Stroke rehabilitation: a method and evaluation.
Subjects of this study were 53 patients who presented with cerebrovascular stroke and who took part in a rehabilitation programme that included the basic elements of Bobath's concept and Peto's Conductive Education. The protocol called for a three point assessment: on admission to the rehabilitation ward and at one month and one year after entry. Baseline and follow-up examinations included clinical and laboratory tests, CT scan, cerebral blood flow studies and angiography. Motor functions were evaluated by the Rivermead Motor Assessment and dependence (ADL) was measured by the Barthel index. Neuropsychological evaluations were also made using Benton's test, Bourdon's letter cancellation test and the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale. Significant improvement was found in functional conditions both one month and one year after entry. There was a strong correlation between the Rivermead Motor Assessment and the Barthel index. The Rivermead Motor Assessment proved to be the most sensitive indicator of improvement in relation to the size and site of the infarct.