A Study on an Effective Method to Apply Upper Limb Rehabilitation Treatment to Stroke Patients

Abstract

Patients diagnosed with stroke who were exhibiting motor disorders in their paretic limbs were randomly assigned to an experimental group and a control group. Proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF), taping, and extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) were applied to the experimental group, and general exercise therapy and functional electrical stimulation (FES) were applied to the control group. The treatment program for each group was conducted three times a week for six weeks, 30 minutes per session. Grip strength, shoulder joint muscle strength, functions, and daily living activities were evaluated before and after treatment. The differences in grip strength, shoulder joint muscle strength, functions, and daily activities between before and after treatment in the experimental group were statistically significant. The changes in the muscle strength, and functional activities of the extensor, flexor, adductor, and abductor muscles of the shoulder joint were statistically significantly higher in the experimental group. In conclusion, to increase upper limb grip strength, shoulder joint muscle strength, functional activities, and daily living activities, treatment methods that can be applied simultaneously should be applied, and methods to manage the causes of the patient's limitations should also be applied.