HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when Rapid Responses are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Tang, Q. P. Articles by Fan, Z. Y. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Tang, Q. P. Articles by Fan, Z. Y.

Effects of Problem-Oriented Willed-Movement Therapy on Motor Abilities for People With Poststroke Cognitive Deficits

QP Tang, PhD, is Assistant Professor, Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China (tqingping1111{at}126.com)
QD Yang, MD, is Professor, Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University
YH Wu, Bachelor's degree, is Assistant Therapist, Department of Rehabilitation, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University
GQ Wang, PhD, is Assistant Professor, Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University
ZL Huang, PhD, is Assistant Professor, Department of Neurology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University
ZJ Liu, PhD, is Assistant Professor, Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University
XS Huang, PhD, is Assistant Professor, Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University
L Zhou, PhD, is Assistant Professor, Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University
PM Yang, Bachelor's degree, is Assistant Therapist, Department of Rehabilitation, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University
ZY Fan, MD, is Assistant Therapist, Department of Rehabilitation, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University

Address all correspondence to Dr Tang

Background and Purpose. Cognitive deficits after stroke are common and interfere with recovery. One purpose of this study was to determine whether the motor abilities of subjects who have poststroke cognitive deficits and who have received problem-oriented willed-movement (POWM) therapy will improve more than the motor abilities of subjects in the reference group who have received neurodevelopmental treatment (NDT). Another purpose of this study was to identify the relationship between cognitive function and motor abilities for both groups. Subjects. The subjects recruited for this study were 36 men and 11 women with various degrees of poststroke cognitive deficits. Methods. A randomized block design was used to assign the subjects to 2 groups. Cognitive function and motor ability were evaluated with the Mini-Mental State Examination and the Stroke Rehabilitation Assessment of Movement (STREAM). Both groups received physical therapy 5 or 6 times per week in 50-minute sessions. Results. The STREAM scores improved after treatment in both groups. Main group effects were found for the lower-extremity (F=4.58, P<.05) and basic mobility (F=27.49, P<.01) subscales of the STREAM. Pretest cognitive function showed a positive relationship with posttest motor ability in the NDT group (r=.446, P<.05). However, the relationship between pretest cognitive function and posttest motor ability had no statistical significance in the POWM group (r=.101, P=.630). Discussion and Conclusion. These findings suggest that, regardless of a person's cognitive function, POWM intervention is effective in improving lower-extremity and basic mobilities and indicates the need to use relatively intact cognitive function or perceptual function, or both, to improve motor rehabilitation for people with cognitive function deficits.

Key Words: Cognitive function • Motor abilities • Perceptual function • Physical therapy • Problem-oriented willed movement • Stroke