Original Research Article
Year: 2019 | Month: June | Volume: 6 | Issue: 6 | Pages: 308-314
To Compare the Effectiveness of Bilateral Arm Training versus Unilateral Arm Training on Upper Limb Functions in Acute Stroke Patients
Karthikeyan Thangavel1, G. Malarvizhi2
1MPT, Assistant Professor, KMCH college of Physiotherapy, Coimbatore, India
2 MPT, Assistant Professor, PSG College of Physiotherapy, Coimbatore, India
Corresponding Author: Karthikeyan Thangavel
ABSTRACT
The aim of the study was to find out the effectiveness of bilateral arm training over unilateral arm training on upper extremity functions among acute stroke patients. A total of 27 stroke patients participated in the study. Group A: 14 subjects received bilateral arm training of task related exercises, Group B: 13 subjects received unilateral arm training of task related exercises. Fugl Meyer assessment- upper limb component(FMA-UE) and Chedoke arm and hand activity inventory(CAHAI-13) was measured. The statistical analysis of all participants in group A and group B showed significant improvement in FMA-UE and CAHAI-13 scores. In FMA-UE the measure of mean difference of pre-test and post-test for both Group A and B were 15.14 and 11.30 respectively. The calculated ‘t’ value using the paired test for group A and B were 11.96 and 6.11;(P<0.05). When comparing between the groups using independent ‘t’ test, the FMA-UE scores showed mean difference of 3.78 and ‘t’ value of 2.51 (P<0.05). In CAHAI-13 scores group A and B showed significant improvement with a mean difference of 10.57 and 7.61 respectively. The calculated ‘t’ value using the paired test for group A and B were 13.27 and 8.12;(P<0.05). When comparing between the groups using independent ‘t’ test, the CAHAI-13 scores showed mean difference of 3.03 and ‘t’ value of 2.47(P<0.05).This study shows that the bilateral arm training of task related exercises is more effective in improving the upper limb functions than the unilateral arm training of task related exercises in acute stroke patients.
Key words: Bilateral arm training, Unilateral arm training, Upper limb function, FuglMeyer Assessment, Chedoke Arm and Hand Activity Inventory, Stroke
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