Multivariant Analysis of Stroke Rehabilitation Outcomes: A Pilot Study in a Chinese Population

Abstract

The purpose of this retrospective study was to compare the motor recovery of the upper and lower extremities, and to explore the effects of post-stroke time, stroke subtype, age, affected side, and gender to the rehabilitation outcome of stroke in a Chinese population. From June 1999 to June 2002, 92 patients, who qualified for the research criteria from a hospital in china, were measured with the stroke rehabilitation assessment of movement. All data were analyzed with the statistical software SPSS 12.0. Based on the paired t-test and multiple regression analysis, the lower extremity had more complete and quicker recovery than the ipsilateral upper extremity. The post-stroke time was the single strongest predictor to both completion and efficiency or quickness of functional recovery. However, if other factors were considered, post-stroke time and stroke subtype together accounted for the largest amount of variance in completion of recovery, and post-stroke time and age together were best in predicting the quickness of recovery.

KEYWORDS:

• Hemiplegia
• recovery
• stroke rehabilitation assessment of movement (stream)
• physical therapy

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Myles Quiben

Jennifer R. Johnson was a graduate student in the School of Occupational Therapy, Texas Woman's University, Houston, TX at the time of this study. She is currently employed as an Occupational Therapist at Touro Infirmary in New Orleans, LA

Debra Stewart is Lecturer, School of Rehabilitation Science, McMaster University and staff therapist at Erinoak Centre, Missis-sauga, Ontario. She is currently completing a MSc (Design, Measurement and Evaluation) at McMaster University.

Ronald L. Mace (deceased, June 29, 1998) was also affiliated with The Center for Universal Design, School of Design, North Carolina University.

Lois Rosage and Geraldine Shaw are Occupational Therapist Consultants who provide evaluations for the housing programs at the Philadelphia Corporation for Aging.

Debbie Rand is Occupational Therapist, Beit Rivka Geriatric Rehabilitation Hospital, Petach Tikva, Israel. She completed this study in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Master of Science degree in Occupational Therapy, School of Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Medicine, Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Her mailing address is 50 Heh B'Eyar Street, Apartment 5, Rosh Ha'Ayin, Israel, 48056.

Maureen McKenna is a Licensed Physical Therapist and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in California. Her Current position is: Assistant Professor of Physical Therapy, Wheeling Jesuit University, 316 Washington Avenue, Wheeling, WV 26003.

Heather Lambert was funded in part by a Health Canada NHRDP Fellowship, a REPAR Fellowship, a doctoral bursary from the Fonds de la Recherche en Santé du Quebec, and a Canadian Occupational Therapy Foundation-Royal Canadian Legion Fellowship in Gerontology.

Trish Wielandt was supported by a University of Queensland Postgraduate Research Scholarship (UQPRS).

Dr. Leigh Tooth was supported by a NHMRC Fellowship (#997032) while some of this research was undertaken.

J. D. “Herb” Herbert is Occupational Therapist, Rocky Mountain Menders LLC, 363 Pioneer Road, Lyons, CO 80540. At the time of this study, he was a graduate student, Department of Occupational Therapy, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO.