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Learning Objective 1: to describe the effect of bilateral passive range of motion exercise on the function of upper extremities and ADL's in patients with acute stroke.
Learning Objective 2: to apply bilateral passive range of motion exercise to improve the function of upper extremities and ADL in acute stage of stroke patients.
Methods: A pretest-posttest non-equivalent control group quasi-experimental design was conducted to evaluate the intervention. A total of 37 patients with acute stroke hospitalized(below G3 in muscle strength test) in neurosurgical intensive care units were assigned to the experimental group(n=19) and the control group(n=18). The passive range of motion(ROM) exercise was performed twice a day, 5 days per week immediately after the pre-test in the experimental group, and for 2 weeks in the same way for the control group 2 weeks following the pre-test. The functions of upper extremities(edema, ROM), manual function test(MFT) and ADL's of the two groups were measured before the exercise and at 2nd and 4th week respectively after the exercise.
Results: 1. The experimental group showed a significant decrease in the edema of upper extremities(circumferences of index finger, wrist and elbow) compared to the control group. 2. The experimental group showed a significant increase in the ROM of upper extremities(flexion, extension, abduction, internal rotation, and external rotation of shoulder, flexion, supination and pronation of elbow, flexion, extension of wrist, ulnar deviation and radial deviation) compared to the control group.3. The experimental group showed a significant increase in the function of upper extremities(forward elevation) compared to the control group. 4. The experimental group showed a significant increase in the ADL's(eating, upper dressing) of upper extremities compared to the control group.
Conclusion: The results indicated that the passive range of motion exercise can improve the function of upper extremities and such ADL's as eating, upper dressing in patients with acute stroke.