[Importance of use of dynamometry during medical rehabilitation in patients after stroke].

INTRODUCTION

Rehabilitation centers pay great attention to recovery of motor functions. Dynamometry is used for monitoring and objective overall assessment of damage and recovery of motor functions.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The aim of this investigation was estimation of upper limb muscle strength, with stroke patients during medical rehabilitation. It included 80 right-handed examinees of certain age and sex distribution. The clinical part of examination estimated motor recovery, applying Signe-Brunnström staging, as well as estimation of upper limb muscle strength, using dynamometry during inpatient rehabilitation.

RESULTS

Average values of muscle strength of the affected hand with patients who had right-sided hemiparesis increased by 22.01%, whereas with patients who had left-sided hemiparesis by 36.38%, compared with values from the beginning of treatment. Examination results showed that muscle strength values in both hands after rehabilitation were statistically, considerably improved (p < 0.05), compared with the results from the beginning of treatment. However, they did not reach values of the control group.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

Muscle strength improvement at the end of treatment is affected by complex changes of the neural system, leading to lesion regression, as well as by positive effects of rehabilitation treatment. Result of examination help decision making regarding treatment duration and speak in favor of early rehabilitation applying facilitation techniques for fast and significant recovery.