EFFECTIVENESS OF MOTOR LEARNING PROGRAM AND TASK SPECIFIC TRAINING FOR THE TREATMENT OF CHRONIC STROKE

Abstract

Introduction: Stroke is a ‘neurological focal deficit caused by an interrupted blood supply that persists beyond 24 hours. Stroke rehabilitation consisted of many treatment regimes. This trial was designed to compare the effects of motor relearning and task-specific training for the treatment of chronic stroke patients.

Material & Methods: A randomized control trial was conducted at Holy Family hospital Rawalpindi from September-2016 to September-2017 through convenient sampling. A total of 30 subjects were divided into two equal groups. Action Research Arm Scale and Wolf Scale were used to evaluate the effectiveness of Motor Relearning Program and Task-Specific Trainings on upper extremity functions. The assessments were made at 0-day, 1 month, 2 months, 3 months and at 4 months. For between-group analysis independent t-test was used while Repeated Measure ANOVA was used to see the differences within groups. 

Results: Results showed that there was no significant difference between motor relearning program and task-specific training for the improvement of upper extremity function among the patients with chronic stroke as the p-value was non-significant on the ARAT (p=0.722) Scale and on Wolf Scale (p=0.856). In the experimental group Motor Relearning Program showed significant improvements in upper limb functions from pre-treatment to post-treatment (p=˂0.005) and in the control group Task-Specific Training showed significant improvements in upper limb function (p= ˂0.05) 

Conclusion: Motor relearning program and task-specific training have the same effectiveness for improving the functions of the upper extremity among chronic stroke patients.