Intensive Rehabilitation Program in Older Adults with Stroke: Therapy Content and Feasibility—Preliminary Results from the BRAIN-CONNECTS Study

Andrea Morgado-Pérez, Maria Coll-Molinos, Ruben Valero, Miriam Llobet, Nohora Rueda, Andrea Martínez, Sonia Nieto, Cindry Ramírez-Fuentes, Dolores Sánchez-Rodríguez, Ester Marco, Josep Puig and Esther Duarte ()
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Andrea Morgado-Pérez: Rehabilitation Research Group, Hospital del Mar Research Institute, Dr. Aiguader, 88, 08003 Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
Maria Coll-Molinos: Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Department, Parc de Salut Mar (Hospital de l’Esperança), Sant Josep de la Muntanya 12, 08024 Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
Ruben Valero: Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Department, Parc de Salut Mar (Hospital de l’Esperança), Sant Josep de la Muntanya 12, 08024 Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
Miriam Llobet: Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Department, Parc de Salut Mar (Hospital de l’Esperança), Sant Josep de la Muntanya 12, 08024 Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
Nohora Rueda: Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Department, Parc de Salut Mar (Hospital de l’Esperança), Sant Josep de la Muntanya 12, 08024 Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
Andrea Martínez: Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Department, Parc de Salut Mar (Hospital de l’Esperança), Sant Josep de la Muntanya 12, 08024 Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
Sonia Nieto: Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Department, Parc de Salut Mar (Hospital de l’Esperança), Sant Josep de la Muntanya 12, 08024 Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
Cindry Ramírez-Fuentes: Rehabilitation Research Group, Hospital del Mar Research Institute, Dr. Aiguader, 88, 08003 Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
Dolores Sánchez-Rodríguez: Rehabilitation Research Group, Hospital del Mar Research Institute, Dr. Aiguader, 88, 08003 Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
Ester Marco: Rehabilitation Research Group, Hospital del Mar Research Institute, Dr. Aiguader, 88, 08003 Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
Josep Puig: Department of Radiology, Biomedical Research Institute Imaging Research Unit, Diagnostic Imaging Institute, Doctor Josep Trueta University Hospital of Girona, Avinguda de França, s/n, 17007 Girona, Catalonia, Spain
Esther Duarte: Rehabilitation Research Group, Hospital del Mar Research Institute, Dr. Aiguader, 88, 08003 Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 6, 1-12

Abstract: The main objective was to assess the feasibility of an intensive rehabilitation program (IRP) for stroke patients; and secondly, to detect eventual age-related differences in content, duration, tolerability, and safety in a prospective observational cohort of patients diagnosed with subacute stroke, admitted to inpatient rehabilitation (BRAIN-CONNECTS project). Activities during physical, occupational and speech therapy, and time dedicated to each one were recorded. Forty-five subjects (63.0 years, 77.8% men) were included. The mean time of therapy was 173.8 (SD 31.5) minutes per day. The only age-related differences when comparing patients ≥65 and <65 years were a shorter time allocated for occupational therapy (−7.5 min (95% CI −12.5 to −2.6), p = 0.004) and a greater need of speech therapy (90% vs. 44%) in the older adults. Gait training, movement patterns of upper limbs, and lingual praxis were the most commonly performed activities. Regarding tolerability and safety, there were no losses to follow-up, and the attendance ratio was above 95%. No adverse events occurred during any session in all patients. Conclusion: IRP is a feasible intervention in patients with subacute stroke, regardless of age, and there are no relevant differences on content or duration of therapy.

Keywords: feasibility; stroke; intensive rehabilitation program; older adults (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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