Motor relearning programme for stroke patients: a randomized controlled trial

Objective: To study the efficacy of the motor relearning approach in promoting physical function and task performance for patients after a stroke. Design: Matched-pair randomized controlled trial. Setting: An outpatient rehabilitation centre in Hong Kong. Participants: Fifty-two outpatients with either a thrombotic or haemorrhagic stroke who completed either the study or control group. Interventions: The patients received 18 2-h sessions in six weeks of either the motor relearning programme or a conventional therapy programme. Main outcome measures: The Berg Balance Scale, the Timed Up and Go Test, the Functional Independence Measure (FIM), the modified Lawton Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) test, and the Community Integration Questionnaire. Results: Patients in the motor relearning group showed significantly better performance on all but the Timed Up and Go Test when compared with the control group (F(1,150) = 6.34-41.86, P <= 0.015). The interactions between group and occasion were significant on all five outcome measures, indicating that the rates of change across time between the motor relearning and control groups differed (F(3,150) = 3.60-33.58, P < 0.015). Conclusion: The motor relearning programme was found to be effective for enhancing functional recovery of patients who had a stroke. Both 'sequential' and 'function-based' concepts are important in applying the motor relearning approach to the rehabilitation of stroke patients.