The improvement of different motor functions after stroke

Abstract

As part of a multidisciplinary study on patients with acute stroke, 183 patients were followed up for one year after the onset of the stroke regarding improvement in different motor functions. Evaluations were made on six occasions during the year, with use of a modified chart for assessment of motor capacity developed by the present author. The improvement, expressed as the median score of the whole patient group in functions such as ability to perform active movements, mobility, walking ability and balance, occurred most rapidly before discharge and continued at a slower rate up to three months after the onset of stroke. These improvements were statistically significant. Between three months and one yearthere was slight further improvement, but this was not significant. In patients with minor impairment the improvement was mainly during the first week, and those with moderate or moderately severe impairment improved more continuously for up to three months. The few surviving patients with severe impairment continued to improve somewhat after three months, especially in balance and mobility. Coordination, balance and walking did not improve as well as other functions. Older patients with severe functional loss seemed to improve more slowly and not as well as younger patients with equivalent impairment.