Rehabilitation of the upper limb functioning in patients with post-stroke by the physical therapy methods

Abstract

The article is devoted to the problem of rehabilitation of the upper limb functioning with the help of physical therapy in patients after stroke. The upper limb as a result of stroke loses in function, and as a consequence in the activity and participation of the patient, this leads to a significant impairment in the quality of life and significantly affects the social adaptation. The aim of the study was to test the effectiveness of the developed physical therapy program to rehabilitation of the upper limb of patients after stroke in the acute period. The methods used were the analysis of scientific literature, mathematical analysis, methods of assessing the functioning of patients: muscle strength (MMT), Barthel activity of daily living (ADL), pain assessment (VAS). The study was conducted on the basis of the Department of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine of the City Clinical Hospital №4 in Dnipro. The study involved 12 patients with a clinical diagnosis of stroke. Patients had physical therapy sessions that included exercises to increase muscle strength, neuromuscular training, improve selective control, improve balance, coordination and reduce the risk of falling. The program was not static and changed based on positive changes in the patient's functional state. The proposed physical therapy program proved to be effective in restoring the functioning of patients after stroke. There are prospects for continuing research on the impact on the functioning of physical therapy at an early stage after a stroke.