LONG-TERM BENEFITS OF A TAILORED STRENGTH TRAINING INTERVENTION ON ARM FUNCTION IN CHRONIC STROKE SURVIVORS: A FOLLOW-UP STUDY.

Abstract

Objective: We showed that a tailored strengthening intervention based on the size of motor evoked potentials (MEPs) in the affected arm was effective in improving function in chronic stroke survivors. Here, we investigated whether the short-term gains in arm function were maintained at 1-year follow-up.

Subjects: Twenty-five participants at the chronic stage of a stroke.

Methods: Participants were classified in the light (LI; MEPs 50-120 μV, n = 8) and high (HI; MEPs > 120μV, n = 17) intensity training groups. The strengthening protocol consisted of adjusted exercises for the affected arm (3X/week; 4 weeks). The Fugl-Meyer Stroke Assessment (FMA), Grip strength (GS) and Box and Block test (BBT) were assessed at baseline, post-intervention and at 1-year follow-up. Changes in clinical measures were compared using repeated-measures ANOVA.

Results: A significant effect of time was noted on all outcome measures [FMA: p < 0.001; BBT: p = 0.05; GS: p < 0.001], but the LI group improved more on the FMA (p = 0.003) and maintained their gains at 1-year follow-up (p = 0.527) than the HI group.

Conclusion: The size of MEPs in the affected arm could be a significant factor in influencing responses to strengthening exercises post-stroke and allow gains to be maintained up to 1 year post-intervention.