed 34 strokepatients with hemiparesis and USN. Twenty had family participation in their therapy. The severity of USN was measured using the Behavioral Inattention Test (BIT) and a laterality index (LI). Mobility was assessed using the Rivermead Mobility Index (RMI), and ADL were assessed using the Barthel index. RESULTS: The results showed a relationship between BIT score improvement and family participation, and the BIT score improvement reflected the LI improvement. The RMI and BIT scores showed that ADL improved more with than without family participation. CONCLUSION: Family participation improved not only the mobility but also USN, suggesting that it can make important contributions to acute stroke rehabilitation. Copyright 2010 S. Karger AG, Basel.
Authors: Judith Dm Vloothuis; Marijn Mulder; Janne M Veerbeek; Manin Konijnenbelt; Johanna Ma Visser-Meily; Johannes Cf Ket; Gert Kwakkel; Erwin Eh van Wegen Journal: Cochrane Database Syst Rev Date: 2016-12-21