Predictors of the functional abilities in individuals with stroke after home physical therapy program

Abstract

© 2016, Medical Association of Thailand. All rights reserved. Background: Community stroke rehabilitation has been reported to be beneficial. Evidences of factors influencing the functional outcomes of home based treatment were limited. Objective: To identify the predictors of the activities of daily living (ADL) function of individuals with stroke after obtaining treatment program at home. Material and Method: Three hundred sixty five individuals with stroke that participated in the home rehabilitation program were included in the present study. The patients received six months of physical therapy treatment program at home according to the results of evaluations. Personal characteristics and clinical outcomes including Gasglow coma, Barthel index (BI), Postural Assessment Scale for Stroke Patients (PASS), and Stroke Rehabilitation Assessment of Movement (STREAM) were recorded. Results: At discharge, five variables were identified as the predictors of Barthel index scores and explained 90.5% of variances. The PASS maintaining position was the strongest predictors contributing 86.0%. The STREAM, PASS changing position, Gasglow coma score and age then added 4.5% of variances explanation of the BI score. Conclusion: The ability to perform ADL in stroke patients was greatly explained by the ability to maintain positions at the time of discharging from the rehabilitation program at home. Other outcomes contributed in the different manners compared to the time of starting rehabilitation program.