Effects of Noxious Versus Innocuous Thermal Stimulation on Lower Extremity Motor Recovery 3 Months After Stroke

Abstract: Objective: To examine the effects of thermal stimulation (TS) on the lower extremity (LE) movement and function in patients with stroke.Design: A double-blinded randomized controlled trial.Setting: A university hospital.Participants: Patients (N=34) at least 3 months after stroke were randomly assigned into the experimental and the control groups.Interventions: In addition to regular rehabilitation, the experimental group received a 30-minute noxious TS protocol (heat pain 46–47°C/cold pain 2–3°C) 3days/wk for 8 weeks, and the control group received a 30-minute innocuous TS protocol (heat 40–41°C/cold 23–24°C) 3d/wk for 8 weeks.Main Outcome Measures: The Low Extremity subscale of the Stroke Rehabilitation Assessment of Movement (LE-STREAM), the Mobility subscale of STREAM (Mob-STREAM), the Functional Ambulation Category (FAC), the Barthel Index (BI), the Postural Assessment Scale for Stroke Patients (PASS), and the Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS) were administered by a blinded rater at baseline, posttreatment (8wk), and follow-up (12wk).Results: Twenty-three participants completed the study protocol and all outcome measurements. No preexisting group differences between the experimental group (n=11) and the control group (n=12) were found on demographic and clinical variables. Compared with baseline, the experimental group showed significant improvements at posttreatment and follow-up on the LE-STREAM, Mob-STREAM, FAC, and BI (P
Source: Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation - Category: Rehabilitation Authors: Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research