Intensive therapy within critical time window fastens rehabilitation after stroke: Study

Medically Reviewed By : Dr. Kamal Kant Kohli

Published On 2021-10-07 04:15 GMT | Update On 2021-10-07 05:01 GMT

Intensive therapy, added to standard rehabilitation within the critical time window (2-3 months) fastens rehabilitation after a stroke, suggests a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (PNAS).

Restoration of human brain function after an injury is a signal challenge for translational neuroscience. Rodent stroke recovery studies identify an optimal or sensitive period for intensive motor training after stroke: near-full recovery is attained if task-specific motor training occurs during this sensitive window.

A group of researchers extended these findings to adult humans with stroke in a randomized controlled trial applying the essential elements of rodent motor training paradigms to humans. Stroke patients were adaptively randomized to begin 20 extra hours of self-selected, task-specific motor therapy at ≤30 d (acute), 2 to 3 mo (subacute), or ≥6 mo (chronic) after stroke, compared with controls receiving standard motor rehabilitation. Upper extremity (UE) impairment assessed by the Action Research Arm Test (ARAT) was measured at up to five-time points.

The primary outcome measure was ARAT recovery over 1 y after stroke.

The results of the study are as follows:

· By 1 year the researchers found significantly increased UE motor function in the subacute group compared with controls.

· The acute group compared with controls showed smaller but significant improvement.

· The chronic group showed no significant improvement compared with controls.

· Thus task-specific motor intervention was most effective within the first 2 to 3 months after stroke.

· The similarity to rodent model treatment outcomes suggests that other rodent findings may be translatable to human brain recovery.

Thus, the researchers concluded that these results provide empirical evidence of a sensitive period for motor recovery in humans.

Reference:

Critical Period After Stroke Study (CPASS): A phase II clinical trial testing an optimal time for motor recovery after stroke in humans by Dromerick A et.al published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America.

DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2026676118

Article Source : proceedings of the national academy of sciences of the united states of america

Disclaimer: This website is primarily for healthcare professionals. The content here does not replace medical advice and should not be used as medical, diagnostic, endorsement, treatment, or prescription advice. Medical science evolves rapidly, and we strive to keep our information current. If you find any discrepancies, please contact us at corrections@medicaldialogues.in. Read our Correction Policy here. Nothing here should be used as a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. We do not endorse any healthcare advice that contradicts a physician's guidance. Use of this site is subject to our Terms of Use, Privacy Policy, and Advertisement Policy. For more details, read our Full Disclaimer here.

NOTE: Join us in combating medical misinformation. If you encounter a questionable health, medical, or medical education claim, email us at factcheck@medicaldialogues.in for evaluation.

Dr. Shravani Dali

Dr. Shravani Dali has completed her BDS from Pravara institute of medical sciences, loni. Following which she extensively worked in the healthcare sector for 2+ years. She has been actively involved in writing blogs in field of health and wellness. Currently she is pursuing her Masters of public health-health administration from Tata institute of social sciences. She can be contacted at editorial@medicaldialogues.in.

Comments Policy

Our comments section is governed by our Comments Policy . By posting comments at Medical Dialogues you automatically agree with our Comments Policy , Terms And Conditions and Privacy Policy .

Intensive therapy within critical time window fastens rehabilitation after stroke: Study

Similar News

Hospitalisation in COPD Patients Linked to Sharp Rise in Cardiovascular Events and Mortality: Study

Cardiometabolic Diseases Significantly Accelerate Onset and Worsening of Neuropsychiatric Disorders: Study Finds

Regular opioid use may increase dementia risk, reveals research

Alteplase May Improve Outcomes When Given 4.5-24 Hours After Stroke in Select Patients: JAMA

Women with Down Syndrome More Vulnerable to Alzheimer's Than Men: Study Finds

Under-the-skin electrode allows for real-world epilepsy tracking, reveals research

Severe Gum Disease Strongly Linked to Chronic Illnesses, Large U.S. Study Finds

Fetal Embolization Exhibits Early Success in High-Risk Vein of Galen Malformation: JAMA