Korean J Rehabil Nurs.  2002 Dec;5(2):134-144.

Upper Extremity Exercise Training Effects on Motor Activity. ADL and Health Related QOL of Hemiplegic Patients

• Kim KS
• Kang JY

Abstract

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of upper extremity exercise training on the motor activity, the ADL and the health related quality of life. METHOD: A non-equivalent pretest-posttest design was used. Study subjects were conveniently selected 40 hemiplegic patients(20 experimental subjects, 20 control subjects) who had been enrolled in two community health centers. After biofeedback training the subjects of experimental group were given constraint-induced movement, involving restraint of unaffected U/E in a sling for about 6 hours over a period of two weeks, while at the same time intensively training the affected U/E. Outcomes were evaluated on the basis of motor activity(amount, quality) of plegic side, DL(ADL, IADL) and health related QOL(SF-36).
RESULTS
1. After 2 weeks of treatment, the amount of use and the quality of motor activity of affected U/E were significantly higher in subjects who participated in exercise training than in subjects in the control group. 2. There were no significant differences in ADL and IADL between experimental and control groups. 3. After 2 weeks of treatment. the health related QOL was significantly higher in subjects who participated in exercise training than in subjects in the control group.
CONCLUSION
The above results state that the U/E exercise training could be an effective intervention for improving the motor activity and the health related QOL of chronic hemiplegic patients. Long-term studies are needed to determine the lasting effects of constraint-induced movement.

MeSH Terms

Activities of Daily Living*
Biofeedback, Psychology
Community Health Centers
Humans
Motor Activity*
Quality of Life
Upper Extremity*