RESULTS Studies of task-related training showed benefits for functional outcome compared with traditional therapies .
Active use of task-oriented training with stroke survivors will lead to improvements in functional outcomes and overall health-related quality of life .
CONCLUSION Generally , task-oriented rehabilitation proved to be more effective .
Many interventions are feasible for nurses and can be performed in a ward or at home .
AIM This paper is a report of a review conducted to provide an overview of the evidence in the literature on task-oriented training of stroke survivors and its relevance in daily nursing practice .
BACKGROUND Stroke is the second leading cause of death and one of the leading causes of adult disability in the Western world .
The use of neurodevelopmental treatment in the daily nursing care of stroke survivors does not improve clinical outcomes .
Nurses are therefore exploring other forms of rehabilitation intervention , including task-oriented rehabilitation .
Despite the growing number of studies showing evidence on task-oriented interventions , recommendations for daily nursing practice are lacking .
Stroke patients and long-term training: is it worthwhile? A randomized comparison of two different training strategies after rehabilitation
Objective : To find out if there were any differences in improvement and maintenance of motor function , activity of daily living and grip strength between patients with first-ever stroke receiving two different strategies of physical exercise during the first year after stroke . Design : A longitudinal r and omized controlled stratified trial . Setting : Rehabilitation institutions , community , patients ' homes and nursing homes . Subjects : Seventy-five male and female first-time-ever stroke patients : 35 in an intensive exercise group and 40 in a regular exercise group . Intervention : The intensive exercise group received physiotherapy with focus on intensive exercises in four periods during the first year after stroke . The regular exercise group patients were followed up according to their subjective needs during the corresponding year . Main outcome measures : Motor Assessment Scale , Barthel Index of Activities of Daily Living , and grip strength . Results : Both groups improved significantly up to six months when function stabilized . The groups did not differ significantly on any test occasions . The difference of improvement from admission to discharge was significant in favour of the intensive exercise group , in the Motor Assessment Scale total score ( intensive exercise group 7.5 ; regular exercise group 1.7 , P = 0.01 ) , and in the Barthel Index of Activities of Daily Living total score ( 17.4 versus 8.9 , P = 0.04 ) . Conclusion : Motor function , activities of daily living functions and grip strength improved initially and were maintained during the first year after stroke in all patients irrespective of exercise regime . This indicates the importance of motivation for regular exercise in the first year following stroke , achieved by regular check-ups
RESULTS Studies of task-related training showed benefits for functional outcome compared with traditional therapies .
Active use of task-oriented training with stroke survivors will lead to improvements in functional outcomes and overall health-related quality of life .
CONCLUSION Generally , task-oriented rehabilitation proved to be more effective .
Many interventions are feasible for nurses and can be performed in a ward or at home .
AIM This paper is a report of a review conducted to provide an overview of the evidence in the literature on task-oriented training of stroke survivors and its relevance in daily nursing practice .
BACKGROUND Stroke is the second leading cause of death and one of the leading causes of adult disability in the Western world .
The use of neurodevelopmental treatment in the daily nursing care of stroke survivors does not improve clinical outcomes .
Nurses are therefore exploring other forms of rehabilitation intervention , including task-oriented rehabilitation .
Despite the growing number of studies showing evidence on task-oriented interventions , recommendations for daily nursing practice are lacking .