Effects of PNF and de-Lorme and Watkins exercises on UE function and strength in stroke (PDF)

Seminar paper from the year 2022 in the subject Medicine - Neurology, Psychiatry, Addiction, grade: A, Virtual University of Pakistan, language: English, abstract: A Stroke, also known as cerebrovascular accident, is defined as rapid clinical signs of focal (or global) damage to brain function, along with symptoms that last longer than 24 hours or lead to death, with an apparent cause, mainly vascular origin. Globally, cerebrovascular damage is the second-biggest cause of death and the third-largest cause of disability. This ratio is 1 in 19 deaths. Stroke is a substantial source of injury in the long tenure and is more disabled than fatal.

To compare the effects of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation strengthening exercises with Delorme and Watkins exercises program to improve the upper extremity function and strength in chronic stroke patients.

A randomized clinical trial was conducted on 20 chronic stroke patients, age of 50 to70 years. Clinical trial registry number was NCT05904795. Sample was collected from Shahida Islam Teaching Hospital Lodhran through convenience sampling technique and then patients were randomly allocated to 2 groups. Group A received PNF strengthening exercises
training while Group B received Delorme and Watkins exercise program. Upper limb motor functions, and grip strength, were checked by The Barthel Index Scale and Handheld Dynamometer. SPSS version 25 used for statistical work.

Independent sample t test was used for between group analysis, which shows that upper limb function assessment through Barthel index shows that pre-intervention score of PNF+PT group is 37.60 ±5.60, whilst DL&WE group is 35.80 ±2.78 and post-intervention scores of the PNF+PT group is 75.70 ± 5.53 and DL&WE group is 44.70 ± 4.52 correspondingly. Strength is checked by dynamometer and pre-intervention score of PNF+PT ii group is 76.80 ±19.43, whilst DL&WE group is 71.32 ±25.23. The post-intervention scores of the PNF+PT group is 92.73± 18.48 and DL&WE group is 75.70± 22.86. P-value of both outcome variables were less than 0.05 in post-intervention, which means there is a statistical difference observed in post-interventions of between group studies.

Within group studies done by applying paired sample t test which shows in PNF+PT group mean paired difference is -38.10 and DL&WE+PT group is -15.93.

It is concluded that both interventions group shows difference, but Proprioceptive neuromuscular strengthening training group shows better results.