A Comparative Study to Analyze the Effectiveness of Repetitive Facilitation Exercises (RFE) and Mirrortherapy (MT) to Improve the Upper Limb Motor Function for Sub - Acute Stroke Hemiparesis

Background: Stroke or Cerebrovascular accident [CVA] is a neurovascular disease commonly results from occlusion of the lumina of the cerebral vessels by a thrombus or embolus. Purpose: To analyse the effectiveness of Repetitive Facilitation Exercises and Mirror therapy to improve the upper limb functional ability in post stroke subacute hemiparetic patients. Objective of the study: This study is to compare the effectiveness of repetitive functional exercises (RFE) and Mirror Therapy (MT) on upper limb functional ability in patients with sub - acute stroke hemiparesis. Methodology: 30 patients with Subacute stroke hemiparesis were included in this study. They were grouped into A & B after the upper limb functional level testing with Wolf motor Function Test (WMFT). Group A received RFE with designed facilitation exercises and Group B received MT. The duration of each session for RFE was approximately 40 minutes for 3 days and MT was approximately for duration of 30 minutes for 3 days. The exercise program for Group A [RFE] and Group B [MT] was given for 6 weeks. The study duration was 6 months. The subject was evaluated, based on pre and post test scores. Outcome measures: - The outcome result was measured by using Wolf Motor Function Test [WMFT]. Results: The study revealed that Repetitive facilitation exercises exhibited statistically significant improvement in Barthel Index and Wolf Motor Function Test (WMFT) compared to Mirror Therapy exercise group. When comparing the pre and post test scores. Conclusions: It is concluded from the study that the Repetitive Facilitation exercises (RFE) on the upper limb muscles provide greater improvement in upper limb functional ability than the Mirror Therapy interventions.