| Thibaut et al. (2018)
United States
Case Series
N=109 |
Population: Mean age=40yr; Gender: Male=70, Female=39; Mean time post-injury=38.
Intervention: Individuals received between 0 and 3 (low) or between 4 and 6 (high) physiotherapy sessions per week based on their needs. Individuals had all experienced a disorder of consciousness at the time of trauma.
Outcome Measures: Modified Asworth Scale (MAS), frequency of muscle contracture. |
1. There was a significant difference on the MAS between those who received low vs high physiotherapy (PT), with those having more PT having higher scores (p<0.001).
2. Those in the high PT group also had significantly fewer spastic events (p=0.018).
3. There was a significant negative correlation between the frequency of PT and MAS scores (p<0.001). This relationship was present for chronic-phase patients only (p<0.001).
4. Patients who received lower rates of PT showed higher rates of muscle contracture (p<0.01).
There was a significant negative correlation between the frequency of PT and associated MAS scores (p<0.01). When stratified, this correlation was only significant for those in the chronic phase of their injuries (p<0.0.01). |
| Mossberg et al. (2002)
USA
Pre-Post
N=40
|
Population: TBI=35, Stroke=5; Mean Age=33yr; Gender: Male=29, Female=11 Mean Time Post Injury=2.1yr.
Intervention: Participants took part in an individualized occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech therapy and neuropsychotherapy program (mean 1hr, 3/wk). Assessments were conducted at baseline and post-intervention.
Outcome Measure: Peak Heart Rate, Total Ambulation Time (TAT), and Vo2 Levels. |
1. TAT increased significantly from 10.3±3.1ms at baseline to 13.6±3.5ms at post intervention (p<0.01).
2. Peak Heart Rate (168±20 versus 167±21) and Vo2 levels (23.5±6.6 versus 24.3±6.4, p=0.09) did not change significantly between baseline and post-intervention. |
| Fan et al. (2020)
China
RCT
PEDro=9
NInitial=87, NFinal=81 |
Population: TBI=87; Intervention Group (Intensive Rehabilitation, n=41): Mean Age=39.25±9.57yr; Gender: Male=22, Female=19; Time Post Injury=7d; Severity: Mean GCS=9.89±2.94.
Control Group (Standard of care; n=40): Mean Age=38.41±10.39yr; Gender: Male=23, Female=17; Time Post Injury=14d; Severity: Mean GCS=10.01±3.25.
Intervention: Participants in the intervention group received early and high-intensity rehabilitation management (7 days after injury, 7d/wk, 4times/d, 1hr session). Rehabilitative treatment training included correct limb positioning and caring of the limbs; passive, assisted, and active movements; strength training; and practice of functional activities. Participants in the control group received the standard of care (14 days after injury, 5d/wk, 2times/d, 1hr session). Outcome measures were assessed at baseline, 1, 3 and 6mo following intervention.
Outcome Measures: Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS), Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA), Barthel Index (BI). |
1. One month following rehabilitation, no significant differences were observed between groups (p>.05).
2. Three months following rehabilitation:
o FMA score was significantly higher in the group that received early intensive rehabilitation when compared to the control (59.83±11.87 versus 44.56±8.32; p<.05)
o No significant group differences were observed on the GOS or BI (p>.05).
3. Six months following rehabilitation:
o FMA score and BI score significantly improved with early intensive rehabilitation when compared to the control group (FMA: 73.18±16.55 versus 57.86±10.67, p<.01; BI: 87.17±13.85 versus 60.68±11.98, p<.01). |
