Predictors of upper limb motor recovery in stroke survivors: a pre-post test study design.

OBJECTIVES

The study aimed to assess the predictors of upper limb motor recovery in stroke survivors.

DESIGN

Pre-post test study design.

SETTING

Conducted in two centres (First Level Hospital and University Teaching Hospital in Lusaka).

PARTICIPANTS

Patients living with stroke accessing physiotherapy services at the two public hospitals. A total of 52 patients were recruited at the start of the study, 6 were lost to follow-up and 46 completed the study.

INTERVENTION: Conventional physiotherapy for 8 weeks (5 September 2022-28 October 2022).

PRIMARY OUTCOME: Motor function measured using a Fugl-Meyer assessment of the upper extremity.

RESULTS

Analysis was conducted on 46 participants. A significant difference was observed between the level of motor function at baseline and after 8 weeks of treatment (p=0.0183). At baseline, 50% of participants had mild motor function, which improved after 8 weeks, with 69.6% having mild motor function. Stroke patients with severe motor function impairment at baseline were associated with 0.01 times likelihood of having mild motor function impairment after 8 weeks of physiotherapy treatment (AOR 0.01; 95 % CI 0.00 to 0.16; p=0.002).

CONCLUSION

The motor function of stroke patients continues to improve over time. This study demonstrated that initial upper limb motor function impairment could be used as a predictor for upper limb motor function.