Conclusions : There is preliminary evidence that progressive resistance strength training programmes reduce musculoskeletal impairment after stroke .
Whether strengthening enhances the performance of functional activities or participation in societal roles remains unknown
Objective : To determine whether progressive resistance strength training reduces impairments , activity limitations and participation restrictions after stroke .
Post-stroke depression and functional outcome: a cohort study investigating the influence of depression on functional recovery from stroke
Objective : To investigate the influence of depression on functional recovery after stroke . Design : Multicentre cohort study of 85 patients admitted for clinical rehabilitation . A two-stage case-finding procedure was used to identify patients with depression . For the control group , consecutive nondepressed stroke patients were enrolled . Patients were interviewed at 3–6 weeks and six months after stroke onset . Setting : Three rehabilitation centres in the vicinity of Amsterdam . Main outcome measures : Functional outcome was determined by the Functional Independence Measure ( FIM ) and the Rehabilitation Activities Profile ( RAP ) . Results : The prevalence of depression ( 35 % ) was comparable with the findings of earlier studies in other setting s. Patients classified as depressed according to DSM III R criteria ( American Psychiatric Association Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders ) had a significantly lower functional score , both at onset and after follow-up ( FIM and RAP ) . There was , however , no significant difference in functional improvement between the depressed and the nondepressed group . Mean functional improvement in the six patients treated with antidepressants was 30 % better than in the untreated ( depressed ) patients ; numbers were too small for the results to attain statistical significance . Subset analysis showed a significantly higher outcome for nondepressed patients for the FIM subitems personal care and transfers . However , functional improvement was not significantly different for any of the subitems in depressed versus nondepressed patients . Conclusion : Stroke patients with depression have significantly lower functional scores both at onset and after six months . Our results suggest under-recognition of post-stroke depression and a possible beneficial effect of antidepressant medication in depressed stroke patients . Further studies are required to determine the effect of antidepressants
Conclusions : There is preliminary evidence that progressive resistance strength training programmes reduce musculoskeletal impairment after stroke .
Whether strengthening enhances the performance of functional activities or participation in societal roles remains unknown
Objective : To determine whether progressive resistance strength training reduces impairments , activity limitations and participation restrictions after stroke .