THE IMPACT OF EARLY INITIATION OF PHYSIOTHERAPY ON MOTOR RECOVERY IN ACUTE STROKE PATIENTS.

Abstract

ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND: The most common motor deficits that emerge from stroke have a major
negative influence on sufferers' functioning abilities as well as their quality of life. Stroke is the
main cause of disability globally. In order to encourage motor recovery and improve functional
outcomes following a stroke, early beginning of physiotherapy is being advocated as a vital
component of stroke care. The cross-sectional investigation sought to determine how early PT
commencement affected acute stroke patients' motor improvement. METHOD: 200 patients
with acute strokes in all were enrolled in the research from two tertiary institutions. Based on
when physiotherapy was started, patients were split into two groups: those who began treatment
right away (within a forty-eight hours of the stroke starting) and those who started later (after 48
hours). Using standardized outcome measures, such as the Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA) and
the Action Research Arm Test (ARAT), motor recovery was evaluated. RESULTS: The
outcomes of motor recovery were significantly correlated with when PT was started, according
to the findings. Comparing the first start group to the postponed the group, the early initiation
group showed better motor recovery. Participants in the early initiation group had higher FMA
and ARAT scores than those in the delayed initiation group, respectively (p 0.001).
Physiotherapy should be started as soon as possible in acute stroke patients, according to these
findings, since this will promote motor recovery in the upper as well as the lower extremities.
Subgroup analyses were also performed to find any relevant moderating variables. Age, the
severity of the stroke, and the interval between the stroke and hospital admission were found to
be important determinants of the association between early physiotherapy commencement and
motor recovery outcomes. CONCLUSION: As a result, this cross-sectional study offers proof in
favor of the beneficial effects of early physiotherapy commencement on motor recovery in
patients with acute strokes. The results emphasize how critical it is to quickly incorporate PT
treatments into the initial stage of stroke care. The significance of healthcare systems prioritizing
early access to physiotherapy services for patients with acute strokes is highlighted by the
possibility that early beginning of physiotherapy might help improve functional outcomes. To
learn more about the long-term impacts and probable processes behind this connection, more
longitudinal research are necessary.